Crab Lungs

Considering the historical ethnicity of the French national team for the World Cup and Euros win (their most successful period!), it'll be interesting to know why the French federation would have that bizarre viewpoint. Likewise their team today, though they haven't won anything *yet*, the mixed race arabian/nth generation african is still very, very high. And it could be argued that their finest player ever was of ethnically Algerian extraction. Interesting read. Thanks. (Btw... has anyone noticed the renaissance that Belgian international football is having?)

The point I was going to be made has already been made.

Welcome to feral Britain.

I went for the job as it was advertised at a significantly higher rate than £6.95ph, got it, only to be presented with a contract at a much lower rate.

Irrespective... that was NOT what was advertised. Well below, actually. Doesn't matter now, anyway...

OMG, I actually left B & Q for that reason! Went for a job there, got it, first day had the contract shoved in front of me and it was £6.95ph! Needless to say, I wasn't pleased and left immediately.

Will they treat him the same as an able bodied pitch invader though?

You are correct. With the tagline "Freedom"

Have to say, you just have to look at the people involved to know it's a load of b0ll0cks. Donald Trump & Sarah Palin. Hmmmm indeed.

Still can't believe that got past any sort of stage. Someone should have had a quiet word instead of nodding and going "That's brilliant!"

This is true... I remember a bit hoopla about that a while ago. F()cking greedy bastards

Ah ********. That gives them at least another week to sort out Eugene Bopp's contract Btw.. I acknowledge my fast-typing Adkins/Adkin's foul up.

A tenner from 270 people... we can do this...

Which'll impact bigger teams far more than it would us. The "Adkins" or "Adkin's" bit I'm not even going bother commenting on. Yes, you're right but jesus, it's not spelling contest.

Tactics/Observations/Starting 11 Once again, assuming we are promoted, Chamberlain is retained and the players above are recruited, it'd be lovely to see the Saints line up for their first game at home to an under-strength, disorganised Portsmouth on the 6th August with: ----------------------------Davis------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- Butterfield---------Fonte-------------Jaidi----------------Harding ---------------------------------------------------------------- Chamberlain*------Elliott-----------Hammond--------------Lallana ---------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------Lambert----------Barnard**----------------- *assuming Chamberlain is retained, if not Antonio/Eagles/Boyd would do nicely! **Barnard for the Skates game, but would be in direct competition with Connolly (retained), Beattie and another. Conclusion & Prediction I've now realised this perhaps the most stupidest and hardest part of this post to make. I've no idea. With sensible recruitment (wily bargain basement signings and a sensible outlay on high-standard NPC level footballers), we've got a chance. In fact, I'd suggest our best chance of going up to the Premier League would be next season, as I've stated above. Winning momentum, surprise factor and of course, the retention of our best players. Anyway, nothing is cut and dried in this league let alone the next, but if we were offered Leeds position and points now, would I take it? I think I probably would...

