Professor

As we go into the Wolves friendly, its not accurate to say we "are" spending, only that we "were" spending or have spent: using The Echo's figures, its £13m on three first team players and a reserve GK but the last "spend" was Gazzanega, 2 weeks ago so the cheque book has been back in the drawer for the last fortnight. No doubt other teams have spent less, but those teams are already full of Premier League players. Tomorrow we will see how our Championship team with just a few additions, manages against the worst Prem team of last season. Do well, and maybe Cortese will not give Adkins the players he wants. Do not so well and the pressure will be on to move in the transfer market as Adkins has openly said he wants to do, but it may already be too late to put together a defence that can hold out against Man City.

It's being said Wolves will be a good test because they have hung on to their 'star' players but lets not build up a relegated side too much - they finished bottom last year with only 5 wins. If Saints aren't significantly better than Wolves, where would that leave us? This game may convince Cortese, if he is blocking Adkins' transfer targets, that he needs to get the cheque book out very quickly. On the other hand we might give Wolves a tonking and the club will decide the team is already good enough. Interesting, but it doesn't feel like a tonking coming on.

Wont repeat the rest of adrian's post - will just say that I don't feel people are being critical of NA. His statements all suggest he knows exactly what he needs and in the main it seems people have been simply pointing out that Adkins own objectives seem not to have been fulfilled. This may mean that the pause in signings is not down the NA. Even if 2 CBs and a RW are signed in the next week its is already too late for Adkins to make the best use in the first weeks of the season because to that they should be here now. And until we see who is coming, if anyone, we can't judge whether the team is moving up the level that is needed.

Alpine. This is not like you at all. Have they put you on medication? Consolidation is all very well at times, if you have security, but for SFC it could mean dropping back to the Championship, which is one hell of a league to get out of. We should be grasping this opportunity and learning from what clubs around us are doing. Adkins has clearly identified where he needs new players, and we've all been quoting them regularly - 2xCB, 1xLB; 1xRW; GK. The three signings made (plus a reserve GK) fall far short of those ambitions and time is getting very short. In fact its already too short to bed new players in before the first match. Must we be in the bottom 3 in Sept before anyone takes it seriously? And even then you can already hear the excuses about playing top teams. In the Prem you have to compete against every team, as QPR did at Man City onn the last day of last season. I hope my fears are proved wrong, but I'm getting more concerned at the lack of progress.

If Chaplow isn't in Adkins plans you would expect him to be told that he won't feature in the named PL squad. Telling him that might change his mind, so this may not be the end of the matter, but you do wonder how these stories get out unless leaked by the player.

Can't agree, because much as its great to have players with potential in the side, there is a crucial need for top level experience as well. We may have that in Steven Davis, except it looks like he may not be fit for the start of the season and it takes more than one player to provide that experience factor. Two established CBs with top level experience here or abroad would be ideal but its already looking to late to bring in a completely new pairing for the Man City game. My confidence, based on the intentions stated by Nigel Adkins a week or so ago, is beginning to fade as things remain quiet and the days get tickled off. PS. Hope they are also looking for that fast RW.

As GiveItToRon said the other day, the season doesn't start tomorrow, but it does start 3 days sooner than when Ron said that and there are now only 2 more week-ends before the Prem Kick-Off. Signings by other PL clubs continue to be of quality players with high level experience. Our signings of Gazzaniga and Adam Davies if true, are about future potential, not about improving the sidec that starts against Man City. There are suggestions that we should sign a new defensive pairing of 2 CBs, moving Jose and Jos to 3rd/4th choices but with time so short that now looks far too much of a risk against last seasons champions. The reason that time is short is what this thread is about, that signings should be early not late. Those who think that the success of the last two seasons in L1 and the NpC mean we can afford to be complacent need to look at the teams in this season's fixtures list compared to the last 2years!

