Lack of quality activity...

[This Charming Man]

would u be happy if we'd spent close to £60m on downing, Henderson & Carroll?

 

for the money we've spent we've done very well and have outbid teams like Everton and Fulham in the process, we are buying mid table quality imo

 

No. But nobody on here is saying let's go out and spend obscene amounts of money on very average players.

[Foxstone]

Are you being serious?

 

Cortese is not in the same league as Dave Whelan, nor has his life followed Whelans. What a strange comparison Foxstone.

 

Purely comparing him like for like as a football club chairman - They have a strategy, they choose a bright forward-thinking manager, the create good infra-structure and they support the manager financially and they empower him to deliver.

 

Compare that to most other chairmen who fail to compare in some or all of these, and I am more than happy to being in the majority in congratulating Cortese as being a bloody good leader

[dune]

Purely comparing him like for like as a football club chairman - They have a strategy, they choose a bright forward-thinking manager, the create good infra-structure and they support the manager financially and they empower him to deliver.

 

Compare that to most other chairmen who fail to compare in some or all of these, and I am more than happy to being in the majority in congratulating Cortese as being a bloody good leader

 

You are comparing chalk with cheese. Cortese is a banker, Whelan started as a player and built up a multi million pound business. Whelan is a cut above.

[Dazza82]

Please stop with the tiresome Swansea and Norwich comparisons. We're not them.

 

As I have already stated and proven, the only teams to establish themselves since promotion are those that have bought proven players who have done it at the highest level - Fulham, Sunderland and Stoke.

 

A few have yo-yo'd up and down for a few years but most are now consigned to the mid table of the NPC.

 

So you want people to stop comparing us to Swansea and Norwich. But then you go on to say "As I have already stated and proven, the only teams to establish themselves since promotion are those that have bought proven players who have done it at the highest level - Fulham, Sunderland and Stoke"

 

So are you saying we should do as they have done?

 

If so why cant other people compare us to Norwich or Swansea but you can say we should be more like Fulham, Sunderland and Stoke? Pot and kettle?

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Nailed that for me to be honest.

 

I don't really know who you would like to see that would be 'better' quality. Also, seriously, it's been how long now? 3 years? And yet this, 'we haven't been linked with anyone', stuff keeps coming up. Just because it's not in the papers, or Adkins isn't in the press talking about everyone else's players (ala Redknapp), doesn't mean anything isn't going on.

 

See posts 129 and 138.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Also, who did Norwich & Swansea sign last year?

 

Danny Graham? Michel Vorm (yeah turned out to be pretty good - but if we had signed him this summer he would probably be a 'lack of quality' signing), James Vaughan, Anthony Pilkington? Richie de Laet?

 

QPR brought 'quality' like Joey Barton on £70k p/w and look how it all turned out for them?

 

Yeah, awful, they stayed up. But that's not actually the point, we're not saying we should sign players like them. Quality does not have to be expensive, and if you have a good knowledge of football then there is quality/value to be had everywhere.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

No. But nobody on here is saying let's go out and spend obscene amounts of money on very average players.

 

Why are people misunderstanding this? It's like talking to a brick wall. Charming Man gets what I'm on about, so why can't others? Obviously not reading the threads, and as such are spouting ignorant opinions. Seriously guys and girls, read before answering.

[This Charming Man]

So you want people to stop comparing us to Swansea and Norwich. But then you go on to say "As I have already stated and proven, the only teams to establish themselves since promotion are those that have bought proven players who have done it at the highest level - Fulham, Sunderland and Stoke"

 

So are you saying we should do as they have done?

 

If so why cant other people compare us to Norwich or Swansea but you can say we should be more like Fulham, Sunderland and Stoke? Pot and kettle?

 

Because Swansea and Norwich haven't established themselves in the Premiership over a lengthy period of time.

 

If in 5/10 years time they're still going strong, competed in Europe and reached cup finals, then we can agree they're good models to follow.

 

There is over-whelming evidence to show that teams that don't strengthen with decent proven players end up back in the NPC very quickly. I really don't understand why people aren't able to see this. Are you burying your head in the sand? Are you deluded? Are you not able to remove your rose tinted glasses? Are you assuming as we've done alright so far this will automatically roll over into the toughest football league in the world?

