Saint Fan CaM

OMG - no AOC in the squad...could he be gone already? MLG - can you confirm his attendance please?

Fixed!

Well who knows, perhaps the spotlight is turning from FIFA to EUFA now and there are some skeletons starting to appear from the closet? One things for sure, the manner in which marketing has been conducted frankly has not matched what I would consider the same aspirations NC would have for the club. I thought it interesting (disappointing) for example that neither the BBC local news or ITV news covered Jack Corks signing at 6 o'clock the day he signed. What is the point of paying for SaintsTV if you can read the same interviews on the OS? Just a couple of examples and more are covered above by others. Whatever the reasons, I am not getting too worked up about it - there are many, many more fish (urgh!) in the sea.

This. (bump!) (;

I was thinking of the midfield options and trying to assess the difference between Morgan and JC. For someone who is supposedly defensive minded, Cork got forward quite a bit for Burnley, has a nose for goal and is a better passer of the ball than Morgan IMO. But they are quite similar in overall style I think and coupled with that, I think NA will want the experience of either Hammond or Chaplow alongside one of them. In terms of the OP, I would suggest that it's both in defence AND attack where we'll be exposed just in terms of a lack of pace. If we don't sign a defender then I can see the RB/LB positions not getting forward as much. In terms of attack, I think Barnie and Connolly could possibly do the job IF they stay hyper-fit and stay out of clink. Of course, there are options up-front for NA too with Forte and Guly hopefully benefitting from a full pre-season with NA and the squad. Both these players have some pace and flair.

Great thread Trousers - we should never forget our saviour and fellow Saint Markus L.

Kick the ball Jack and don't you look back no more, no more, no more, no more, Kick the ball Jack, cos you're a Saint foreeeeever more! Cheques in the post please - nice and simple - I can hear this being sung at SMS!

Why is it that some of you lot insist on slagging off the likes of Hammond now we've signed Cork? As NA repeatedly says, it's about the squad so there's no need to rubbish the players that remain. I think Cork will be a 1st choice player on the teamsheet - who will pair up with him? I think it will be Hammond rather than Schneiderlin perhaps as he offers experience. In fact, I think Chaplow could possibly provide the best complimentary play to Cork - Cork is more defensive...Chappers is more attack minded, but they both have box-to-box motors in them. Whatever, its going to be intriging to see how he fits in and make the midfield position his own. Good luck Jack - I hope you stay for the long journey and become a Saints legend.

Bit like Hammond then?

Good luck to the chap...he has become a part of our future.

Oh no. We've got no ambition. (;

Looks like Nicola has really 'splashed out' with this break away. (L; http://www.champneys.com/Springs "Everything is designed specifically to help you de-stress and unwind"

Ticket prices pretty good I think for a friendly against Prem opposition and players getting near to match fitness. Will be interesting to see if we can cope with the extra pace that they will inevitable present us with. Today I purchased 5 seats in block 30 BTW.

This.

Too early to tell at the moment. If we've not spent some money to bring in 2-3 really decent players in key positions before August then yes, lack of ambition might be levelled at Cortese (the guy with the purse strings). Until that time, I think the evidence could possibly be weighted slightly in favour of the club, as we have not only not lost our best players, we're busy extending contract terms for some. So far the last two seasons have been great and I cannot see that position changing any time soon.

This.

Frankly I couldn't give a flying fig about CMS. Sure, he's a good acquisition for Brighton, however in many attacks he made last season many of them were based on the hoof and chase style of football. That might be highly effective at L1 level, but I think he'll be found out in the NPC. A case of watch this space methinks.

I agree that we have some real quality in the squad, however there are generic weaknesses that still need to be addressed to compete let alone push for promotion. For a start we need both pace and grit in central midfield. We need more pace in attack. Then there's the specifics. We need to find a real replacement for Jaidi and I think our full-backs could get exposed if they're too busy attacking (although this might be more a tactical issue rather than specific player competence). We have one player (Forte) who has not really been given a good run in the side to show us what he's about (although I do think he will be a real asset this season). We have Barnie possibly not being able to play for an unknown amount of time. These are not negatives as such - just issues that need to be addressed before the season starts.

Irrelevent as this thread is (given Lowe is history and bad history at that), I would have to say NC wins hands down.

I understand what you're trying to say SL - Adkins will be tested this season. But then so will the entire squad (inc. coaches) surely as they - as a team - have not performed at NPC level before? Your arguement also does not take into account some of the positives we take from last season - look at the number of games won/lost over the last 10 games of the season...look at the fact that team spirit will be as high as a kite just from actually winning promotion...Adkins got a lesser Scunny side into the NPC and kept them there. What exactly are your expectations for this season? What would constitute a good season for Adkins? For me - worst case, a mid-table finish would not be a complete disaster and not necessarily a reflection on Adkins ability for example...more a case of not a strong enough squad.

All of this is rehash from his OS interview and on Saintsplayer.

I don't think it has anything to do with not wanting to play for us exactly. It's more a case of NC ensuring that wage costs do not spiral beyond our means and there are probably players and agents out there... (a) not realising there's a recession on (why would they - they don't live in the real world) and (b) thinking Saints have a bottomless pit of money to spend. I think NA is doing a good job explaining the situation and whether we like that or not, it's a sensible position in the larger scheme of things. We'll get new players I feel sure - whether the final squad is good enough to compete for a push to the Prem is debatable, but that's what makes football such a great sport and why we're here discussing it. As NA and Lambert also have said, it would seem there's a great team spirit in the camp now and that's something money cannot buy.

You're not wrong there...but then there's some that just blubber as a wind-up, which is kinda clever in it's own way, so long as there's no abuse involved.

Good - very good. lol

Not true IMO. I don't think anyone has a problem if somebody else criticises an opinion. But that's not what we're talking about here. As an example, the difference would be me telling you I disagree with your POV (as above) or just dismissing your opinion and calling you a mong (or some other equally offensive name). Frankly I couldn't give a monkeys d1ck what an internet warrior calls me, but the point of me being here is to have an adult discusssion about a Saints related topic - not get abused for the sake of it. Anyone who abuses another poster deserves to be banned completely from the main board IMO. That doesn't happen frequently enough - as I've said already the reasons probably have something to do with off-line friendships. Or perhaps the MODs are scared there'll be nobody left to post?! Who knows, perhaps the variety of posters might increase if the abuse rule was actually invoked fully (but fairly)?