NickG

The reason that you are not getting this and not able to join in with the hysterical whining is that you are not an attention seeker with only a small brain and limited knowledge of football. The normal clueless tarts are out on force as we have the misfortune to fall to 2nd in the table ffs. They want to blame Adkins and Cortese. Thick or what? Good test of Cortese's ability in the transfer window for Alpine and his slow friends - do a bit of research. Question 1) where were we points and position when Cortese came in? Question 2) where were we at the start of the January transfer window? Question 3) was 2) better than 1) if so first window a success. etc Repeat that for every cycle, start of one window to the next - significant, huge improvement as to where the club is in every window. FFS Cortese is probably the only chairman to move his club forward window to window. If we finish this season out of automatic then I will agree this window didn't take us forward to finish off the job. Who have West Ham signed? Who have Cardiff signed? Who have Middlesbrough signed? Bet they would be happier in our position with the addition of Tandari Lee. The people moaning are the same ones who thought the likes of Leicester had left us behind in the summer due to signing all the greats we were missing out on. Bet their fans (this mornings good feeling aside!) are glad they didn't have our summer and aren't sat in 2nd. Adkins? Not worth even starting to justify a manager to them if they think he is underperforming.

****ing early for annual "concentrate on play offs" tossers to be out!

Agree. Much prefer transfer policy of just looking at add real quality rather than another forward we don't really need for the sake of it. After 26 games we are well clear of the other teams in terms of goals scored. We don't need a forward. Get an excellent one in would be great but don't need one urgently for 20 games. I put these stats on Hooper thread - remember only 20 games left: We clearly did have a chance of getting him. Despite some on here might think they know more than about whether this was a non-starter than Adkins - there would have been numerous conversations involving those involved in the game which would have given Saints the idea that it was worth trying. We have scored 50 league goals, West Ham 41, Cardiff 41, Middlesborough 30. We have had injuries suspensions to Lambert, Guly, Connolly, Barnard, Chaplow and De Ridder. Lambert 17 goals, Guly 11, Connolly 6, De Ridder 4, Chaplow 4. We have added Yago Falque for more attacking flair. We have added Tandari Lee who scored 15 goals last season in Japan and the winning goal in the Asia Cup. I don't think Adkins thinks we need another forward, and will just take anyone. The team in coming weeks Lallana / Falque on the wings, with Lambert and Guly up front. 5 on the bench from - Bart, Martin, Cork, Connolly, De Ridder, Holmes, Butterfield, Doble, Barnard, Chaplow and Tandari Lee. I don't think Adkins will be desperately seeking a last panic deal to get a forward in - unless he believes he is real quality and good for the long term and worth jumping ahead of the others - e.g. Hooper.

We clearly did have a chance of getting him. Despite some on here might think they know more than about whether this was a non-starter than Adkins - there would have been numerous conversations involving those involved in the game which would have given Saints the idea that it was worth trying. We have scored 50 league goals, West Ham 41, Cardiff 41, Middlesborough 30. We have had injuries suspensions to Lambert, Guly, Connolly, Barnard, Chaplow and De Ridder. Lambert 17 goals, Guly 11, Connolly 6, De Ridder 4, Chaplow 4. We have added Yago Falque for more attacking flair. We have added Tandari Lee who scored 15 goals last season in Japan and the winning goal in the Asia Cup. I don't think Adkins thinks we need another forward, and will just take anyone. The team in coming weeks Lallana / Falque on the wings, with Lambert and Guly up front. 5 on the bench from - Bart, Martin, Cork, Connolly, De Ridder, Holmes, Butterfield, Doble, Barnard, Chaplow and Tandari Lee. I don't think Adkins will be desperately seeking a last panic deal to get a forward in - unless he believes he is real quality and good for the long term and worth jumping ahead of the others - e.g. Hooper. Will he want to clog up squad if he thinks he will have another go for Hooper in the summer?

Thanks. So, sounds like Rhodes and Hooper are similar forwards (of the Steve Moran style?). Seems to be split opinions on other threads which would be the one to go for - if we had the choice! What about Rodriguez and Sharp? Had good look at Maynard when we played recently.

