Dalek2003

The transfer situation is a mess. We should have had a strategy and sorted things out over the summer. I don't care what people say or the abuse i get, but our lack of organisation comitment and ambition will certanly cost us promotion. I stick by my prediction 17th !

We have been since the end of last season. There have been players available but we have not signed them. I think you explained in your answers the reason why. I would suggest that we are not as ambitious this season (ie in terms of promotion), as some of the fans had hoped. A mid table finish would be good for our first season in this division and the fans need to be patient not frustrated !

I think Gadaffi has more chance of re-assuming control of Libya than Puncheon getting back in the Saints side !

I think that this is a very plausible scenario. However, because it has been written by a poster who like myself is prepared to hold controversial or unpopular viewpoints it will probably be rubbished !

That is a the worst case scenario. What is interesting is this. NA (and everyone else), can see we could do with adding a good CB and CF. This has been apparent since the end of last season. There have been players available, but not at the right price for SFC. We could have been waiting to the end of the transfer window to see if prices and personal terms come closer to our way of thinking. Presumably, the management will also have been aware that we could risk missing our original targets and end up without filling the positions with new faces. In that case is it not fair to say that this season we are happy to take a punt at promotion but not desperate aka Leicester and WHam to go up this year if it means breaking our prudent 'business plan'. Further to this a mid table finish would be acceptable in the great scheme of things.

Well, this is an interesting idea and if it comes off I will take my hat off to you sir !

6m seems a lot of money nut f we go up to the premier, this word be worth £90 million. I think to some extent our ambition is revealed by our caution in the transfer market. That is to secure our position in the league with the current squad and build gradually within the 5 year framework. Nothing wrong with that at all, but some fans will need to be a bit more patient.

Can't see what i am saying is any different to the point you are making. Sometimes, I think you just like to contradict people for the sake of it. Please refrain from being an attention seeker !

Exactly, this is the negative side to leaving vital signings so late in the day. Hope we have another ace up our sleeves. Failing that we will have to make do with what we have got and hope for luck to help us our, ie no injuries or suspensions.

One presumes we will be rigorous in checking the ankle injury, we don't want a glass player.

This is the most likely scenario. He probably does have a clause in contract that allows for dismissal for gross misconduct or bringing the club into disrepute. It is up to the club to use this. I suppose it depends on how much they want him, I suggest will keep him on and the club will give him a very severe written warning !

A draw would be a magnificient result. A win would send a shockwave throughout the league. One thing for sure, it will be a hard fought game and Leicester will really have to prove themselves !

I still maintain that the squad will hold its ownover the course of the year and yes we will finish closer to 17th than in the top six. I also concede that the start we have made has been brilliant, better than I thought and of course I am delighted. However, I still do not believe that this will be sustained.

I agree we have a good squad. However, the fight for Premier status is well known to be a tough one, with tough opposition from the likes of Leicester, Brm, Ham and Boro. It is when we pick up injuries and suspensions during the cold winter months and the long spring that we may need that extra depth. You obviously think we have the depth already, I believe we are just a touch light. IMO that can mean the difference between mid table and promotion. Having said that, if we are lucky with injuries and suspensions we might make it. But, I believe this would be a bonus and not necessarily part of the original plan.

Incredible if true, how much money have Leicester spent and how much is their private backer prepared to spend. Can't see the Liebherr's being follwing this example, and in a way there is a certain honesty in the way we are building for the long term. I am more convinced than ever that our goal this year was to establish ourselves in the NPC this year and push on over the following two seasons. Remember the five year plan ?

Sorry, I have forgotten, please tell me !

I have only heard rumours etc and so my source of information is not that strong. However, how friendly were you with the players in reality ? This is key to getting the real opinion of the players. For example if you were related to them, or a member of the coaching staff or indeed a player I would expect the players to trust you as part of the inner circle. After this I doubt the players reveal their true feelings. For example do people really think the players tell the full story to a steward or someone in admin ? Of course not, I have met professional players in the past and on the whole they a re pretty guarded in what they say about the inner goings on in a club. This would apply to someone they were friendly with outside the club ie the local newsagent. So, if you don't mind it would be helpful to reveal. a. How friendly you were with the players b. The circumstances which allowed you to be 'friendly' with the players. This will then help gauge the quality of your so called 'information' form the players.

I think this is possibly very close to what actually happened. There is still much to come out of the 2004 decision to appoint Sturrock, and it will all come out eventually ! Could it be the case that Hoddle was put off by the thought of Woodward coming to the club ? Was Hoddle told this just before the deal to bring him into the club was made hence the sudden about turn ? Did Lowe misunderstand Hoddle big time. After all, Hoddle was well known for his interest in new coaching methods etc and Lowe may have seen him as of the same stable as Woodward. In this case was the intention of Lowe to go for a Hoddle-Woodward partnership. Where it went wrong was Hoddle's refusal to see the same vision ? The protest at the return of Hoddle by a vocal minority could well have been the excuse that Lowe was looking for in order to save face and the appointment of Sturrock was indeed a panic decision.

Should we sign him ?

Thanks for the summary 'The9'. Very interesting indeed. I have heard that the players wanted Hoddle back in 2004 and the fact that he was not appointed could have led to some of the hostility to Sturrock. Also, the appointment of Sturrock, essentially a League 1 manager from a small time club, still seems strange to me. Aside from Hoddle there were other much better and experienced managers the club could have gone for. What is undeniable is that 2004 to 2005 was a pivotal moment in the clubs history and the decisions made cost us our premiership status and brough an end to our glorious 27 years in the top flight. It hurt then and still does.

OK, I will quote you on this at the end of August.

Saucer of milk for this poster please !

Bang on. The FAILURE TO RE-APPOINT HODDLE in itself will open up a whole canof worms. Understand the embarrassment of a small but vocal number of fans who may have been duped into anti-Hoddle rhetoric.

Dreadful.

Well I'll say one thing, your rants and random, ridiculous and myopic statements, certainly give me and many others an opportunity to roar with laughter at their sometimes sheer absurdity !