Dear Mr Kraken, allow me to help you. 1. Current and former international players are generally thought to be of higher quality than those not to have achieved international honours; 2. Most Premier League teams have a number of such players. 3. SFC has one (Tadanari Lee) and have signed a second (Steven Davis) which still leaves Saints short of internationals compared to other Premier teams; It is, of course, a matter of opinion as to whether that matters. 5. A club with recognised international names tends to be more attractive to other similar players, other things such as pay, being equal; 6. WHU, having been promoted below SFC, are a benchmark against which comparasons can be drawn. 7. WHU are actively seeking players of international class, having signed ex-Finnish GK Jaaskelainen, Wales defender James Collins and Mali international Modibo Maiga. WHU are also linked with several other players at that level, the latest being the on/off potential loan/transfer of Andy Carroll. 8. Apart from Davis, Saints have signed 2 quality players with great potential and a reserve GK. By comparison with WHU this does not yet advertise the same level of ambition, although as fans we believe that ambition exists. We also believe further signings are to be made. Will those signings be established stars or will they be 'prospects'? 9. WHU were our promotion rivals of last season, therefore comparison with their Premier League preparations against our own, is 'saints-related'. Idiocy is not a word I would use towards Mr K, who is deserving of much greater respect, but I hope the explanation has helped.

Dear Mr Kraken, allow me to help you. 1. Current and former international players are generally thought to be of higher quality than those not to have achieved international honours; 2. Most Premier League teams have a number of such players. 3. SFC has one (Tadanari Lee) and have signed a second (Steven Davis) which still leaves Saints short of internationals compared to other Premier teams; It is, of course, a matter of opinion as to whether that matters. 5. A club with recognised international names tends to be more attractive to other similar players, other things such as pay, being equal; 6. WHU, having been promoted below SFC, are a benchmark against which comparasons can be drawn. 7. WHU are actively seeking players of international class, having signed ex-Finnish GK Jaaskelainen, Wales defender James Collins and Mali international Modibo Maiga. WHU are also linked with several other players at that level, the latest being the on/off potential loan/transfer of Andy Carroll. 8. Apart from Davis, Saints have signed 2 quality players with great potential and a reserve GK. By comparison with WHU this does not yet advertise the same level of ambition, although as fans we believe that ambition exists. We also believe further signings are to be made. Will those signings be established stars or will they be 'prospects'? 9. WHU were our promotion rivals of last season, therefore comparison with their Premier League preparations against our own, is 'saints-related'. Idiocy is not a word I would use towards Mr K, who is deserving of much greater respect, but I hope the explanation has helped.

Andy Carroll on loan to WHU for a £2m loan fee. The report says that Carroll's long term ambition remains at Anfield but that if WHU stay in the Prem the move may become permanent for £17m. I wouldn’t swap any of our 4 main strikers for Carroll, but that is not to denigrate him and in signing a current England international, West Ham have shown their intention to consolidate in the Prem. Our signing of Steven Davis is a similar statement of intent. It does take the signing of one or two established star players to show the football world that a club means business, so however well our excellent prospects may do, at least one more established player at international level would be very encouraging. We have been linked with one or two, so will this week see SFC in a headline move?

Seaborne has often been underrated by some fans, unfairly in the view of many, but after he was skinned by Mackail-Smith at P'Boro his stock went right down and Adkins seemed to lose confidence in him. Since then the time out can't have made him a better player and even if he is now fully fit physically, can he really be considered Prem class? Obviously, Adkins does see him in training but its easy to imagine Prem strikers running rings round him. If Martin wasn't good enough for this season, can't see that Seaborne is and I suspect he's behind Stevens in the order now. Maybe he's just being kept on until a new CB is signed.

Thanks DiS, the Mark Twain quote very good. On another point, whether the story is true or not, several posters suggest that the club should sell a potential star player if the price is high enough. Understandable on the basis that everything has its price, including football transfers, but if SFC are serious about the ambition being Champions League, sales have to resisted regardless of price. Our competitors at European level include teams prepared to pay £50m for one player. To compete, SFC should be prepared to have players of that calibre in the side. But the stated means of doing that is not by paying massive fees, but by bringing on our own stars. But this means that any star player who emerges must be kept, not sold, otherwise the project can't succeed.

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2855766,00.html

Saints are a club on the way up; Arsenal are a club on the way down but it takes the gutter press time to work these things out. If the story of an offer from Arsenal is true, NC would tell them what he told Chelsea, that offers for Luke Shaw will not be considered. But its almost certainly not true, just a re-working of the Chelsea story. The Walcott story is probably fiction as well. It would be interesting for someone to research the full extent of the inaccuracies in press reports of football transfers. It must be around 80%-90% inaccurate, an error rate that would not be tolerated in any responsible organisation.

