Saint Fan CaM

When does the loan window close? Perhaps NC told NA to spend some time checking out the squad before committing to asking for more players?

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. When the team are doing well and there's clear investment, who needs a PR machine. Conversely, if the team are not doing so well (or you need to sack a Manager), that's the time that a higher level of PR is needed by the club to off-set criticism and negative vibes. It makes sense for a lower league club like us to employ a part-time person or agency to assist with this work as it would not make sense hiring a full-time staff member(s). That leaves two questions. Do we need PR right now and if so, is the quality of the PR fit for purpose? I would answer, clearly yes it's needed, however it's not doing everything I would wish for.

I agree. Except with the last bit. It's my football club, therefore it matters not if it's not very good - it's still mine (and yours). Too many miss this point.

And spelling corrections.

Of course PR is important in any business that relies on the public to buy it's product/services. The question is I suppose, who is the PR for? Is it for the benefit of the club directly or is it designed for the benefit of the supporter (who then feels connected and therefore happier with the product/service)? This is the key issue for me. The PR and communications have been poorly managed of late in my opinion - oh, it's been very stage managed and one could say professional (Bicks influence), but it's only providing what the CLUB want us to know, rather than what WE would LIKE to know. And for me, that's the big problem....they haven't bothered asking their customers - the supporters and in particular the ST holders - what information they would appreciate getting periodically from the club. What we get is the party line rolled out ad infinitum...it was OK to start with, but now (alongside poor results) it's getting a bit tedious. And while I think about it, that 'dinner with Nicola' session - why was that not properly advertised? Nothing on the OS as far as I could see - most of us were kept in the dark and if it wasn't for this forum most of us would not have known about it happening, let alone know what was revealed during the discussions. I don't know what they're paying Bick, but for a L1 club on a clearly limited budget I would hazard a guess it's far, far too much.

Is this some kind of master class in irony?

Great post...wish those others who think they have a 'scoop' would think as carefully as this prior to posting.

Got to agree - seems to be primarily populated by a few poster that know each other well or those intent on abuse and such like. Yes, the less ITK and actual exciting news coming out of the club, the less interesting the place is. I would like to know how many posters have others on ignore now - what's the point of posting if you're being ignored, so may as well not pay the money (but then the owner of the site - whoever that is - wouldn't want that I suspect). I visit here most days to check if there's any news, but of course nowadays as there is none I wonder what the point is... and I can't be bothered to post sometimes too. What I do find remarkable is the number of people who just watch but hardly ever post.

Based on my opinion that there are signs are that we're not going to be adding to the squad. There's not even a hint of this. I believe NC could be thinking that once injuries are sorted (e.g. Lallana, Richardson and Connolly), we'll have a strong enough and lean enough squad to mount a challenge. Huge risk of course, however I just have this gut feeling that more money will not be spent on wages at this time as the cash-flow probably isn't there.

I can confirm without a shadow of doubt, having seen the lad play football in last season's pre-season and Reading, that he is a liability rather than an asset. He would seriously do more for our team if we were to allow the opposition to field him as a 12th man. We were watching him closely warming up at SMS on Saturday. He fell over trying to kick or control the ball on two occassions under no pressure except from himself. I rest my case.

It looks like we'll not be adding to the squad anywhen soon - even with loans. Shockingly, it would appear that the likes of Pulis are even being considered as fair game when it comes to 'using assets'. I suspect that whoever is holding the purse strings, has absolutely the square root of fook all knowledge about football and hence is just looking at headcount rather than competency. Mmm, Saints as a commercial organisation are not alone in adopting this type of business strategy, especially when times are tough and cash-flow is king.

Don't know how anyone can slate Holmes because of injury - the worst of his problems came about because he put in a full blooded tackle and got pole-axed by a foul. He can't prove how good he could be unless he's given a run in the 1st team and right now, with his fitness back he's worth a shot because if Puncheon ever possessed a football brain, he has lost it currently. When Holmes came on against Colchester he immediately made an impact - and yes he does have some pace about him, but also is able to go around defenders WITH THE BALL!!! Likewise, Dickson appeared work well with Holmes...I feel Harding has a real problem finding a winning formula with Puncheon, but Puncheon is rubbish on the left anyway because he ALWAYS cuts-in and onto his weaker right foot. If only he had the pace to get to the byline or perhaps he should always be placed on the right to cut-in onto his left foot?

Mmm, first half very poor - all players = 3. Second half was a different story, although Lambert, Hammond and Puncheon should be shot. Holmes and Dickson were a breath of fresh air when they came on - Holmes far superior to Puncheon and I hope he gets rewarded with a start. Barnard was everywhere and considering he's carrying an injury apparently, he had a fantastic game. As others have said, we need a replacement for Hammond - someone who has the nouse to take the ball through the middle and provide some 'on the ground to feet' service to the forwards, or indeed actually puts a decent shot on target. Last word for the Ref and Lino on the Kingsland side => ******! We had a perfect stone-wall penalty claim for handball in the dying minutes of the 2nd half, which was turned down (Lino basically ignored it).

There is something wrong with him - he is not trying because of lost spirit or because he's still carrying an injury. Adkins needs to get inside his head and sort it out. I did wonder for a fleeting moment whether he was one of Pardews 'inner circle' drinking buddies and when AP/friends got busted RL got a dressing down but they couldn't afford losing him from the team. His whole demeanour is night and day different to last season IMO.

There...fixed it for you!

I understand the frustration. The never-ending churn of managers...the unfulfilled expectations, season after season (except last season, which was actually pretty good in comparison). We'll never really know the reasons why - they could be more complex than we think. Trouble is, boycotting at this time is going to do what? It's going to reduce the income to the club sure, but if many did it there would be less support for the team (assuming you make a noise) and that would potentially enhance the adverse results. Boycotting is a lose-lose strategy right now IMO.

Cheers Guvnor. (:

Fixed.

Look at his contribution SINCE that game. Scored how many? He needs time to sort himself out.

Lallana and Barnie. The rest of them leave me wanting more. Even Lambert this season so far - he's been a massive disappointment.

You have hit the nail on the head there mate - bang on centre. Lambert should be dropped, but will Adkins have the bullox to do it?

Needs a shake up - so team I would like to see start would be... -------- Davis Butters Fonte Martin Harding Ox-C Guly Spiderman Dickson --- Barnie Connolly Subs: Bart, Wotton, Puncheon, Hammond, Lambo, Seaborne, Jaidi

Simple fact is our squad has been weakened over the summer, whereas other teams that were there or thereabouts last season have all strengthened under a consistent Manager in the main. Same old story - poor sorry Saints don't come up with the goods when they're needed...sell out rather than improve.

In Prem it was often said of our team under Lowe's reign - "if you pay peanuts expect to get monkeys". Now I wonder whether it's more appropriate to say "if you pay monkeys a lot of money you're still left with monkeys". That's what it seems to me - let's face it Adkins got Scunny promoted with supposedly lesser players - AP assembled a bunch of supposedly top players for this league and now he's gone, well they've just lost interest now. Adkins has got a massive job turning this around...possibly needs 5-6 new players to go straight into the 1st team to sort things out. Of course that's not going to happen, so the task looks pretty much impossible and destined to fail. Gutting.

Not entirely convinced with the preparation thing. Do agree with the bench options though and I also think that the rest of the first team might react in a negative way just to the fact that these guys were not re-signed or replaced - i.e. "where's the ambition gone?".