Lack of quality activity...

[The Kraken]

we have bought quality compared to our rivals such as reading. we are a newly promoted team so players will be mindful of our chances of remaining in the PL. We have enough quality to stay up as long as we sign a decent CB with a little bit of pace. if we stay up then next season will be a lot easier to attract "big name" targets.

 

Have we really? We have bought potential; Clyne and JRod looked quality in the Championship so we'll have to see how they step up. And we've signed a young keeper, also with potential. Davis obviously has PL quality.

 

Reading have signed Danny Guthrie and Pavel Pogrebnyak. We've seen first hand the qualities of a young Danny Guthrie, Pogrebnyak did well last season and has also played in the top leagues in Russia and Germany. They've also go Nicky Shorey from West Brom (he started 25 games last season) and Stuart Taylor from Man City.

 

In addition, Reading have also signed Garath McLearey, Adrian Mariappa and Chris Gunter from the Championship.

 

No doubt, our signings look good so far, and at the end of the window may look a lot better than Reading's. As things stand I can't agree with your assessment that we've bought better than we have, they have made very astute signings so far.

[Verbal Kint]

Only if you go after Man City type rejects coming off a massive contract like QPR have done. I don't expect us to sign any decent players from England as they're too expensive. We seem to be sniffing around a few players in the Eredivisie at the moment and that's not a bad place to look. Players can be picked up fairly cheaply and the style of football is similar to ours.

 

But surely they aren't proven players at the highest level if they're playing in the Eredivisie? I don't think it's possible to buy proven premier league quality without spending huge amounts on wages, so we need to take a few risks to establish ourselves and enable us to get to a point where we can afford to spend that bit more

[The9]

What worries me is that interviews with Reading players (McAnuff on Premier League World) and West Ham players, Noble on SSN, have both stressed their goal as being Prem survival. Reading were up in 2007 and had a couple of seasons up here more recently than us, West Ham have been a yoyo club for the past 5 years. So they're both more familiar with the Prem situation than anyone (except probably Jason Dodd, Kelvin from his disastrous relegation with Sunderland (15 points) and Steven Davis, and Cork and Fox who got relegated with Burnley) at St Mary's.

 

Whereas we've got the manager banging on about challenging for Europe and pushing on from there. Now I appreciate the positivity, but basically it smacks a little of naivete, and having watched the Premier League Years recapping last season, I'm not entirely sure we know what we're getting into.

 

Could be wrong, but certainly the lack of pace at centre back, our limited GK and unproven players everywhere else (along with the 3 former relegatees) makes me a little concerned. At the same time, the players we do have are mostly young, ambitious and the best the Championship has to offer, so who knows ?

 

Home to Wigan will be the proving ground, and at least they usually start slowly.

Edited 26 July, 2012 by The9

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

Have we really? We have bought potential; Clyne and JRod looked quality in the Championship so we'll have to see how they step up. And we've signed a young keeper, also with potential. Davis obviously has PL quality.

 

Reading have signed Danny Guthrie and Pavel Pogrebnyak. We've seen first hand the qualities of a young Danny Guthrie, Pogrebnyak did well last season and has also played in the top leagues in Russia and Germany. They've also go Nicky Shorey from West Brom (he started 25 games last season) and Stuart Taylor from Man City.

 

In addition, Reading have also signed Garath McLearey, Adrian Mariappa and Chris Gunter from the Championship.

 

No doubt, our signings look good so far, and at the end of the window may look a lot better than Reading's. As things stand I can't agree with your assessment that we've bought better than we have, they have made very astute signings so far.

 

I stand by my statement. Reading signings are average. If Guthrie was good enough newcastle would have kept him. I can honestly say I would take our signings over there's any day of the week. Jay Rod will score more goals than Pog this season imo.

 

I really fancy Reading, Swansea and Wigan for the drop.

