Lack of quality activity...

[alpine_saint]

I understand that some people are saying that we don't need to worry...we will get the players in etc...but i think it is quite dissapointing that we haven't addressed key areas within the team and strengthened further by now with 9 days to go until the start of the season.

 

There is no time to assimilate with the new team members, surroundings etc...just smacks of poor planning.

We got promoted 4 months ago and whilst i know it's not like football manager i refuse to believe it is impossible to get the right players through the door...

 

 

Come on mate, this is Saints. This is how we do it - every summer.

[The Kraken]

There is no time to assimilate with the new team members, surroundings etc...just smacks of poor planning.

We got promoted 4 months ago and whilst i know it's not like football manager i refuse to believe it is impossible to get the right players through the door...

A number of issues upset me at the moment

 

1/ Failure to address centre back. We need 2 centre halves not 1. Fonte and Hooiveld looked shaky in the Championship towards the end of the season, let alone against some of the best players in the world. What happens if one of them goes down? Seaspunk? he was not even particularly good at League 1 level, missed the whole of the championship and now is number 3 choice in the Prem...please...he was ripped a new one by CMS

 

How have we failed to address this? Adkins has consistently said he wants to bring in 1 or 2 players at CB before the start of the season. Its not a failure to address the issue, its a failure to acquire our targets yet.

 

2/ Lack of pace - Saints are woefully lacking pace all over the park, with the exception of Clyne. I felt we needed 2 quality wingers , especially as we can't play 4-4-2 in most of our matches. Left back is also needed as competition for Fox as Shaw is only just 17 and can't be asked to play a major role at that age.

 

Once again, you've highlighted areas where Adkins said he wanted to bring players in. The Buttner deal fell through, NA has said we're interested in bringing in a winger. We just haven't done it yet.

 

3/ Continually buying British - Whilst i am happy with the signings of Rodrigues and Clyne...less so Davies who strikes me as a bit of a water carrier...it seems we are not even bothering to pick up quality continental players at more competitive prices. This baffles me...why pay the English players tax for frankly sub standard players?

Also Clyne, Rodrigues and Davies...you don't need a scout to know these players as they are all well known...where is this scouting network??

 

We've been in for Buttner, bought de Ridder, shown interest in Lens, previously shown interest in a few other foreign players.

 

I am confident in NA but rather than being excited at the start of the season, i am approaching it with pessimism as there are far too many holes in our squad...centre back, wings, lack of goals from central midfield, lack of creation from anyone apart from Lallana...

 

It might take a few thorough beatings from City, Arsenal and United to wake Cortese up...because as it stands this squad is nowhere near ready and anyone who think we are only 2 signings away is deluded

 

Who thinks we're 2 signings away? Adkins doesn't, he missed out on a left back, said he wanted 1 or 2 GKs, 1 or 2 CBs, and a winger. That's up to 6 players he said he wants, of which we've got 1. By all means, get concerned we haven't brought them in yet, but there's no need to make things up about our aims and intentions and pretend the staff aren't doing anything or don't recognise the problem.

[S-Clarke]

I understand that some people are saying that we don't need to worry...we will get the players in etc...but i think it is quite dissapointing that we haven't addressed key areas within the team and strengthened further by now with 9 days to go until the start of the season.

 

There is no time to assimilate with the new team members, surroundings etc...just smacks of poor planning.

We got promoted 4 months ago and whilst i know it's not like football manager i refuse to believe it is impossible to get the right players through the door...

A number of issues upset me at the moment

 

1/ Failure to address centre back. We need 2 centre halves not 1. Fonte and Hooiveld looked shaky in the Championship towards the end of the season, let alone against some of the best players in the world. What happens if one of them goes down? Seaspunk? he was not even particularly good at League 1 level, missed the whole of the championship and now is number 3 choice in the Prem...please...he was ripped a new one by CMS

 

2/ Lack of pace - Saints are woefully lacking pace all over the park, with the exception of Clyne. I felt we needed 2 quality wingers , especially as we can't play 4-4-2 in most of our matches. Left back is also needed as competition for Fox as Shaw is only just 17 and can't be asked to play a major role at that age.

 

3/ Continually buying British - Whilst i am happy with the signings of Rodrigues and Clyne...less so Davies who strikes me as a bit of a water carrier...it seems we are not even bothering to pick up quality continental players at more competitive prices. This baffles me...why pay the English players tax for frankly sub standard players?

Also Clyne, Rodrigues and Davies...you don't need a scout to know these players as they are all well known...where is this scouting network??

 

I am confident in NA but rather than being excited at the start of the season, i am approaching it with pessimism as there are far too many holes in our squad...centre back, wings, lack of goals from central midfield, lack of creation from anyone apart from Lallana...

