Saint Charlie

I didn't say we spent it well. I agree with much of what you said. But posters like Delldays are constantly referring to having spent 30m as if we should be in the top 6. As you say, whilst money helps it is no guarantee of buying successfully, all teams are trying to buy the best they can, a promoted team who are less of an attraction for a prospective player than an established Prem side with most likely a higher wage bill have no right to 'buy better' than anyone else. We have spent a decent amount of money for us,but any team that comes up, especially in consecutive years from L1 is very likely to be in a relegation battle whatever they spend unless its ludicrous like 60m. (I know Norwich didn't...) Some posters were disappointed with a draw at Fulham, a team that had a squad capable of reaching the Europa League final the year we played at Dagenham. To catchup to their standard in 2 years takes more than 30m!

I just think Championship teams tend to have good Championship players. Premier League teams, even the weaker ones, have better players they have been gathering for a few years. If a promoted team spends 30m, but so does a lower Prem team (even if they spend 15m) then how does that close the gap? Have improved our squad, but so have Wigan, Sunderland, Fulham etc who all had better squads than us to begin with. To make a significant difference over those sides surely you need to spend double what they do for a couple of windows, or find a couple of those rare bargains ie Ba or Michu which everyone is trying to do. My opinion: 30m spend is a lot for Saints but doesn't mean we should automatically be higher up, we have a lot of good Championship players who are finding their way in this league.

If Cardiff come up and spend 30m would you expect them to be better than Sunderland if Sunderland spent zero in the summer but kept all their best players? In one summer to sign players to match Fletcher, Johnson, Larsson, McLean, Mignolet, Sessegnon etc on paper would cost far more than 30m, and Sunderland are fairly average. Sunderland would likely have a better squad and team despite spending nothing, because being in the Prem allows them to build their squad to the right standard over a few years. If you look at spend over say 3 or 4 years its more realistic IMO as that's how long it takes to build a squad. Stoke for example have spent a ****load in that time to get where they are. Norwich might not have but the spend of the likes of Wigan, Sunderland,Fulham, Aston Villa is miles more than us since say 2009. So is it realistic to expect 30m spend to suddenly overhaul those clubs, especially when most of them spent again this summer too?

They have done well, and fair play to them. But on the whole, 30m is not a 'team changing' amount for Prem teams to spend. Any promoted team is playing catch up on squad quality, apart from if you have gone up having been relegated the year before and managed to keep your better players like WH did. Spending is generally required, but you build each year like Stoke have, Swansea are looking like doing, and you need to keep adding players better than what you have which costs money usually.

We came up from L1 in two seasons. Many of the teams we are competing with have been spending 15m or more for the last 5 years to build their squads. Two years ago we were adding Dean Hammond whilst Wigan were signing McCarthy. You can't expect 30m to just buy a good team. In the Prem it's not a great deal. Squads are built over years. Ramirez at 12m has added quality and class, a CB of the same value also would, but it wouldn't instantly stop you conceding goals or make Davis any better.

Just watched a compilation and have never seen anyone score so many tap ins! Reminded me of Sharp a bit.

Not sure about that, the history is important for all fans.

Funny thing of those quotes is that there's nothing disrespectful. It was pointed out that our disciplinary record is good and NA said it will help because Stoke score a lot of their goals from set plays (a fact) and by conceding less free kicks it gives us a better chance (again, a fact).

Really hope you are right on AL but all other indications are that he is out for weeks. Plus you did say he was 'back' for Sunderland.

Must start a whole lot better than we have recently. If they score early they will win easily given their form and confidence.

It's a squad game, you need depth in all positions. JWP is a good prospect, and fine in a central 3 but not in a 2, see Everton away when we were so open with him and Davis playing. Everyone realises the difference Cork has made, another good CM would really help.

Bold post Davey.

CB more vital than LB IMO. If Fonte was injured today and out for 2 months we would have Jos and Yoshida which would be poor. If one of those got suspended we would have Fox at CB. Shaw and Fox are ok at LB for me, plus Clyne and Reeves could also cover there. Totally agree re winger. For me it's Winger, CB, Gk, CM, LB

CM is strong when Morgan and Cork play but without either of them it's weakened a lot.

Agree with that but 6 points from that run of 5, I would take that now. It would represent a good return considering 3 of those are against top sides.

Need to do better than Stoke draw, Arsenal win, Villa draw, Everton draw and Utd lose? Really? 6 points from those 5 would be very good.

Agree, we are 11th in the form table at the min and got the same points as Chelsea and Swansea from last 8 games. Not too bad, just need to keep averaging one point per game.

No. I am a mere fan like you. Did you get my PM?

Really? Bale is very strong and powerful, AOC fairly powerful too and Shaw able to outmuscle attackers age 17.

No keepers either, just a coincidence.

Tough run, a point per game keeps you up and we are two behind that currently so need to try and muster 5 points from those. Key is not to be beaten at Villa. A decent signing or two would give us a boost.

If it was I would just say 'my mate who supports Brum'.

Yeah that was early on as well. Wonder if it would have affected our other business? Liverpool in pole position now according to my Brum Oppo.

No need to lump up field in the 4-4-1-1 but more protection for the full backs. 4-3-3 end up being 4-5-1 and thats when the ball doesnt stick up top as proven vs Fulham for the first half.

When they first moved down here there was no suggestion they had split. She was tweeting about moving here, meeting all the other player wives/partners etc. Plus the baby would have been conceived in Feb sort of time, ie just after he moved here. Also pretty sure RL's family live down here in North Baddesley, certainly his wife and kids do.