Brutally honest, forget its me posting this - who is disappointed in our transfers ?

[NickG]

we had option on Papa.

 

only player Pardew wanted was Antonio - rest deadwood for this season.

[NickG]

Loans or full signings makes little practical difference - they have still left the squad and will need replacing . Wayne Thomas frequently played (quite effectively) as a full back and I would remind you that the record shows Simon Gillett has moved up to the CCC from L1 - so at least one manager doesn't consider him as a piece of deadwood won't you agree ?

 

Trying to argue against the fact that we're weaker today than we were on the last day of the season is just plain daft .

 

trying to argue we are weaker than the end of last season is equally daft, in my opinion, and by the looks of it all except two.

[Matthew Le God]

Loans or full signings makes little practical difference - they have still left the squad and will need replacing . Wayne Thomas frequently played (quite effectively) as a full back and I would remind you that the record shows Simon Gillett has moved up to the CCC from L1 - so at least one manager doesn't consider him as a piece of deadwood won't you agree ?

 

Trying to argue against the fact that we're weaker today than we were on the last day of the season is just plain daft .

 

Thomas was on a large wage.

 

He really wasn't that good.

 

As a centre back (his natural position) he had Fonte, Jaidi, Seaborne and Martin to compete with and would have been 4th choice at best and probably 5th choice.

 

As a right back he is also not required as Saints have signed two new right backs in the summer.

 

In terms of wide midfield. Lallana and Puncheon are and will remain first choice. Dickson, Mills, Richardson, Butterfield, Oxlade-Chamberlain are all options.

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

And has been replaced by two players who are better in that position.

 

Pure speculation based on little or no evidence .

[Viking Warrior]

Alpine If hes good enough then he's old enough look at the wayne rooneys of this world and theos of this world . How old were they when they played first team football

 

You are really a sad individual with this constant tirade of negativity. Next you will be saying Ricky lamber is too old.

[Matthew Le God]

Pure speculation based on little or no evidence .

 

The same can be said of your counter position.

 

I have seen Thomas play a lot, and he really is limited. Possibly 5th choice in pecking order for centre back if he stayed.

 

Richardson made League One team of the year as voted by his peers last season. Butterfield played a lot of games in the League above last season.

[alpine_saint]

Alpine If hes good enough then he's old enough look at the wayne rooneys of this world and theos of this world . How old were they when they played first team football

 

You are really a sad individual with this constant tirade of negativity. Next you will be saying Ricky lamber is too old.

 

LOL at VW comparing A O-C to Wayne Rooney..........

[Matthew Le God]

LOL at VW comparing A O-C to Wayne Rooney..........

 

He didn't actually say that. You are twisting his words.

 

It is all relative to the levels they are playing.

 

If at 16 Oxlade-Chamberlain is good enough for League One football then he is old enough.

 

If at 16 Rooney was good enough for Premier League Football then he was old enough.

Edited 19 July, 2010 by Matthew Le God

[Singeon Sears]

I am not concerned as i am sure we will strengthen, but to suggest we are stronger now than at the end of last season is in my opinion wrong. Waigo and Antonio gave us pace and it needs replacing otherwise we won't be breaking down enough defences to be anything better than a play off team

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Thomas was on a large wage.

 

He really wasn't that good.

 

As a centre back (his natural position) he had Fonte, Jaidi, Seaborne and Martin to compete with and would have been 4th choice at best and probably 5th choice.

 

As a right back he is also not required as Saints have signed two new right backs in the summer.

 

In terms of wide midfield. Lallana and Puncheon are and will remain first choice. Dickson, Mills, Richardson, Butterfield, Oxlade-Chamberlain are all options.

 

 

Lets cut to the chase .

 

If you look at the current squad list then (excluding the kids) we have about 18 or 20 experienced outfield players left on contract, Do you (or anybody else for that matter) really consider this situation to be ideal ? Experience shows that we could easily have 4 or 5 out injured at any one time and in my view any well financed and ambitious football club should have at least 23-25 experienced players on the books .