[Sour Mash]

RW - Hoillett or Babel

CB - Ramis or Yobo

GK - Gordon or McGregor

 

Just a couple there.

But we haven't signed a CB or RW yet, so how can you be unhappy with quality of our signings. Would agree that we should get a bit of a shift on with getting in a quality CB, as they take a while to settle, but that wasn't your original point. Probably agree re Keepers, but not massively bothered about having Davis instead of Gordon or McGregor. Who would you have rather we bought than Clyne, S Davis and Rodriquez?

[This Charming Man]

But surely they aren't proven players at the highest level if they're playing in the Eredivisie? I don't think it's possible to buy proven premier league quality without spending huge amounts on wages, so we need to take a few risks to establish ourselves and enable us to get to a point where we can afford to spend that bit more

 

The Dutch national side are one of the best in the world, players at the top clubs there play in front of 40/50,000 fans most weeks for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, they play Champions League and Europe League football. Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord have produced some of the greatest players in European football. There's not much money to be had over there so a perfect hunting ground for a club like us.

 

Adkins would agree as I believe he was on a scouting mission over there the week after we got promoted and we've been heavily linked with Lens and Buttner (though that deal seems to have fallen through).

[This Charming Man]

I stand by my statement. Reading signings are average. If Guthrie was good enough newcastle would have kept him. I can honestly say I would take our signings over there's any day of the week. Jay Rod will score more goals than Pog this season imo.

 

I really fancy Reading, Swansea and Wigan for the drop.

 

The same Swansea that everyone on here is using as our marker and prime example of why signing unproven youngsters is ok?

[Alain Perrin]

I don't think we should be signing quality, we should be signing potential. We're not Man City and therefore the more wisely we spend our cash the better.

 

I'd be concentrating on the Championship or lesser fashionable leagues. Even buying J-Rod seems a bit of a high priced gamble but at least we know of him.

 

With Clyne and Davis we have two players at bargain prices but with massive upside.

 

My biggest worry for the coming season is momentum. We had it following the promotion from League 1 and that laid the foundation for our promotion to the Premier League. Our second half of the season wasn't as stellar so the question is will we have our Mo for the all important EPL start?

[The Kraken]

I stand by my statement. Reading signings are average. If Guthrie was good enough newcastle would have kept him. I can honestly say I would take our signings over there's any day of the week. Jay Rod will score more goals than Pog this season imo.

 

I really fancy Reading, Swansea and Wigan for the drop.

If Guthrie was good enough for what? Newcastle finished 5th and want to at least consolidate that position, perhaps push on. Are we now saying that players that played in 21 games (starting 19) for the side that finished 5th in the PL aren't good enough for us?

 

I think we've signed some decent potential, I worry about the expectation level of some of our fans, there's an aura that this season is going to be a walk in the park just because Norwich and Swansea did ok last year.

[Lets B Avenue]

If we want the club to sign proven premiership players, perhaps we, as fans should be prepared to pay about £50 per match for our season tickets. However, enlightened supporters of this parish have decreed that £40 is their limit to watch a match.

 

With that sort of "Dell sized mentality" is there any wonder at the state of the clubs transfer policy?

[This Charming Man]

I think we've signed some decent potential, I worry about the expectation level of some of our fans, there's an aura that this season is going to be a walk in the park just because Norwich and Swansea did ok last year.

 

This.

 

We've been used to winning the vast majority of our games over the last few seasons and some people just seem to think that will carry on, no matter who we sign.

 

Will be a shock from some when we're losing more games than we're winning this season.

[The Kraken]

If we want the club to sign proven premiership players, perhaps we, as fans should be prepared to pay about £50 per match for our season tickets. However, enlightened supporters of this parish have decreed that £40 is their limit to watch a match.

 

With that sort of "Dell sized mentality" is there any wonder at the state of the clubs transfer policy?

Why? As has been pointed out, Reading have signed three players of PL quality without breaking the bank. Getting PL quality doesn't mean poaching from the likes of the top 4's best players. There are still good deals to be had for decent, proven players at the top level.