Well, here goes. I don't believe, if we go up, that we should look to consolidate in the Championship. The NPC should be used as a springboard and with so many good-quality players in our squad looking to further themselves, we should be matching their ambition and at the very least, going for promotion within 1-2 years. If we don't, we could end up stagnating like Coventry. I don't buy "establishing yourself" in any other league than the Premier League. Every other league should be used as a springboard and if we were to just settle for mediocrity then we'll no doubt end up with players with parallel ambitions. That'll mean goodbye Chamberlain, goodbye Fonte, goodbye Schneiderlin and goodbye Adam Lallana. Can we replicate what Leeds, Millwall and Norwich have done? Yes, we can. Similar sized clubs with resources similar or lesser than our own have achieved and succeeded in the NPC so with a little tweaking and sensible recruitment to ensure we're covered for another gruelling 46-game season, it's possible. That and we hang on to our own best players, of course. They'll be no better time to have an opportunity of reaching than the Premier League. What we do next season could determine quite a lot. Objective As mentioned previously, the playoff mix has to be an absolute must. Depending on the resources available (let's speculate £5m plus player sales), it's fair to say that is a reasonable budget to recruit from. Likewise, with only minimal tweaking(not significant restructuring required) should enable us to pick up 3-4 decent quality players to build upon the squad we've already got. As above also, what happens next season could determine our short-term future significantly. Assuming we are promoted from L1, we are likely to still have Fonte, Schneiderlin and Lallana; possibly Chamberlain as well. We'll also have the momentum of a winning side and mindset, which, as you have seen in recent seasons, has catapulted teams from L1 to the brink of the Premier League: Leicester, Leeds, Norwich, Swansea and Millwall - or at the very least, kept them in the mixer. If we spend two years "establishing" ourselves than we'll not only lose that momentum, but we'll also lose the players with that mindset. Viable Player Targets (In) For those of you who saw my "Crab Lungs" cravings post, I have drawn up a huge shortlist of potential buys should we reach the Championship. Of course, we cannot have all 100 of them so I'll have to cherry-pick my favourites in the positions I've identified where we're short. As above, Radhi Jaidi is coming to the end of his career. For me, he's worth another contract but beyond that we have look elsewhere. It's probably too soon to throw Aaron Martin in straight away so an experienced, grizzled, no-nonsense centre half is one requirement. A Chris Morgan/Chris Lucketti type player who will blend with Jose at the back. Recently relegated Preston will undoubtedly struggle to keep ahold of their best players, one being Sean St.Ledger. He's one option, though I would also recommend we look at Matt Kilgallon (Sunderland), Matt Connolly (QPR) or even Graeme Lee (Notts County). The latter may come as a surprise but he'd be a very inexpensive stop-gap and is someone I believe could do a job at a higher level, given the right circumstances and team around him. Michail Antonio is another player I would love to see back at Saints. Like sambosa said, Antonio seemingly offers a bit more than Forte as an impact player, had a terrific throw, blistering pace, competitive nature and good attitude to hard work. He'd fit in well, even if he is a little raw. Irrespective, to have pace and power available as well as technique and determination just adds another string to our bow. Recruitment of Antonio and another winger would also be ideal, giving us an option to move Lallana either further field or in a free role, as well as providing good competition for places - not to mention the anticipated departures of Chamberlain and Puncheon could leave us short in those areas. But what wingers would offer something different or improve upon what we already have? Antonio offers something different and Chris Eagles of Burnley would too. Skilful, hard-working and an accurate crosser, he's what Lee Holmes could have been if he wasn't injured so much. Not sure how much he'd cost, but he'd definitely be someone to look at as I think as much as I'd want George Boyd, I think we'd be priced out of the market for him. Another player in a similar mould to Eagles is Keith Treacy at Preston, although seemingly more "explosive" than Preston. He's not Jonno quick, but he's another proven Championship winger and he'll no doubt also be available at the right price from relegated PNE. In the centre, I think we're also requiring a little more competition. Whilst we have some "solid, if unspectacular" performers in the centre of the park, I'd like us to get one or two specialist midfielders. Midfielders that you can clearly identify by their roles. Not a jack-of-all-trades, but someone who does one or two specific jobs and does them brilliantly. As much as I'd like us to bring back Jack Cork from Burnley, I don't think he'll add any much more than what we've already got. Firstly, we'll need an imposer. A Graham Kavanagh type midfielder who'll put the tackles in, lead by example and pass the ball sensibly and accurately. For a cheap option, I've identified David Prutton of relegated Swindon. No doubt that'll raise some eyebrows on here but I think in a good team, he'll prosper. In a bad team, he'll wilt. Additionally, I think he'd relish the opportunity of giving it another shot here. First and foremost though, I believe he has the ability to do a good job in the NPC should he be given the opportunity. A more financially expensive target would be try and prise Marvin Elliott from Bristol City. I can't imagine what he'd cost (probably in excess of £1m) but he would be worth every penny. Rangy, hard-working and can chip in with a few important goals as well. He'd give us excellent protection should Nigel dabble with that diamond formation again. A second midfielder with different attributes would also be required. We have Lallana for creativity, but I cannot help but think that if we had another little magician in the Belmadi role then we'll have great coverage in the squad, as well as exciting attacking and differing options. One player I've been impressed with is Radowslaw Majewski at Notts Forest and whilst I'd no idea what he'd cost and whether he'd join, if it's under £1m and he's interested then he'd provide the perfect creative footballer to either cover Lallana or better still, play alongside him in some shape or form. Then again, I wouldn't be too upset if we signed none of the above and just went for Stock, Howard and Danns; after all, they're long overdue in signing! Up front, I'd target someone with brawn (but perhaps not his footballing brain) to take the workload off Rickie. Someone relatively cheap, experienced in the NPC and would work around and link up with creative, quick footballers. Someone like Steve Howard or Jon Parkin; Perhaps, Darius Henderson of Sheffield United. Besides, if we recruit him, at least it'll probably end his threat of scoring against us. Either of three mentioned would do a fantastic job, but my targets would be set on a "wow" player with reputation. Someone, perhaps, with a point to prove. Someone who would slot in well into the existing framework, the team and the surroundings. Someone who perhaps already knows the club. James Beattie. I am in absolutely no doubt he would rediscover his form. Yes, he's not fresh-faced, arrogant Beattie we all remember and love but he can still do it. He just needs to find the right environment. We are that environment. Back the Beatts... Also, I think we're lacking an explosive striker. Perhaps a Simeon Jackson type player, or someone who simply just has a bit of pace and is prolific at this level. Someone who would add another dimension to our strikeforce beyond the guile of Connolly, the goalscoring of Lambert and the hard work of Barnard. Nicky Maynard of Bristol City, Marlon Harewood of Blackpool or Ishmael Miller of West Brom. Another gamble I'd like to see us take is prising David Somma away from Leeds. If anyone here as seen him, perhaps they'd know why! Still can't understand why he doesn't get as many games. Players Out (Released/Sold) Dan Seaborne, sadly. I just don't think he's got enough about him to aid us in a charge up to the Championship. In fact, I'd hate to see him versus Steve Howard The usual suspects; deadweights Anthony Pulis and Tommy Forecast and of course Jason Puncheon. We won't get much revenue from the first three, but Chamberlain may also move on - for around £10m. A decent warchest for an assault on the NPC. TBC....

