hypochondriac

We do appear to have a surprising amount of bids turned down (unless it's just a load of lies printed in the papers which I don't really believe to be the case unlike some.)

I agree. I'm not sure how good we are at negotiating. My suspicion is we give an offer and then go somewhere else if it isn't accepted. Maybe NC could do with being a bit more flexible? There were rumours if you remember of the cork deal almost breaking down at the last minute. Having said that, as you say our position now is better than the summer though we have to get past the clubs that won't want to sell...

The problem I think we have is striking a balance between someone we believe is worth the expense and choosing a target who will actually come.

Yes but I would rather go for the likes of sharp than the likes of hooper if we are much more likely to secure sharp. We shall see at the end of the window!

Making enquiries into if a bid would be accepted or not is not my definition of tapping up.

I hope that is what we do do. Reportedly been in for a few strikers such as Jay Rod sharp and Hooper and we didn't manage to get anyone in the summer. I hope we are more successful in January or maybe we need to set our sights lower or perhaps pay a little bit more as someone else suggested earlier.

I don't think we are involved in that. We go about our business professionally, or so we are told.

The problem is though that there isn't much point going in for players if we don't actually get any of them...

I moan when anyone predicts we will lose by three goals simply because we happen to be losing by a single goal at some point. Let's be honest, if we are losing at half time, then 99 times out of 100 you will be spitting bile saying how awful we are and predicting a loss without taking any other factors into account and without any sort of belief that we can turn it around.

So you are perfectly entitled to say we will lose by three clear goals? I think that most people did you annoying because you write us off before the end of every game if we aren't winning.

Alpine your propensity to moaning incessantly if we are losing at any point during a game is tedious to the extreme. At least wait till the end of a game to express your frustration. Time and again you have said we were awful only for us to go on and win the game. Is that not evidence enough for you to change your ways?

Do you agree with me that although sharp would be a good signing, we should not be spending the sat sums reportedly that Leicester are spending on him?

This. Infinitely more interesting than the likes of deppo, his cyber mong tribute posters and verbal. He will be missed.

Well we clearly had an interest in the summer.

What would you have expected him to say? I question his mentioning of major signings but I never expected him to mention definite targets or say what he was aiming for. Doing that leads to frustration and disappointment when those things do not materialise. Ultimately he won't be judged by a response in a post match interview but on the first of February when the window closes and then after that in May. If you listen to him he actually sounds quite determined to get some deals done. I hope that's the case!

Not worth it.

Amen. I quite enjoy Merrington TBH.

Would be pleased if we got him and Lee TBH. Does mean my Solent Uni friend above will never be trusted again though!

That would please me. Also possibly a CB because we are light at the back.

Oh I don't think there is anything wrong at all with saying we are in for players. I just question the wisdom of using phrases like 'major signing.' As in general that tends to build up an expectation in the fanbase which if we then do not make a major signing will lead to disappointment. As for me, I'm keeping my expectations quite low for this window but will be very pleased if we make an additional attacking signing other than Lee in this window.

Yes apologies Minty, my mistake. That is what I meant. I think it is perhaps unwise to announce that there is every chance we will make a major signing before we do so.

No need for that. I would be perfectly happy with a proven and in-form NPC striker such as Billy Sharp who IMO has the best chance of making an immediate impact (that's not to say there are not a host of other players besides Billy who would fit the bill). I'm not complaining, I don't know what our transfer activity will be in this window and if we get in these players he is talking about then he can say what he likes I suppose.

Oh I am sure there is a possibility, I was just questioning how wise i was to announce something like signing a big name before we have done so (unless of course we have virtually signed whoever they are already then why not!)

This is the exact sort of thing I was talking about and why it isn't the wisest move to announce there is every chance we could make a major signing before we do so.