The Kraken

F*cking brilliant. Our transfer policy is all over the place.

I think you'll be in the minority there.

I think we'd be mental to get rid of him. Even if we go down. That's just my opinion, but I think with his resources (a net spend of £3M on players to get us from L1 to PL is 2 years) he has done an amazing job and deserves backing and patience.

Of course we can. The question will be "why weren't we good enough", though. And if it happens it will be for a number of reasons, but not because the manager is inept and should have been replaced IMO.

I don't buy pulling power because of the manager. Its down to how big the club is, and how much they'll pay in transfer fees and wages. Redknapp had no real standing in European or world football before being at Tottenham, yet they brought in big players because of the club and the ability to pay very well.

It was a response to "if Cortese ditches Nige". If that happens, the role of the transfer committee would also be in question (given that they've yet to provide the manager with players he needs). NC sits on that transfer committee. Therefore, in that hypothetical situation, he would have to look at himself and others rather than isolating one man for the blame.

Yep, just seen it. "@GaryLineker: Surprisingly poor turn out for Saints first game back in PL. Ground looks half empty. Any reason?"

Cortese needs to look in the mirror rather than lashing out at a very good manager. A manager who identified the need for 2 GKs, 2 CBs, 1 LB, 1 RW and potentially 1 LW to be added to his squad. And for which the transfer committee have so far brought in one reserve GK. The manager knows what he wants and needs, he simply hasn't got it yet.

Optimistic at best. Last season, 13 league goals got you 10th place in the top scorers list. 10 - 12 goals at this level is a fantastic achievement. I'm not even sure J-Rod has had a decent shot on target yet, has he?

Who is JRod going to move infield for?

Amen to that.

Not really, no. Adkins hinted a few weeks ago he wanted to bring 2 goalkeepers into the squad; so KD's place is hardly assured.

Frank, you're missing the point. Myself and many others have never, ever dismissed the possibility of expanding. In the future, when its proven we should do so, when current capacity is nowhere near big enough. Not build it now/next year, and then create new pricing structures to fill it. That's been shouted down by "Dell-sized mentality" accusations from various corners, so its no use playing the abuse card, that's gone both ways. I know that I've previously posted on a number of occasions before that we should look at attendances over 2 or 3 years in the Premier League and make a decision on expansion from that, and been shouted down for it. "That's too late, why wait that long, we've got historical data", all of that. That's why this debate is ongoing.

I think we'll bring in 1 or 2, but that it will still leave us short of areas that we really needed to improve on (rather than spending £6M on a striker who isn't allowed to play up front).

Indeed. If it was just 1 or 2 players that we're short of, I'd be concerned but less so. 3 or 4 players short with this long to go, you have to worry about what we're going to bring in (if anything).

So predictions made 3 weeks ago are valid, but predictions made now aren't?

As I said, it wasn't just those blocks. Throughout the ground there were swathes of empty seats, despite showing as completely sold out online. I'd be surprised if the attendance figure published was the actual amount of punters throught the gates, even BBC commented that the match was "sparcely attended". Most bizarre.

So you're saying we don't need the players our manager has said he wants?

If you're struggling with this then good luck moderating this place after our next two games (if results don't go our way as perhaps expected).

Blocks 1 2 and 3 all sold out, apparently. Yet huge gaps in there, not just 1 or 2 seats here or there who hadn't bothered to show up. Same in the Chapel down the front. Very bizarre.

That's Guly's "problem". He'll work well with an attacking full back who can get beyond him. He'll cut in well and keep things moving. But he absolutely won't be an attacking threat down the line, and therefore play gets condensed and predictable. The same on the other side with Rodriguez, and with Fox not able to commit as far forward. Compare it to swansea (who we're trying to emulate) and today they were superb with Routledge and Dyer on either side getting the ball, attacking the full backs and stretching play.

And it rained today too.