Edited 26 July, 2012 by This Charming Man

[hypochondriac]

Why are people misunderstanding this? It's like talking to a brick wall. Charming Man gets what I'm on about, so why can't others? Obviously not reading the threads, and as such are spouting ignorant opinions. Seriously guys and girls, read before answering.

 

I totally get where you are coming from. I just couldn't be bothered to respond earlier because as you said, it's all been said before.

[Dazza82]

Because Swansea and Norwich haven't established themselves in the Premiership over a lengthy period of time.

 

If in 5/10 years time they're still going strong, competed in Europe and reached cup finals, then we can agree they're good models to follow.

 

But also for a newly promoted side you have to look at norwich and swansea's achievements last year and if can do as they did last season that will be a good season, If we do better then Great.

 

In 5/10 years time we could be well ahead of Fulham,Sunderland and Stoke with the young talented players we have signed now.

[This Charming Man]

But also for a newly promoted side you have to look at norwich and swansea's achievements last year and if can do as they did last season that will be a good season, If we do better then Great.

 

In 5/10 years time we could be well ahead of Fulham,Sunderland and Stoke with the young talented players we have signed now.

 

We could well be ahead of them, who knows? But we've got to ensure we've got a squad capable of keeping us up long enough to give that a shot. Teams that haven't strengthened with decent proven players haven't lasted long enough to try...

[hypochondriac]

We could well be ahead of them, who knows? But we've got to ensure we've got a squad capable of keeping us up long enough to give that a shot. Teams that haven't strengthened with decent proven players haven't lasted long enough to try...

 

That is exactly how I feel. Establish yourselves and then try the grand youth experiment with the kids.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

You've just identified 3 players to create your argument and discounted many, many others who would be suitable to go for. Us signing Steven Davis is proof that it can happen. The "next level for us is hitting 11th - 17th in the PL, anything above that this season is wildly optimistic. As previously stated Reading have signed 3 proven PL players without breaking the bank. Matt Jarvis would be a great signing. West Ham have got Jaaskelainen on a free. Fulham have got Rodallega on a free (high wages I'm sure but negated by the lack of transfer fee). West Brom got Ben Foster for £4M, IMO a bargain for a keeper of his quality. Plenty of sides in the bottom half of the table have been in for proven PL players, so lets not pretend it can't happen without bankrupting the club, it clearly can.

Foster would be good but he was already on loan at WBA and was probably happy there. Jaaskelainen is getting on and is not the player he once was. I'm hopeful that we will still sign another keeper but it remains to be seen doesn't it?

 

Jarvis would be a good signing but Wolves have demanded £10m which is on the expensive side, so it looks like, for the moment at least, we are looking for better value elsewhere. Rodallega is ok but only scored 2 goals last season, and he would probably prefer to go to a confirmed mid-table club like Fulham after years of battling relegation.

 

People need to calm down and assess our transfer dealings at the close of the window. All the players we have signed so far have been in positions where we were decently stocked in terms of first team players already, and in doing so we have managed to find excellent bargains with potential to add a nice mix. Better still they will improve in the coming years, helping us to combat second season syndrome.

 

The real problem positions of CB, RM still need to be sorted but we will have to see what we end up with there. Scott Dann does seem a bit of a risky one but we haven't actually signed him, we could end up with someone else entirely! Still a long way to go.

[The Kraken]

I think you miss my point. I'm not saying we should sign those players. Just dispelling the myth suggested by others that you can't buy proven PL players without breaking the bank. You can.

[supersonic]

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?

 

 

deluded.

 

We're still one of the smallest teams in the league, we're joint favourites to go down. We aren't going to buy players like Puyol/Sneijder/Van Persie etc.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

I think you miss my point. I'm not saying we should sign those players. Just dispelling the myth suggested by others that you can't buy proven PL players without breaking the bank. You can.

 

But no one arguing your point seems able to name any of these proven Premier League players that we should be signing

[hypochondriac]

deluded.

 

We're still one of the smallest teams in the league, we're joint favourites to go down. We aren't going to buy players like Puyol/Sneijder/Van Persie etc.

 

Another one failing to comprehend what someone else has written.

[supersonic]

Another one failing to comprehend what someone else has written.

 

not at all

[Lets B Avenue]

But no one arguing your point seems able to name any of these proven Premier League players that we should be signing

 

......and what wages will they require.

[hypochondriac]

not at all

 

Well you clearly have judging by your first reply. Try reading some of the other posts here and see what posters are saying. Certainly no one is suggesting signing the likes of Van Persie. Don't be silly.

