NickG

he can cover as CM as well. Got feeling Ox-Ch is seen as the pacy winger from the bench this season. Wouldn't be stunned if we are done.

we bought Lambert after first few games - who knows until window shuts

Bizarre. What can we judge any new signing on other than - level playing at, how thought of by his manager (who offered him a contract for a team that was competing for CCC play offs) and fans? There is no guarantee that he will be a good signing and as you see we will see as the season goes on, but it looks a very good signing to all (well apart from one!)

their talk of cynically releasing players to take squad under 20 to force embargo to be lifted surely won't impress!

Don't know.. Dickson or Harding Richardson or Butterfield Connolly or Barnard Would be surprised if any of those would not be guaranteed a start at every other club in this division

good job we didn't sign likes of Gerrard, Lampard and Alonso who are all about same age or older!

He was at the end of his contract. His manager wanted him to stay. He is experienced at higher level. He can play well, in CCC, at RB,RM and CB. Read the comments of fans in a division above us who wanted him to stay and watch him every week

also say he has offered good cover, at CCC level, for CM and CB

http://www.cpfc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=204153&page=6 all seem to think good move for him and us - and some annoyed that they didn't manage to keep him - even talking about going to see us play a friendly to see him - sounds yet another very good signing.

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2052802,00.html

I included him in my post on other thread about signings then had thought he had gone.

don't think anyone would argue that starting 11 of (I know you can debate who makes 11) KD, Richardson, Fonte, Jaidi, Harding, Puncheon, Morgan, Hammond, Lallana, Connolly and Lambert is probably just about the best in the division in all positions. I wonder who could put a second 11 anywhere near this (probably better that the 1st 11 for a lot of teams?) Forecast/Bart, Butterfield, Martin, Seaborne, Dixon, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gobbern (is he still here??), Wooton, Holmes, Barnard, ??? Seaborne was a regular in this division before we signed him. We will never need to play that team, as players like Lallana could play upfront, Puncheon in CM, Butterfield CM etc. Being brutally honest, I would be very happy and confident going into the season with this squad. But think they haven't finished yet....

I know they are full of **** but its widely reported he is joining them in states - this is after appeal went in. Surely stoke would not be wasting their time if it was never likely to happen...but how??

so how are they so confident this stoke player will be joining them in a few days?

Sue, If he is the little boy who cried wolf, who would you liken everyone's current favourite wind up poster on here to?

no we wont. The team is there. We will not be building a new one. We didn't have Harding, Fonte, Jaidi, Richardson, Hammond, Puncheon, Lambert or Barnard this time last year. That is a big change that needed gelling. There maybe one or two added but nothing like that

that was for champions league!

would be pleasantly surprised if we signed more the CF/CM, maybe others on loan

they seem very confident this stoke CB will be their first signing joining then in the states?????!!!

Worth thinking about other options AP already has within the squad with quality players who can cover more than one position. Also in the recent friendly he used Martin and Harding for 45 mins each as RB - was this to see whether its worth buying a back up RB? Are you likely to get a good RB to sit on the bench who would be much better than Harding or Martin? Guess this is what he is deciding on. Lallana, Puncheon could both play CM imho. Wide players - Lallana, Puncheon, Ox-Ch, Holmes, Dickson RB - Harding or Martin as cover? LB - got two good ones CF - 3 very good ones, also have option of playing 1 upfront in 4-5-1, or using Lallana I don't think we need to panic buy only if we can get genuine quality.

this squad is definitely good enough to win this league - whether it will who knows??? Think its hard not knowing what plans AP has for using likes of Puncheon, Lallana, Holmes, Ox-C, and Dickson in different places in midfield. I am not sure about keeper but other than that there is no position I think we would be really struggling if 1st choice was out for a few games.

I wouldn't say they were paramount - they didn't play in some good performances, nor can we say nothing has been done - in fact we know negotiations have taken place

I agree about the lack of cover and that it is important. To get close to guaranteeing promotion you need to look thinking you can win every game - to do this you need to know you can always put out a team that is better than the opposition. 2 things tho - I would say our 1st eleven is outstanding for this division. How good can we expect back up to be in league 1? I doubt other teams have good players in their reserves? What role does AP see Oxlade-Chamberlain or Holmes having next year? I do think we will be seeing one or two good signings (perm or loan) before the end of this window

Holmes impressing with his crossing

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2093619,00.html