NickG

As you are so keen on hearing from the more balanced and intelligent (did I hear an 8 year old girl giggling?)

we should always strive to improve. I am not complacent about next season - reckon current squad would be top half - but should do what we can to improve I have not predicted promotion for next season - this division is hard to predict I admire Adkins, he was excellent last season and inspires confidence. hope that clarifies things

what will I say?

you maybe right, but I would be stunned if they were free agents and went lower than this league

CMS is a bit better than Barnard - but is he £3m plus signing on fee plus wages better? Doubt it.

can someone summarise post 157? Sorry I have him on ignore.

I was being sarcastic due to the child-like other thread that we are not showing ambition by signing names the professor has heard of.

agree. Anyone who has seen them play will be very pleased at the extensions for Lallana, Lambert and Martin - all players who would be snapped up at this level

tbf on the Maynard / Sharp / CMS there were many saying they didn't think we should bid for CMS and he was the 3rd choice out of those.

Norwich didn't show much ambition last close season - biggest name Surman? How did they do?

is ambition in management generally seen as selling your two best players and buying a player playing a league below?

worth remembering.

not sure why, but not overly excited about the fact that he played 3 minutes, in a friendly, for the 61st best team in international football!!

sounds like last year? umm...what followed? Promotion. Think that answers your concerns.

looking through this, at least it proves that people are not just saying we didn't want CMS after we lost out - he did seem to be the 3rd choice with most

thought that funny as well - excited about some new grass seed! a report on them: It was back to work for Pompey’s stars following their summer break. But five-a-sides were definitely not part of proceedings. Just eight players were present for the start of full pre-season training. Not even enough to be able to hold the traditional five-on-five match action. Still, at least recruits David Norris and Jason Pearce were present. They were joined by Ricardo Rocha, Aaron Mokoena, Joel Ward, Dave Kitson, Hayden Mullins and Jamie Ashdown.

It was back to work for Pompey’s stars following their summer break. But five-a-sides were definitely not part of proceedings. Just eight players were present for the start of full pre-season training. Not even enough to be able to hold the traditional five-on-five match action. Still, at least recruits David Norris and Jason Pearce were present. They were joined by Ricardo Rocha, Aaron Mokoena, Joel Ward, Dave Kitson, Hayden Mullins and Jamie Ashdown.

http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?31082-How-big-a-squad-do-you-need-for-championship&p=1080353#post1080353

http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/LatestNews/news/Blues-Back-To-Work-2294.aspx? look at the photos of the players returning for their pre-season training. Hilarious, most than have in pic is 4 together! Our squad must seem bloated in comparison!

4 first 11 CBs is plenty to start the season - sign another one and won't even get reserve/U21 games!

decent, again would wonder how much more he adds to our existing forwards - not prolific

not that it matters but was said Nugent's wedding

from what he has confirmed so far likely to be CM - Cork first choice CF - another target after Sharp plus max one other - wouldn't be surprised if young winger

with Lambert, Barnard, Connolly, Ox-C, Guly and Lallana as attacking options I don't see any reason to panic that we haven't got CMS. Brighton lost two of their best players and their main forward - hence needing to get someone in. I am far from convinced a relatively short term option of CMS would have improved our team enough to justify the fee- or even one significantly lower. Just not young enough nor a big enough improvement on what we have.

renewing plus adding one