When it was announced that Adam Lallana was going to thank the fans in a full page advert in the Daily Echo it seemed a good way for the now ex Saints Captain to make up with the supporters, but that has not turned out to be the case.
Saints supporters expecting a heartfelt message straight from the heart of Adam Lallana as was the case with Rickie Lambert's departure a month ago' were to be sorely disappointed and judging by comments on social media sites, the full page message actually seems to have been counter productive in that it has further fuelled rumour that Lallana has changed from a down to earth all round nice guy to a person who has found it quite easy to turn his back on those supporters who have worshipped him.
The full page in today's Daily Echo seems little more than a pr stunt dream't up by his people, rather than a personal message written by Lallana himself, most of the page is taken up by a picture of Lallana himself followed by a very short few words reading.
"14 unforgettable years, the memories will last a lifetime, thank you Saints fans for your endless support, a place in my heart forever"
This has lead to indignation across social media sites, whilst most Saints fans can appreciate the reasons why Lallana should want to move, they are struggling with the alleged reports in the press about his behaviour, here Lallana had the chance to say a few things to the fans on a personal level as Rickie Lambert did, but he chose to put in a few words that said nothing.
Pointedly the Southampton Football Club's own official statement was just as short as Lallana's message, it merely confirmed that the player had left and that the fee although undisclosed would help the club further develop the squad. It was a cold and emotionless statement unlike the warm words that accompanied Shaw & Lambert's departure.
When both Rickie Lambert and Luke Shaw left the Club statement's were far more extensive and wished both players well with their new clubs, seemingly suggesting that transfer negotiations had been conducted in the right manner and that Saints felt that the move was not only right for the players but also for the club itself.
Saints short and sweet statement lends credence to an article in the Daily Star this morning that suggests that Lallana had told the club he would never play for them again if they did not sell him to Liverpool.
Certainly rumours in the press after the end of last season suggested that unlike Shaw & Lambert, Lallana was making demands about his potential move, the other two seemed content to sit back and let events take their course, or at least publicly they did meaning the supporters could wave them off with no animosity.
But with Lallana there was that whiff of something that stank in the air, at best Lallana was just plain naive, certainly the signing of a Liverpool shirt in Miami and the comment to the fan that he hoped he would be moving to Anfield was ill advised, but that could all be put down to it being just another naive, arrogant professional footballer who had no idea of anything bar his own self.
The sad thing was that Adam Lallana was never that type of footballer, over the years he had always come across as a humble person with his feet firmly on the ground and it should be remembered that in the past he has shown great loyalty to this club, if anyone in the squad truly deserved a big money move, it was him for the service he has given us, in fact he really should have gone with the fans wishes ringing in his ears and not some newspaper report allegedly showing him up as being just what Mark Clattenberg alleged up at Goodison Park last December.
The Daily Star is clearly getting its info from someone close to the club, football clubs usually retain their dignity and rarely get involved in wars of words publicly, but that doesn't stop them getting their side of the story out through friendly journos in the national press.
When
"A club source said: "Adam threw his toys out of the pram and said he would never play for the club again if they did not accept Liverpool's offer. It left a bitter taste."
As was reported in today's Daily Star, you can bet your bottom dollar that this is coming from a club source very close to the corridors of power, it is not just on the words of the car park attendant.
I can understand why Lallana should be desperate for this move, the irony is that if he had kept quiet and let things run there course then like Shaw and Lambert it would probably have happened, the reality is that a year ago Adam Lallana signed a five year deal knowing that there were few other premier clubs interested in him and those that where would not have been interested in paying much over £5 million, one good season later and his value has rocketed, the truth is this is perhaps a much better deal for Saints than some would realise, Lallana was always going to go at that price the only real question was for how much, Saints were within their rights to hold out and try to push the price up, Lallana didn't think they were and if the Daily Star is to be believed issued these ultimatums.
Whatever way you look at it Lallana hasn't come out of this smelling of roses, only he and the club know the real truth, however with this full page ad he had the chance to set a few things straight, he had the chance to leave with his dignity intact and the supporters who loved him for so long and supported him through thick and thin to wish him well.
If he had written the piece from the heart and not dismissed us with so few words that could have been the case, to be blunt I have had better thank you's in Macdonalds when buying a burger, if he had done that then we would remember him fondly, now even the most avid Lallana supporter feels cheated and that these are the actions of a man that if these allegations are true did not deserve our affections.
Good luck Adam Lallana I hope that you find happiness and what you want to achieve, somehow I think that you won't truly do so, as your alleged behavior showed that perhaps you are not as confident in your abilities as you will perhaps need to be at a club like Liverpool