Personally, apart from all the press speculation and comments on here, I do not know much about the various forwards we have been linked with. I can read up on goal scoring records but can anyone add more as to what type of forwards they are? I know all are individuals but who are they similar in ability, attributes, style etc? What is the main thing they would add to our squad? Thinking of Hooper, Rhodes, Rodriguez, Sharp and Maynard (suppose Lee as well as not seen him yet)? Without saying they are necessarily better or worse than any comparison, but who would you liken them to? A Lambert, Pahars, BT, Shearer, Guly, Connolly, Lineker, etc

our update Yago Falque. http://www.itv.com/sport/football/news/profile-iago-falque-spurs-new-signing-14213/ I know the others have been signing but not got time to update if anyone else can remember the others?

getting bit heated here.. http://www.talkceltic.net/forum/showthread.php?t=117132&page=27 lone saints fan trying to convince half of Celtic they are supporting the wrong team! Way I see it, there is a decent chance we could sign him. In these days of agents and financial guys running clubs I can't see Saints wasting time if there was zero chance. Equally why would Lennon keep going public if it was a total non-starter? Confident we have entered into very serious discussions and have been shown some encouragement by Celtic. Whether we will sign him, who knows. Getting to be a high figure when we have Lambert, Guly, Connolly and Lee as four forwards - with Barnard and youngsters behind that.

Reckon it is worth paying silly money, just so I can read this thread again... http://www.talkceltic.net/forum/showthread.php?t=117132&page=11 think this is funny Why would he move back to the championship and play against the likes of Watford, Barnsley etc. when he just played against Udinese and Athletico Madrid? Even if Celtic accepted the bid Hooper wouldn't move IMO: he wants an England call up and can only do that by scoring at a respectable level (Europa league) which he has. as they are playing some top teams week in week out! In the last few weeks they have played some of the giants of world football... Peterhead in front of 5,000 Dunfermline in front of 10,000 St Johnstone in front of 6,000 Dundee in front of 11,000 Inverness in front of 6,000 Motherwell in front of 10,000 They get very good home crowds, too many derbies about religion and a season of crap away games. Unless you are scottish there is no appeal or interest in that league (and not much from most of Scotland!)

SOUTHAMPTON, England--Japan striker Tadanari Lee has described his transfer to English League Championship side Southampton as a "gamble," but is excited by the new challenge and believes it will improve him as a player and benefit the national team. The 26-year-old had long been touted for a move to Europe, although he was widely expected to join the likes of Atsuto Uchida and Shinji Kagawa in the German Bundesliga. It was eventually second-tier Southampton--which goes by the nickname The Saints and is currently top of the table--which provided the best offer though, and he became the latest member of the Samurai Blue to head overseas when he was granted a visa on Wednesday. "If I stay in the J.League I can play in every game, but I want to step up. It's a kind of challenge or gamble," he told The Daily Yomiuri a couple of days after his arrival in the port town in the south of England. "Japan is now aiming to get into the best four, that's our purpose," he said of the target at the next World Cup, in Brazil in 2014. "In order to achieve that purpose, everyone, including me, has to improve. Maybe I can make it into the squad already [if I stay in the J.League] but I don't think I will be good enough against the level of teams who play in the World Cup." Lee was a fan favourite in Hiroshima but suggested that the chance to prove himself at a higher level outweighed any doubts about moving on. "I was sad to leave but everybody understood that I wanted to test myself overseas and they were kind enough to let me come to England. I have to do well for them." Last year was a breakthrough one for Lee, and his winning strike in the Asian Cup final last January saw him establish himself as a regular in Alberto Zaccheronis national team. That spurred him on to becoming Sanfrecce's top scorer for the second consecutive season, and he is confident he can continue to succeed at his new club. "Southampton's football style is pass, pass, pass, lots of moving. That's very much my style, similar to Sanfrecce. "The team's style meets mine and [head coach Nigel Adkins] knows what I'm good at and that I can fit into that style," he said. "They expect good quality from me and I want to achieve that." Players in some positions are perhaps afforded a little more time to settle and find their feet at a new club--as has been the case with defensive midfielder Yuki Abe, whose Leicester City side will play Southampton a week on Monday--but strikers are judged on one thing only--goals. Lee is more than aware of that but insists such expectation is nothing new to him, "Of course, I had that pressure in Hiroshima as well. I know that so I want to score as soon as possible. Once a striker scores a goal they can relax and continue." He knows that not everything will be the same in the rough-and-tumble of the English leagues though, and acknowledges that he will have to adapt his style accordingly. "In Japan it's more technical. Technique is quite important in order to play in Japan but in England it's more physical and they also have the technique and skill as well." After over a month without competitive football and a drawn-out transfer because of England's strict rules on granting work-permits--his visa application was originally rejected but then successfully appealed, with Lee being granted special dispensation as "an exceptional talent that will enhance the game [in England]"--he is itching to get his boots back on and out onto the pitch. (Jan. 14, 2012)

personally (unless Jaidi is very unlikely to be needed if called upon) don't think CB is anywhere near priority.

