Chez

it might be difficult to attract players from the CCC but I don't see why we can't buy the best from this division and the one below. I'd add that by doing so we would be avoiding injury prone last leg old timers that would offer no resale value. Instead we could be buying young hungry talent, probably on much lower wages, that really want to progress as the club does rather than just someone like Stern John who is just looking to pick up a final wage. I realise we need good strong professionals to compliment youth talent, but don't kid yourself to think that Stern really gives a **** about this club, nor that he is only striker available to score goals at this level. Also don't underestimate Matt Patterson, plenty of young strikers have dropped down a division to get games and scored for fun. I saw Billy Sharpe mentioned a few days ago. If Sheff United had been relegated a few years back do you think Blades fans would have seen him scoring 20 goals in League 1. He joined Scunny and did exactly that before moving back to the CCC. No matter what you think about Patterson there are a lot of very good players in the lower leagues and EVERY club is wiling to sell at the right price. Signing Stern John won't make or break us and IMHO we could do a lot better without him if the right players are brought in.

if we lose Rasiak, Stern and Saga I would presume that would free up a considerable amount of wages - if indeed the intention is to run the club as though it was a business.

I wonder if we are paying him whilst he gets fit for Palace?

depending on the size of the second allocation there is a chance that this will sell out.

lets go the whole hog and get Harte in to run our youth development.

yep, you're a ref.

complete total and utter ********. Knowing what constitutes whole ball out of play or suchlike offers absolutely nothing in the way of insight into football management or coaching. Maybe for under 7s, but we're talking about serious football here. I bet there are four or five rules that half the Premiership managers are not sure about or get completely wrong, but it simpy has not bearing on their ability to coach top level players. Yes you need to know the basics, but football tactics and referreeing the game are too quite distinct areas. Graham poll and his like are no better qualified than someone that watches from the sidelines pie in hand. Great. I've watched international players and seen them **** up too. So what? Right or wrong you will find players and managers up and down the country that moan about refereeing decisions made because they have never played the game. I must add that I don't think that refs can't be coaches I just don't feel your own experience makes you better to make judgements than the next `football expert'. I've swam with dolphins but it doesn't mean I could teach the ****ers to catch fish. you know nothing about me, the condition of my genitals or my footballing background. tooshay. None taken. You certainly do come across as a ref by the way. You are actually saying that my post of "no offence but refereing a game makes you no more qualified to coach than someone that watches football. Courses are great but we've seen lots of ex players more than adequately managing football clubs without any of the `required' FA qualifications." was enough to make you stop posting? I'm sorry, I didn't realise those thick skins of yours came off after the game had finished. Get a grip man.

doesn't Morgan play for Sheff United and is ex Barnsley? Very decent CCC level centre back. Perch is a decent player, but Lewis McGugan is the next big thing from Forrest in my opinion. Christ, if Crouch and Distin leaves they are seriously running out of quality. I heard Elano was a target.

hopefully the squad will be embellished by some top notch talent (at this level) otherwise we will be a long way off the top places. Two more weeks before the start of the season and another four weeks till the window closes so there could be a lot of comings and going before then. Prefer to see how the land lies then before making any claims for a potential top six place.

Agreed. I'm not sure why I didn't mention him. Perhaps because he's slightly older and maybe even because I think we may have seen some of his best stuff already (energy, tackling, positioning). I hope not as he needs to improve his passing decision making and his first touch consistency. Again I hope he can improve in that area as well but even if he doesn't he will be very important to us this season. I'd much rather see him in the defensive midfield role than Wotton thats' for sure.

I don't believe for a minute that any English Saints fan `doesn't give a ****' about the national side. Yes perhaps when we are labouring away at Wembley against some semi pro side, but for a few weeks every two years (if we are lucky) absolutely nothing compares with supporting England in a major competition. The whole country is talking footie and it is a bloody brilliant time and if you then manage to travel to watch the side abroad then the experience is even better still. I'm an England fan that struggles to be enthused by the qualifying games these days, so on a day to day basis it's Saints all the way, but when the summer tournament comes round its all about England.

Are you sure? I think the 4-4-2 formation made a bigger difference than Murty himself. Having someone sat in front of the fullback doesn't half make his job a lot easier. James looked appauling last season in the 4-3-3 formation then in the secomd half of the season everyone started raving about him. I didn't see a major change or progression myself (although there was some) what I did see though was him no longer having to face 2 on 1 all the time as he had a right midfielder providing him with cover and protection. Funnily enough James with no cover in front of him against Ajax was murdered.

I have been saying much of that for I don't know how long, however no one is going to tell me that he gets stuck in. I watched the vast majority of games last season and he made about 7 tackles all in. For a central midfielder that is not good enough. I know the game has changed and you have to stay on your feet a lot more, but if he wants to succeed at any level he still has to put his foot in once in a while. One thing I am sure of is that to win games you need quality players that keep the ball and he offers that. The SMS pitch is made for passing football and he has already demonstrated he pass well. I hope he, Mills, Patterson and Lallana stay. I think it is essential to have decent young players that we can follow for years to come and call our own. Give these four lads some time, some slack and plenty of backing and at the very least they will improve their market value. A little more patience is required from all of us especially with the young players. Just because Owen and Rooney were world beaters at 18 doesn't mean all youngsers will be. BT was in his mid 20's before he found his feet. As poor as he has been to date even Lancashire migth turn out to be a decent centre back given time. Going back to Morgan, I'm intrigued to know what Pardew will do with him. In the Ajax game he had him playing in the hole behind the strikers when he came on, but it was clear that Morgans natural instinct was to drop back and sit rather than run beyond the striker. This could be an issue as we need an atacking midfielder to play alongside a defensive midfielder. If he is not going to tackle and fight then I'm not sure he can take that role.

perhaps he's seen what one or two on here have seen that the lad Patterson is a terrific prospect as well.

he looked the same in the Ajaz game as well IMO. Obviously I'm only referring to the Saints players on the day.

you answered your own question there.

With the rich new owner and a manager with a top 2 position in his sights I will be very very dissapointed if we don't buy a better player than Holmes to play on the left.

he's a central player, someone that needs the ball all the time. In my opinion he has the type of quality that justifies building a side around him. I keep saying it, the lad is top class and couldn't believe some of the bull**** opinons posted on here this summer.

I think he is waiting for the right offer be that here or elsewhere.

no offence but refereing a game makes you no more qualified to coach than someone that watches football. Courses are great but we've seen lots of ex players more than adequately managing football clubs without any of the `required' FA qualifications.

now there's an idea. If it costs more to police blocks 1-3 why the **** don't they just charge more for the ST's? It costs 350 quid for block 5, whilst for 10 yards to the right its 288 quid in block 3, why not charge 350 for block 1-3. You pays your money you...

he's a ****ing monster, a ball winner, exactly what is required if Murty and Mills are going to play. Pace is the issue, he has none. That means Perry is a non starter next to him.

to be fair they weren't as bad the season they went down from the ccc as we were and they retained all their players apart from Hume. They also bought wisely and the full squad had a full preseason together.

that takeover malarky and new manager thingymagig?

if he wants a top 2 finish then he is going to have to totally revamp the side and that means bringing in 8 or 9 top quality players. There are several bosmans that meet this criteria who will demand high wages for this level, but we are also going to have to raid the best of league 1 and 2 paying real transfer money. Exciting times.