Danish Saint Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 I'll give it a 7/10. I'm delighted with us keeping Lallana and Oxlade-Chamberlain. Both are essential to Saints and fits into Cortese's plan to build on home grown talent. The signings of Guly and Chaplow on permanent deals are both critical to our push for promotion. Signing Forte and N'Guessan ticks the boxes for wide attacking players, and hopefully both will settle well within the club and enjoy their football. Farming out Mills also makes sense, as he's still very young and is gathering experience at the next level. Will become better and can provide options at LB. Historically a difficult position - we still have three options at this position. Getting Puncheon out was also great, seen as he's apparantly been a disruptive force in the locker room. Forecast is not good enough and why he was given a 5-year contract is just beyond belief. With Wotton gone, the youngsters will be gunning for that "in-case-of-injury"-possibility, to get into the first team. Makes them more hungry and frees up a bit of room on the wage bill as well. So far the positives. The negatives and reasons for not giving top marks: Even with Chaplow, Hammond and Spiderman battling it out at CM, I still feel we're too weak at this position. I would have liked for us to pick up a good CM, that could push the three others even more. Also, another striker would have been ideal. But it's not a perfect world and I'm very happy with the overall quality within the squad. Promotion is now essential to the entire club, if we want to keep this going. We'll loose a fair bit of quality, if we don't succeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 Ahh,the old, '....blah blah blah I do believe that we probably lost out on a couple of decent ones. You have a go a someone for airing a suspicion because you say there is no evidence for their belief, then go on to post a belief that also has no evidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 Some people are so stupid on here! Spending big money does not guarantee instant success, bringing in the wrong players for the sake of it is a waste of money! Their attitude or personality may nor fit into the current dressing room (re puncheon), often the 'best' players don't fit into certain teams who play football which does not suit their style of play! Let's not get on the back or Cortese, who has gone above our status and proved his ambition by signing Adam on long term and being stubborn on the sale of AOC! So FFS stop moaning and speculating on the clubs finances that you may never know about and get behind the team for the promotion push! Everything you said could be said about cheap players, in fact I would suggest you are less likely to get problems with bigger money signings. Isn't getting an extension on Lallana as much about retaining his value as an asset as it is about keeping him. How do we know we were stubborn about letting AOC go? Its easy to knock negative people for picking up on rumours and hearsay but you have to apply the same rules to your posts as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wightman35 Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 IMO, St Charlie's opening post was spot on. We were understood to have placed some "substantial offers" for players to enhance the team, but it does seem unlikely that Peterborough (CMG) or Huddersfield would have been likely to sell us their best players for realistic prices. Clearly Saints were not willing to pay "Silly Money." I picked up an article on "Newsnow" earlier today from TUI and I apologise if this has already been discussed, but it listed 12 points to follow in building a successful team. The idea apparently is of American origin, but nevertheless I felt it made sense. Just wondering if NC has a similar plan to that; especially not paying too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 Although the squad is pretty good it is not really much better than it was when the Window opened and numerous posters said it was not good enough for promotion So I would rate the window 5/10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 Although the squad is pretty good it is not really much better than it was when the Window opened and numerous posters said it was not good enough for promotion So I would rate the window 5/10 Anyone who thinks the squad isn't/wasn't good enough needs to spend some time looking at our promotion rivals squads. It's more than good enough and there should be no excuses from anyone should we not do it this season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 Anyone who thinks the squad isn't/wasn't good enough needs to spend some time looking at our promotion rivals squads. It's more than good enough and there should be no excuses from anyone should we not do it this season At the risk of sounding obvious, the only proof of the quality of the squad is the position in the table. A couple of disappointing games have dampened the mood somewhat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 The squad we had is good enough to win the league. We have added hopefully a couple of players who will give us the ability to mix it up a bit when things are not working out in games. On top of that we have kept our 2 brightest youngsters in Lallana and AOC. So have to say very happy with that. There will be no excuses at all if we don't get promoted. In the past we have said "he sold his best player!" or something like that to try and justify our failings. As far as i can see there will be no excuses this time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dig Dig Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 At the risk of sounding obvious, the only proof of the quality of the squad is the position in the table. A couple of disappointing games have dampened the mood somewhat. True but I still think we are in a good position in the league as auto promotion is very much in our own hands. Teams around us are not as consistent as last year and we're playing catch up to only Brighton like everyone else. Last year we were trying to catch everyone from day one. I think if we can keep the level of consistency since NA came in (yes I know last two results were poor) then there is no reason why we can't be pushing Brighton all the way to the end and at least take 2nd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 Agreed, Second place is the minimum that we should hope for. I don't fancy the playoffs where anything can happen, one dodgy decision or red card and it's all back to League 1 next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkSFC Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 Slightly disappointed that a player capable of going straight into the starting XI was not signed but I guess we will never know how close we got or how hard they tried. Importantly we wont pay too much OTT. Overall though a good window. Lallana signing was the best bit and OXO staying should hopefully shut the doubters and the NC bashers up for a while at least. Or don't you like a chairman that actually told us what was going to happen and he was proven correct. Instead you listen to the ****** journos who just make things up and stir the s*** for a living but who must be right cos thats their job......oh hang on a minute, isn't Cortese's job to run our club?!! The only person that matters. Rant over... I'm please we have some pace in the team in terms of N'Guessen and Forte although I know little about them so we will see. Hopefully as successful as Papa and Antonio were. Signing Chaplow and Guly were good moves but as they were already here pre-Jan they dont really "add" to the team. I just hope that we dont lose two of MS,DH, or RC for too long at any stage. So overall a really good window without any really excitement value in terms of a new signing but Im more confident know of winning the league than I was in Dec. Come promotion and the summer I hope to see a GK (Lewis with any luck), a decent CB, a Prem/Champ expereienced CM and a Striker of reall note. Then we can dream about the Prem!