 

It might take a few thorough beatings from City, Arsenal and United to wake Cortese up...because as it stands this squad is nowhere near ready and anyone who think we are only 2 signings away is deluded

 

I think we agree that we need a CB and a pacey RW, everyone agrees, but what we all don't agree on is the constant bet wetting over I also think some of you fail to understand what we are doing tactically this summer. We're not playing a flat 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, we're dynamic with players who can cover numerous positions. I imagine we're looking for a RM who can also play as a ST, in behind or on the left if required.

 

What's wrong with buying British? It's quite refreshing and whilst people are saying we can get better quality for less in Europe, I'm yet to see any names put to this argument. A counter argument in favor of British signings is that they blend in quicker whilst not having to learn another language, culture etc.

 

Why have you also come to that conclusion over Davies when he's not played properly in a saints shirt yet. Fair enough if you come to that opinion by November...but you can't really say it now.

 

Be excited about it, we're back in the PL sooner than any of us imaged. We have such an exciting game a week on Sunday to look forward to, yep, we'll get beaten, but that's what's to be expected unless we spend 100 million pounds on new players. There's no point in dreading it, it'll happen, but just embrace it and look forward to the games at home against the likes of City, Spurs, Man Utd etc - if we can emulate Norwich and Swansea then I'll be delighted. It would be silly to expect more than that in the first season back.

[alpine_saint]

I think we agree that we need a CB and a pacey RW, everyone agrees, but what we all don't agree on is the constant bet wetting over I also think some of you fail to understand what we are doing tactically this summer. We're not playing a flat 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, we're dynamic with players who can cover numerous positions. I imagine we're looking for a RM who can also play as a ST, in behind or on the left if required.

 

What's wrong with buying British? It's quite refreshing and whilst people are saying we can get better quality for less in Europe, I'm yet to see any names put to this argument. A counter argument in favor of British signings is that they blend in quicker whilst not having to learn another language, culture etc.

 

Why have you also come to that conclusion over Davies when he's not played properly in a saints shirt yet. Fair enough if you come to that opinion by November...but you can't really say it now.

 

Be excited about it, we're back in the PL sooner than any of us imaged. We have such an exciting game a week on Sunday to look forward to, yep, we'll get beaten, but that's what's to be expected unless we spend 100 million pounds on new players. There's no point in dreading it, it'll happen, but just embrace it and look forward to the games at home against the likes of City, Spurs, Man Utd etc - if we can emulate Norwich and Swansea then I'll be delighted. It would be silly to expect more than that in the first season back.

 

Couldnt give a monkeys what formation we put out and its flexibility/dynamism or lack thereof, we need a solid spine at the back and we havent got it. I would have spent the summer working on this before trying out various diamonds, trapeziums, christmas trees and f**k-knows what.

[Give it to Ron]

I think we agree that we need a CB and a pacey RW, everyone agrees, but what we all don't agree on is the constant bet wetting over I also think some of you fail to understand what we are doing tactically this summer. We're not playing a flat 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, we're dynamic with players who can cover numerous positions. I imagine we're looking for a RM who can also play as a ST, in behind or on the left if required.

 

What's wrong with buying British? It's quite refreshing and whilst people are saying we can get better quality for less in Europe, I'm yet to see any names put to this argument. A counter argument in favor of British signings is that they blend in quicker whilst not having to learn another language, culture etc.

 

Why have you also come to that conclusion over Davies when he's not played properly in a saints shirt yet. Fair enough if you come to that opinion by November...but you can't really say it now.

 

Be excited about it, we're back in the PL sooner than any of us imaged. We have such an exciting game a week on Sunday to look forward to, yep, we'll get beaten, but that's what's to be expected unless we spend 100 million pounds on new players. There's no point in dreading it, it'll happen, but just embrace it and look forward to the games at home against the likes of City, Spurs, Man Utd etc - if we can emulate Norwich and Swansea then I'll be delighted. It would be silly to expect more than that in the first season back.

 

Just to add Gazza the new goalie isn't British.

When we were in the Prem before I always thought if we had 20 points by Christmas we would be Ok - the season we went down we were way under that.

This year that again would be the target I think. I watched Swansea against City at the start of last season and although they played well got well beaten. I am expecting that again for us and anything from 3 of thoe 4 tough games will be a bonus.

Its teams like Wigan we really need to beat - draws against them will be the problem as thats what undid us as well in our home games in relegation year.

