RobM

Minty - You're right, thanks, enough bickering Alpine - We do indeed and I'm not for one second suggesting that we must and need to spend big, but there are certain holes we need to fill and there is a cost attached to that. We can spend less, but we'll get less. Buy right, buy once.

Didn't Lennon make that same comment... I'm sure he said 'If they come back a third time', or words to that affect.

Wow, such anger. OK... I used Ronaldo as an example that something being out of the ordinary doesn't mean it's wrong, isn't necessary or shouldn't happen. It turns out that was a cracking purchase for Real, so money well spent. What Southampton need is another quality striker. We've discussed to death the options that exist - J-Rod, Sharp, Maynard etc - and they are all rumoured to have a valuation of anything from £2-4m, possibly more depending on your choice of newspaper or website. That seems to be the price of a reasonable quality striker at the moment, but none of those options are considered as good as Hooper, they are less certain options for our long term. Hooper at a rumoured £6m seems to be the price for a quality striker that doesn't just meet our needs now, but provides a bloody good chance of performing in the Prem too. In L1 we spent more than was common for other L1 clubs in order to get NPC quality players. We did this to ensure promotion and to ensure consistency after promotion, so we're not rebuilding from scratch. Now we're in NPC and we're doing the same. We're looking at players better than we have that can do a job immediately, but also after promotion, again so we're not rebuilding from scratch. This isn't a common approach because few other clubs are as fortunate as us, in terms of leadership and financial backing. Additionally, as we rise through the leagues, the cost of talent better than we have will increase, hence looking at £6m proven quality strikers.

Wow. Amazing commitment to your belief to admit that on the open forum, but wow, what utter negativity you feel towards our chances to predict that level of sheer failure... especially in the face of a successful first half of the season. If we win today that's just one more win left for the rest of the season, based on your prediction.

Minty - You could make a fortune by licensing your list to fellow TSW members!

I don't, definitely not, but I think it's a fact of life in football these days. Sadly the days of commitment, playing for pride and making decisions for the love of it are ending. There are some signs of it - Gerrard's new deal at Liverpool perhaps, plus Billy Sharps intention to stay close to home - but they are by far the exception. The norm is you buy in talent, they do a job until you get rid of them as you don't want them, or they get rid of you because they think they can do better. Sad really, but that's business I guess.

Who said we were acting like Real frigging Madrid? Who said we need to spend £6m to get promoted? I've already posted my thoughts on why I believe a larger than is common investment in new players is likely. You've decided that this isn't the case because historically it hasn't happened (much). Interesting that you prefer to get upset rather than discuss and debate, a sign of this forum perhaps, but why not discuss the point? I've explained my view, your turn.

I first heard the Moon was made of cheese in a Wallace and Grommet film. Didn't make that true.

I hope so, the most encouraging thing about this potential deal isn't the discussion about the deal itself, but about Celtics potential targets, replacements for Hooper, spending big despite being broke... it all points to the deal being quite likely.

I don't see why it being common is relevant? The price Ronaldo went to Madrid for wasn't that common. The price we sold a youngster to Arsenal for wasn't that common. If we think it's the right thing to do and we have the funds available, I don't think anybody will give two ****s whether it's common place.

We played the same game with AOC, no doubt knowing he would be sold, but ensuring we get the best deal for the club in the process. Arsenal really wanted him to stumped up the cash, let's hope we do the same. I agree with the previous opinion on Lennons press comments though - you can't say our valuation doesn't meet theirs at the same time as saying he isn't for sale. It's one or the other, if somebody has a valuation he is for sale.

Time will tell, I don't think NC is a mug though. He's already managed to stand up to the big boys in the Prem, he's probably used to arseholes from his time as a banker so I think he has the right grounding The real question is the ambition of those holding the purse strings, that's the only doubt I have. But as I said before, I am confident that new owners could be found if necessary.

You're right, it will require a level of spending way above our spending in recent years. But in recent years we've been in L1 chasing the NPC, so spending big wasn't really possible, nobody worth £6m would have ever considered coming to L1. We did, however, go straight out and buy a proven NPC level defender with a great reputation (Fonte) and the leagues top goalscorer (Lambert) to show our intention, they were two big signings for a L1 club... both could have found themselves an NPC club easily. As we rise through the leagues the investment needed for quality players, for success at that level and for moving onto the next level increases. This does match our spending patterns, we have consistently invested in new talent each season, just look at our signings at the start of this season, not just in terms of cost but the statement - Cork, for instance, was a sign of intent. We all know the five-year plan to get back to the Prem and establish ourselves there exists. So far, we have invested accordingly and in a larger scale at each stage.