 

Of course there's plenty of time for new signings to arrive - indeed I expect more signings - all I'm saying is that (as it stands) we look a little short right now . Others of course have differing opinions but that's how I feel about it .

[alpine_saint]

I am not concerned as i am sure we will strengthen, but to suggest we are stronger now than at the end of last season is in my opinion wrong. Waigo and Antonio gave us pace and it needs replacing otherwise we won't be breaking down enough defences to be anything better than a play off team

 

Dont worry, little Alex is going to save us....

[Turkish]

Pure speculation based on little or no evidence .

 

Based on the evidence that

 

A- Thomas was a centre back, playing out of position at RB and was average at best.

B- Richardson is a right back by trade, and was in the L1 team of the year for last season, ie the best right back in L1, better than Thomas

C- Butterfield played at right back for a team the league above us, and had played the majority of his career at that level

D- Wayne Thomas is 31, a year older than Butterfield and 4 years older than Richardson, so that quashes your, players over 30 arguement.

 

I would say it is foolish to say that all of the above is speculation.

[madruss]

Bored of repeating this.....

 

We have a better first XI, ergo more quality in the first XI.

 

Apart from that, we have sod.....all. Anyone denying it is a lunatic. Our back-up CM is Wotton, who I keep hearing on here is über-sh*te....

 

But you're assuming that we won't sign anyone else. Making your decision before it's even happened yet. The gelling argument doesn't apply here, squads don't need to gel, first XI's do. We don't need to improve our first XI to get automatic promotion. If the management team want to explore every possible option for bolstering the squad rather than rushing in, then they bloody well should.

 

Oh no wait, they need to rush - I forgot that Lambert, Barnard, Fonte, Jaidi, Puncheon, Lallana and Schneiderlin are all going to get injured before the transfer window shuts. Quick Alan, get as many as you can in, call Lloyd James back....ANYONE!!!!!

[alpine_saint]

But you're assuming that we won't sign anyone else. Making your decision before it's even happened yet. The gelling argument doesn't apply here, squads don't need to gel, first XI's do. We don't need to improve our first XI to get automatic promotion. If the management team want to explore every possible option for bolstering the squad rather than rushing in, then they bloody well should.

 

Oh no wait, they need to rush - I forgot that Lambert, Barnard, Fonte, Jaidi, Puncheon, Lallana and Schneiderlin are all going to get injured before the transfer window shuts. Quick Alan, get as many as you can in, call Lloyd James back....ANYONE!!!!!

 

Richardson got injured hours after joining us, causing us to get Butterfield. It happens.

[Matthew Le God]

Richardson got injured hours after joining us, causing us to get Butterfield. It happens.

 

I really doubt the two were connected. Beyond Richardson Saints had no senior right backs in the squad to cover him for the rest of the season. I think Butterfield would have signed if Richardson was injured or not.

 

For a start George Burely said at the end of June that Palace had offered Butterfield a contract but another club had offered him more and Butterfield was going to leave Palace. That was long before Richardson signed for Saints or got injured.

[alpine_saint]

For a start George Burely said at the end of June that Palace had offered Butterfield a contract but another club had offered him more and Butterfield was going to leave Palace. That was long before Richardson signed for Saints or got injured.

 

Really ? Didnt know that. LOL at Burley....

[Smirking_Saint]

Dont worry, little Alex is going to save us....

 

Alex will play a bench role, the same as Antonio and Waigo did, so what is your point ??

 

As for the squad depth it is a lot better than many in the league if you actually analyze it.

 

And back to Chapels post, i believe we can only have 23 registered this year and TBF 25 is a heafty heafty squad when you can only play 11 with 3 subs.

[Matthew Le God]

Really ? Didnt know that. LOL at Burley....

 

Here it is....

 

http://www.sportcroydon.co.uk/footballnews/Exclusive-Butterfield-Lawrence-allowed-leave-Crystal-Palace/article-2363947-detail/article.html

 

From 30th June, long before Richardson signed or got injured.