[Saint Charlie]

I think we agree that we need a CB and a pacey RW, everyone agrees, but what we all don't agree on is the constant bet wetting over I also think some of you fail to understand what we are doing tactically this summer. We're not playing a flat 4-4-2, 4-3-3 or 4-5-1, we're dynamic with players who can cover numerous positions. I imagine we're looking for a RM who can also play as a ST, in behind or on the left if required.

 

What's wrong with buying British? It's quite refreshing and whilst people are saying we can get better quality for less in Europe, I'm yet to see any names put to this argument. A counter argument in favor of British signings is that they blend in quicker whilst not having to learn another language, culture etc.

 

Why have you also come to that conclusion over Davies when he's not played properly in a saints shirt yet. Fair enough if you come to that opinion by November...but you can't really say it now.

 

Be excited about it, we're back in the PL sooner than any of us imaged. We have such an exciting game a week on Sunday to look forward to, yep, we'll get beaten, but that's what's to be expected unless we spend 100 million pounds on new players. There's no point in dreading it, it'll happen, but just embrace it and look forward to the games at home against the likes of City, Spurs, Man Utd etc - if we can emulate Norwich and Swansea then I'll be delighted. It would be silly to expect more than that in the first season back.

 

Agree as always. In an ideal world we would have strengthened a little more but as long as we get a CB and wide man then we will be competitive.

[MerceSaint28]

Sorry Clarke...im proud of our achievements to date but i saw the weaknesses in the side last year and i don't think with 9 days to go we are in great shape considering the fact we are entering the most competitive league in the world.

We lacked pace last year and still haven't addressed it...end of...whatever the reasons, deals aren't getting done.

 

I don't think buying British is refreshing in the slightest...ask a Liverpool fan...£20 mill for Henderson...£25 mill for Downing and now £15mill for Allen?? what is smart about that??

 

Swansea signed Michael Vorm for £2mill and have got the leading midfield scorer in La Liga for £2mill...now that is smart.

I am happy we have a great academy but i think we should be supplementing this with quality European players.

 

To me £8mill for Jarvis and £7mill for Butland is madness...you can't tell me we can't go to La Liga, Serie A or the Bundesliga and not get better value...this is where our scouting network should be kicking in...

 

What worries me is the fact that Clyne and Davies were negotiated only because they were free...keeper was from Gillingham and came for peanuts...probably a bag of balls and some cones...only Rodrigues came through a fee negotiated.

 

I put the blame on Cortese not NA here...it is scary that we are 4/5 players short with a week to go

[The Kraken]

Agree as always. In an ideal world we would have strengthened a little more but as long as we get a CB and wide man then we will be competitive.

Be competitive with who, though?

 

Adkins clearly wants up to 6 players, where are we if we only end up with a third of that amount?

[hypochondriac]

I think people are entitled to be realistic about our situation whilst hoping and wishing for more. I'm very happy we are in the Premiership but that doesn't mean I'm just going to accept mediocrity and enjoy the ride. That's loser talk and I'm sure the club won't be thinking in those terms.

[S-Clarke]

Couldnt give a monkeys what formation we put out and its flexibility/dynamism or lack thereof, we need a solid spine at the back and we havent got it. I would have spent the summer working on this before trying out various diamonds, trapeziums, christmas trees and f**k-knows what.

 

But we had a good defensive record last season, just a couple of games towards the end where Fonte made a few errors has all of a sudden made him the fall guy. He's actually a very cultured ball playing centre back who reads the game very well. I'm sure he'll do ok in the PL, but we do need another CB just to add a bit more competition to the group. It's not as dramatic as you make out though, not at all.

[hypochondriac]

Sorry Clarke...im proud of our achievements to date but i saw the weaknesses in the side last year and i don't think with 9 days to go we are in great shape considering the fact we are entering the most competitive league in the world.

We lacked pace last year and still haven't addressed it...end of...whatever the reasons, deals aren't getting done.

 

I don't think buying British is refreshing in the slightest...ask a Liverpool fan...£20 mill for Henderson...£25 mill for Downing and now £15mill for Allen?? what is smart about that??

 

Swansea signed Michael Vorm for £2mill and have got the leading midfield scorer in La Liga for £2mill...now that is smart.

I am happy we have a great academy but i think we should be supplementing this with quality European players.

 

To me £8mill for Jarvis and £7mill for Butland is madness...you can't tell me we can't go to La Liga, Serie A or the Bundesliga and not get better value...this is where our scouting network should be kicking in...

 

What worries me is the fact that Clyne and Davies were negotiated only because they were free...keeper was from Gillingham and came for peanuts...probably a bag of balls and some cones...only Rodrigues came through a fee negotiated.

 

I put the blame on Cortese not NA here...it is scary that we are 4/5 players short with a week to go

 

Clyne wasn't free...

