SaintBobby

I'd probably build the team around Ramirez. Basically, 4-3-1-2 with Ramirez in the hole/free role. Not sure who the 3 are, really? Schneiderlin, Davis, Lallana? If Ramirez is as good as suggested and becomes our playmaker, I wonder if this puts Lallana under some pressure?

On the capacity point, the corporates in block 5 have quite a bit of extra space. The seats close to block 4 are quite empty (rough guess, 300 empty seats). I gather the reason for this is that the new "club lounge" membership is at its max for fire or health & safety regs or some such. So, the club could sell these seats - but have no easy way to actually get people to them (and nowhere to put these people pre match/post match/half time...or no way of stopping them getting into the club lounge at these times if they sold these seats separately). I'm told the club is appealing the ruling from the relevant quango/govt body.

Strangest thing for me was Mayuka as the holding centre forward and Rodriguez on the wing? Surely should have been other way round? But, from what I could see from just behind the bench, the idea was to have Jay put real physical pressure on a tired (and small) Rafael (at least this appeared to be roughly what was signalled). If that was the strategy, it didn't work. But it wasn't insane either.

Gut wrenching horrid finale. But, in cold light of day, a quite excellent performance. Slight query over the subs, but - with two hours of reflection - I'm actually quite confident we will stay up. Ramirez potentially offers us an extra gear, of course.

The skates new signing, Ertl, has scored. Sadly, for the phew, it's an own goal. Pmouth 0 Oldham 1 :-)

Interesting to reflect again on the poll results. I'd say that most football fans tend to be over-optimistic about their clubs in most respects. But 57% of those who voted in this poll were on the wrong/pessimistic side (myself included). Some sort of proof that SWF posters and readers are disproportionately miserable bastards?

You were presumably cheering on Coventry on the last day of last season then, right?

That just simply can't be taken remotely seriously as an opinion of someone of sound mind. I can understand preferring to keep Sharp over Rodriguez. But to believe Sharp's value to Saints is greater than that of Ramirez and Rodriguez combined is just beyond ludicrous.

On reflection, it is pretty staggering that we've spent about £30m net. I do hope we're not being financially reckless - I suspect not, Cortese seems to know just what he's doing.

I would say we're probably a bottom six team still overall, but hard to judge what impact Ramirez will have. Seems to me that our prospects rest quite heavily on his shoulders.

Very happy overall. But just bizarre we have so little cover at CB or LB.

Hammond to Brighton - season long loan

really? does short-term loan window shut today too?

Lol. If Owen is to find a club, does he need to do so by midnight? Or can he join a club whenever, as he's a free agent?

is there any shred of truth to the recurrence of this Owen rumour?

About 2 days ago, Pardew said he didn't expect to be very active.

Confirmed on OS http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/keeper-cropper-signs-permanently-345724.aspx

I'd prefer to have kept Sharp I think. Would send a "message of intent" I suppose....whatever use that is.

Adkins said he expected to work very late tonight and that doesn't seem as if he was referring to the Ramirez deal - so what is he working on?

SSN confirm Sharp on season long loan to Nottm Forest

Seems to make sense that we are still in the market for players. Adkins said he expected to have a late night - and it doesn't look as if the Ramirez deal was anywhere close to going to the wire...

If he's the SKY reporter, why the hell hasn't he popped up on SSN?

I think we need another defender. Possibly someone who can play left-back and centre-back.

Dowie suggests on SSN that Ramirez could disrupt the Saints dressing room - by putting Lambert's nose out of joint as the new "top dog". That's about the only coverage SSN have given the coup of this transfer window. Woeful.

In fairness, I think he now concedes his prediction that we'd come 17th last season wasn't an absolute bullseye...