Matthew Le God

Last League Game - 7th May Play off final - 29th May I would rather Saints used those 3 weeks to prepare for the Championship, signings etc, rather than being unsure which League they were in. A playoff campaign may mean Saints miss out of players.

Taking this back on topic. For those wondering what Dale Stephens is like, where he plays, what foot he uses, is he any good etc etc. If you use your Saints Player login/password, you can see the entire 90 minutes of the Oldham vs Sheffield Wednesday game from 2 weeks ago here... http://www.swfc.co.uk/articles/20110310/first-half-oldham-v-owls_2264101_2312979/0,,10304~2312979~1,00.html Dale Stephens is number 20.

Hypo also forgets that the gap in TV and money from the Football League between the Championship and League One is about £4 million per year (not to mention lower advertising, away crowds, sponsorship etc in League One). Look at Saints player transfer net spend in the two seasons since the takeover and add the £8 million it would have had if in the Championship compared to League One for two years. You can then see just how much the club has been spending relative to those in the league above who have had the additional £4m each season.

And at no point have I found your answers to my points to be adequate. Address every point I make in post #219. Three people have already said I raised some good points against your arguments, you have yet to change my mind on them with your answers. If you make a good rebuttal I am more than happy to agree with you. However at the moment I have a number of issues with some of the stuff you keep saying, as shown in post #219.

The rebuttal of an expect debater! You made numerous claims which I have then pointed out why I think they are wrong and all you do is...

He was an established Championship player for many year on a free transfer. Signing on fee, agent fee and significant wages apply. Was one of Preston's highest earners and one of the reasons they wanted to sell him due to financial problems. If he was not "rated" by S****horpe, why did he play 27 Championship League games between August 2010 and January 2011? For both N'Guessan and Forte, how many minutes on the pitch of live action have you seen them play to make a judgement? Not games, minutes. Serie B is a higher standard than League One, and Guly was a key player for a promotion winning side. You also seem to think he didn't cost much. Loan fee, transfer fee, signing on fee, agent fee and significant wages to attract him to move mean it is a big deal for a League One side. You really think the money based on appearances is the reason he hasn't played? It was £125k upfront, with roughly the same again for appearances. A tiny figure! Dan Harding has been in better form, so Dickson hasn't been in the squad, it is as simple as that. He has played nearly 100 games at Championship level, a high earner at Charlton and League One right back of last season. I doubt his wages, signing on fee or agent fee was cheap given he also cost £450k - a significant amount for a Football League transfer. Scored 10 goals from midfield at this level from central midfield, vice captain at a young age and tracked according to the media by clubs like Everton and Leeds. At least it seems you may give him a chance. I hope... ____________________________ You continue to post comments like this, ignoring that Saints have already spent heavily on the squad in the last 20 months, so don't need to spend huge amounts. The squad is already largely in place. You also ignore other factors involved in deals such as agent fees, signing on fees etc. Significantly you also ignore the multi million pound upgrade to Staplewood. Finally Lallana, signed an improved 4.5 year deal. He could have left in the summer and gone to a Premier League club. The club however showed him enough ambition and finance to back that ambition to get him to sign for 4.5 years.

Earlier this month... "Skysports.com also understands that Charlton have made an enquiry for Stephens, while a number of Championship side are also thought to be readying moves, with Leeds amongst those also keen. Stephens has also attracted attention from Premier League sides Everton, Bolton and Wigan." http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_6793708,00.html

What was that for?

You can't see his left forearm in that photo.

Some bizarre logic there. Stephens is here to boost numbers in central midfield. It isn't boosting them if it is one in, one out.

He was Oldham's vice captain at the age of 21, so some more leadership qualities in the Saints squad can only be a good thing.

He is a central midfielder.

How do you know with such certainty? Etuthu kicked his victim in the head three times whilst on the ground. Which is likely the reason for the custodial sentence as is extremely dangerous. We know nothing of the Barnard fight other than rumour.

He is not a wide player. He is a right footed central midfielder.

Are you confusing him with Tranmere's Dale Jennings?

- Oldham are 15 points from the playoffs with 8 games left. Plus they have serious money problems. - Hartlepool are 11 points from the playoffs with 8 games left.

Jonathan Forte played 24 Championship games for S****horpe between August 2010 and January 2011 (mostly as a striker, not a winger). He was not a "reject" or "reserve" for S****horpe as many Saints fans seem to think.

Don't hide behind "it is just the headline". You have said we should "settle for the playoffs". You shouldn't court controversy if you don't like the aftermath. Well that is because that part of the opening post isn't controversial at all. To be honest, it is so obvious and common sense, that it isn't really a talking point. What I, and many others (I think) take issue with, is your continual unsubstantiated negativity and courting of controversy.

Damn you, Nicola Cortese for doing your job professionally and behind closed doors! *shakes fist*

There will be no-one at Saints or the FA's offices to announce deals or even process them at this time in the morning. Most transfers Saints have done since the July 2009 takeover have been kept out of the press.

When you made this thread did you honestly think it would go down well and at least some people would agree with you? 78 other people have posted in this thread. Not one of them agrees with you. Does that not suggest that you may be an extremely isolated figure with this viewpoint? It is not a topic worthy of discussion because it is ridiculous. If one or two were negative towards it/you then you may have a point and it is worthy of discussion as a viewpoint. But 100% of the 78 other people posting in this thread disagree with you.

It is 7am in the morning on deadline day. What are you on about?

N'Guessan "goal" that would have made it 2-1 to Saints in the 89th minute. Linesman not even in line with the last defender at the time.

All 90 minutes of the game now on Saints player if anyone can bare the disappointment of watching it again.

Yes, matched on points, but not games. He made the point it will go down to the last game of the season. I however think it is more likely that after the Plymouth vs Saints game (when every team in League One will have played 45 games), the 2nd placed team may well be 4 points above 3rd place (or 3 points with far superior goal difference).