[Verbal Kint]

The Dutch national side are one of the best in the world, players at the top clubs there play in front of 40/50,000 fans most weeks for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, they play Champions League and Europe League football. Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord have produced some of the greatest players in European football. There's not much money to be had over there so a perfect hunting ground for a club like us.

 

Adkins would agree as I believe he was on a scouting mission over there the week after we got promoted and we've been heavily linked with Lens and Buttner (though that deal seems to have fallen through).

 

I don't disagree with scouting there, i have faith in Adkins to bring in the right players. But Celtic and Rangers have players that have played champions league football in front of 40-50k crowds every week. It doesn't mean they're all good enough to play in the Premier League.

 

We aren't being linked with regular dutch internationals because, surprise surprise, the top dutch players move to big clubs for big money. Money we can't afford.

 

Players like Lens are the best we can hope for. A player on the very fringes of the national team and who would be at the top end of our budget in terms of transfer fees and wages. And even then he would still be a gamble. As is Danny Guthrie for Reading (unproven in the prem), Pogrebnyak (12 games in the premier league is not proven) or Nicky Shorey who is so proven that West Brom released him.

 

I think a reality check is needed on where we are as a club

[rshephard3]

Can anybody recall, off the top of their heads, which big name, 'quality' established PL players Norwich and Swansea signed last summer? Any names spring to mind? No, me neither......and yet both of those teams did more than OK.

 

More than ok in their first season yes. If you are trying to plan for the future you need to aviod struggles in the historically hard second season. Norwich and or Swansea will go down this season because relative lack of squad quality coupled with teams knowing how to play them. FWIW I think we really needed a central midfield general to box to box boss things and in Davis I'm worried we haven't found him. That said I trust management to find an excellent centre half and I expect us to compete around the mid/lower table with our squad, given that we will add a few names in the next week.

[hypochondriac]

I don't think it's time to panic yet, but it would be a shame if we went down by a couple of points and we look back and think if only we had bought a more experienced keeper or a better quality CB (or got a CB in earlier.)

[jawillwill]

More than ok in their first season yes. If you are trying to plan for the future you need to aviod struggles in the historically hard second season. Norwich and or Swansea will go down this season because relative lack of squad quality coupled with teams knowing how to play them. FWIW I think we really needed a central midfield general to box to box boss things and in Davis I'm worried we haven't found him. That said I trust management to find an excellent centre half and I expect us to compete around the mid/lower table with our squad, given that we will add a few names in the next week.

 

I don't have any stats to back it up, but I'm pretty sure that this is one of the biggest myths in English football (it's up there with Pompeys incredible support).

[This Charming Man]

I don't disagree with scouting there, i have faith in Adkins to bring in the right players. But Celtic and Rangers have players that have played champions league football in front of 40-50k crowds every week. It doesn't mean they're all good enough to play in the Premier League.

 

We aren't being linked with regular dutch internationals because, surprise surprise, the top dutch players move to big clubs for big money. Money we can't afford.

 

Players like Lens are the best we can hope for. A player on the very fringes of the national team and who would be at the top end of our budget in terms of transfer fees and wages. And even then he would still be a gamble. As is Danny Guthrie for Reading (unproven in the prem), Pogrebnyak (12 games in the premier league is not proven) or Nicky Shorey who is so proven that West Brom released him.

 

I think a reality check is needed on where we are as a club

 

The gulf in class between the SPL and Holland is enormous, so please don't try and twist my words.

 

Of course I don't expect us to be signing full top Dutch international players but players on the fringes like Lens are the exact standard of player we should be looking at.

 

Oh and Guthrie played 20 odd games in the team that finished 5th in the Premiership last season.