[dune]

deluded.

 

We're still one of the smallest teams in the league, we're joint favourites to go down. We aren't going to buy players like Puyol/Sneijder/Van Persie etc.

 

Lambert is 80/1 with ladrokes (the best price) to be top scorer. Reckon i'll have a tenner on that even though it's a long shot.

[The Kraken]

But no one arguing your point seems able to name any of these proven Premier League players that we should be signing

Neither are those advocating only going for younger players from the lower leagues, are they? This is a generic point about the types of player we should be going for (a mix of both, of course). I reeled off that list, off the top of my head alone, to show that there's plenty of options available that don't cost a fortune. If I had the inclination I could probably give you a realistic list of 20 or 30 players we could go for, but it would be ultimately pointless. The point is there are lots of these players out there and we don't have to console ourselves to "only" signing young players from the Championship.

[This Charming Man]

But no one arguing your point seems able to name any of these proven Premier League players that we should be signing

 

People haven't really mentioned Premiership quality. Just players who have done the business at a high standard before. The Kraken has already given numerous examples of clubs of a similar standard to us signing proven quality players.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

deluded.

 

We're still one of the smallest teams in the league, we're joint favourites to go down. We aren't going to buy players like Puyol/Sneijder/Van Persie etc.

 

Oh really? I wished you'd have told me earlier.

 

Read the rest of the thread before replying, moron.

[This Charming Man]

not at all

 

I'm afraid you have... massively.

 

Please re-read the thread and have another go at forming a sensible response that takes into account as to what's been said.

[Tokyo-Saint]

deluded.

 

We're still one of the smallest teams in the league, we're joint favourites to go down. We aren't going to buy players like Puyol/Sneijder/Van Persie etc.

 

Are you in the know?

[Ex Lion Tamer]

Neither are those advocating only going for younger players from the lower leagues, are they? This is a generic point about the types of player we should be going for (a mix of both, of course). I reeled off that list, off the top of my head alone, to show that there's plenty of options available that don't cost a fortune. If I had the inclination I could probably give you a realistic list of 20 or 30 players we could go for, but it would be ultimately pointless. The point is there are lots of these players out there and we don't have to console ourselves to "only" signing young players from the Championship.

I don't think anyone is saying we should confine ourselves to Championship players, just that our business so far has been good and the Championship has some useful talent we can utilise.

 

Clyne is hotly tipped as Prem quality, Davis is prem quality, JRod should hopefully be but we have plenty of strikers if he isn't. Gazza is a backup. What is to dislike about our dealings so far?

 

Olsson is linked today, Kayal yesterday, these are decent players! People are just getting over upset over one link, with Dann, because he looked shaky on occasions, but then Hooiveld wasn't rated either before he came here. Just need to be patient

[RonManager]

I don't think anyone is saying we should confine ourselves to Championship players, just that our business so far has been good and the Championship has some useful talent we can utilise.

 

Clyne is hotly tipped as Prem quality, Davis is prem quality, JRod should hopefully be but we have plenty of strikers if he isn't. Gazza is a backup. What is to dislike about our dealings so far?

 

Olsson is linked today, Kayal yesterday, these are decent players! People are just getting over upset over one link, with Dann, because he looked shaky on occasions, but then Hooiveld wasn't rated either before he came here. Just need to be patient

Yes, yes, yes all very interesting.

 

What we all really want to know is why did you give up the old lion taming game?

 

Do you still keep in touch with any of the lions you tamed?

 

C'mon, spill the beans.

[The Kraken]

I don't think anyone is saying we should confine ourselves to Championship players, just that our business so far has been good and the Championship has some useful talent we can utilise.

 

Clyne is hotly tipped as Prem quality, Davis is prem quality, JRod should hopefully be but we have plenty of strikers if he isn't. Gazza is a backup. What is to dislike about our dealings so far?

 

Olsson is linked today, Kayal yesterday, these are decent players! People are just getting over upset over one link, with Dann, because he looked shaky on occasions, but then Hooiveld wasn't rated either before he came here. Just need to be patient

I'm still not sure you're not getting my point. I don't dislike anything about our transfers so far, I think they've been good. Clyne I think will be a real star given time, JRod plenty of potential, Gazzaniga one for the future (if not this season) and an experienced head of Davis in there too. All good to date and wouldn't question that.

