Graffito

I thought N'Guessan had a loan spell at S****horpe. In any event when he signed N'Guessan, Adkins was quoted as saying he'd been tracking him for two years. He hadn't worked with Chaplow but again had been tracking him. Chaplow - "Nigel showed a bit of interest while he was S****horpe manager. When he got the move down here I was hopeful that he’d still maybe try and get me down." By matey from Reading i guess you mean Bignall, a player that I can't recall ever having made an appearance. So add Cork and Forte to those above and Adkins had either worked with or had been tracking for some time all of them except Bignall, an emergency one month loan signing.

I hope it does work out and thanks for the crumb of support. I don't know what he did at Scun thorpe. I think he knows Cork, Sharpe, Forte. Think I'll shut the fk up in future. Anyway I'm off to bed. All the best.

I haven't jumped to any conclusions. I've just made an observation.

Perhaps Adkins watched him on You Tube then?

Quite right but Adkins has tended to look to sign players he's worked with in the past. This isn't one of those. No big deal. If the bloke's good then great. Just an observation.

Nothing "exactly". Based on reading between the lines. Just a hunch.

How much did Adkins know about this signing? Reading between the lines, as you do, it just seems like it isn't his?

Hedge funds don't muck about and are interested only in the bottom line. They have no place football. I'm so relieved Sisu were not allowed anywhere near our club.

Good post which I would largely agree with though I think it's the spine of the team that Adkins will try to strengthen. CM in particular is where games are won and lost so there's always room for improvement if the right player is available.

Absolute rubbish.

You don't have to operate behind a veil of secrecy to cock up transfers. That's more likely done in the glare of the publicity.

Thanks for the reply. It's interesting that France seem to play him further forward. I think there's a danger that we categorise players as a certain type without having seen them in role different from the one they are asked to play for a particular team. For all I know Cork also may be perfectly capable of playing in a more forward role.

Is this because they've been asked to play a similar role? Can neither play further forward? Anyone know if Schneiderlin plays the same role for France Under 21's as he does for Saints?

"The best thing the Russians could invest would be fresh DNA - that gene pool desperately needs a top up." Gene pool or pond life. Who in their right mind would invest their DNA in there.

Haven't Harding and Chaplow played there before? Chaplow played in the PL didn't he? I think the play offs are realistic.

Nice sentiments and all but he confirms my recollection that clearly he was crocked yet his dad continued to play him in preference to Matt Oakley, along with similar strange decisions like not playing Phillips in the Man Utd game.

OP - you've probably got it generally about right but two jump out as underestimates - Spurs and Chelsea. A couple of years ago Spurs had 22k on their season ticket waiting list and over 70,000 members. For all I know they've gone up since then with their recent relative success. Someone said Chelsea have been known always as the glamour club. That may be so but there is a major part of Chelsea's fanbase that has been priced out of going. They, like Tottenham, are also restricted by ground capacity.

He doesn't drive, Kevin Bond does. If he got the England job he'd have to do far more traveling. What the Sky source said sounds just like Redknapp.

Is there an argument to say that you can go up too soon and a season of consolidation in the Championship will give Saints a better chance in the PL? On the other hand, who wouldn't take promotion next season. It will be interesting to see how Norwich get on. Were we to go up next season, with Saints PL infrastructure and what appears to be sound management and financial backing I think we'd have a better chance in the PL than many of the so called yo yo clubs. Nonetheless, I doubt we'll go up next year,although I think play-offs are a possibility.

Let's not be too critical. 1500 is 37% of their average home attendance, equivalent to Saints taking over 8000. A pretty good turnout I'd say.

"There'll be a few additions in the transfer window," Adkins says, "but the good thing is we haven't got to go and bring a whole team in." Sensible approach. Must keep maintain the team spirit that's got us promotion but improve the team where needed.

I suppose Huddersfield would prefer to avoid the mavericks, Peterborough but Huddersfield are bang in form, have shown they are mentally tough and I think they'll do it.

Thanks for taking the trouble to come on here and offer your good wishes. Much appreciated and good luck next season.

Skates. West Ham (if).

I do.