[NickG]

Richardson got injured hours after joining us, causing us to get Butterfield. It happens.

 

Wouldn't have done if we signed our players later!

[westofshannonsaint]

If you look at the current squad list then (excluding the kids) we have about 18 or 20 experienced outfield players left on contract, Do you (or anybody else for that matter) really consider this situation to be ideal ? Experience shows that we could easily have 4 or 5 out injured at any one time....

 

the maximum team we can field in any one game is 14 players, so even if we do have 4/5 injuries, we can still field an experienced team. there is room for youth to force their way through, loanees to make an impact & to sign better quality players.

 

IMHO (based on what I mainly read on here) the current squad looks in pretty good shape at the mo. Quality over quantity.

[saintwarwick]

Loans or full signings makes little practical difference - they have still left the squad and will need replacing . Wayne Thomas frequently played (quite effectively) as a full back and I would remind you that the record shows Simon Gillett has moved up to the CCC from L1 - so at least one manager doesn't consider him as a piece of deadwood won't you agree ?

 

Trying to argue against the fact that we're weaker today than we were on the last day of the season is just plain daft .

 

Thomas started 10 league games last season most at RB, a position we struggled with and tried many players at. We have since signed two RB's who may be more affecdtive, only time will tell but just like your statement about Gillettt moving up a league the same can be said about a championship player dropping a league clearly believing he will be back in that league within a year. Gillett clearly wasn't in AP's plans and that is why he didn't start any games for us last season and only made a couple of sub appearances. Of all the players we released only three players featured in more than a handful of games and we have signed three players since with more to come I would imagine, That suggests to me we are not weaker from the last day of last season.

[Professor]

trying to argue we are weaker than the end of last season is equally daft, in my opinion, and by the looks of it all except two.

NickG's loyalty does him credit but sometimes it can make one blind to the obvious. Even though there is still a first choice 11 that is equivalent to last year's first choice side, by any measure the overall squad is currently weaker.

The fact is we have lost two wide midfield attack players, with 16yr old Alex O-C as the only addition to the squad in that area. The players we have signed are all full-backs who may or may not be better than those who left (JO and WT). This is before we consider injuries to Lallana and Richardson so already not all of the first choice 11 are currently available.

 

There may be more signings in the pipeline but we don't know that for certain and we are on the countdown to the first game so time is getting short. Blind faith is all very well but we could find that by the end of August, the team may already be needing to play catch-up before the side is properly stabalised

[NickG]

think its more to do with football knowledge and respecting views of people who have watched players at other teams etc.

 

If you really think that Otsemobor has the same pedigree as either Butterfield or Richardson (or close) then I am happy to leave you to wallow in worry and criticism.

[Hopkins]

Alex will play a bench role, the same as Antonio and Waigo did, so what is your point ??

 

As for the squad depth it is a lot better than many in the league if you actually analyze it.

 

And back to Chapels post, i believe we can only have 23 registered this year and TBF 25 is a heafty heafty squad when you can only play 11 with 3 subs.

 

Just so you know Antonio played much more than a bench role. MLG can keep banging on about Lallana and Puncheon being first choice and starting every game they were fit for but the fact is towards the end of the season and in some big games Antonio was also first choice. Charlton at home is a prime example of this. Pardew liked to play 451 in some big games, including this one and Antonio was used as a winger with Puncheon moving inside to play off Lambert. Antonio was also used as someone to play off Lambert at times last season and he won us that Charlton game.

 

He was much more than some option of the bench and without him or someone to play his role we will struggle this season. I'm confident we will get someone in however.

[Professor]

Raw spot there then Nick, but since Otsemobor has been signed by Sheff Wed someone with football knowledge must rate him more than you do, but maybe you know better.

 

If there is improved choice at FB that does not negate the overall view of the squad as being weaker until the midfield losses are replaced. It is entirely valid to point out that a marginal improvement in options for the back 4 does not compensate for a reduction in midfield. It’s also the case that we won’t have Richardson available until October, so he's only got a 3/4 league season this year at best. To call Chapel End Charlie's opinion on the squad as 'daft' and to suggest that people who don’t agree with you are ‘wallowing’, simply diminishes you. I congratulate you on your loyalty to the management but to have your views respected means also respecting the opinions of others.