 

There was just a lazy comparison being made that seemed to suggest it was either to sign an established PL star "like Joey Barton, Anton Ferdinand and SWP" or just young players from the lower leagues. I'm simply seeking to highlight the shades of grey in between, of which there are very many.

[Saint George]

I thought I've said it enough on here but just for you - I'D LIKE TO SEE US SIGN A COUPLE OF PROVEN QUALITY PLAYERS WHO HAVE DONE IT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL BEFORE.

 

You mean like the skates did?......That worked out well didn't it

[The Kraken]

You mean like the skates did?......That worked out well didn't it

Well done, you're in the running for the "didn't read the whole thread properly" award.

[Stattmeister]

Didn't players like Sean Davis play in all four tiers of the English leagues? Granted he's a one off but clearly they didn't buy their success. And Steve Marlet at £11.5m didn't quite work out...

 

However, I get your point - but who did Fulham buy in 2001 that meets your criteria - proven premier league quality that didn't cost the earth? And whom would you suggest we be looking at (I know, subjective).

 

For my view, I sort of agree as the players we have signed are exciting but whether they will succeed, no-one knows; our team, and our signings thus far (Davis notwithstanding) are unproven... hey, so would Hooper, Lens and Buttner be! I'm struggling to think of players in the required positions (GK, CB and RM) who meet this criteria whom I think are a.) available and b.) would be willing to join...

 

Hennesey, Robinson, Gomes, Stockdale?

 

Dann, Olsson, Hanley, N'Zonzi, Givet, Davies, Ward, Berra, Bramble?

 

Jarvis, MPetrov, Holden, Davies, Vaughan, Gosling, Mackie, Hoilett, Bentley?

 

 

I'm not by any stretch suggesting TCDAJFU; just that these are Premier League players that have may meet this criteria. But is that what we want? As they are current you could argue there is a wage issue - they are already on big money and as others have commented, heading the the Eredivise etc. allows us to purchase "value", both in cost and wages. By buying from the Premier League you could argue that we are paying a premium, much like paying for British talent.

[Saint George]

Well done, you're in the running for the "didn't read the whole thread properly" award.

 

 

So what....I quoted and commented on a post at the time i read it....If peeps change their stance a little later then so be it.

 

Having read the rest of the thread and many others on here....I can only say it's glaringly obvious that the bitter anti Cortese obsession is really eating away at some peeps....I recon he must have had diarrhea when he sh#t in their cornflakes or something......It's pretty sad to watch really.

[The9]

Just to prove how completely pointless the "naming possible players" argument is, here's a list of current Premier League goalkeepers with Premier League experience.

 

It is not a short list, and all I've done is taken out new signings, perennial reserves, promoted players with no previous Prem experience and Saints players.

 

L Fabianski ARS

W Szczesny ARS

S Given AV

P Cech CHE

T Howard EVE

M Schwarzer FUL

D Stockdale FUL

B Jones LIV

J Reina LIV

J Hart MC

D De Gea MU

S Harper NEW

T Krul NEW

J Ruddy NOR

R Green QPR

A Begovic STO

T Sorensen STO

M Vorm SWA

C Cudicini TOT

B Friedel TOT

B Foster WBA

M Fulop WBA

J Jaaskelainen WH

A Al Habsi WIG

M Pollitt WIG

 

And that's just Goalkeepers. Admittedly you can remove about another 10 regular starters of top half clubs... but...

[derry]

But we've gone big time into the sports science / performance monitoring game. There were clearly tensions between 'old school' Pardew and the expensively assembled sport science group. Add that to the 'making the cup a pririty even though we agreed it wasnt' comment and you have the basis for the disharmony allegedly. Anyway all ancient history and irrelevant now.

 

There was an incident after the BR game that led to the suspensions of Pardew and Downes the next morning. No conspiracy theory.

[This Charming Man]

You mean like the skates did?......That worked out well didn't it

 

F*ck me. This is getting tiresome.

 

Can you please point me in the direction where I've demanded we sign 11 mercenaries on wages we can't afford?

[trousers]

There was an incident after the BR game that led to the suspensions of Pardew and Downes the next morning. No conspiracy theory.

 

Arguably everything is a conspiracy theory unless backed up by evidence?

Edited 26 July, 2012 by trousers

[Guan 2.0]

If you you think someone is constantly derailing threads, putting them on ignore is a better option than derailing threads yourself!

