rudi7s

Most Sunday league sides have a bit of spirit, the 'nowhere near enough quality' bit of my post means they will finish a country mile away from 11th

Why? They get battered almost every game they play, just have a bit of a spirit about them and a very good finisher in ALF. Nowhere near enough quality

So he is! Although my point was also a more general one about the panic buying that goes on in Jan

Bit dramatic, Fonte and Yoshi have improved massively since early days of partnership. Not Astori quality but good enough

It is clear that the vast majority of fans still want Adkins, myself included, so can one of the opening songs today be about him/our support for him? Only when we were 3-1 up against Villa has this been done (highlighting most fans' fickleness), doing it early on against Spurs shows irrespective of the result at that point, we are behind him.

Which we did first game of the season IIRC, and Adkins wanted Adam in that 'hole' all pre-season.

How do we know its 4-4-2?? Could quite easily be the 4-5-1/4-4-1-1/4-3-3 we've played all year

I haven't read all of the above but I think the OP is ridiculous to assume that all losses were down to Adkins and in the one win he did everything perfectly. He is one of the brightest young managers in English football and wants to play attacking football, and although he is not faultless whatsoever we cannot as fans keep questioning him after a defeat, of which there have been 5. I highlight the number of defeats because I genuinely believe in 4 of those games we could not have expected anything more. We have had imo only 2 winnable games. I understand the way the United game went we should have come away with more, we didn't and the result went as predicted. But give this young side time to grow together, and Adkins the patience he deserves.

This link was also on talksport: http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/top-ten/120905/revealed-europes-biggest-spending-clubs-summer-transfer-window-180254

I think it is not uncommon for a talented player to underperform for his country, as Ramirez did in the Olympics. Interestingly one of the commenters who seems to know his football wrote 'Gaston Ramirez is probably second only to Eden Hazard as the world's outstanding young creative playmaker. You can judge him at the Olympics.' Then on Monday wrote it was either sink or swim in the PL. Ah fickle football fans.

Do you mean Barnard?

A lot of fair points there but I wouldn't put it past Adkins to try it out. To be fair Mascherano has been found wanting quite a bit recently (backend of last season and the two el clasicos this season) Also I'd say Schneiderlin will be the one DCM, with probably Cork and Davis playing either side of him.

Didn't want to start a new thread but what is the latest on Cork's fitness? I have a feeling he will be a vital piece of the jigsaw once fit, mainly because of his versatility in playing a number of positions; namely centre back. Adkins constantly draws comparisons with Barca, especially in emulating their 4-3-3 formation. Could Cork do a Mascherano in converting from energetic central midfield player to centre half? Not sure if this has been highlighted. Would not want to change the midfield 3 on the basis of Sunday and it could be that Cork answers our defensive woes; good on the ball, not slow, good tackler etc. Will he be fit for Arsenal?

Do you even support saints? How you can compare Delgado and Delap to J-Rod and Ramirez is beyond me, the latter both have sell on value, are young, exciting and as signings set us apart from all the boring PL clubs that buy your run of the mill, ageing players who albeit might have PL experience, but care more about their wage than developing and thriving as footballers. And why do you focus on PL experience so much? Do you think Man City fans bemoaned the signing of David Silva because he hadn't been to the Brittania on a cold Tuesday night? Or Chelsea were wary of signing Hazard because he hadn't felt the force of Lee Cattermole's tough tackling? Bore off

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Sharp and Deano apart (thought both wouldn't hack it in PL) I quite like that we've shown some faith in players like Fox, Hooiveld, Fonte (maybe Chappers) and have also given genuine first-team hope for the likes of Shaw, JWP etc. Getting a whole new influx of players when teams go up is not a good thing. A team that is united, gets on, and is used to playing with one another is, and with the additions we have managed to make marks the best transfer window probably ever - given its relatively recent history.

Ah cheers mate, had no idea

One of the most confusing google translations yet, it reads 'farewell Gaston' and is about Bologna trying to sign Floccari. But also mentions Juve, yet I haven't a clue what that bit means. http://www.calciomercato.com/mercato/bologna-pazienza-e-floccari-addio-gaston-234635

Sharp is not good enough to start in the PL. Too slow, poor first touch, and struggles to hold up the ball (crucial when playing 3 attacking midfielders). Good finisher mind and would be a shame to see him moved on as he helped get us here, but such is football.

Clyne. Our patient, short passing game often needs a change of pace. Full-backs can be vital in offering that; Cole, Clichy etc can burst past players and commit men, something Clyne can clearly do too

11-13

It might just be me but I can't wait for this again. Hated the fact 5 subs has been implemented across the football league, stupid rule and in terms of saints meant many of our brighter prospects gain little to none first team experience.

Having watched Reading a few times on the box the season, Harte is genuinely their biggest threat. Not listening tonight but he's scored again and they still sound dangerous from set-pieces as everyone has said. Free-kicks, corners, long range efforts etc. he's their biggest threat

I love saints!

Great read that. Jeremy is also a Saints fan and wrote a book not so long ago about Southampton legends.