[NickG]

this was done to death on Huddersfield thread last night.

 

I think squad is stronger.

 

I think Papa/Antonio should, and probably will, be replaced.

 

All about opinions (but Otsemobor is poor!)

[NickG]

and the "daft to suggest" comment was a tongue in cheek response directly to him - as he had said the opposite was daft to suggest etc

[eurosaint]

My kids like playing with Lego Rock Monsters - not aware of any sinister subtexts, to be honest. Worried that you see something though...

 

I don't, it was really just a casual observation, nothing devious nor sinister went through my mind, seriously !

[Turkish]

think its more to do with football knowledge and respecting views of people who have watched players at other teams etc.

 

If you really think that Otsemobor has the same pedigree as either Butterfield or Richardson (or close) then I am happy to leave you to wallow in worry and criticism.

 

On the face of it he has, he has played for Liverpool and Norwich City, Noriwch City being as big as if not bigger than Palace and Charlton and need not say anymore about Liverpool. However we know having watched him last season he is an average full back.

[mulletsaint]

Christ this is getting boring!

 

Apologies if I tread on any toes as I can't be arsed to read through all the arguing. Apologies also to Alpine if he thinks I only come back on this forum to attack him.

 

Let's get this straight, we are starting this season far stronger than we started last season

1. The club is safe, financially sound and moving in the right direction.

2. Pardew has had a whole season in charge and a proper pre-season this year.

3. We have got rid of all (well alright, most) of the dead wood.

4. I believe Pards has instilled a winning mentality in the squad which will bode well for us in pressure situations this season.

5. We have a stronger first team and squad than at this time last season.

6. Most of that squad have been together now for some time and are used to playing together.

 

Having said that there are some negative points.

1. We have lost to good impact players for us last season in Antonio and Waigo.

2. A lack of pace up front.

3. A lack of cover quality in CM, maybe up front, and depending on Bart, in goal.

4. Teams will know what to expect and may park the bus/waterlog their pitch in an effort to stop us playing.

 

None of these negative points are insurmountable. What lost us promotion last season was a bad start and the minus ten. I don't believe that with the changes in the club and the squad that we will get off to such a bad start this season. Yep there were bad patches of form but if you look through the leagues this is common in most top teams.

 

Yep I am disappointed by the lack of signings, but on the other hand I'd rather have a smaller squad of quality players that the manager can keep happy, than a large one of stroppy barstewards with inflated egos. I also believe that soon enough we will have a few more signings, and while I agree, they might not have sufficient time to gel before the season starts, we have enough quality and team spirit already to ensure that at the start of the campaign this will not be a problem.

[alpine_saint]

NickG's loyalty does him credit but sometimes it can make one blind to the obvious. Even though there is still a first choice 11 that is equivalent to last year's first choice side, by any measure the overall squad is currently weaker.

The fact is we have lost two wide midfield attack players, with 16yr old Alex O-C as the only addition to the squad in that area. The players we have signed are all full-backs who may or may not be better than those who left (JO and WT). This is before we consider injuries to Lallana and Richardson so already not all of the first choice 11 are currently available.

 

There may be more signings in the pipeline but we don't know that for certain and we are on the countdown to the first game so time is getting short. Blind faith is all very well but we could find that by the end of August, the team may already be needing to play catch-up before the side is properly stabalised

 

Steady on you negative tw*t, such comments arent allowed on here

[The Kraken]

Just so you know Antonio played much more than a bench role. MLG can keep banging on about Lallana and Puncheon being first choice and starting every game they were fit for but the fact is towards the end of the season and in some big games Antonio was also first choice. Charlton at home is a prime example of this. Pardew liked to play 451 in some big games, including this one and Antonio was used as a winger with Puncheon moving inside to play off Lambert. Antonio was also used as someone to play off Lambert at times last season and he won us that Charlton game.