[Guan 2.0]

Is anybody slightly worried at the quality of footballers we're being linked with? Personally the players we've bought are alright, but I yhink they're lacking in real quality, even compared to mid table Prem teams. Players like Scott Dann for instance. We need to be aiming higher than poor Premiership players who had one lucky season sat in a 10-0-0 formation. I wonder if we're struggling to attract players due to the amount of money we're willing to spend/pay in wages, or due to Adkins not being a big name draw?

 

Anyone else a little worried?

 

Just because we are not being linked in the press, doesn't mean we are not trying to bring in top quality.

[Turkish]

I don't think it's time to panic yet, but it would be a shame if we went down by a couple of points and we look back and think if only we had bought a more experienced keeper or a better quality CB (or got a CB in earlier.)

 

You need to speculate to accumlate, something that Lowe wasn't prepared to do. If the player we want is available and willing to join but the clubs are apart on our valutions then really we should just be prepared to stump up the cash. I'm not talking about doing it on every deal or if they are miles apart but if a top notch centre half, goalkeeper or striker for example, that is going to make a reall differene to the team then they come at a premium which we are going to have to be be prepared to pay. If that is the difference between relegation and survival then it's worth it. Even a couple of league positions higher mean an extra couple of million is paid back within a season. Cortese seems to want it both ways. He demanded top dollar and a deal on our conditions for Chamberlain, but isn't prepared to deal when other clubs want to play hardball. It's all very well doing this in L1 and the championship but he'll find it a lot tougher with higher profile clubs, players and agents.

[hypochondriac]

You need to speculate to accumlate, something that Lowe wasn't prepared to do. If the player we want is available and willing to join but the clubs are apart on our valutions then really we should just be prepared to stump up the cash. I'm not talking about doing it on every deal or if they are miles apart but if a top notch centre half, goalkeeper or striker for example, that is going to make a reall differene to the team then they come at a premium which we are going to have to be be prepared to pay. If that is the difference between relegation and survival then it's worth it. Even a couple of league positions higher mean an extra couple of million is paid back within a season. Cortese seems to want it both ways. He demanded top dollar and a deal on our conditions for Chamberlain, but isn't prepared to deal when other clubs want to play hardball. It's all very well doing this in L1 and the championship but he'll find it a lot tougher with higher profile clubs, players and agents.

 

Possibly but then we did pay a lot for Jay Rod though you could argue that we haven't got a really high profile signing and tempted him to join like Lens for example yet. If we aren't prepared to pay the price for the likes of Lens then you would hope we have enough sense to move on and look for other targets who cost less. Our policy so far as far as I can see is to look for smaller clubs or clubs in less fortunate positions to ourselves because it makes negotiation much easier and we don't have to pay what the other clubs want. That works up to a point but we may have to bring in at least a couple of players where we maybe pay full whack because that could make the difference.

Edited 26 July, 2012 by hypochondriac

[hypochondriac]

Just because we are not being linked in the press, doesn't mean we are not trying to bring in top quality.

 

What player have we not been linked with that has subsequently signed for us? Either this year or last year? Doesn't happen, although many on here would like to think that our transfers are completely secret.

[CWD]

I'm really pleased with who we've signed so far, and it's been proved time and time again that the team is more important than the individual. A world class player costs £30m but a good strong team spirit is priceless. The only thing I'm slightly concerned about is the lack of centre half. It may be 3 weeks til the season starts but every day that goes past is a day a new player could spend integrating with the squad. Right now we don't have anywhere near the quality we need in that position.

[The Kraken]

Players like Lens are the best we can hope for. A player on the very fringes of the national team and who would be at the top end of our budget in terms of transfer fees and wages. And even then he would still be a gamble. As is Danny Guthrie for Reading (unproven in the prem), Pogrebnyak (12 games in the premier league is not proven) or Nicky Shorey who is so proven that West Brom released him.