Two thoughts on that... firstly, why are those the only two options? If we're seriously considering spending £6m in the NPC, why wouldn't we continue that commitment if we get to the Prem to ensure we don't struggle? I don't consider the likes of Stoke, Fulham, Sunderland etc as being a massive amount ahead of us in terms of potential, supporter base, potential income etc etc. They have made themselves mainstays in the Prem, so why couldn't we? Secondly, both your options are the same at the end of the day. Being one of the bigger fish in the NPC pond means promotion chasing. Promotion chasing means reaching the Prem if successful in challenging for titles. If you're belief is correct that we wont spend £6m on any one player, that surely confines us to relegation back to the NPC where we can go back to being one of the bigger fish and the cycle continues. In short, without investment, can you have success in the NPC without difficulty in the Prem afterwards? We're on a high at the moment, our reputation is improving, we're playing good football that is generating positive comments, so if we do get to the Prem and our owners and NC don't invest and wish to sell, it wont be too difficult to find a buyer. Especially given the resources we have invested in and our reputation for youth development, which will become vital as the importance of young English talent increases. But lets not forget NC has already stated his aims and they were ambitious, positive and came backed up with comments around potential spending to match.

I think the line 'West Ham are also interested' could well be common place in every transfer rumour this season. The good news for us is Celtic are looking at replacements!

Am I reading that right? You're an advisor to NC? You're giving NC advise on how to run a football club?

Which I'm sure was the point in your earlier post that seemed to go right over some heads... I agree with you, with acquisitions like this and Lee, a CB (loan is fine with me, I can't think of many CB's available to us that could happily support us in the Prem too) and some wide pace added to the wings, we would have everything we need to continue our promotion push. Sure, promotion without any of this is still a possibility and would be a success, but doing this means we have invested in this potential and supported ourselves properly. Not doing it is a risk, IMO.

Better than what we've got... who are you aiming that at? Our striking options are very limited. Rickie for sure is the best around in this league. Barnard is unproven at this level and has been out of action for a long time. It's entirely possible we will have been promoted by the time he is back up to speed. DC is a class act, but injury prone and seems to struggle with regular games. Guly isn't a striker, he has done an admirable job there, but he looked so much more comfortable recently when playing back in his natural position. That just leaves players like Forte and the young options we have. So, IMO, Rickie is it. It doesn't matter if we can't better him right now, we just need somebody equal or the next best thing, which I don't think we have anything close to. I'm not convinced that's Sharp, but JRod could work.

It's easy for us to think that the one and only ambition for every football player is, or should be, to play for the best football club possible. Some players aren't wired like that (MLT wasn't!) and are happy to stay where they are and enjoy their football close to home. I don't see anything wrong with that, we simply don't buy them!

If the gist of the rumours and gossip we've read is true, that seems the best possible outcome for Sharp. He seems to value staying close to his current home as the priority (which is understandable for a family man) and seems to have little desire to uproot for the sake of playing at a better level, so earning a chunk more and becoming a fans hero seems the best option. He'll become their MLT, I'm sure.

Agreed, very handy for us in midfield. Could do a job in L1 I'm sure, possibly even Brighton

Add on top 'wasted' wages and that £650k seems very fair. If we were playing him, or even having him warm the bench, his wages wouldn't be a concern and we could hold out for more. But we're paying him to train with kids - kids who are above him in the pecking order - which is a waste. Even on a modest wage, it wouldn't take long to eat into the difference between £650k and £1m. Not to mention harmony at the club, which has to be considered.

Alpines biggest problem is the fact he is Alpine. People pay more attention to his comments than other peoples, even if they were to say the same thing. Some of the quieter members here could post, word-for-word, the same message as Alpine and it wouldn't get anywhere near the response. There is a lot of history to that though, with blame at the foot of many people not just Alpine. I don't disagree with many of the points he makes, but I always prefer discussion and debate over shouting and name calling and that's often how it ends. IMO, this is where the 'party line' bit comes from. It's not a party line, it's just a party of members who insist on taking every opportunity, however small, to fight with Alpine. Alpine's responses fuel that fire and the chaos begins... There are other posters who need a SaintsWeb holiday before Alpine though. Particularly someone who gets off on posting 'As I predicted... we will finish 17th' at every given opportunity.

I think there is an element of truth to these failed bid stories, but they are hyped up by papers and agents alike. It's always silly season and when you're at the top of the league and people think you've got a few quid in your pocket, you're bound to get more attention than most. It's good for agents to have their players associated with clubs like us, it's better still for them to be associated with us at a high valuation.

Yes, this. As always, the idiots tend to be the loudest.