 

He was much more than some option of the bench and without him or someone to play his role we will struggle this season. I'm confident we will get someone in however.

 

I kind of agree, although let's not forget that Antonio was injured for a fair part of the back end of the season too, and we didn't struggle without him. That said, I'd like to re-sign him if we can as he looked a real prospect and provided us with a number of different options.

 

However, I have to say I find the complete dismissal of the prospect of AOC a little surprising. Yes he's young, but has made a couple of appearances for us already. When Antonio came in he had previously played just 10 league games; 9 for Cheltenham and 1 for Reading, plus some non-league games. I fail to understand why there is a complete dismissal of AOC not being in the same mould of Antonio for the season ahead, particularly as barely anyone commenting has seen him play at any standard for a significant duration.

 

I hope for and fully expect us to sign another winger, either a full signing or a loanee. But I also expect AOC to be given a real chance this year too, and to dismiss him out of hand just due to age or inexperience is poor form.

[alpine_saint]

I kind of agree, although let's not forget that Antonio was injured for a fair part of the back end of the season too, and we didn't struggle without him. That said, I'd like to re-sign him if we can as he looked a real prospect and provided us with a number of different options.

 

However, I have to say I find the complete dismissal of the prospect of AOC a little surprising. Yes he's young, but has made a couple of appearances for us already. When Antonio came in he had previously played just 10 league games; 9 for Cheltenham and 1 for Reading, plus some non-league games. I fail to understand why there is a complete dismissal of AOC not being in the same mould of Antonio for the season ahead, particularly as barely anyone commenting has seen him play at any standard for a significant duration.

 

I hope for and fully expect us to sign another winger, either a full signing or a loanee. But I also expect AOC to be given a real chance this year too, and to dismiss him out of hand just due to age or inexperience is poor form.

 

who has dismissed him out-of-hand ? If you are referring to me, you are mistaken or I have explained myself poorly.

 

I rate him as a good prospect, but not enough to assume a major impact on our promotion plans. He should be nutured, but he is NOT a replacement for Antoino and Papa.

[The Kraken]

who has dismissed him out-of-hand ? If you are referring to me, you are mistaken or I have explained myself poorly.

 

I rate him as a good prospect, but not enough to assume a major impact on our promotion plans. He should be nutured, but he is NOT a replacement for Antoino and Papa.

 

I think my point is that no-one knows how good he'll be; he's a prospect but I could well be very wrong and he could make very little impact. However, I get the feeling he will be used fairly considerably, and while I fully agree that he should be nurtured I just have the suspicion that he may be used a bit more than you think. Like I say, I could be very wrong.

 

I've previously said I expect us to sign another RM, be it Antonio or a similar other. But I personally will not miss Papa; his games at RM in the league were very limited and I didn't particularly rate him there anyway. With a fully fit Connolly I think we have cover for that position up front, especially if we (as has been hinted) sign another quick forward.

[saintwarwick]

who has dismissed him out-of-hand ? If you are referring to me, you are mistaken or I have explained myself poorly.

 

I rate him as a good prospect, but not enough to assume a major impact on our promotion plans. He should be nutured, but he is NOT a replacement for Antoino and Papa.

 

Did you see Antonio or Papa play last season? The oxo kid looks a good prospect and will probably be on the bench this season as back up for Puncheon. Antonio missed a period through injury towards the end of last season and during that period we won 5 and lost 2 scoring 18 goals during that period, did we miss him? Papa didn't start many games whatsoever and most of his goals were scored in cup games. Would be nice to have them back but I won't miss them, Connelly is now back in the squad after injury so we have enough firepower so it's not like we need another striker considering we will only play two up front at most. Puncheon and the oxo kid will occupy the right side so all we need now is another backup for CM.

[Professor]

....... Papa didn't start many games whatsoever and most of his goals were scored in cup games. Would be nice to have them back but I won't miss them, Connelly is now back in the squad after injury so we have enough firepower so it's not like we need another striker considering we will only play two up front at most. Puncheon and the oxo kid will occupy the right side so all we need now is another backup for CM.