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

What's wrong with buying British? It's quite refreshing and whilst people are saying we can get better quality for less in Europe, I'm yet to see any names put to this argument. A counter argument in favor of British signings is that they blend in quicker whilst not having to learn another language, culture etc.

 

Do we really have to do this again?

 

Maiga > Rodriguez

Ramis > Dann

Michu > Davis

 

Value is better from the continent. That is a fact.

[The Kraken]

What worries me is the fact that Clyne and Davies were negotiated only because they were free...keeper was from Gillingham and came for peanuts...probably a bag of balls and some cones...only Rodrigues came through a fee negotiated.

 

Blatantly incorrect. Palace were due a development fee for Clyne which was thought to be negotiated at £2.5M. We also agreed a fee with Rangers for Davis for them to release his registration, rumoured to be £800K.

[hypochondriac]

Blatantly incorrect. Palace were due a development fee for Clyne which was thought to be negotiated at £2.5M. We also agreed a fee with Rangers for Davis for them to release his registration, rumoured to be £800K.

 

In fairness I thought it was rumoured to be miles lower than that...

[S-Clarke]

Sorry Clarke...im proud of our achievements to date but i saw the weaknesses in the side last year and i don't think with 9 days to go we are in great shape considering the fact we are entering the most competitive league in the world.

We lacked pace last year and still haven't addressed it...end of...whatever the reasons, deals aren't getting done.

 

I don't think buying British is refreshing in the slightest...ask a Liverpool fan...£20 mill for Henderson...£25 mill for Downing and now £15mill for Allen?? what is smart about that??

 

Swansea signed Michael Vorm for £2mill and have got the leading midfield scorer in La Liga for £2mill...now that is smart.

I am happy we have a great academy but i think we should be supplementing this with quality European players.

 

To me £8mill for Jarvis and £7mill for Butland is madness...you can't tell me we can't go to La Liga, Serie A or the Bundesliga and not get better value...this is where our scouting network should be kicking in...

 

What worries me is the fact that Clyne and Davies were negotiated only because they were free...keeper was from Gillingham and came for peanuts...probably a bag of balls and some cones...only Rodrigues came through a fee negotiated.

 

I put the blame on Cortese not NA here...it is scary that we are 4/5 players short with a week to go

 

Clyne was around £2.5m, Gazzinga was around £1m potentially rising to £2m. Rodriguez broke our record transfer fee.

 

I do agree with the lack of pace, completely, I've said that since day 1 - but I'm not panicking because I know the club are working on it, I know NA wants an attacking pacey player and that we'll have that sorted by the end of August. Obviously in an Ideal world you'd love it to be sorted sooner, but this is football and in the world of transfers it's never simple. The fact is that we got most of our business done nice and early, Rodriguez being one of NA's main targets and he made sure that was sorted well before pre-season which was smart.

[Give it to Ron]

Do we really have to do this again?

 

Maiga > Rodriguez

Ramis > Dann

Michu > Davis

 

Value is better from the continent. That is a fact.

 

 

But its a hit and miss I'll give you Delgado, Chala, Arias,

If you want British you have to pay the premium - Fletcher at 12m...really?

We are looking abroad as well...guess we are all just frustrated and can't do bugger all about it but whinge on here.

[S-Clarke]

Do we really have to do this again?

 

Maiga > Rodriguez

Ramis > Dann

Michu > Davis

 

Value is better from the continent. That is a fact.

 

Michu cost more than Davis.

[MerceSaint28]

The fact remains we signed him without having negotiated with Palace...yes we signed for £2.5 mill but we all know had he been a contracted player...he is worth more like £5mill.

We had Palace over a barrell as tribunal's normally never give market value...

 

Simple fact is Cortese struggles to get deals done...combination of penny pinching and a massive ego me thinks

[The Kraken]

In fairness I thought it was rumoured to be miles lower than that...

 

I've heard lower figures mentioned too, so who knows. Either way not exactly a huge fee, but a fee nonetheless.

 

I didn't even mention Gazzaniga who came for a fee. So in fact, none of our transfers have been free this summer!

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Blatantly incorrect. Palace were due a development fee for Clyne which was thought to be negotiated at £2.5M. We also agreed a fee with Rangers for Davis for them to release his registration, rumoured to be £800K.

 

Downing also wasn't £25m, was £18m, and Henderson was a maximum of £16m, which included a lot of add-ons (Champions League quali etc) which haven't been triggered. He is likely to end up costing them around £12m.

 

But that is by the by.

[S-Clarke]

The fact remains we signed him without having negotiated with Palace...yes we signed for £2.5 mill but we all know had he been a contracted player...he is worth more like £5mill.

