MarkSFC

doesn't use the word exciting......

There actually seems to be a little uncertainty on his position and we do not know NA's thinking behind this potential new player. The point I am making is that too many people simply look at the names against the position and make the assumption that if we have so many "Left-Backs (for example) on the books we therefore don't need any more. I totally agree that GK (2 maybe), CB (x2), CM (maybe two), and RM are more important to fill but I doubt very much that the club simply works on one deal at a time. There will be many discussions and negotiations going on at this time of pre-season. I am very keen to see what combination of CM, RM and Wingers we sign. I have a sneaky feeling that Lallana will be used more centrally this season.

It's all about the quality. How obvious is it? We only have about a dozen players who are good enough. To become at least top 12 we need at least 6 or 7 more QUALITY players REGARDLESS of who may also be hanging around the squad.

IF we are going to take a formerly good but been injured ex-international mid-fielder would far prefer Hargreaves.

go on then....make one of Tommy Forecast

the poster of Nicola should say 'For Markus,for the fans'

On a pay as you play deal he could be a great signing, not least of all for the experience and knowledge he could share with the "youngsters". I think he is almost certainly fit and don't think it was a case of not being fit at City just more to do with not quite good enough for them.....does not mean he couldn't do a great job for us. If we did sign him I would expect him to be "in addition" to a major signing in mid-field.

Your "opinion" of us over performing and them under-performing is based I assume on past performance levels. This is exactly what many people fail to realise that past performance is an indicator of two things; 1) The level that they have performed at before and; 2 The level that they can perform at in the future. The fact that you believe that West Ham's squad under-performance indicates to me that the squad (to be general) was/is full of players who have reached their individual peaks and are on the way down and therefore perform at their best on a fewer number of occasions. And in terms of Saints this is the opposite. Our squad has players who are still improving and their performance levels are still getting better but more importantly the perform at this level far more often than not. Choices have to be made when recruiting players; do you go for experience, and therefore you know exactly what you are getting at its maximum but realise that the maximum level may not be produced as often, and that the player will only decline. Or do you choose the player with potential, whose limit is unknown but can be anticipated, and therefore as they improve (amongst others also improving) you boost the overall level to one that is actually unknown, but may also not produce as quickly as hoped or as consistently as someone more experienced. It's fairly obvious which camp we are in generally and that is far more exciting and is the long term vision rather than the short term one. I predict that we will once again over perform and West Ham will under perform as will QPR!!

I think these pictures look great. If this actually happens it would seem that the "red building and attaching structure will provide the additional significant income streams that are needed to move towards "self-sustainability". I imagine the extensions will provide major conferencing facilities, suitable "year-round" outlets like a museum, restaurant and bar(s), mega-store, and other facilities that I cant even predict! It would seem that this is the best option all round - to expand rather than build again elsewhere or even on site - and as such will have to be "future-proof". This means that it will need to be big enough to achieve the ultimate goals of the owners and without creating a white elephant or at least a ground that is too big and underused. I believe around 42-46k with corporate would be sensible. If the expansion of the seating is done well it will done in such a way that minimises the "obviousness" of smaller attendances (say 30-34k) which will be inevitable on occasions - some league and FA Cup matches perhaps. With the Staplewood development already progressing nicely there is far more probability that "an expansion" WILL take place over the coming years, and if it's going to happen it's very likely to start sooner rather than later as the sooner we have more income streams the less "financial support" the owners need to provide. I'm sure it wont be the case but Cortese must not "do a Lowe" and forget that at the end of the day the most important thing to the paying customer is the quality of the team on show.....

Welcome to the premier league lads........wow, what a start!!

I really can't understand what people see in Hammond that suggests he will be a regular in the premier league.He has played a major role no doubt in getting us there but he hit his limit last season. A new commanding midfielder - ideally Tom Huddlestone who could easily be Captain too....must surely be signed.

Who do people think will be captain next season? Hammond certainly wont be a starter, Kelvin may be/should be a doubt to start every game and its possible that Jose may be rotated with new cb My thoughts are that it has to be a player who will start every game if fit...a Terry or a Gerrard if you like I think it could be Jos or maybe Lallana Thoughts? Maybe a poll mods?

You are suggesting from this post that you only expect saints to be "in and around the bottom" which to me means bottom 8. IF that is in fact where we spend next season and some after that then what's the point? I'm not going to fall for the Champions League rhetoric but I do not see any reason why over the next two or three seasons we can finish consistently "in and around the middle to top half of the table" which in my mind is 6th-12th. Charlie Adam is probably a better player than you make out but I think he is a player who is "damaged goods" in the sense that his career has stalled at Liverpool if not actually gone backwards and that is not the type of player I think we are going for. A Charlie Adam (having just had his season in the Prem with Blackpool) is exactly the type of player I would like us to sign 1 or 2 of (a CM and CB - has a little prem experience and is developing and probably 24-26) and I think that is exactly what NA is looking for in addition to 3 or 4 more Jay Rodriguez types - young and developing with oodles of potential!!