It will be interesting to see if Cortese and Pardew agree with this. If there is more than one additional signing made it will show that they don't. But if they do make more signings the question is already there - have they acted fast enough during the close season to get the best possible? Appreciate that looks like a no win situation for AP now but he will be forgiven if we are in the top 2 in September. If not.......

[SFKA South Woodford]

The simple truth is that without Papa, we would have had nothing at all to show for last season, no trip to Wembley, and would either be looking for or have a new manager now, he and Antonio only just saved Pardews bacon with the cup win as it was.

 

Our play off hopes would also have been dead long before they actually were, as both Papa and Antonio were the difference between winning and only drawing on several occasions, and without them we would of had what we do now, a one trick pony of team. Yes, there will be a good few matches where that one trick will get us the points, but there will also be a fair number where we will be lucky to get a point let alone all of the three that we will need to achieve this seasons goal.

 

I've seen enough of Puncheon to know that he doesn't have the speed that both Antonio and Papa brought to the team last season, so he is not the answer, however I saw most of Ox Chamberlains performances and was very impressed with him, other than him missing an almost open goal with his second or third touch against Huddersfield. His inexperience will be a problem and in my view Pardew will be making a mistake by playing him from the start of matches which is looking likely from the pre season games so far, rather than easing him in and boosting his confidence by allowing him to take on players who are already tired.

 

So in my view the squad desperately needs two wide players with pace, preferably with the ability to play on either wing or up front just as Papa gave us. Without them my belief in the squads ability to deliver this season has been dented, with them and especially Papa and Antonio, I would be very confident of Automatic promotion.

[The Kraken]

It will be interesting to see if Cortese and Pardew agree with this. If there is more than one additional signing made it will show that they don't. But if they do make more signings the question is already there - have they acted fast enough during the close season to get the best possible? Appreciate that looks like a no win situation for AP now but he will be forgiven if we are in the top 2 in September. If not.......

 

You make it sound as if transfers are made by just choosing something off the shelf. Not all (in fact most) of our purchases won't be players who are made instantly available for sale. There is an element of negotiation with the club and the player which can take time. Take Antonio for instance; Reading may well have decided that they want to take a look at him with their full squad before either keeping him or letting him come to us. If AP decided he couldn't wait, got someone in of lesser ability, then found out that Antonio is for sale after all, then we're left with a second choice player which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

 

And there's still 3 weeks to go until kick off.

[alpine_saint]

The simple truth is that without Papa, we would have had nothing at all to show for last season, no trip to Wembley, and would either be looking for or have a new manager now, he and Antonio only just saved Pardews bacon with the cup win as it was.

 

Our play off hopes would also have been dead long before they actually were, as both Papa and Antonio were the difference between winning and only drawing on several occasions, and without them we would of had what we do now, a one trick pony of team. Yes, there will be a good few matches where that one trick will get us the points, but there will also be a fair number where we will be lucky to get a point let alone all of the three that we will need to achieve this seasons goal.

 

I've seen enough of Puncheon to know that he doesn't have the speed that both Antonio and Papa brought to the team last season, so he is not the answer, however I saw most of Ox Chamberlains performances and was very impressed with him, other than him missing an almost open goal with his second or third touch against Huddersfield. His inexperience will be a problem and in my view Pardew will be making a mistake by playing him from the start of matches which is looking likely from the pre season games so far, rather than easing him in and boosting his confidence by allowing him to take on players who are already tired.

 

So in my view the squad desperately needs two wide players with pace, preferably with the ability to play on either wing or up front just as Papa gave us. Without them my belief in the squads ability to deliver this season has been dented, with them and especially Papa and Antonio, I would be very confident of Automatic promotion.

 

Save your breath, mate.

 

No-one wants to listen..

[The Kraken]

Save your breath, mate.

 

No-one wants to listen..

