MarkSFC

we are currently 10th

Very happy indeed with the 3 players we have signed but cant help thinking that we are light in defence, particularly at Left Back. Another wCB of Lovrens quality would convince me that we are serious about top 8 this year...as it is 10th-12th is my guess. Its strange that Punch and Mayuka have gone out but no one (as yet) has come in. Theres still January of course....!!!!

I wouldn't drink Fosters even if it was free for the rest of my life but generally you're right!!

unlikley away from home...possibly Osvaldo though

before last week Im sure we'd all have taken 4 points from these games so a good start.....just frustrating given the very good play for most of today!

Im sure he will soon!! 18 annd more exciting than Shaw.....boy we have the basis of an awesome team...I wont go as far as comparing the Utd lot of Giggs,Scholes, Neville and Neville, Beckham etc but Shaw, JWP, Morgan (hes as good as homegrown!!), Chambers, and add in "youngsters" Clyne, Ramirez, and the future is looking damn good!!

We do but so can I!!! Two scoring 20 would be handy!!

You've spoken to him about it have you? Very likely he wants to see if there are better offers..which there are of course many, mainly those in the CL...BUT it does not mean he WILL NOT come here. Whoever ends up signing for us even if they wanted better is fine by me...they only ruin their career if they do not perform especially in WC year.

For me the amount I would pay is directly relevant to my perception of value for money...dont get me wrong, I love going to games but at a time when money is not flowing in decisions have to be made. Given the fact that I can watch every game in the pub whilst having a few beers and not neccessarily spend the price of a ticket and thats the choice. Its not the same but its still good in a full pub. The choice to go spend my income at the ground (unfortunately) is down to money but if our team was Barcelona for example I would be very likely to spend upwards of 70/80 a game. If we do end up signing Osvaldo or similar quality and we are winning then financially its obviously better value for money and my likely 6 games this year could turn into 12+ plus a few more away games than usual!! And before I am deemed a plastic thats certanly not the case, I've had ST's for many years in the past but finances prevail.

Interesting...I thought Turnbull looked good, definitely not a brilliant performance but he looks far more composed than Stephens..and left footed. Rowe was excellent, Sinclair has something about him but I think his slight lack of ppace may be his undoing ultimately, although I'm sure he play at least Championship level. I particularly liked the look of Reed, have feeling he will have a very good career. If the goal is too get 2 or 3 progres to the first team SQUAD each summer then we are very well placed with Isgrove and Chambers up there this year. Very healthy club we have.

Perfectly put. Fox is not good enough. We need a decent LB regardless of Shaws fitness or not. If the "back-up" (or other option is how it should be looked at) is Fox then the boy Shaw will not progress as he will with a player good enough to challenge him and actually better than him. That way you find out how good he really is and will be. So ideally a LB, A Striker and a CB. Get them and were are seriously top 8 contenders.

With the team 16-18 players plus a couple of the kids we should be in and around the comfort zone of 8th-14th most of the season. How far up will depend on number of injuries and suspensions we suffer, so I am very keen to see at absolute minimum a striker who is better than we have (not that RL and JR are poor) because we need another option. I also think that Maya and Dejan are going to be good enough to get us nearer 8th but an injury to one does weaken is significantly, even if Jose and Jos have played key roles to this point they are not going to improve and sustaining levels is harder when not first choice. Therefore I would hope to see another CB of equal or better standard than Dejan/Maya. Otherwise we have great options in midfield and despite others thoughts on wingers I don't think that is a position MP sees as needed as we will play with very fluent and mobile attacking midfielders...Ramirez, Lallana, Punch, JWP, Guly, Isgrove.

For two or three years Spurs peddled rumours that they were after big name players above their level at the time and didn't really get anyone but the effect was that it upped their profile over that time. Admittedly they were possibly a level above where we are now but I think we have a better foundation and core of team particularly from an age and potential perspective. Us being linked with £20m+ players is all part of the process of profile building. We may never get to be a top four/champions league team but unless you aim that high you are extremely unlikely to get anywhere near it. It may not be this window or even next summer but at sometime in the next two seasons I fully expect us to sign at least one player for £20m+. Robinho was Man City's catalyst signing....who will be ours??!!!!

No he wasn't. Read what I said idiot. Better than we have.

They have clearly worked very hard on the training ground. Good signs.....just need a better striker and another CB as good as DL

Hooves is a liability

I think signing just one more player - a striker - would be good but not good enough, we also need another CB and an out and out winger, preferably right footed. These additions would enable us to really compete inot the top 8.

Yes. And will develop even further. Him plus another 25-28 year old established striker would be brilliant.

Probably the total opposiite....that they are pretty certain he wont be going anywhere and any bets are free money for them!!

If Gaston does leave I would be very disheartened because he is class. His inconsistancy that people cite is mainly down to his age. Very few players achieve the high levels consistancy until their mid twenties. It is called development. I also think many are forgetting two other aspects, 1)he is a young kid in a foriegn country, it takes time to settle, and it is well known throughout football that it takes months for even older foriegn players to settle in; and 2) he was injured and out for a few weeks just as he was getting going. This puts many players back, not least younger players. I am very hopeful he stays, andif Benega comes in I think that is just as much about taking a bit of pressure of Gaston as it is strengthening the team. Having those two. Lallana, Puncheon in our team is more than enough "skill factor".

would be the best signing....please please please!!!!!!

we're the scum they're the skates. end of.

of course!

obviously I'm over analysing it but why no twitter updates from saints today...been loads for trip so far?! and what did Luke Shaw mean last night "cant believe it what Ive just seen".......(could mean absolutely anything of course but)....a new player just turned up at the camp?!!

whoever it is if we spend circa £20m he will be damn good!!!