 

I think a reality check is needed on where we are as a club

 

I think there's definitely a reality check needed for some fans, yes. Pogrebnyak has played for years in the top leagues of Russia and Germany, and won a league title previously. Danny Guthrie started 19 games last year for the fifth placed team in the PL, Shorey started more than that for a team that finished in the top half. Yet, somehow, we should be aiming higher than these players, but with players that come from the lower leagues.

[Rebel]

If we are going to play 4-3-3 this season do we nedd a RM or RW?

 

Surely Cork, Chaplow or Davis would play on the right of a midfield 3 and Lallana on the left with the fullbacks providing the width and then Guly or Jay Rod playing on the right of a front three with Tandanari or Lambert on the left and Sharp in the middle.

 

With a 4-3-2-1 or a diamond midfield we wouldn't need a Right Winger either.

 

We do still need some more pace in the team though - and at least one if not two new centrebacks

[Saint_clark]

By quality I assume you mean proven - in that case, what's wrong with identifying the talent earlier and them proving themselves in the Prem with us?

[This Charming Man]

If we are going to play 4-3-3 this season do we nedd a RM or RW?

 

Surely Cork, Chaplow or Davis would play on the right of a midfield 3 and Lallana on the left with the fullbacks providing the width and then Guly or Jay Rod playing on the right of a front three with Tandanari or Lambert on the left and Sharp in the middle.

 

With a 4-3-2-1 or a diamond midfield we wouldn't need a Right Winger either.

 

We do still need some more pace in the team though - and at least one if not two new centrebacks

 

The thought of Chaplow anywhere near our Premiership team fills me with fear.

 

He tries hard and never stops running but nowhere near PL standard.

[InvictaSaint]

Can you recall what 'quality' established PL players Hull, Blackpool, Birmingham, Burnley, Wolves signed? Could you please advise me of where they are now...?

 

Fair-ish point, minus the sarcasm. Doesn't detract from the fact that it is clearly not PROVEN that you NEED established PL players to survive, or do well.

[The Kraken]

By quality I assume you mean proven - in that case, what's wrong with identifying the talent earlier and them proving themselves in the Prem with us?

Perhaps because there is even more risk to that sort of approach?

[hypochondriac]

By quality I assume you mean proven - in that case, what's wrong with identifying the talent earlier and them proving themselves in the Prem with us?

 

I think a mixture is about right. Signing all unproven players is a risk because we need to stay up this season

[This Charming Man]

Fair-ish point, minus the sarcasm. Doesn't detract from the fact that it is clearly not PROVEN that you NEED established PL players to survive, or do well.

 

I'd say it is. I also never said proven PL players, just players who have already shown they can do it at a high standard.

 

All of those teams I previously mentioned are currently languishing in the lower leagues. Fulham, Sunderland and Stoke all signed proven quality players and are firmly established Premiership sides these days and have played in European and domestic cup finals in that time as well.

 

IMO, the way to do it is to establish ourselves first, then Cortese and Adkins can chase their pipe dream of turning us into the next Barcelona.

[Verbal Kint]

I think there's definitely a reality check needed for some fans, yes. Pogrebnyak has played for years in the top leagues of Russia and Germany, and won a league title previously. Danny Guthrie started 19 games last year for the fifth placed team in the PL, Shorey started more than that for a team that finished in the top half. Yet, somehow, we should be aiming higher than these players, but with players that come from the lower leagues.

 

I seem to remember the heartbeat of the Newcastle team last year was Tiote and Cabaye in the middle of the park. Guthrie was nothing more than a back up squad player, hence them happy to let him go. Pog is a gamble. 28 years old on a 4 year contract with a total wage packet in excess of 50k a week is a gamble. It might work out, it could be a disaster. West Brom wouldn't have released Shorey if he was that solid for them, and there were only 4 points between them and Wigan in 15th.

 

I've not been saying we should be aiming higher, i'm saying clubs in our position and Reading's have to take a few risks as the costs involved in signing players of "proven quality" are out of financial reach at the moment. They've done it with Guthrie and Pog, we're doing it with Rodriguez and Clyne

[Saint_clark]

Perhaps because there is even more risk to that sort of approach?

