From what Ronald Koeman is saying it seems that a couple of his squad are not focused on Southampton Football Club and are having their heads turned by offers elsewhere.
When Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mane signed contracts at Southampton Football Club they were delighted to join because firstly they were getting their chance in the Premier League and secondly they were being offered a lot more money than they were getting at their then current employers.
Initially both players were the subject of debate amongst Saints supporters as to whether either player was worth the fee and the wages they were being paid, their early performances were far from convincing.
But had they turned out to be poor signings then Saints would, like in the case of Gaston Ramirez and Osvaldo not have been able to tear up their contracts or pay them something more in line with their actual worth to the team, no they would have had no choice but to keep paying them the agreed salary plus hefty bonus's, as we know from the aforementioned pair, neither was willing to leave and sign with another club due to the fact that they would get nowhere near the wages or perhaps a club of the stature of Saints.
So that is why it is very reasonable for Saints to be able to ask for a player under contract to fulfill that contract and not start demanding a move the moment his name is linked with so called big clubs and Spurs in the media.
Ronald Koeman and indeed the club have made their position quite clear from the start and since the start of the Katharina Liebherr era and the mass exodus that initially took place, it seems that they have made their stance towards when and for what they will sell a player very transparent.
Saints know that January transfer windows are overpriced and so seem determined not to do business in them unless the price is right, similarly they seem adamant that they will not sell players in it themselves unless it s in their interest.
They have made quite clear to all and sundry that this is the club policy and that is a good way of doing things, it spells it out to players just how Saints operate and what they can expect.
So the acts of petulance shown by Mane & Wanyama of late seem to indicate that they are both well aware of the policy, that they have had it reiterated to them and that they are not happy at being asked to simply honour a contract that they were both happy with six months ago till speculation reared its ugly head.
Speaking ahead of the Crystal Palace game Ronald Koeman said.
"It’s too easy to mention after the mistake of Sadio, or Victor’s second yellow, that the players are showing that they like to move,” Koeman said. "No, no, it’s too easy.
"It’s not like that and players know the position in the club and what we think about the players and there’s no reason to doubt about that.
"If there is any player thinking [like that], if his behaviour is not good, that makes easier for the player, then I put the player on the stands until the end of the contract.
"In my opinion it is not the way how you have to do your job as a football player.”
For Ronald Koeman to tackle the situation publicly and make a bold statement perhaps shows that there is an issue with both mane & Wanyama, the Dutch manager is clearly fuming and showing that he is not a man to be trifled with.
He is by speaking out, hardening the club's stance and letting the supporters know that this is not the club of May 2014 when certain ex players took advantage of a club in a transitional period, but a club who now have their strategy very much in place and are now willing to stick to their guns.
In fact this is a very rare moment in football for a club to make a stance like this public, it is provocative to the players in question and usually football clubs try and make players happy by cosseting them rather than threatening and it perhaps shows that although it is only inference that both players actions at Norwich last week could be more than just an innocent mistake, that deep down the club could feel that there is a lot more substance to that theory than they would like to admit.
But if he is wielding the stick in one hand, he is offering the carrot in the other by immediately making it clear that all the club want is the two players to fulfill their contracts.
"Mane is not in a different situation now to when it was last week. He is a player of Southampton. He likes to play for Southampton. He is not for sale,” said Koeman.
"We spoke to Sadio, of course. I punished him because we have rules in the team. You have to confirm to those rules.
"He was late. It was a big mistake. He makes his excuse for everybody and that’s now behind and the rest is internal discussions about how we have to handle this kind of situations.
"He will start on Saturday, no problem.”
Of course Saints would prefer both players to stay, with Mane the player still as 2 1/2 years left on his deal, the club are not under any immediate pressure to sell otherwise see his value drop, with Wanyama it is different, the reality is that if he doesn't sign a new deal between now and the summer then he will depart St Mary's in the next transfer window, this is part and parcel of the modern game, sometimes it works in your favour, sometimes it doesn't.
Koeman also revealed that Les Reed is in discussion with Victor Wanyama about a new contract and those talks remain on going, of course it will be difficult for Saints to persuade him to sign a new deal with the media telling him that this club and that club are willing to pay him big money for his services, but sometimes reality is different and he might decide his future is better with Saints.
What is happening now though perhaps gives supporters an insight at what goes on week in week out, year in year out at football clubs, a year ago Nathaniel Clyne was in the same position as Wanyama, contract talks were ongoing with Saints and he was clearly through his agent also receiving offers from elsewhere. But Saints made their position clear as to when they would sell him and Clyne accepted that and there was no insinuation that he was dong anything than his best for Saints before his move to Liverpool in the summer, both club ad player knew what the situation was.
So Saints supporters applaud and completely back Ronald Koeman and the club in standing up and making it quite clear what they are prepared to do, yes they have made a rod for their own back but Saints supporters want to see them stick to their guns and show today's pampered players that contracts are two way things and that both sides need to realise that and fulfill their obligations.