MarkSFC

According to that reliable source wikipedia, Carlos Edwards is a right winger who is very adept as a right back also. Would be a good fit then.

"nothing conctrete" can describe every stage up until contracts are actually signed so means nothing!

very much text book answer/quote by Lines! If I were a Rovers fans I would prefer to hear "I staying 100%" or words to that effect. Everything else suggests he's covering all options and that a move away is definitely in his head!

Newcastle are a good example but in the future massive debt will not be permitted therefore income based progression will determine player purchases. The "pecking order" will generally remain the same based on size of fanbase but success will be more relevant to the quality of people in the business. I know it is now but limitless funds - man city eg, and chelsea mean that you can take more risks! I remember derby about 20 years ago suddenly had loads of money but messed it up through poor recruitment!

Moving off my OP slightly the "potential" of a club in the future is going to be largely linked to turnover and profit. Being bank-rolled for the purchase of players will become less and less. Investment from owners for infrastructure like the stadium and training facilities will be the limit. I believe the new rules will limit debt as well. So to me this all puts us in a great position. We have no debt and are developing the training facilities already. Ground development or new build will be the next stage I believe which will be the main key to high level success. The gap will shrink between us and the Man Us of the world but unless we get 75000 a game we will never get to the very top! I think we know Utd are too much of a brand for us to compete but I see no financidl restrictions to being on of the best teams in the Premier League in 4-8 years time and with a sustained level of success following. Until Roman in particular (and Matthew Harding to a lesser degree before him) Chelsea were not a "top 4 club". I believe thru were an hour away from bankruptcy and only his investment has propelled them upwards. If they relied purely on their attendances and other sales ( which they were before him) they would be a mediocre team. Their attendances I think are in the high 30s. We averaged 31/32k in the prem and I am sure 40 is possible if when we get back. Sure sensible pricing required before someone says!! The ONLY way Saints can be a sustainable force is to have a stadium capable of attracting much more than 32k. 45-48 would be sensible with major hospitality options. As the finance of the football world alters over the next decade we will become a real force. I'm sure the team development we see over the next 2-3 years will reflect that ambition.

I think he is competant at best at this level. Think the fact that last years champions let him go mid season and the fact that we (similar ambitions) have let him go sums it up really. Having said that, he's never really had a run in a team and maybe one of those players who needs to have his confidence built.

I assume that was taken today?! If you took it, was Pardew with the players or is he flying out later after finalising a couple more signings?!

Upwards of £50 mill I would guess. The squads Market value is probably at least 10-12 mill. SMS 20-25 mill, Staplewood 5? And Jacksons Farm who can really price until it's available for development?! I hope we don't see a "For Sale" sign at SMS for many years - unless it's cos we've got a new stadium!

That's about my thinking which is why I posed the question. If Pardew is building now to challenge in the Championship there could be 2 or 3 exciting signings! Otherwise next summer will be more costly!

we were starting the season in the NPC.....how do you think our best starting eleven looks against the rest? Ignoring the need to build a squad how good is the "team"??

Matt LeTizz

They are proper annoyed!! Sounds like another great signing from AP.....he's getting good at this management malarchy!!

You really are a pair of complete idiots. I'm glad you won't be going to many games if your attitude continues to be so whinging. If £69 (although it can very easily be a maximum £3!) is the difference between you going to many more than 6 games - over several months- then maybe your finances suggest you shouldn't go at all. We all get how you feel......now STFU!!!

Agree with the quantity but slightly different: One RB of course! One Centre Back better than Jaiidi....reckon it might be Paddy McCartney from Palace Antonio or equivalent definitely A real ball winning midfielder...Jimmy Case ilk Connolly to sign A pacey tall -ish striker.......Charlie Austin would be perfect...could play with any of RL,LB or DC Also need Bart to sign..... Murty I believe has been released but will be training with option to sign if fit....ideal back-up!!

I am considering going self-employed in a new business venture and a couple of questions. I have trawled thorugh the internet but cant get these specific questions answered!! If its not taking the mick would you be able to advise on the following? PM me if preferable. Overview..... I will be providing a "service" in someone elses places of business. They will employ me at a set rate for a set contract period. I will be using a car (purchased from an initial fee) to travel to various venues of the hiring company. The car will also be used for some personal use. 1..... Will I be able to claim mileage or fuel cost for every journey from my home to these different venues. I will not neccessarily be based at one in particular? 2......Is the purchase of said vehicle tax deductable and /or capital investment?? didnt get this!! Thanks in advance if you have the answers!!! Mark

cheers! must be going blind!

do you know the actual date of formation...day and month...tried t'internet..no good!!