Thanks for being the first person to "sit the exam" You've pretty much summed up a lot of what I was going to write as well, which is interesting! Time to post mine...

Will always remember West Ham home... we tore them apart!

Tbf, Southend were respectful AND good fun. Not many fans you can say that about... or we could all be about machismo and manly posturing?

If some smaller club with a chip on their shoulder (that's partially arrogant comment, right there!) wants to get their knickers in a twist over Saints fans talking about a very real, very possible outcome that's up to them. It's speculative anyway, I think everyone knows that. I don't think people really care about that, surely... I get the impression as alexander says above that they'd rather not tempt fate!

Fair do's.... close it down and let's see what happens then! Then I'll be interested to hear opinions...

Christ... does anyone really see this as arrogant? Hardly anything wrong in talking about a possible eventuality...

To negate the "arrogance factor", you can also hypothesise IF we don't get promoted...

Personally, I don't see it as such. I see it as ambition and well, a hypothetical, fun exercise. It depends how delicate some people are...

Yes, I know it's a bit premature. Yes, it could be conceded that it might appear a bit arrogant from those of a delicate nature however, should we return to the NPC as anticipated, what exactly will need to ensure we can challenge for a second promotion? I had a conversation with a friend who wanted us to establish ourselves in the NPC first before we even thought about promotion. I understand his point entirely, but it wasn't for me. What made more sense was to build on the momentum we already have, recruit sensibly and use the players of high calibre that we've already got to give it another go next season. Besides, I'm concerned that if we don't at least have a go next season then we'll be susceptible to losing our stars; like Chamberlain, Fonte and Lallana as our ambition will undoubtedly have to match theirs. So, where are we short? Where do we need to strengthen? Do we need more impact players? Do we need an alternative to Jaidi? Has Dale Stephens warranted a full-time contract with the Saints... and exactly how many of our players can do a reasonable to good job in the division above next year? Realistically, I think that if we are promoted then I would like to think we can attract some decent, established Championship players who would compliment our squad and give us different options. So, hypothetically speaking, if you were Adkins and you were given £5m to spend on new players (aside from their wages), what players would you be looking at to strengthen the squad? Also, what players would you move on? The likes of Forecast and Pulis are probably a given, however, what about long-term absentees and fringe players? What of Connolly, is he worth another gamble in the NPC? And lastly, tactics. Will we have to adapt much, assuming we reach the Championship? Are our players inferior to existing teams in the league? Are we as good and as strong as Doncaster, Palace and Derby, let alone Leeds, Millwall and Norwich - who have all come up from the third tier and not been outclassed? Will we have to tweak our tactics as well as our squad to adapt, or will our current tactics with sensible improvements work just fine? It's fair to say that our current squad is arguably better than the one we had in the last season of the Championship but is that enough? I'll leave it to you to decide... what do YOU think we need to do to mount a challenge for promotion in the NPC? Or would you be happy with establishing the club first? State your objective, your targets, sales, tactics, observations and then your conclusion and prediction. Might be interesting to see how many of us get it right this time next year! Anyway, excuse the essay style, I'll kick it off by doing mine in a minute but here's the subject headers... if anyone care's to have a go, that'd be great Objective Viable Player Targets (In) Players Out (Released/Sold) Tactics/Observations/Starting 11 Conclusion & Prediction * Like I said, all hypothetical - I'm not taking it for granted as we're not there yet... but just assume we do make it!