hypochondriac

Source?

Depends what you mean by new. The likes of Robinson, Edwards, Charles aren't technically new but are mostly untainted by last year.

That's the gamble and the key question isn't it. If we lose a load of games at the start and then bring in some quality it could be a terrible error.

Or far more likely, we want a certain calibre of player and would prefer to go or the best we can once we have the room in the squad and even more money.

Did someone say that? Or was it some Chinese whispers thing from an itk on here? I lose track.

I think removing windows would be awful for a club like saints. At least with them we know that when they shut we have some certainty and can keep our players for a period of time. Without transfer windows we'd have lost Dibling and Fernandes already - probably earlier in the year.

Exactly. Is the suggestion by some of these people seriously that we aren't going to sign anyone? We signed loads of people last time we got relegated and by all accounts we are in a better financial position. Why would we do that?

You'd imagine they'd make initial inquiries at the very least to ensure they would get one so they don't waste a load of effort.

Not signing other people at this point of the window is not evidence that we won't sign more before the window closes.

Right but we have new people doing the transfer negotiations plus we are in a lower league so there's less attention. The idea that we are just sat their with our thumbs up our arses counting down to the end of the window is for the birds.

Right but the fact it's quiet doesn't mean things aren't happening behind the scenes. I didn't hear much about Quarshie before he signed. It could be we are still working out the kinks for this Armenian or someone else that hasn't been reported on. What percentage chance do you think that we aren't working on deals behind the scenes?

Nah. He's probably being diplomatic depending on what sort of other keeper we get. If we don't get a first choice then Bazunu is the one for the season but if we do he hasn't guaranteed anything. I'd hope that what he's said about Bazunu is the same for everyone in the squad - no one has a place set in stone and has to keep performing to stay in the team.

Good post. Like I said he's very likely to go anyway so I expect it's a bit irrelevant.

OK then I agree. We might have problems but then again we might not. The only evidence we have that there might be problems is the period of bad form after Martin and some highly dubious sources on social media about his agent. I think we can trust the club on this one that they can sell high and that they will have fully assessed the possibility of problems if they keep him. I consider it overwhelmingly likely that the club is fully aware of the situation and the player's desires and they will know if this is a negotiation tactic or if we are playing hardball in order to force him to stay unless a club meets our valuation.

It's not you're just failing to understand. He will most likely leave. Him leaving doesn't confirm any wild speculation based on nothing about him not putting effort in were he to stay nor that he's agitating for a move and is considering going on strike/putting in a transfer request. If and when we get some solid evidence of any of that then that position may change. Until then you've seen a downturn in his performances since Martin left and created an entire scenario where he is spitting his dummy out and not putting in effort because he's that type of person.

Ridiculous. Him being very likely to leave doesn't prove that he's what you claim him to be.

Indeed. It's extrapolating a huge amount from a period of poor form after Martin left. There's no other evidence for any of it.

That's just speculation. We have a kid who may have some additional needs or at the very least is quite a sensitive and shy individual moving from a good man manager in Martin to a completely different style under a bit of a hard ass, playing his first season in the premier league. Maybe he showed a lack of application but there's potentially an awful lot of other explanations for his tailing off of form.

Based on what?

Being happy to go and actively trying to leave and being angry about staying are two different things. He will leave imo but if for some reason he doesn't it doesn't follow that he will simply sulk for months and not put in a shift. Plenty of examples of players who are seemingly off not going.

That he wants to go to the degree that he will effectively down tools if he stays.

He can put a formal transfer request in can't he if you're so sure that's the case.

What evidence would you require beyond the manager, owner and chief executive saying we will be making signings? Have you considered the much more likely scenario that we need to sell one or both of the big money players prior to making a big move of our own lest we be stuck with the players if for whatever reason he doesn't end up moving?

No evidence of that. That would only be true if we get to the end of the window with big sales and without any significant signings

Assume we weren't interested then. No chance he turns us down for stoke.