You question my maths...I may well question your english! The price is actually irrelevant because you are including the £3 booking fee. May I suggest you re-read my post?!!

Ok..here goes...I'll try and put it as simply as possible for you......... Top whack ticket is £25....I doubt you'll want to sit in the centre so it "only" £22...thats a saving of £3 already!!! Anyway, the economics as you put it are simple. If travelling to SMS to purchase your ticket for the first game is your "only" reason for going into town, then if it cost you more than £3 purchase by phone or internet initially. Ideally purchase a few at the same time......a bit like an installment plan. Then, subsequent purchases can be made when you attend a game meaning that any "additional cost" in getting to the game is already accounted for because you were going anyway. Continuimg this method of purchasing over the season means that at most you will incur £3 "tax" for the whole season. Now apparently my math is not upto much but I make that a very tiny bit over 13pence per league game. Bring into play any Cup games and the exhorbatant tax you despise goes down.........

You just did respond....and your are saying my ideas re Ted Bates is sarcastic drivel. Well done! You are missing the point of the booking fee. Go to the ground and purchase in person. I have explained this very simple concept before but because it suits you, you assume that every ticket bought will incur this fee. It won't...move on!! Remember the matchday prices for Adults are frozen from last year so the rise in cost you fear has no foundation.

WRONG. Sums you up really, quoting something as fact when it isn't. The top price ticket is £25 FACT. And of course, you only pick out what suits you......

DBP....where has it been said that when we get to the Premier League ticket prices will be £50 and Chelsea-esque? I would expect no more than £35 absolute top whack but honestly doubt it would go that high. You do like to voice your opinion in a manner which suggests fact. I'm sure it's deliberate and I'm sure you like the reaction you get. You talk of the Ted Bates trophy being "a tradition" when it's been going for only a few years. I'm not saying it should be abandoned persee but if the game is to truly reflect on TB it should fit in with the first teams preparation. If the manager whoever he is, and obviously that's AP right now thinks it's not the right prep to play a high profile club then so be it. Maybe in honour of Mr and Mrs Bates there should be one game every season where the gate receipts are donated on their behalf to the Saints Foundation or to a cause that the Bates family choose. Local ground level football perhaps? I would also like the academy to be named The Ted Bates Academy. I doubt this though as I suspect NC is on the verge of announcing that DaveBenson"StuRomseySaint"Phillips is going to be appointed as football consultant and his first task will be to reverse the takeover and put the club back into administration because that way we will take much longer to achieve promotion. He will then have to re introduce the installment plan for the season tickets and obviusly at just £125 each (5 months at £25 should be affordable). He will also put in a condition that everyone who buys a centenary ST can buy one every season from now for the same price. This way he and his mates can always afford to go. As income drops the players will be sold - by Stu in his call centre - and the funds will not go back into the playing squad but will be shared out amongst the families of the recently jailed thugs. Community project alive and kicking. As the players leave and the team gets worse Stu and his mates enjoy the luxury of sitting exactly where they wish because no one else turns up. As times become increasingly hard Stu and his mates hire a coach and visit Eastleigh for a big local derby. The subsequent defeat is tempered by a great day in the pub and pulling a local Eastleigh bird. They then get the coach back home. Following the devastating defeat to Eastleigh Stu sacks AP and employs the cheapest manager available- himself. Finally. Mission completed. Football Consultant and Manager. Anyone who thinks this is nonesense is retarted.

As much as we should always remember and honour Ted and Mary Bates (my grandfather knew him and was proud of that fact - says it all for me) I never thought that The Ted Bates Trophy match was entirely fitting. For us the fans it meant something but I think playing games against random teams was preety meaningless. Call me synical but I feel it was just an idea from Lowe to get more income! The statue is a very fitting tribute and maybe that's enough. Before every single game you will see people at the statue taking photos. Maybe when NC and ML build our new stadium it will be called The Bates Stadium?!!!

Position?!

As great as it would be to have made a few signings by now (not least to shut a few people up!!) it's actually a good sign that the players Pardew has targeted are actually quality for our level. It seems likely that we will be paying a bit for 4 or 5(a RB, a CM, a striker, and also a central defender better than Jaidi, and hopefully Antonio) which means that we won't be the only clubs in for these players. That means negotiations and patience. The selling club will push the price as much as possible and they will be in no hurry...theres 2 months till the window shuts!