Jan Vertonghen to Spurs, Ron Vlaar to Villa; Ivan Ramis to Wet Spam; Jonas Olsson in new contract talks with WBA. Need to get into the shop soon or the shelf will be getting empty. Wonder if Radhi Jaidi has been to Marseille to speak to Cameroonian CB, Stéphane Mbia Etoundi? They speak the same language.

Seems the Mick we were taking has been fully acquired. Move on Mr Chairman - RW and CB now becoming urgent please. Third GK and LFB cover needed but lower priority.

Yes, interesting that - how the 'mighty' have fallen. Encouraging thought that the same will happen in time to Chelski and Mabu Dhabi City.

If we sign all the Blackburn players we are linked with they should gel together well with the ex-Blackburn players we already have. Could create a Prem team that might do as well as Blackburn have done.... I'm not sure NC/NA are keen on ex-Prem players from relegated sides. More likely that its mainly paper talk to link a newly promoted club with players from last season being off-loaded.

Great idea these signings. Important to control midfield and be able to score goals. Team against Man City: Davis Cork Schneiderlin Kayal Davis Lallana Rodriguez Lee Hooper Sharp Lambert Ah, Sh*t. No space for defenders. Too complicated this football management stuff.....

Would have been happy with Snodgrass but do feel we can do better. Just hope the club is seriously looking to fill the RW spot as its one of the two weaknesses left, along with a first choice CB. We also need another GK but he could be No.2 or No.3.

I don't think you will find that the members of the SFA are retarded. It is more likely that they are intelligent individuals who are faced with an unprecedented situation concerning a major club in Liquidation and a buy out of the club name and assets by another company. This probably introduces complications that do not have simple easy solutions and a requirement to be even handed between the competing interests. It is a complication that the SFA themselves are an interested party because the loss of the 'Old Firm' Derbies is a huge loss of revenue to Scottish football, which may be why it needs an independent source, such as FIFA to help resolve the problems. What does seem clear is that Davis is now a contracted Saints' player but until his registration is logged he is unable to play. That is something that FIFA can resolve, on a temporary basis first if necessary.

Didn't Adkins make an ill-advised comment about Brighton that fired up their fans and may have motivated their players, when he spoke about whether Brighton could "keep up" with Saints? It was November in the L1 promotion year and Brighton were 8 points ahead of us when they got a 0-0 draw at the SMS so to talk about Brighton keeping up was seen by their fans and players as provocative and condescending. It wasn't suprising that their fans were anti-Saints come the away game at the Withdean when Brighton were enjoying the fact that we hadn't been able to catch up with them by a fair margin. But then to rub it in, we beat them at Withdean ending their unbeaten home record, plus Dean Hammond upset his ex-Brighton fans. But it was all more of a short phase with reasons for their dislike of us, rather than genuine rivalry. Since then things have settled down to Saints being above the Albion, and in a higher league, which has been the way of things for most of the past 50 years. Its up to SFC now to move up to another level as an established Premier Club, just as previously we were an established Div.1 and Premiership club. Even though Brighton were in Div 1 for about 4 years some 30 years ago, established in the top tier thay have never been and look unlikely to get back any time soon. There really does have to be an element of balance between two clubs for genuine rivalry, and even with Pompy we have only had that in short periods.

Iván Ramis. Daily Mirror reported that Wigan have bid £3million for Real Mallorca centre-back Ivan Ramis and that Aston Villa are interested. Ramis wants to move to England but the Spanish side are holding out for £4.25m. With European experience could be a better bet than a serial relegation player. Danns may be just too used to losing.

Something very sick about enjoying the potential demise of a famous football club, especially when our own club was faced with the same threat so recently. Hopefully the mods will remove this.

Brighton and Southampton are just too far apart to be 'local rivals' and just as well when you see what should be friendly rivalry between people who love football turn into the mindless loathing demonstrated by some Saints and Pompy supporters. We did have a season of rivalry with Brighton simply because our club and theirs were competing for the L1 title but that faded once Brighton were not contenders for a promotion place in the NpC. But rivals or not, there's no point belittling a football club that like many others has a long history and despite years in the lower divisions and some scrapes with oblivion, has come through to have a decent team with some financial backing and a modern ground.