St BATman

Seems a shame, obviously 1885 has connections. Maybe they could re-name the stands after iconic players?

As I see it: GK: Davis; DF: Fonte; Jaidi; Harding; Dickson; MF: Lallana; Puncheon; Schneiderlin; Hammond; CF: Lambert; Barnard Subs: Bart; Seaborne; Wotton; Mills; Connoly; Martin; Oxlade-Chamberlain Would keep us going to start the season. We need a RB a CM a wide player and a striker (personally I think 2 as I would lose Connoly), however the notion that these should be automatic starters is not necessary when you look at that XI (possible exception of the RB!). With the 4 positions I have listed, some promising youngsters (Gobern, McNish) and the loan market available throughout the majority of the season to us to cover injuries we really aren't that far off. Also, with where we are in the pecking order if we were to get all our transfers in too early it is conceivable we could miss out on better players that become available later on in the window as squads higher up the leagues start to take their final shape... So, in terms of gelling the earlier the better. However, the reality is such that our first 11 doesn't need much strengthening in order to challenge for the title and squad players will have longer to gel into the ethos of the club through reserve fixtures and training sessions throughout the season as they are not regular starters. Finally, as has already been mentioned: Our BEST signings (Lambert, Fonte, Puncheon) didn't actually need any gelling time... Can't wait for the transfer activity to start but more importantly I can't wait to be going back to St Marys to watch us win a lot more than we lose again this season!

Fair points, for gaps in team I read gaps in squad and I think that's what the OP was trying to imply - FWIW I don't agree with knee jerk reactions and as back up in league 1 think the likes of McNish, Oxlade.... and Gobern can do a job for us - however these would not make for a CCC squad as has been eluded to be Pardew several times now. Can't wait to see who we bring in (and am happy to wait for the right people to be brought in) as I have full faith in Pardew's transfer policy based on his mainly excellent signings so far!!!!

Sorry but we do need another CM (maybe even 2?), who plays if Morgan or Hammond are out? We need 2 RB, another striker as back up to Lambert and Barnard. We could probably do with a wide player too given that Antonio and Waigo have returned to their parent clubs... As for the OP it is too early, but the sentiment of having a nearly complete squad for pre-season isn't ridiculous, just a little unrealistic if we are looking at the higher calibre of player required for next seasons CCC campaign. We will sign the right players and they will be sooner than last year. Everyone calm down and enjoy the World Cup (just don't expect England to get far beyong R2!)

James Harper, Martin Kelly, Mark Beevers, Sam Vokes, Andrew Surman and Calderon

I like Gobern in that position, uses his long legs well to tackle and control the ball; a bit like a mish mash of Vieira and Wanchope!! Think he needs to concentrate on one position as he seems to have been tried out wide and in the middle as both an attacking and defensive force. Thought McNish was OK but will need to up his game a bit. Would have liked to have seen Oxlade-Chamberline given another go...

Clyne; will be attracting much higher clubs than us - could look at a loan bid Simek; think we can do better than a player who can't get in a soon to be relegated championship side Marriapa; don't think he will drop Hutchinson; I think will be around the Chelsea first squad, especially after listening to 5 live earlier Wlaker; great shout - think he will end up on loan at a CCC club though Volz; maybe but big concerns over his ability to stay fit (a la Murty and Connoly)

Sign: Antonio, Elliott Ward, Brian Howard, Kieran Lee, Kasper Schmeichel, Billy Sharp and another CM - maybe Jay Spearing on loan? Let go: Forecast, Murty, Perry, Lancashire, Wotton or James, Gillet, Connoly

possibly the worst typing of my life....

Scrappy win. Would never have a game like like that last year or even at th ebeginning of this for that matter - progress of sorts! Lallana was quality, worst I've Spiderpig play - even Wottons passing was better than his! Don't think Seaborne hoofs it any more than Jaidi to be honest and it does at least normally stay in play. That said, he does needtalking through the game and Fonte can only help that. About the third game in a row Puncheon's been poor which is a worry to me, would have removed him instead of Barnard to be far. On Sat Charlton will be here to win and as long as we turn up at the beginning of the game we should havea bloody good chance of winning it and possibly be within 5 points of the play-offs. Keep the dream alive boys!!

