The Kraken

That's true. But with Hammond / Chaplow and Morgan we appear to have two such players in central midfield who do that. IMO we don't see the CMs getting beyond the front two (in the style of a Frank Lampard) often enough.

I don't think he was poor; but particularly in the first half he was fairly quiet. Considering he and Chaplow haven't played together before I think they did ok, second half being better than the first. I'd still obviously like to see more goal threat from central midfield though, against Tranmere we started to see it but not too much evidence of it yesterday (unless you count Morgan andd Paul Wotton thrashing one into row z).

Adkins record so far with us reads as P8 W4 D2 L2. 14 points from 8 games, which over the course of a season would give us 80 points. Not yet championship winning form, but not too far away. A couple more wins against Notts County and D&R should see us looking much better off; likewise, anything less than 3 points against either and we risk being cast adrift by Brighton at the top.

Exactly this. Not a chance they will liquidate.

Supermatch game; Blankety Blank chequebook and pen for the best answer.

Eh? What is this crazy notion?

I sometimes pop over to my old manor for a visit to the Bypass Ground to watch Romsey Town.

I think it's the former, yes. When the MOBO awards start excluding white artists I might lend the criticism a semblance of credibility.

Maybe the article was published, Saints then made the offer, then this thread was created?

It's only the Daily Heil, but they confirm the story. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1321994/Southampton-offer-Adam-Lallana-deal-extension-fend-Birmingham.html Not mention of how to spell Ginormous though.

Good news to confirm we've definitely made him a formal offer, and that it's a generous one. I don't see it changes much in the short term though; it's still very much in AL's interests to see his current contract out to the summer and make a decision then. He can then either decide to re-sign with us if we go up, or with one of what will likely be a number of potential suitors from the leagues above. Of course, if he's a home town boy and just doesn't want to move it would great for us to have him put pen to paper. But very unlikely IMO.

Exactly this. Just put up some red and white stripes of wallpaper and tell him that's how it comes.

Iain Dowie has got quite the c o ckney accent, to be fair.

Leftback, you've sometimes had some valid points but I think this one gets lost in your agenda. I couldn't care about the semantics of "development squad", its the reserves but if they want to call it something different, go for it. And I'd have said this match is EXACTLY why we shouldn't be playing in a ridiculous reserves league, plying our trade against Forest Green Rovers and other such luminaries on cold, wet, Tuesday evenings away from home. If calling it a development squad means that we can finally play our reserves and promising youngsters against another decent reserve outfit, then I'm all for it. There's not been enough of this type of game for the development squad, I agree. But in the case of this game I think it has served its purpose.

I think you're just being deliberately obtuse now. Calm down and re-read my post properly. I said there is a POSSIBILITY that Pardew named a number of targets. Given that there is no evidence either way, it's equally as likely as your assertion that he sat around with his feet up all summer. I fully expect Adkins to be given money to spend in January; we've filled one gap from the summer (CM cover) with the loan signing of Chaplow, and hopefully will make that one permanent. But we are still very short up front. The RM slot may be filled by Chamberlain, though I expect Adkins to be in for 2 or 3 players in the window. We'll see.

Fair enough, that's your opinion. Having Carter on trial says to be it was the opposite. I'm not necessarily disputing your opinion, I'm just conscious that, while nothing can be proved either way, there is also the possibility that Pardew named a number of targets he wanted to bring in but was rebutted by the transfer committee/Cortese. While you say the Guly 5 minute cameo was a 2 fingered salute to Cortese, I see Guly's signing as just that to Pardew; AP had spent the summer decrying the need for a new CM, direct repllacement for Antonio; and backup for Lambert. Guly is essentially none of those 3.

No, he didn't do "sod all". He took Carter on trial, which shows he was at least looking to address our problem positions. I have no idea exactly how much AP personally did about signing new recruits. He could have recommended any number of players and been refused them; or he could have sat around with his feet up most of the time. There's no way to tell either way, but given that he consistently made reference to needing players and didn't get them, the club as a whole should take a fair share of the blame, which was the point I was trying to make. Waigo agreed; I can only presume he didn't rate him and therefore didn't want him. I actually agree, I was never a fan of Waigo anyway. Though saying that I'd rather have him than nobody, as we currently have. Antonio; I'm not sure what more was possible for Pardew to do. He told the chairman he wanted to sign him, from then on it's the chairman's decision whether to meet Reading's valuation. As it turned out, from his point of view Antonio probably thought he was doing the best thing for his career, playing a division above and being given plenty of chances in the first team to break through.

Add in corporate sales and it's probably about right in terms of our revenue increase.

I think its a bit too easy to solely blame Pardew. Throughout the summer AP was constantly banging the drum about the need to bring in new players, and to replace Antonio/Waigo, so he clearly knew there were gaps to be filled. We also supposedly have a transfer committee including Cortese, Les Reed and others still at the club, so its disingenuous to solely blame Pardew for the squad's current deficiencies.

Not quite. Adkins first game was the defeat to MK Dons; as of today his record stands at W3 D2 L2, 11 points, 1.57 points per game which would give us 72 points over the season. Not good enough. I thoroughly agree with your last sentence though.

Incorrect. In this thread alone I have admitted that I do not know for sure that the club statement is 100% truthful. The difference is, I am choosing to believe the statement until I see evidence that proves otherwise. In any case, this argument has run its course (I'm actually not even sure what was being talked about half the time). Time will tell if Adkins is a better manager, but I've certainly been impressed so far, and I hope our progress continues with a win today; that would definitely be a real achievement.

Actually, there is. There is a formal club statement detailing it. A club statement which the manager has been interviewed on tv about, and hasn’t contradicted. All your own supposition. And all baseless in fact. Upon what are basing your opinion on, apart from your own opinion? The only factor you have taken into account is your own opinion. No facts at all, none.

It just does

I'm giving up now. I have no idea what you are arguing for. Or against. Other than the fact that a previously issued club statement may be be true. Or not. Or maybe half true. Or doesn't adress the issues. Or something else. All I know is that you think I'm wrong to support it. Or the other way round. Who knows.

Your aren't though. You're suggesting we divert attention from the current explanation from the previous employer, and instead investigate other theories which have no basis in fact.