hypochondriac

And up top. I really hope we don't go for an expensive gamble up top from a foreign league where temperemant could be suspect. A talismanic figure would be superb.

I'd also argue that jwp isn't much of a leader given some of the pathetic displays we put on when he was captain. Would a real leader have allowed that? Would Roy Keane have let it happen on his watch? Stephens may be but it remains to be seen if he will start every week.

Good someone else gets it. We got burnt last summer with loads predicting 9 or 10 for the window because we got in a load of promising kids. Like you say, it's leaders and personalities on the pitch in the mould of Fonte, Hammond, Lambert, Lallana even someone like Jaidi.

Like I said, I'll be happy when that happens. Worth remembering though that we had similar conversations last summer when everyone said we would get in a striker and we failed and then some posters said it was fine because we had got Mara in. The last thing I would want is to rely on this Arsenal youngster and another promising young defender and the same in midfield.

And when that happens I'll be the first to praise the club. But it hasn't happened yet and we haven't had much change really from a squad that finished bottom last year and were rotten. We need change ASAP.

Which is why I find the attitude of just wanting talent so odd. It's incredibly obvious that we need a leader at the back and a Grimes type figure in the middle. It's not that the likes of Edwards won't be a great signing, I just think we would live to regret it if we got someone like that and this Arsenal youngster abd left it at that.

Total speculation. We have nothing to suggest that the team will definitely be collectively stronger next week than at the end of September. I'm almost certain we will be better offensively by the end of the window for a start.

Would be easier if we aren't potentially losing points next week...

Absolutely. Let's say hypothetically we had replaced Elyounoussi and Walcott with promising youngsters, we still would have gone down. Some people seem to think we would be fine with just the talent and not the grit, guile and experience. They couldn't be more wrong

We need more players like Manning. A player of quality who has experience in this league, can play the way the manager wants and is untainted by last year.

Yes. We didn't buy much experience last year that was any good. The good players we did buy had no experience in the prem and certainly no experience of dealing with a relegation battle. We had zero craft and guile in that respect.

Goodness knows who we will play at cb if he isn't there. Maybe the new bloke

I'll be happier when we make the established experienced signings. Last year we were all a bit guilty of falling for some of the hype. We are a year wiser...

It's widely accepted that one of the big problems with our squad last year was the lack of experience to complement the youngsters. We've brought Manning in which is great and possibly Tella who has a season of experience under his belt, but the squad badly needs some experience in it in order to do well.

Hmm really not sure about this if true. Do we really want another youngster?

Both would be nice.

I'd like us to sign Woodman.

What a pointless article. He's obviously not going anywhere.

Might have been with Downes maybe?

I agree with that but his responsibility is mitigated by the fact that we had no money. At the time I knew quite a few people who worked at the club and he was a popular guy.

Sounds like Martin is young, hungry and therefore guaranteed to improve.

Not entirely Semmen's fault of course. Despite relegation, I think we can consider ourselves fortunate to have the owner that we have.

Great article. I'd love to see his laptop!

When we got in the europa league I couldn't believe that some of our games weren't sold out by other saints fans. I went to Holland twice, Italy and Prague because I predicted (accurately) that we weren't going to get there again any time soon. Watching us play around Europe was miles better than seeing us against United or Everton for the 100th time.

Salisu? Wouldn't be a huge surprise.