ART

A good exercise at this point would be to take our 2005 relegation squad and the current squad and compare and mark the players on points for quality and Premier League ability. I think it ends up giving one a wake up call in how lacking the current squad is. Southampton FC .:. 2004/2005 Goalkeeper 1 Antti Niemi Finland 31/05/1972 25 Michael Poke England 21/11/1985 13 Paul Smith England 17/12/1979 32 Chris Baird Northern Ireland 25/02/1982 23 Olivier Bernard France 14/10/1979 16 Martin Cranie England 26/09/1986 Jason Dodd England 02/11/1970 6 Andreas Jakobsson Sweden 06/10/1972 22 Darren Kenton England 13/09/1978 3 Graeme Le Saux England 17/10/1968 6 Claus Lundekvam Norway 22/02/1973 26 Matt Mills England 14/07/1986 35 Mikael Nilsson Sweden 24/06/1978 11 Michael Svensson Sweden 25/11/1975 4 Jelle Van Damme Belgium 10/10/1983 Midfielder 18 Rory Delap Ireland 06/07/1976 29 Fabrice Fernandes France 29/10/1979 23 Yoann Folly France 06/06/1985 10 Neil McCann Scotland 11/08/1974 8 Matt Oakley England 17/08/1977 20 David Prutton England 12/09/1981 40 Nigel Quashie Scotland 20/07/1978 38 Jamie Redknapp England 25/06/1973 Andrew Surman South Africa 20/08/1986 33 Paul Telfer Scotland 21/10/1971 Forward 27 Leon Best Ireland 19/09/1986 Dexter Blackstock England 20/05/1986 37 Henri Camara Senegal 10/05/1977 15 Kenwyne Jones Trinidad & Tobago 05/10/1984 9 Brett Ormerod England 18/10/1976 17 Marian Pahars Latvia 05/08/1976 7 Kevin Phillips England 25/07/1973 Manager Harry Redknapp England 02/03/1947

Right on cue . The Vulcher has taken up position and ready to dive in for the pickings. Must have been reading this thread. http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/8019268/redknapp-hopes-for-top-job

Sums up the situation perfectly. The signing of Rodriguez way back and seemly after class players with Europe eventually in mind give the majority hope that things were moving in the right direction. Yet with 6 days to go I personally don't think it's going to happen before the window shuts. There is a need to step up several levels, not just relie on good luck and hoping we'll struggle thru.

I very much doubt it. It's more of the same tactics and too late substitutions like during last seasons hiccup. 2 games people say, but I didn't see any wins beyond the tour game in pre season. We've plenty of strikers but not scoring the goals, have a dodgy goalkeeper who'll leave the defense nervous and shaky.

Adkins hasn't a clue at this level. Poor team selection and game plan, no alternative in view. A ground far from full. How can Cortese invest when the ground isn't packed? Why is Sharp playing second fiddle when he should have been on at half time. I love Prowsey but was he the player to swing the game. For whom the bell tolls, that is what is on a lot of minds tonight.

As far as Bologna are concerned Saints have been used to try to bring in other offers from across Europe and England. We supporters are playing right into his hands by giving them a mightly long thread to show how much Saints are prepared to grovel at his terms. In reality this is not the case, just the Bologna is being provided with all the a ammunition by us on here.

Let us remember that it is a Bank Holiday in the UK this weekend. These type of big money transfers take 48 work day hours. If it's not done today there won't be any developments before next Tuesday at the earliest. It's beyond belief and suicide statistics amongst Saints supporters no doubt will be at an annual high.

Before posting check the time and date of the article. It's 24 hours ago.

Wednesday August 22 Remember that bad man Alessandro Diamanti who helped knock England out of Euro 2012. He has committed his future to Bologna by agreeing a new long-term contract. If you're booing at your screen, you have every right to.

It's DEAD, MORT, FINITO. It's on SKY ESPN, and every paper in the land. We'd have had more chance getting Pompey a loan than this version Italiano Bologna. Why hasn't Liebherr bought out Bologna and transfered the entire squad to us. Crazier things have happened, haha hoho heehee.