 

I think a mixture is about right. Signing all unproven players is a risk because we need to stay up this season

 

It's a risk no matter what you do, if the management have confidence in the players they're signing then so should we.

[hypochondriac]

I'd say it is. I also never said proven PL players, just players who have already shown they can do it at a high standard.

 

All of those teams I previously mentioned are currently languishing in the lower leagues. Fulham, Sunderland and Stoke all signed proven quality players and are firmly established Premiership sides these days and have played in European and domestic cup finals in that time as well.

 

IMO, the way to do it is to establish ourselves first, then Cortese and Adkins can chase their pipe dream of turning us into the next Barcelona.

 

I totally agree. We need to have a base to work from. If we get relegated next year then all of our good work will be undone and we won't be able to hold onto our youth and potentially great players for longer anyway.

[hypochondriac]

It's a risk no matter what you do, if the management have confidence in the players they're signing then so should we.

 

It's a lot more of a risk. It's obviously a risk no matter what you do but I thought that you could have worked out what we were saying.

[Saint_clark]

It's a lot more of a risk. It's obviously a risk no matter what you do but I thought that you could have worked out what we were saying.

 

Surely signing experienced players on big wages (like Reading) is a risk to the long term future, rather than our way of doing it which is a risk to our short term Prem status? If Reading go down next season they could be stuck with Pogrebnyak for 3 years on 50k a week.

[The Kraken]

I seem to remember the heartbeat of the Newcastle team last year was Tiote and Cabaye in the middle of the park. Guthrie was nothing more than a back up squad player, hence them happy to let him go.

 

I'll repeat; he started in 19 league games. That's half of the games Newcastle played in the league, plus sub appearances. Even if he's a backup squad player he played half the games for a side that finished 5th. Can we really say he's not good enough for us, if only for the short term?

 

Pog is a gamble. 28 years old on a 4 year contract with a total wage packet in excess of 50k a week is a gamble. It might work out, it could be a disaster.

Any signing is a gamble. Rodriguez for £7M is an absolute gamble. Conor Wickham for Sunderland at £10M was also a massive gamble, which clearly hasn't worked out (yet, he may just need time). Pogrebnyak has top level experience (including last term in the PL), albeit not hugely prolific in some seasons. JRod has no top level experience, he may be awesome, he may be below par, we don't yet know.

 

West Brom wouldn't have released Shorey if he was that solid for them, and there were only 4 points between them and Wigan in 15th.

I admit I wouldn't be overly enthused with Shorey at Saints in the long term, but he's a bit of a Butterfield signing for us last year, a solid and decent option for the shirt term. And again, he's being written off because he's being released by his former club. He still did a decent job in the PL, and would good short term option (which is presumably all he is being looked at for).

 

I've not been saying we should be aiming higher, i'm saying clubs in our position and Reading's have to take a few risks as the costs involved in signing players of "proven quality" are out of financial reach at the moment. They've done it with Guthrie and Pog, we're doing it with Rodriguez and Clyne

Yep, of course we have to take some risks, but there is also the case of finding a balance. Look at the late 80s under Nicholl, we had a brilliant set of young players breaking through alongside the likes of Jimmy Case and other seasoned pros. You mention JRod and Clyne as proven quality, I don't see they are. I think they are great quality at Championship level with an awful lot yet to prove at top level. Most indications are that they will do well but we simply don't know yet. The likes of Guthrie and Pog, you know what you're going to get, and their experience is as important as their ability.

[This Charming Man]

Look at Man Utd, a team full of seasoned, experienced players and they've won plenty of trophies in the last few years. Look at Arsenal, a team full of young, promising players, yet to prove themselves. They've won nothing.

 

Before someon has a pop, I'm not comparing us with them two as they're on a totally different level to us, just merely using them as an example.