Think that would be perfect.....being greedy....chuck in a right back too!!

Particularly the young early to mid twenty year old ones who are definitely going to get better..... Probably be wise though to get a couple of similar age ones but who have been in the prem like Scott Dann and Mark Davies for example.

I don't really care who plays as long as we score loads and win games of football!! It's just great to have 4 such strikers at the club (almost!)....add in Lallana and this is arguably the best group of attackers we have had since MLT, Shearer, Rod Wallace and Rideout....

Not at all. At least not unless we "know the full reasons" quoted from Adkins or cortese or JR or a combination!! I think the time to judge the so-called ambition is at the end of this transfer window. You never know we may miss out on JR (for whatever reason) and then spend £10 million on someone the week after! I am hopeful, not just because of my emotional attachment to the club but from a logical perspective. Everything Cortese has done and is doing suggests that there is now more ambition than ever, or at least ambition that is planned in every detail, considering all outcomes and more importantly properly funded. Why would you buy a club just to become a yo-yo club and flirt with the bottom echelons of the Premier League. It's not the prudent thing to do. A certain level of investment (of course unknown) is designed to ensure that the club can survive "on its own merits" in the future...probably in 5 to 8 years time. I think there is no doubt regardless of the JR outcome that this club has serious ambition. For once we are are very lucky.................even if it does cost us a little bit more....it's a brilliant time to support Saints after the Askham and Lowe years!!!

I get the impression that Burnley NEED to sell him in order to buy players themselves. I'm sure that he will move because it is right for him but by moving he is also providing "his club" with the funds to improve overall. At the moment though we know nothing concrete but it seems very unlikely to me that he will not sign for us.

Green would certainly be good, possibly the best we could get right now but I reckon he will go to either Spurs or Villa.

This. He derserves to be involved but he is not the keeper to take us up the Premier League. Butland maybe. Gordon maybe. A.N.Other probably! Who ever it is must be a far better commander of his box on corners particularly and have far quicker distribution and kicking ability. Davis does not aid our fast paced keep ball style.

Booed (not literally but in discussion) by me.......Graham baker (only remember one forward pass!)...Glenn Cockerill...Gordon Hobson....Paul Jones....Malcolm Waldron......amongst others; and in the current squad..........Chaplow (has the form curve of BT without the same highs and longer troughs)....Seaborne (just rubbish under pressure which effects every element of his game)

No I'm not!!!

It is essential that we sign at least one CB - would be happy with either Dann, C Davies or Mariappa. I wouldn't expect another one as Martin could/should be enough at number 4 but if worst comes to worst there is the loan system. Central Midfield is my main concern. I like Morgan and think he will definitely become the deep sitting play-maker type. Cork still has a little improvement to make I think and is probably closer to Morgan than an attacking mid-fielder. We definitely need one real quality player here - which sort probably depends on whether we stick mainly to 442 or maybe go 433. I think the reason Swansea were so good last year is down to their mid-field so if we can match them there we will certainly be better. Right wing is certainly a spot that is up for grabs. SDR has not yet shone, and nor did Guly there. some players bizarrely do get better as they come up against better players, and also play with better ones. If we mainly go 442 I would like to see Matt Phillips added - raw pace, certainly improving (despite his sluggish end of season) and could be very good, very soon. Right-back is interesting too - how far is Stephens away? Even if "good enough" wont be ready for the whole season. I'm not convinced by Richardson but has played in the Prem before so that may help but I fear that against pace he will be done. Maybe a loan signing here or maybe an investment in Trippier or Clyne. I like Fox, the only thing for me is that he does not get beyond Adam enough- maybe that's instructions, who know. I doubt we will see any addition here. Up front I really hope JRod signs - massive potential - and well worth the investment. I would not be surprised if we sign another striker either. Lee will potentially be a useful (if not firing them in anyway!) sub as can play up anywhere across the front so may well act as a "back up" to Adam as well as striker. Barnard should leave. Guly I think is a good one to keep because can play on the right, in the hole or up top. Remember 7 subs in the prem. Finally we obviously need a GK. I hope to see one who is better than KD and possibly just coming into his prim, late 20's early 30's. Gordon springs to mind, especially for no fee!

Here we go again...Mr clueless is back....making assumptions based on his own detached theories. I was enjoying this forum again for a while!!

This will be a great signing if indeed it does go through. When is the last time that Saints signed a player who is in his early 20's, highly regarded and whom some people think has the potential to play for England? If you think about it £7m+ for a player who has scored 40 in 121 games at a young age is pretty good. The price reflects mainly potential and so if you compare to AOC at £12-15m depending on who you believe, he is certainly better than half as good as AOC, especially if in 2 or 3 years they are leading the England line together. Very smart business if NC and NA can get this done.....1 or 2 more of a similar ilk would would be just great!!!