[This Charming Man]

So what....I quoted and commented on a post at the time i read it....If peeps change their stance a little later then so be it.

 

Having read the rest of the thread and many others on here....I can only say it's glaringly obvious that the bitter anti Cortese obsession is really eating away at some peeps....I recon he must have had diarrhea when he sh#t in their cornflakes or something......It's pretty sad to watch really.

 

Congratulations on totally missing the point. Can you please highlight where I've changed my mind? I've commented on this and other threads that I think we need a couple of proven players who have done it at a high standard before. I've also shown numerous examples where teams that haven't done this have been relegated.

 

How am I anti Cortese? I look forward to you backing that statement up with direct quotes taken from this thread. So because I would like to see a couple of experienced players signed, I have some kind of vendetta against him? Utterly ridiculous.

[The9]

I've read the entire thread and haven't seen an anti-Cortese opinion yet.

[Dalek2003]

Interesting that so many people are coming round to my way of thinking.

 

I was the first to say that we lacked ambition and would make just modest signingings.

 

I was derided for saying that we were obviously following the yo yo strategy.

 

But, now people are agreeing although they daren't admit it.

 

My league prediction comes soon, and it aint going to be good !

[trousers]

Interesting that so many people are coming round to my way of thinking.

 

I was the first to say that we lacked ambition and would make just modest signingings.

 

I was derided for saying that we were obviously following the yo yo strategy.

 

But, now people are agreeing although they daren't admit it.

 

My league prediction comes soon, and it aint going to be good !

 

Phew! That's a relief!

[VectisSaint]

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?

No. Not concerned with who we are linked with, since most of that is speculation & rumour anyway. Quite content with the actual signings so far, clearly there is more to come. The time to be concerned is when the PL kicks off (still more than 3 weeks away) and even then the transfer window has another 2 weeks after that. We will sign at least 1 CB and probably another GK, and maybe another MF. I don't want stars (aka mercenaries) coming in, but good quality honest players are what is needed. The team from last year would have been good enough for bottom half PL, unless we are trying to qualify for CL this season then the increase in quality does not have to be massive, people overestimate the difference between top 6 Championship and bottom half PL, it really is not much of a gulf.

[VectisSaint]

Interesting that so many people are coming round to my way of thinking.

 

I was the first to say that we lacked ambition and would make just modest signingings.

 

I was derided for saying that we were obviously following the yo yo strategy.

 

But, now people are agreeing although they daren't admit it.

 

My league prediction comes soon, and it aint going to be good !

Oh noes, Dalek's prediction is not going to be good. We're doomed. Your prediction was not good last year, and your prediction will not be good this year, so what. Anyone who seriously thinks that NC is aiming for a y-yo strategy is seriously out of touch with reality. Bit like people who advocate the return of Hoddle.

[Village Saint]

Oh really? I wished you'd have told me earlier.

 

Read the rest of the thread before replying, moron.

 

There really is no need to be offensive. The bottom line is that so far you and those who agree with you have not been able to name a SINGLE player who would be worth the fee and wages they would require who is certain to be better than the players we have or the excellent 3 we have so far brought in (I am not counting the keeper because he has been bought as a longer-term prospect). In contrast look at how Reading have brought in players like Shorey; Gunter and Guthrie who have all been shown up to be wanting at the highest level.

Lets just hope we can continue in the vein we have been going in and get the keeper and CH we need. Until we see who they are I am, not sure there is much we can conclude about the squad although I am going to invest a small amount of my windfall from last season on a top half finish.

[James]

I enjoy the fact that anyone advocating that we sign a few proven quality premiership players is met with taunts of 'what like QPR' or 'let's just do a Pompey why don't we?'

 

Fact is, there IS a middle ground as the signing of Steven Davis has proved, but his signing came about in unusual circumstances. Nobody is asking us to pay over the odds for supposed big name players on astronomical wages which would break the bank! Or at least, I don't think those advocating the signing of more 'Premiership quality' are saying that.

 

I'm all for the approach we have taken so far, if the players who best suit our needs come from the Championship then so be it. Would we have been able to buy a right back from the Premier League as good as Clyne for even £4-5 million? I don't think so.

 

In terms of strikers...what would 7million have bought us in terms of Premiership quality? Perhaps a player like Steven Fletcher who may have been preferred by some, but seemingly only because he has played in the Premiership. I for one would rather have JRod.