We had Palace over a barrell as tribunal's normally never give market value...

 

Simple fact is Cortese struggles to get deals done...combination of penny pinching and a massive ego me thinks

 

It's not a simple fact at all, it's made up rubbish by people who are panicking.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Michu cost more than Davis.

 

I know. Whats your point? We're talking about quality vs money paid.

 

He scored 15 goals from Midfield last season in La Liga, for a rubbish team, and cost £2m.

[The Kraken]

The fact remains we signed him without having negotiated with Palace...yes we signed for £2.5 mill but we all know had he been a contracted player...he is worth more like £5mill.

We had Palace over a barrell as tribunal's normally never give market value...

 

Simple fact is Cortese struggles to get deals done...combination of penny pinching and a massive ego me thinks

I don't understand your point with Clyne. We'd apparently been in for him a year before but were only a Championship club so he didn't want to come. Once in the PL we went back in for him and got him, presumably because we were a division higher.

 

£7M for an unproven Championship striker is a pretty weird thing to have in your locker for a penny pincher. We've spent well over £10M this summer, with Adkins supposedly keen to bring in up to 5 more players. how much do we have to spend for you to not consider Cortese a penny pincher??

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

But its a hit and miss I'll give you Delgado, Chala, Arias,

If you want British you have to pay the premium - Fletcher at 12m...really?

We are looking abroad as well...guess we are all just frustrated and can't do bugger all about it but whinge on here.

 

It's hit and miss in Britain as well, that's just transfers? Chala was never brought in to be a first team player. Delgado was a quality player just spent his time injured. Plus they are South American players, I am talking about players from top European leagues.

[The Kraken]

Downing also wasn't £25m, was £18m, and Henderson was a maximum of £16m, which included a lot of add-ons (Champions League quali etc) which haven't been triggered. He is likely to end up costing them around £12m.

 

But that is by the by.

OK, but why are you telling me that?

[Minty]

Can't believe this thread is still going to be honest.

 

We all have different ideas of what positions we're short in, who we should try to sign for those positions, and how we're going to perform this season.

 

What we DO know for certain is that NA has stated that he wants to bring more players in and the club are trying to do just that.

 

Beyond that we know NOTHING about what is happening behind the scenes to make it happen, and any 'conclusions' that anyone has come to about NA, NC, our budget, or anything transfer related is pure speculation.

 

The thread is going round in circles... most people have their position and are trying and failing to convince others that they are right. None of us are. Only hindsight will tell us.

 

Personally, I think we need at least one CB, possibly two, and a creative attacking midfielder. I have faith in the club and staff that they're doing everything they can to sign players. Posting about it all the time won't change anything, so I'll let them get on with it and see what happens.

 

I think some people need to chill out a bit.

[Saint Charlie]

Be competitive with who, though?

 

Adkins clearly wants up to 6 players, where are we if we only end up with a third of that amount?

 

Competitive with the other teams that have come up (who I already think we are better than) and then the weaker teams that were already in the League.

 

That is what any promoted team has to do.

 

Not sure where the additional 6 players comes from. We have signed 4 and think we would have wanted 6 or 7 in the window, so that leaves another 2 or 3 which is about right. We have quantity, need to add a couple of bits of genuine qualtiy which im sure Adkins is well aware of, and he has said it enought times in interview including in the Echo this morning:

 

“We are still very actively looking to bring some players in and we will do.

 

“We have to make sure we get the right ones in. We have to get them in, but we have to get right ones in.”

 

[Give it to Ron]

It's hit and miss in Britain as well, that's just transfers? Chala was never brought in to be a first team player. Delgado was a quality player just spent his time injured. Plus they are South American players, I am talking about players from top European leagues.

 

Ok another example Aquilani at Liverpool they paid loads for him top European player rubbish at Anfield.

Its hit and miss and why going British in our situation is why I think we may have that idea...however having said that its obviously not our practise going by bids for Buttner, interest in Lens, that Senegal defender etc

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

OK, but why are you telling me that?

 

It wasn't aimed at you, it was just whilst you were telling him he was wrong, I may as welll point out the other inaccuracies.

[hackedoff]

I understand that some people are saying that we don't need to worry...we will get the players in etc...but i think it is quite dissapointing that we haven't addressed key areas within the team and strengthened further by now with 9 days to go until the start of the season.

 

There is no time to assimilate with the new team members, surroundings etc...just smacks of poor planning.

We got promoted 4 months ago and whilst i know it's not like football manager i refuse to believe it is impossible to get the right players through the door...