[Dig Dig]

Not worried.. most of our signings come completely out of the blue these days anyway.

 

No they don't

[Verbal Kint]

Yep, of course we have to take some risks, but there is also the case of finding a balance. Look at the late 80s under Nicholl, we had a brilliant set of young players breaking through alongside the likes of Jimmy Case and other seasoned pros. You mention JRod and Clyne as proven quality, I don't see they are. I think they are great quality at Championship level with an awful lot yet to prove at top level. Most indications are that they will do well but we simply don't know yet. The likes of Guthrie and Pog, you know what you're going to get, and their experience is as important as their ability.

 

I'm not saying Clyne and Rodriguez are proven, i'm saying the opposite. They aren't proven, but in my opinion neither are the Reading signings. All of them are big gambles in different ways. I think you're overestimating the ability of Guthrie. If i had the choice between him and Schneiderlin, i'd pick Morgan every time. And i'd probably pick Davis ahead of him as well

[The Kraken]

I'm not saying Clyne and Rodriguez are proven, i'm saying the opposite. They aren't proven, but in my opinion neither are the Reading signings. All of them are big gambles in different ways. I think you're overestimating the ability of Guthrie. If i had the choice between him and Schneiderlin, i'd pick Morgan every time. And i'd probably pick Davis ahead of him as well

I'm not saying we should go for him. I know little about Davis but I'd suggest Guthrie/Davis about the same type of player. I was just responding to the comment from someone else that he wouldn't be a good signing. If we'd have signed Guthrie instead of Davis I'd be just as happy in that respect, so its a bit like saying if reading signed Davis it wouldn't be a quality signing.

 

Our next signing will tell us a lot. So far we have captured 3 lower league players (with great potential) and 1 with top flight experience. Who all add to a squad with limited previous top flight pedigree. I see Lambert as a typical example of someone who perhaps doesn't need to have PL experience to show his qualities. So its not the be all and end all by any means, and I'm not suggesting it is. Just that, a lot of times, it can be better to have a "been there done that" type of player in the ranks.

[up and away]

Not sure what you expect, we're being linked with Lens who is top half quality without a doubt.

 

Once Rodriguez, Clyne and Davis settle we will have 3 top 10 standard PL players in our team. All 3 of those are coups for a club of our current stature.

 

I'm looking at who WHU have bought and I can't see anyone of any note, Reading have kind of followed the same route as us but lesser quality. Teams like Wigan have done diddly squat.

 

Our business so far as been excellent, if you're not pleased with that then you're never going to be pleased.

 

Our business so far has been an improvement upon what we have already, but the excellent part has yet to be proved. The big problem we have is that we don't know if these players will be top ten standard of the Premier, it's all a chance.

 

This is all going to come down to how Adkins gets the team playing in the Premier. I feel Adkins has that in him, but again a chance because he nor any of the other staff have actually achieved this. I am not expecting much more than this because that is the reality of the situation and happy enough that my team has that shot at the Premier.

 

After the window has closed we will find out exactly what each team has done and a better idea of how this will shape the season to come. I certainly find the hope attached to these new players as exciting, but this has to be tempered by what the OP has expressed, no certainties. I would have no problem with Scott Dann when you take into account his injury problems, but again it could be seen as more of a possible that an actual for the Premier.

[MerceSaint28]

I think we have made some good signings thus far...particularly Clyne and Rodriguez...yet to be convinced by Davis who strikes me as a bit of a water carrier.

I am worried about the distinct lack of pace in the team and this is where i see a main problem. I still think we need 2 flyers, 2 centre backs as central defence was a definite problem area and probably another keeper. So we are 4-5 players away in my opinion

 

Why this football club can't recruit pace is byond me...the last genuinely quick player we had with the excpetion of Walcott and Dyer was Camara and what a player he was...

just wish we would address this.

Also i would like to see us get some foreign players rather than inflated English players...