 

It would be nice to see a couple more signings with top level experience, but surely the most important thing is signing the players that Adkins believes will better us. If Adkins had wanted someone like Fletcher he would have got him or at least attempted.

 

Top Premiership quality players perhaps do come at a cost and it is a cost we might not be able to afford/risk at this moment in time. Of the 'proven players' available to us realistically we are looking at players from teams who have struggled or players from teams who have gone down, but then if these players were so good they wouldn't have been in struggling teams and may actually not be any better than what we have!

 

Of course there are exceptions, players who do have talent but play in crap teams (Dann, Olsson etc) but the mention of Dann is what sparked the whole thread off!

 

As others have said, it would be nice to sign these affordable, good proven top level players. But the reality is, for a club like us at the moment it just isn't going to happen, that isn't to say I think we aren't a big club or we won't do well next season but what matters is how the outside world or potential signing sees us and at the moment we are a newly promoted team at risk of relegation.

[The9]

those who agree with you have not been able to name a SINGLE player who would be worth the fee and wages they would require who is certain to be better than the players we have or the excellent 3 we have so far brought in (I am not counting the keeper because he has been bought as a longer-term prospect).

In contrast look at how Reading have brought in players like Shorey; Gunter and Guthrie who have all been shown up to be wanting at the highest level.

Lets just hope we can continue in the vein we have been going in and get the keeper and CH we need. Until we see who they are I am, not sure there is much we can conclude about the squad although I am going to invest a small amount of my windfall from last season on a top half finish.

 

So what you mean is that you actually DO want me to do the exact same thing with every other position on the pitch as I've already done with keepers "because no-one has named a SINGLE player [blahblah]". The reason no-one has named any of these players is because there are HUNDREDS OF THEM currently playing in the Premier League, of whom we certainly could sign the tiny proportion we need in order to get these affordable players of Prem quality if we wanted to.

 

You'd think my example of at least 10 players who would at least give Kelvin a run for his money might have made that point, but apparently the availability of 10 players for one position isn't sufficient grounds to extrapolate that to every other position.

 

As far as Reading's signing, Pogrebnyak is a better signing than any we have made so far based on recent Premier League performance. Guthrie was third choice at a top 6 club, but prior to that had played an entire season for Bolton who were nowhere near relegation with him in the team.

[SaintSteve]

I don't think working under Cortese would be appealing to a top manager. I'm not saying one wouldn't be tempted but I think it'd soon turn sour. No disrespect to NA but he does strike me as a bit of a yes man.

 

You do talk a lot of crap.. it would make more sense if you had football nous, but your ridiculous statements tell otherwise. Do you know what a proven premier footballer looks like.. No. Do you know that NA is a 'yes' man.. No.. so why don't you support a team that spends spends spends... then we would not have to read your crap

[Sour Mash]

So what you mean is that you actually DO want me to do the exact same thing with every other position on the pitch as I've already done with keepers "because no-one has named a SINGLE player [blahblah]". The reason no-one has named any of these players is because there are HUNDREDS OF THEM currently playing in the Premier League, of whom we certainly could sign the tiny proportion we need in order to get these affordable players of Prem quality if we wanted to.

 

You'd think my example of at least 10 players who would at least give Kelvin a run for his money might have made that point, but apparently the availability of 10 players for one position isn't sufficient grounds to extrapolate that to every other position.

 

As far as Reading's signing, Pogrebnyak is a better signing than any we have made so far based on recent Premier League performance. Guthrie was third choice at a top 6 club, but prior to that had played an entire season for Bolton who were nowhere near relegation with him in the team.

So you're saying that all those keepers you listed are realistic targets for Saints?

[The9]

F*ck me. This is getting tiresome.

 

Can you please point me in the direction where I've demanded we sign 11 mercenaries on wages we can't afford?

 

Whilst I also agree that there's a middle ground between "Skate overspend and default theory" and "Lowesque prudence", and you're right to point out that "let's spend billions" isn't what's been advocated, until we get the tv money we are definitely spending more money than the club is generating.

 

We've been doing it for 3 years, presumably with the sole intention of getting to the Prem and hopefully making some of it back - for as long as Markus' Millions are backing us (and the Financial Fair Play isn't a factor) that's not a concern. As with anything, if your losses are sustainable it's not an issue, but let's not pretend we're turning a profit at the moment.