A number of issues upset me at the moment

 

1/ Failure to address centre back. We need 2 centre halves not 1. Fonte and Hooiveld looked shaky in the Championship towards the end of the season, let alone against some of the best players in the world. What happens if one of them goes down? Seaspunk? he was not even particularly good at League 1 level, missed the whole of the championship and now is number 3 choice in the Prem...please...he was ripped a new one by CMS

 

2/ Lack of pace - Saints are woefully lacking pace all over the park, with the exception of Clyne. I felt we needed 2 quality wingers , especially as we can't play 4-4-2 in most of our matches. Left back is also needed as competition for Fox as Shaw is only just 17 and can't be asked to play a major role at that age.

 

3/ Continually buying British - Whilst i am happy with the signings of Rodrigues and Clyne...less so Davies who strikes me as a bit of a water carrier...it seems we are not even bothering to pick up quality continental players at more competitive prices. This baffles me...why pay the English players tax for frankly sub standard players?

Also Clyne, Rodrigues and Davies...you don't need a scout to know these players as they are all well known...where is this scouting network??

 

I am confident in NA but rather than being excited at the start of the season, i am approaching it with pessimism as there are far too many holes in our squad...centre back, wings, lack of goals from central midfield, lack of creation from anyone apart from Lallana...

 

It might take a few thorough beatings from City, Arsenal and United to wake Cortese up...because as it stands this squad is nowhere near ready and anyone who think we are only 2 signings away is deluded

 

Pretty close to the truth this.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Ok another example Aquilani at Liverpool they paid loads for him top European player rubbish at Anfield.

Its hit and miss and why going British in our situation is why I think we may have that idea...however having said that its obviously not our practise going by bids for Buttner, interest in Lens, that Senegal defender etc

 

That's bang wrong. They paid £5m down for Aquilani, the rest based on add ons for games played/success etc. Also, if you watched the second half of his first season after coming back from injury in the first half, the guy was excellent. He was then shipped out on loan by Hodgson as he wanted to bring in his own players.

[The Kraken]

Competitive with the other teams that have come up (who I already think we are better than) and then the weaker teams that were already in the League.

 

That is what any promoted team has to do.

 

Personally I think we're worse off than Reading and West Ham right now. Add in the additions we need and, well, we'll see who we get.

 

Not sure where the additional 6 players comes from. We have signed 4 and think we would have wanted 6 or 7 in the window, so that leaves another 2 or 3 which is about right. We have quantity, need to add a couple of bits of genuine qualtiy which im sure Adkins is well aware of, and he has said it enought times in interview including in the Echo this morning:

 

It comes purely from Nigel Adkins. We tried to bring in Buttner; there's one. Adkins previously gave these comments:

 

"It is fair to say we are going to need to bring another goalkeeper in as Bartosz [bialkowski] did ever so well for us but didn't play enough games. We will bring another one if not two goalkeepers into the fold.

 

"With Radhi Jaidi retiring and the uncertainty over Dan Seaborne coming back, we will be bringing another one if not two centre-halves into the football clubto keep improving."

 

I can't find the quote but we're also supposed to be bringing in an RM (I think you accept that one anyway). So that's up to 6 players that NA himself has shown that he wants to bring in.

[The Kraken]

It wasn't aimed at you, it was just whilst you were telling him he was wrong, I may as welll point out the other inaccuracies.

 

[lordswoodsaints]

The facts are Southampton fc is not an attractive proposition to any potential signings looking to improve their standing in the game and also their bank balance.....let's take a look at the points which will work against us -

 

Nigel Adkins - although a decent enough manager he is virtually a green,unknown,untested manager with little or no decent contacts in the game.

 

Wage structure - I'm just speculating but you could probably safely say that paying over £30k per week to a player isn't going to happen soon.

 

Promotion - newly promoted to the prem with a good possibility we will get relegated.

 

Current squad - virtually no prem experience at all and the new signings we have made are all from outside of the prem.

 

IMO this all gives potential 'prem experienced' signings little or no confidence in us as a whole.

Just like the bookies I have very little confidence in our ability to stay in the prem but this could all change with just one decent signing,this would probably have a snowball effect and if one decent player signs then a couple more will get the confidence to jump ship.

Although I would have liked us to bed in some decent players earlier this was probably a bit ambitious with the euros and Olympics so I think there will be a flurry of activity over the next week or two and hopefully we will be part of it.

[The9]

Personally, I think we need at least one CB, possibly two, and a creative attacking midfielder. I have faith in the club and staff that they're doing everything they can to sign players. Posting about it all the time won't change anything, so I'll let them get on with it and see what happens.

 

I think some people need to chill out a bit.