Cortese gets value but there is definitely still a question mark on whether we can get deals done...only Rodriguez required haggling...the Don's rep as being tough to deal with, scuppers a lot of deals in my opinion

[Giordano]

I don't normally post much on this type of thread but my perspective on the subject is this:

 

NA is not looking at a finalised squad ready to play Man City first game. He is looking at creating a Premiership standard composition of players intelligent enough, fit enough and skilled enough to develop and bring on "The Southampton Way". It is a work in progress, and we need a squad with enough depth to mix and match the players, formations, tactics and vagaries of injuries and suspensions, cup runs and so on in order to both survive and to thrive.

 

We will have set backs and we will make errors but he needs to have enough there to be able to react to any situation he can foresee. As long as each new signing increases the overall quality quotient and satisfies the other criteria then we are going in the right direction. That they be younger rather than older, full of potential rather than have peaked is yet another refinement. I am happy that the signings to date seem to indicate a continuity of thinking and thats a good thing.

[sotonist]

Have we really? We have bought potential; Clyne and JRod looked quality in the Championship so we'll have to see how they step up... We've seen first hand the qualities of a young Danny Guthrie

 

Didn't we just see the potential of Danny Guthrie?

[The Kraken]

Didn't we just see the potential of Danny Guthrie?

Yes. We also have the benefit of seeing what that potential actually turned in to, don't we?

[The Kraken]

Why this football club can't recruit pace is byond me...

 

De Ridder is probably our fastest player. Jonathan Forte wasn't labelled Jonno Quick because he could whip up an omelette in record time.

 

Pace on its own is worthless, there has to be an end product. I'd rather have someone like Matt Jarvis (fairly quick but with skill and an end product) than a headless chicken like Wayne Routledge.

Edited 26 July, 2012 by The Kraken

[Dalek2003]

Yes, I'm worried. There is a definite pattern in our transfer activity. Yes we've done well securing Rodriguez, but our other three major transfers are players out of contract, one of which weve p*ssed off his club with an insulting offer and the third a goalkeeper as one for the future. Just like last season weve failed to address the areas where we are crying out for quality, namely centre back and right midfield. Last season we went through 4 centre halves before scrapping around at the end of the window looking for loans after failing all summer to secure a deal for the player we needed and wanted. Luckily for us Hooliveld worked out but it could equally have been a disaster. Last season we had the momentum of 13 wins out of 14 to carry us through along with a team of experienced championship players. This season we don't have that momentum and an untested team at the level we are playing at. This, alongside our sticking plaster approach to key positions could lead to a long and difficult season if we don't address these problems by signing quality and experience, centrainly at least at centre back. I'm sure I'll be called negative, a troll and all sorts else as if usually the case when Anything other than saying how amazing anything is, but that is the reality folks.[/quote

 

Totally agree. But, if I had said that I would have been called a toll !

 

I've put my cards on the table again this year. We will try and stay up but be content to go down as we are going for the 'yoyo' strategy.

[Village Saint]

Where do you want us to start? Nearly every player Wolves; Hull; Bormingham and indeed Pompey signed were exactly the sort of 'established' PL players that you seem to want us to buy and indeed look where they are now. No thanks. Our buying policy looks okay to me. We still need a keeper and a CH but I am sure they will be here when the season gets underway.

[sotonist]

Yes. We also have the benefit of seeing what that potential actually turned in to, don't we?

I can see the stats, but I've not seen him play since he left us.

 

Newcastle fans seem to think he's a decent player but beyond that i've seen and heard nothing to get excited about him. He's had a bit of a chequered disciplinary record, hasn't he?

[dune]

The signings and reported intent so far do not suggest we are a club that is realistically looking to challenge at the top. The squad we are building is more 14th to 20th under the stewardship of an untested manager. It's gonna be a another relegation battle I reckon.

 

*sorry if that offends the dispositions of some on here.