richardc

If you take the spirit of the OP questions rather than anally dismember it then I would still say its worth a throw of the dice. We will have JRod back and potentially Boruc that is like adding a £15m striker and a £10 Gk - I am sure we can afford to spend another £20m to £25m without breaking the bank and within FFP. If realistically that money is spent on two / three players which is what we seemed to spend in the summer on players - then 2 x £10m players of the calibre we bought in the summer, I believe could (not definite) give us the strength in depth that we need to see to off the final half of the season in a CL Given that A) the main contenders for that Fourth spot seem to be in a bit of disarray B) currently there seems to be two spots up for grabs - then I dont think we will have a better chance of finishing top 4 Spending £20m on two players will not jeopardise our finances, break the wage structure etc Nothing is guaranteed but lets be ambitious in a sensible framework

I can see where your coming from - We could be in or around the top 4 by early Jan All the pundits say we wont stay the course because of our strength in depth of the squad - therefore in Jan we could have JRod back the equivalent of adding a £15m striker to the squad and Boruc - then the board would be in a situation where they could invest £30m for example to grow the squad and be in a pretty damn good chance for a CL place. The only marque signing Ive seen written about is Jordy Classie. Given the poor performance of the other CL contenders - I think this may be our best possible chance and would go for it

I thought they closed us down a lot quicker and more persistently and like at Spurs we struggle when that happens - it pushed us into making unforced errors by giving the ball away or getting court in possession

Half way to safety now

like

I was thinking about the super Ronaldo song for pelle for away games it could be Graziannoooo grazianooo Score a goal in this manc sh#thole (adapt to each ground) Grazianooo Need a version for at home

Looks like Shaw will get his chance on Saturday with Rojo going to centre back due to the sending - so there is obviously no pressure on Shaw and im sure he is super confident after all the reassuring praise that he has had from Van Gaal

I know we should nt be bitter and should move on but its great watching the defectors struggle. I also think that the worst the defectors do the better the chances of keeping JRod, MS and others as the excuses were all about playing in the CL etc. What do you think the most realistic best case scenario will be - mine is: Saints 6th and in Europe Liverpool 7th outside of Europe - Worst defensive record than last year - fans on Lovrens back, Lallana consigned to bit part player and Lambert top scorer for Liverpool Spurs 14th, unrest with the players, uncertainty over Poch by Xmas and gone by the summer Man U 10th with Shaw a bench warmer playing less than 6 games Arsenal 3rd Chambers bit part player We can only hope

Im driving over from Brighton today - any idea if the traffic will be affected by the boat show??

Before we had a plan, a direction, a dream - all the players and staff bought into it. When that all disappeared the players had nothing to believe in - thats why they left - had Cortese or the Argie stayed dont tell me pretty much the whole of the 1st team would have wanted to leave which has been the situation this summer. We had a management all focussed on the same plan and speaking the same story and working together Under the Argie we had a style of play - this was great football to watch and won us plaudits across the whole of the football circle - we had a team high on morale and pushing in the same direction. We had a an academy well run and constantly producing good players and this would support the dream At the moment we have no plan, direction or dream that any one can understand or believe in I cant see a style of play a number of our players dont want to be here Our management are a bunch of muppets (not the football management the company management) I cant see any plan in our transfer policy We have sacked the people that ran our biggest asset the academy so who knows how good it will be now we seem to be drifting from one f**k up to another - totally reactive these are just my thoughts

anybody getting any of these to work?

I can understand Kat wanting a sustainable plan but she isn't stupid and no way is she looking at a fire sale. The value of the club is based on its league status not on having 20 scouting staff or a good academy facilities. Cortese was a despot leader but he had a vision (achievable or not) the players believed in it. When he left he left a power vacuum. Krueger and reed were asked to fill it. However they have neither the ability to fill it or the authority to sanction the funds to deliver the dream. What we have been left with is empty Southampton way vision. What we need is strong leadership from someone. They need to speak to all the players and sell them a vision that they can believe in, do what lambert re vlaar has done and say no one else is for sale and then start recruiting seriously. Not f**k around with derisory offers but serious bids the longer we float down the creak without a paddle the more players we will lose

another clean sheet - i think we may go the whole season without conceding - who needs Lovren LOL

common on then share all your latest transfer news

LOL not sure player registration places are a great concern at the moment

Given a distinct lack of signings yesterday - can we now discount Dubai Phil as an ITK PS Bo Derek for me

Hopefully our new batch of young hopefuls will see our recently departed players sat on the bench at their new BIG clubs and when they meet up at the England training camp they wont be so easily persuaded to leave. Also I hope that the players that leave dont get game time and therefore dont get picked England and they will look on enviously at our new generation playing regularly and getting picked by Hodgson

No we are all too busy arguing on here

http://fansonline.net/portsmouth/mb/view.php?id=554968 Think you may all find a few nuggets of amusement from this thread that is also being discussed on BHA's North Stand Chat

With that team Schneiderlin, Wanyama and Cork will need to start chipping in with a few goals

Go on then own up - who has started the rumour about Shaqiri

With Cork promoting the new kit - does that mean he will get a new contract and not leave

Yaya Toure looking like he will be leaving City - He'll do

Not me I promise

Goalkeeper rating of 3 - isn't that better than Gazzaniga's