Was in Inferno in Bevois Valley and he said he'd be open before - mentioned something about opening at 10! Don't know if he's got police permission yet though... £2/pint Fosters and Strongbow, 70p for the pool table

Pearce from Reading and Pittman from B'mouth and Cork from Chelsea. Loan Spearing from Liverpool and Watt, Merida or Wilshere from Arsenal. Don't think we'd get them but if we did... Extend loans for Mellis and Antonio Get rid of Gillet, Saga, Holmes, Perry, Forecast. Loan out Lancashire, White, Mclaggon, Paterson, Gobern.

http://fantasy.premierleague.com and the league code 38735-12324 - about 60 entries already

I have been a ST holder for the last 2yrs. Surman is our best outfield player and I would hate to see him go for £1m. Most of our good forward moves go through him, he can play CM, LM or LB - better than the majority of all the other players in our squad, has passion and cares about the club. Yes, he lacks pace, but he has genuine class about him. All the people that slag off Surman are probably the same that cheered the two most over-hyped players our club has seen in recent history - Skacel and Wright-Phillips - louder than any other player for the last 2yrs... Just don't get it

=D>

Davis James Perry Seijse Molyneaux Surman Schneiderlin Wotton Skacel Saganowski McGoldrick Forecast, Liptak, Euell, Lallana, Paterson

can't type or edit

Davis Cork Perry Lancashire Mills Wotton Surman McGoldrick Lallana Skacel/White/Smith/Gasmi?!?!?!?! Robertson I'd mush prefer Schneiderlin to be fit and playing over Wotton. The option to my team above is push Surman forward to left wing and play Gillet CM. This would give a bit more guile but we would lack passing ability in the middle. I like Cork in midfiled but I just think he's a much better right back than James is at the moment.

-----------------Davis--------------------- Cork -- Lancashire -- Svennson/Perry -- Mills ------------Gillett --- Surman-------------- McGoldrick ------ Lallana ------ Skacel/White ----------------Robertson------------------ I'd give James a rest as I'm not convinced James is a RB - his defensive positioning is woeful. Mills looks significantly better each minute he plays and Surman is more effective in the middle. I'd try Skacel on the left as I believe we have been missing Holmes and he can offer defensive cover for Mills when needed. I like McG on the right, I think he offers a bit of pace and thrust going forward and has recently been helping out at the back, Robertson looked good against Norwich and was much better through the middle than out wide. Cork has been one hell of a find and has looked mighty wherever he's been asked to play. I'm not too bothered who plays out of Wotton and Gillett, Wotton can go missing in midfield and Gillett tends to ware himself out too early in games, it's a shame Schniederlin's out...

Put Niemi on the right. The man was a legend!

I thought the ref was pretty poor. Granted you can't really argue with the bookings for the saints but I thought he was a touch more lenient towards them - especially a couple of truley cynical blocks on Holmes and McGoldrick. His main problem though was his fussiness over the positioning of free kicks and his allowal of blatant timewasting by the blackpool players throughout the game. In the 2nd half in particular his fussiness and inability to control the situation to his liking caused long breaks in play that were just completely uneccessary. So, he probably got most of the big decisions right n=but I thought his general running of the game woeful.

Personally I'd go for Davis Cork Perry Svenson Surman Schneiderlin Gillet McGoldrick Lallana Holmes John/Pekhart I thought Gillet was poor today but has had a good season so far so, like Arizona, will give him the benefit of the doubt. I'd be tempted to see Surman in the middle of the park but not sure who would be LB - maybe Skacel if his heart is in it? I agree that White isn't ready and I'm just not sure that James is a RB - his defensive positioning really needs working on. Didn't think killer was that bad today tbh, made some great taclkes and won his fair share of headers