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 Agreed, Second place is the minimum that we should hope for. I don't fancy the playoffs where anything can happen, one dodgy decision or red card and it's all back to League 1 next season. althogh 2nd is the least we can hope for...IF come the end of the last game this season we are 2nd and automatically promoted, I will be absolutely delighted... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Professor Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 The transfer window proved to be OK, but because of who stayed rather than who came. With respect to Forte and N'Guessen most fans see them as being subs, and despite coming from clubs in the NpC neither have been regular starters. The last two results L1 have left fans feeling nervous but the first choice side is good and although it could obviously be improved there may not be the 'marquee' players willing to gamble with a drop to L1. NC/NA have probably done the best they could on recruitment and have done very well to keep the wolves from the door. BTW, glad Puncheon has gone, despite his ability he's not a true saint. Hope he does alright at Blackpool for his sake, but also because that would mean he won't be back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simo Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 Was going to say 6.5 until I heard puncheon and tommy had gone so that bumps it up to an 8.5! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southbourne saint Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 7 out of 10 plus 1 now I have heard that Bompey have sold Marvin Bartley to the most loyal man in football. Take a bow Eddie Howe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 althogh 2nd is the least we can hope for...IF come the end of the last game this season we are 2nd and automatically promoted, I will be absolutely delighted... Yup, suits me too. I really don't want playoffs, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 1 February, 2011 Share Posted 1 February, 2011 althogh 2nd is the least we can hope for...IF come the end of the last game this season we are 2nd and automatically promoted, I will be absolutely delighted... Yup, suits me too. I really don't want playoffs, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensfcno1 Posted 2 February, 2011 Share Posted 2 February, 2011 Do you really think that Arsene Wenger would have said about signing a player if he didnt think he was going to get them? Wenger quickly back tracked, perhaps due to Cortesse telling him to **** off. He clearly wanted to go, and his dad did his best to publicly make this well known. At the end of the day we have kept these players fo this season, which at the moment is all that matters. If either of them had gone, we could not have replaced that sort of quality in this league for any amount of money. All I would like to see is fans stop moaning about the club and their lack of multi million buys and just get behind the club in this very important season. (I know you will tell me that I am now also moaning, but not about the club just about our constantly negative fans). I dont like arguing with fans, and hate it when I see fans arguing betweenn each other at games. Lets get together and help support these boys to promotion and beyond. We cant effect the spending of the club or who we buy or sell, its good fun speculating on who may or may not come in, leave this to the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerceSaint28 Posted 2 February, 2011 Share Posted 2 February, 2011 I definitely still think we may need a livewire striker on loan....i just feel that could make all the difference. Dissapointed to see us not go for someone like Nathan Eccleston who went to Charlton....just hope we can pull a rabbit out of the hat as Doble is not ready and Connolly is never fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
um pahars Posted 2 February, 2011 Share Posted 2 February, 2011 8/10 for me. Lallana and Oxo stayng major plusses. Guly and Chaplow permanent was good business. I'll reserve judgement on the two new wingers, but at least we have cover for the first two above. Puncheon going is probably good news (if he was that much of a bad influence), Wotton won't be missed. Mills is interested as although I'm nto in his fan club, he must be doing something right ooop north (and in a higher division). Being greedy, i would have liked one or two more quality players in, but I can't complain (plus I think the January window is a difficult one to buy in). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stmusicdude Posted 3 February, 2011 Share Posted 3 February, 2011 Great to keep the players that we needed to. Underwhelmed by the players that have come in but hope to be proved wrong. With Lambert still not back to his best we need another Lambert like striker and we didn't get one. This could make all the difference in this half of the season. Do you live in cloud cookoo land? When you say Lambert is now back to his best, you of course mean he isn't knocking them in at the rate of last season .. OMG are people really that stupid that they think strikers get in the region of 35 every season? he is well on his way to 20 now ..Last time we had ANYTHING close to that over 2 season was around 2001/2002 I think with BT? It's not just you many have started to wine they are not happy .. It's hard to imagine when they would be happy though. I dont care If we are 5th 6th 7th or 8th NOW .. I got care if Ricky only gets 14 goals .. If I enjoy watching us, If I get a buzz of saints & if we do our damn best to go up .. Great .. & I will enjoy the feelings & emotions on the way . The fact others can't or don't seem to want to be happy & enjoy the good aspects of the last 2 seasons shows why it's so hard appeasing our fan base! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joensuu Posted 3 February, 2011 Share Posted 3 February, 2011 9/10 for me. So glad we retained our best players, signed Guly and Chaplow, and moved on Puncheon. I'm also delighted that we didn't throw silly money at League One 'stars' who would probably have resented the bench and would have themselves needed replacing this time next year. My assumption is that we will bring in a couple of strong loans, bringing us short term cover without adding more league one standard players to bloat next years squad. Loans, rather than purhases, were always the sensible option for us right now. As such, if we don't bring in a couple of solid loans over the next few weeks, my rating of the window will drop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsbridge Saint Posted 3 February, 2011 Share Posted 3 February, 2011 9/10. Keeping Oxo was massive, and Lallana was huge too. We have added pace and firepower and got rid of an underperforming troublemaker. And kept plenty in the bank for spending when we get up to the Championship. And Pompey signed no one. Nearly perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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