Silence by the club and also as little comment/discussion on forums can only assist us to bring in the best level of players. Just as our members quote forums elsewhere, our forum comments get monitored and quoted with the off chance that they may be detrimental to negotiations or let the club we're negotiating with, have information that could finish off the deal. It's hard to take but the Ramirez, Holland and Buttner threads to name a few, are nothing more than NEUROTIC MEANDERING leading on sheer INSANITY!

The one thing about playing in the Premier League is having enough cover for every position and more. Discounting a player losing form, injuries and internationals rob a club of prime players. The Academy is providing several players we can relie and count on, but it's wrong to write off players like Puncheon if we sign others. Let us not forget that Jason played a big part in convincing his good mate Clyne to join us. From Sundays match one gets the impression they have a good understanding on the pitch too.

I think it is time for Saints supporters to grow up and see the positive things that Lowe brought to the club. Much of his legacy lives on. The biggest failure on the part of Lowe was not to bring in big investment. I believe this was due to his egocentric insistence of holding all the strings and not letting potential investors take over or share the running of the club. Had Lowe had the investment he would have bought in big signings and perhaps never got to being taken in by Sir Clive Woodward's insane ideas. Although there was some method is Woodward's madness. I still believe that Lowe had/has some connections with Cortese, with selling the club to him and Markus, probably a long time before the club ended up in administration. Of all past regimes, Lowe's vision is the one that resembles most closely that of our current benefactors.

We were about to sign Dawson and his Forest colleague Andy Reid back in 2005 but the two of them did a U turn and signed for Spuds. No way would I want this two faced f*cker playing at Saints

7 years ago Nixon was our worse enemy and hated by the majority of forum supporters. What has happened to change all this? Did he have issues with Lowe, or, as we knew in those days, he stirred up stuff against Saints, based on his solid support for certain London clubs.

In that case we're going to be in deep trouble. Perhaps a new CB will make Kelvin more stable but in the Premier League we can't afford a keeper who is unable to catch and smother the ball. That we haven't signed a quality keeper is a huge disappointment. When Saints have been at their best we've had the best goalkeeper around. This is no longer the case.

http://via--sat.info/ Excellent stream, no installation or buffering but no English commentary.,

I've always seen it that way too. Just about any top manager would tell you that, but Adkins, like many of his ways of managing thinks otherwise. He seems to have put together a team top heavy in strikers. To date without the efficient engine room there aren't enough goals being scored. I fear the defence will leak like a sieve and Davisin goal will be found out up against class teams.

In the case of Bologna their chairman has resigned himself to Ramirez wanting to move on, better himself. in the same ways Saints did the same in the past with players who wanted to move on. Just like with most clubs, Bologna are out to get the most for the player they can squeeze out of suitors. The agents cut could well have been why the price has increased and why they're asking for 20 million.

Would be nice to think that Nicola has a seat on the board of Bologna's bank. At times I'm wondering whether we are conducting negociations with clubs banks, hence club chairmen knowing nothing of the dealings. There is too much of a similarity in the complaints coming back from clubs whose players we're trying to sign without the chairmen being in the know. Either we are showing inexperience in dealing in transfers or there's something unique in how Nicola conducts his business. If we ever sign Ramirez, Buttner or Phillips perhaps we'll get insight into what went on.

I have to say that when chairman, club presidents come out with statements such as the Bologna did, it is often to appease their own supporters angered by a player being sold for less then the value on them by the supporters. Whether this is the case or whether he really has put the spanner in the works, we shall all have to wait and see. Just sad that after Buttner, not to mention past signings, all this makes us Saints supporters out to be real suckers for transfer stories that go on and on..

Forté's just signed on loan to Crawley. Posted on the Saints official site.

There is so much similarity in the Alexander BUTTNER hoo haa with the player announcing and raving about the club, the ambitions, that I smell a inside rat on how we're doing transfers. Sounds more like a worm to catch a fish than a genuine deal.

Quite agree with you. Since the dirty washing over his leaving Saints so disgustingly went thru the machine, Harry's gone on to prove what a decent football manager he is. Having to work under someone like Lowe in a financially tight situation that we now know all about, I think most managers would have left. As an off the cuff Cockney comedian he can be quite hilarious.

What is Gully if not South American? What happened to that Spanish guy we loaned from Spuds.