 

That's in nine days - unless we're happy writing off the first couple of matches or confident of getting something from Wigan without new signings. Either way, it's 20 days to the closure of the Window.

 

The Wigan game is the key, we can lose the other 3 and people (hopefully) won't think too much of it - if we lose at home to Wigan the wrist-slitters and "told you so"s will be out in force.

 

As it happens, I think we need a GK, a LB (could turn out to be Shaw), 2 CBs (could be Stephens), two CMs (which could be moot if Davis/Ward-Prowse are up to it), a wide right midfielder and possibly even a proven top flight striker by the end of January, but I doubt we'll get more more than 3 of them before September.

[PokingFun]

The fact remains we signed him without having negotiated with Palace...yes we signed for £2.5 mill but we all know had he been a contracted player...he is worth more like £5mill.

We had Palace over a barrell as tribunal's normally never give market value...

 

Simple fact is Cortese struggles to get deals done...combination of penny pinching and a massive ego me thinks

 

So, is there any evidence that Cortese struggles to get deals done or does he simply not roll over as soon as selling club / agent decides they want more than a player is worth?

[Give it to Ron]

That's bang wrong. They paid £5m down for Aquilani, the rest based on add ons for games played/success etc. Also, if you watched the second half of his first season after coming back from injury in the first half, the guy was excellent. He was then shipped out on loan by Hodgson as he wanted to bring in his own players.

 

£5m down...cripes that was a good deal then

 

A precocious talent and on Roma's books from a very early age, Aquilani was tasked with filling the void left by Xabi Alonso at Liverpool and moved to Anfield in August 2009 for £20 million, although was soon shifted out on loan to Juventus and then AC Milan.

[Minty]

That's in nine days - unless we're happy writing off the first couple of matches or confident of getting something from Wigan without new signings. Either way, it's 20 days to the closure of the Window.

Indeed it is, a fact not lost on Adkins and Cortese I am sure. Which is my main point... the club know damn well what they want and when they want it done by, and I am sure are doing everything they can. So many of the posts on this thread seem to make out that the club aren't doing enough, when no one has a clue what they are or are not doing.

 

Be concerned with our squad by all means, be concerned that we haven't signed players that think we need by all means (Adkins may be too for all we know), but some of the criticism is unfounded and unwarranted IMO. It *is* possible that the club aren't doing enough, but I would say that is pretty unlikely and for a bunch of fans who have not got the faintest idea of what is involved, to criticise the club for things which are purely their own interpretation of things, is a bit silly IMO.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

£5m down...cripes that was a good deal then

 

A precocious talent and on Roma's books from a very early age, Aquilani was tasked with filling the void left by Xabi Alonso at Liverpool and moved to Anfield in August 2009 for £20 million, although was soon shifted out on loan to Juventus and then AC Milan.

 

It actually was an excellent deal, but there was massive risk as Aquilani had spent so much of his career injured, which was why so much based on games played.

 

This fee will be paid by Liverpool Football Club AS Roma in four installments, of which the first, to € 5 million, upon signing the contract of transfer,

Second, a € 3 million, by 4 January 2010,

the third up to € 7 million by 30 June 2010 based on 20 English Premier League appearances, and

fourth, up to € 5 million, by June 30 2011 based on 20 English Premier League appearances.

In addition, the Liverpool Football Club AS Roma to recognize the following additional amounts:

€ 0.3 million for each time that his first team participating in UEFA Champions during the sports season 2010/2011 to 2014/2015, to a maximum of € 1.5 million;

 € 0.25 million, to 35 ^, 70 ^, 105 ^ 140 ^ and the presence of the soccer player in official competitions;

[The Kraken]

Indeed it is, a fact not lost on Adkins and Cortese I am sure. Which is my main point... the club know damn well what they want and when they want it done by, and I am sure are doing everything they can. So many of the posts on this thread seem to make out that the club aren't doing enough, when no one has a clue what they are or are not doing.

I think the majority on this thread realise that. One or two bedwetters do have the belief that the scouting team sit around scratching their arses until a signing just suddenly appears, but they've been consistently shouted down. Most people just recognise the concern in Nigel Adkins making a statement that he wants to bring in up to another 6 players and the fact that we've completed just one of those since.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

I think the majority on this thread realise that. One or two bedwetters do have the belief that the scouting team sit around scratching their arses until a signing just suddenly appears, but they've been consistently shouted down. Most people just recognise the concern in Nigel Adkins making a statement that he wants to bring in up to another 6 players and the fact that we've completed just one of those since.

 

I don't think they do nothing, I just don't think they're very good...

[The Kraken]

I don't think they do nothing, I just don't think they're very good...