 

Stop being such a drama queen and twisting opinions to suit your argument.

 

Hardly anyone disagrees with the fact we need new players. But most people recognise there are 3 weeks until the start of the season, another 3 weeks to the end of the transfer window, and so aren't criticising the club for the lack of signings (yet).

[NickG]

and longer to end of transfer window.

 

We rushed into signing a RB only for him to break his collar bone! If only we had waited!!!

[John B]

Most pundits think we will do well

 

League One Title Odds In Full:

 

Southampton 12/5

Sheffield Wednesday 11/2

Huddersfield 8/1

Charlton 12/1

Peterborough 12/1

Brighton 14/1

Swindon 16/1

Plymouth 18/1

Colchester 19/1

MK Dons 20/1

Notts County 20/1

Bristol Rovers 28/1

Brentford 30/1

Walsall 35/1

Carlisle 40/1

Tranmere 40/1

Leyton Orient 45/1

Oldham 45/1

Hartlepool 60/1

Rochdale 60/1

Bournemouth 75/1

Exeter 80/1

Yeovil 80/1

Dagenham & Redbridge 100/1

 

Surely with the current squad we are going to do really well - with other players added we will do even better

 

What other clubs are realistically stronger than us

[Thedelldays]

and longer to end of transfer window.

 

We rushed into signing a RB only for him to break his collar bone! If only we had waited!!!

 

no..im glad we got him...he will be a real asset when fit...maybe we would not have signed him had he already been injured

[NickG]

no..im glad we got him...he will be a real asset when fit...maybe we would not have signed him had he already been injured

 

i was teasing our panicking friend!

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

 

......... they are Pardew's choice, and we have to back the managers opinion

 

What a strange thing to say .

 

Please explain exactly why we have to back the opinion of the Manager/Chairman/Owner/Uncle Tom Cobbley , at all times . Are we not allowed to express our own views on here anymore then ?

 

I had been under the impression that this was supposed to be a FORUM - a medium for open discussion or the voicing of ideas - rather than some dull teenage fan club where we are obliged to park our brains outside and sit around all day congratulating ourselves on just how wonderful everything is in the SFC garden .

 

Does anybody with even half a brain in their head really think that debating some perfectly reasonable doubts regarding the true strength in depth of the squad at this time will somehow effect the real team in the real world ? If we all keep 'mum' on the subject then does that mean the potential problem go will away ?

 

[hypochondriac]

What a strange thing to say .

 

Please explain exactly why we have to back the opinion of the Manager/Chairman/Owner/Uncle Tom Cobbley , at all times . Are we not allowed to express our own views on here anymore then ?

 

I had been under the impression that this was supposed to be a FORUM - a medium for open discussion or the voicing of ideas - rather than some dull teenage fan club where we are obliged to park our brains outside and sit around all day congratulating ourselves on just how wonderful everything is in the SFC garden .

 

Does anybody with even half a brain in their head really think that debating some perfectly reasonable doubts regarding the true strength in depth of the squad at this time will somehow effect the real team in the real world ? If we all keep 'mum' on the subject then does that mean the potential problem go will away ?

 

 

I totally agree. It is exactly the same argument when it comes to debating the actions of Cortese as well.

[ottery st mary]

As a very mature teenager...I back the Manager AP and the CEO NC 149%...

[captainchris]

I am not concerned as i am sure we will strengthen, but to suggest we are stronger now than at the end of last season is in my opinion wrong. Waigo and Antonio gave us pace and it needs replacing otherwise we won't be breaking down enough defences to be anything better than a play off team

 

So agree with this. Antonio and Papa made the difference in lots of games last year. They are players that can change a game - you need these guys. I'm concerned that these players have not been replaced. They papered over a hell of a lot of cracks last year. Currently we do not have enough to go up next year....

[John B]

 

Well we seem to have more than every other team at the moment so you could be wrong

 

 

 

Of course we can get in some other players but most clubs will be dreading coming to St Mary's

[Amesbury Saint]

I would like to see a couple of signings which have the wow factor.