Comparison for updated completed transfers rather than rumours.. Cardiff Elliott Parish young keeper WHU none M'brough none Saints Tandari Lee (subject to work permit) Jos Hooiveld Any updates of completed first squad players (ie not youth type)?

Alpine think your approach, and why it is so widely seen as annoying, was summed up yesterday. you were slagging of Adkins. I posted a before and after league table of this manager you were criticising - 16 months from 4thish from bottom in league 1 to 1st in championship. your response was whatever floats your boat. THE best performing manager in the last 16 month does float my boat, as does being top of the league. If it doesn't float your boat, nothing saints will do ever will. If Adkins is disappointing you (surprising as you did not expect us to even be in this division) you will never ever be happy with a saints manager. You hate any reasoned or fact based debate. You describe players failings and failings of tactic - that you haven't even seen or listened to - as fact. You love the attention though, honestly think you don't know much about the game.

http://www.talkceltic.net/forum/showthread.php?t=117577&page=3

Pretty fair summary.

It does. I would have thought that any one who genuinely wants saints to do well, would say that going from 22nd in league 1 to 1st in championship "floats their boar", wouldn't you? Bet the other 44 teams we have over taken in the last 16 months are glad they don't have a clueless manager like Adkins. Do you?

yep, Adkins has not got a clue about the tactics.... 16 months ago.. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10280~20100915,00.html 16 months of not having a clue about tactics gives you this.... http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10280~20120102,00.html

Good post. Look at these two links just 15 1/2 months apart sum it up very simply for me - please take a moment to open them; http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10280~20100915,00.html http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10280~20120102,00.html Cortese and Adkins have moved this club forward every window.

I know I shouldn't let the thick troll get to me so sorry to those many with him on ignore but... join a club here.... http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10280~20100915,00.html do some going through the motions b*ll*cks for 15 1/2 months and you end up here..... http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10280~20120102,00.html

FACT - we have progressed in every transfer window since Cortese came in. FACT - summer 2010 gave us a side to challenge for promotion. FACT - January 2011 gave us a side to finish the job. FACT - summer window gave us a side that has shocked the championship and took us to the January window at top of the league. FACT - Adkins has already said he has been busy working on a few improvements to the squad. FACT - the transfer window is only just ajar. Not sure of the facts, but guess something like 90% of transfers will be in last two days, and less than 1% in what has passed so far. FACT - Alpine is discussing that Adkins maybe worth sacking if we don't get into play offs. FACT - Alpine has said Adkins and Cortese are not trying and allowing the club to free wheel. Pretty safe to say these two as facts; Alpine is attention seeking and not very bright/ knowledgeable about football/saints.

Jaidi said at Bristol game that was first time he had seen him since the incident - suggests not been well enough even to go to training ground or St Marys until this week. If he will play again will be long long way off I would have thought.

Is that the new word you have picked up from some kids? As scary as your threat is, you are more than welcome to. I will offer you a charity bet, like I did last season, but once again you wouldn't have the bottle to back up your ********

current form last 7 games; http://www.footstats.co.uk/index.cfm?task=formguide 8th best in league. If our 'relegation form' from the last 7 games is continued we will finish on 82 points. Enough for top or 2nd last four years, You may get bored with getting corrected but posting such **** when we are top of the league shows you to be a thick, clueless, attention seeking depressive who knows **** all about football, how we are doing and what Adkins, the squad and Nicola have achieved. Feel better now!

1) Current form has dropped. 2) First half of season we have been superb. 3) We have progressed between every transfer window under Cortesse - why not this one? 4) Adkins made hints in post match interview that business is well under way and may hear very soon. (appreciate ****s like Alpine prefer to criticise without hearing interview but was available on internet before criticisms. 5) current form only gives 8 points from last 10 - if we carry on like that (very doubtful imho) we will end up about 3rd or 4th. 6) we always knew Alpine isn't too bright and ridiculously negative (lets give up on automatic and settle for play offs last season) but his criticisms of Cortese and Adkins after one defeat prove him a total **** who is not worth correcting. Added season ticket for my kids this season - they are in shock at seeing a defeat - shows how far we have come. My 12 year old said early on how big and fast Bristol were, and at the end how many blocked shots and ball bouncing around their box without ever looking like scoring we had and how on other games they have been falling better. Young and no expert but some interesting views!