The amount of fannying about and pulling out of deals last summer for a CB wasn't a great example of how to do business, that's for sure.

[hypochondriac]

The amount of fannying about and pulling out of deals last summer for a CB wasn't a great example of how to do business, that's for sure.

 

I would agree with that.

[Give it to Ron]

It actually was an excellent deal, but there was massive risk as Aquilani had spent so much of his career injured, which was why so much based on games played.

 

This fee will be paid by Liverpool Football Club AS Roma in four installments, of which the first, to € 5 million, upon signing the contract of transfer,

Second, a € 3 million, by 4 January 2010,

the third up to € 7 million by 30 June 2010 based on 20 English Premier League appearances, and

fourth, up to € 5 million, by June 30 2011 based on 20 English Premier League appearances.

In addition, the Liverpool Football Club AS Roma to recognize the following additional amounts:

€ 0.3 million for each time that his first team participating in UEFA Champions during the sports season 2010/2011 to 2014/2015, to a maximum of € 1.5 million;

 € 0.25 million, to 35 ^, 70 ^, 105 ^ 140 ^ and the presence of the soccer player in official competitions;

 

Wow thats some negotiating but guess Liverpool are a top draw for sides abroad whereas we are not yet.

Can't see us getting anyone near that level for years although we should still be able to get some decent ones in

if we can stay up for a few years.

[Saint Charlie]

The amount of fannying about and pulling out of deals last summer for a CB wasn't a great example of how to do business, that's for sure.

 

Would it be better to go through negotiations and sign a player when we weren't fully happy with it just to come across better?

[hypochondriac]

Would it be better to go through negotiations and sign a player when we weren't fully happy with it just to come across better?

 

It's the getting so far down the line with players and then pulling out (Ward and Gorkss to name two) that seems a bit distasteful. No evidence of that in this window so far admittedly although we don't know the entire story with Buttner.

[The Kraken]

Would it be better to go through negotiations and sign a player when we weren't fully happy with it just to come across better?

 

It would be better to have identified the right target in the first place before getting through negotiations with the club and to the point of signing and then, well, dithering.

 

Gorkss was clearly a player who was decent; he had been promoted with QPR the season before, and this season he played for the team with the best defensive record and who finished champions. Yet he signed for someone else NOT because we changed our minds, but because we dithered about.

 

Jemmal is a mystery but we changed our mind on him when he got here.

 

And the Liam Fontaine debacle; we showed interest in a player with such an injury that he turned up for a medical on crutches and subsequently missed nearly half a league season.

 

If you think that's doing business well, and how it should be, then we'll just have to disagree.

[hypochondriac]

It would be better to have identified the right target in the first place before getting through negotiations with the club and to the point of signing and then, well, dithering.

 

Gorkss was clearly a player who was decent; he had been promoted with QPR the season before, and this season he played for the team with the best defensive record and who finished champions. Yet he signed for someone else NOT because we changed our minds, but because we dithered about.

 

Jemmal is a mystery but we changed our mind on him when he got here.

 

And the Liam Fontaine debacle; we showed interest in a player with such an injury that he turned up for a medical on crutches and subsequently missed nearly half a league season.

 

If you think that's doing business well, and how it should be, then we'll just have to disagree.

 

And Ward from the year before that really hacked off Coventry.

[The9]

Indeed it is, a fact not lost on Adkins and Cortese I am sure. Which is my main point... the club know damn well what they want and when they want it done by, and I am sure are doing everything they can. So many of the posts on this thread seem to make out that the club aren't doing enough, when no one has a clue what they are or are not doing.

 

Be concerned with our squad by all means, be concerned that we haven't signed players that think we need by all means (Adkins may be too for all we know), but some of the criticism is unfounded and unwarranted IMO. It *is* possible that the club aren't doing enough, but I would say that is pretty unlikely and for a bunch of fans who have not got the faintest idea of what is involved, to criticise the club for things which are purely their own interpretation of things, is a bit silly IMO.

 

Agreed to a point, but as time passes without further additions when we've been told we are looking at players, the concerns are going to rise. I'd also say that given the tendency for the club to sit out some of our signings to get them to fitness without playing matches (Sharp most obviously), it's in our interests to sign players earlier rather than later. We haven't done that for the positions Adkins still says we're looking to strengthen, for whatever reasons.

[Minty]

It's the getting so far down the line with players and then pulling out (Ward and Gorkss to name two) that seems a bit distasteful. No evidence of that in this window so far admittedly although we don't know the entire story with Buttner.

 

We don't know the full story with Ward and Gorkss either, but it seems we're happy to jump to conclusions. That's my whole point. Why the assumptions that just because transfers haven't been completed it was a fault at Saints?