Am I the only one that thinks we need a striker come Jan ?

[Saints boy in Leeds]

I know we would do with a GK, LB, CM & prob a CB but IMO we need a quality finisher, someone that can score from outside the box seeing as we like to mess around with it there !

[jasoneuelllfanclub]

No not imo. We absolutely need more creativity in wide areas especially on the left side now we are with out lallana for x amount of weeks. We havent played well since Newcastle game (Reading was ok but they are awful) and since reading game we have barely created what I would class as clear cut chances. We miss Lallana immensely and Adkins will know this contrary to what he tells the media. Lambert, JRod, Mayuka and Lee are fine for me but we need better supply whether it be crossing or those defence splitting passes. We dont seem to score those types of goals.

 

Adkins is keeping quiet on AL injury for two reasons. 1. not to alert upcoming opposition. 2. not to increase media speculation on transfer targets

[S-Clarke]

We need more strength and pace down the flanks. We've got options up front already, it's more important that we've got the players to create the openings.

 

Jay Rodriguez and Lambert are good enough to put them away.

[Window Cleaner]

I know we would do with a GK, LB, CM & prob a CB but IMO we need a quality finisher, someone that can score from outside the box seeing as we like to mess around with it there !

 

we don't need a CM, we have 4 already, some of them are amongst the best about. They play the game the manager wants them to play. Certain of our CMs are reputed to be highy desired by other sides and yet our fans don't rate them at their value. Movement in front is what we need, wide left, wide right, down the middle. So for me just a top class keeper, a stand in CB because I like Fonte and Yoshida and some real craft and pace out wide on either side, let Lallana adapt to whatever we can get, right or left. Maybe a LB as well, Shaw isn't quite quite ready yet, not far off though, maybe next season. Oh and some clearing out of dead wood.

[pingwing]

It goes winger, gk, lb, cb then another winger in order of sorting out the squad.

 

Currently we only have 2 playable wingers, Lallana and Punch, one is injured leaving us stuck and lopsided. Hopefully Lallana isnt out long and we get someone to cover in either way (or as competition for Punch) as we need creativity, not Pardews tactic of MORE STRIKERS = MORE GOALS.

[Saint Charlie]

we don't need a CM, we have 4 already, some of them are amongst the best about. They play the game the manager wants them to play. Certain of our CMs are reputed to be highy desired by other sides and yet our fans don't rate them at their value. Movement in front is what we need, wide left, wide right, down the middle. So for me just a top class keeper, a stand in CB because I like Fonte and Yoshida and some real craft and pace out wide on either side, let Lallana adapt to whatever we can get, right or left. Maybe a LB as well, Shaw isn't quite quite ready yet, not far off though, maybe next season. Oh and some clearing out of dead wood.

 

CM is strong when Morgan and Cork play but without either of them it's weakened a lot.

[Saint Charlie]

It goes winger, gk, lb, cb then another winger in order of sorting out the squad.

 

Currently we only have 2 playable wingers, Lallana and Punch, one is injured leaving us stuck and lopsided. Hopefully Lallana isnt out long and we get someone to cover in either way (or as competition for Punch) as we need creativity, not Pardews tactic of MORE STRIKERS = MORE GOALS.

 

CB more vital than LB IMO.

 

If Fonte was injured today and out for 2 months we would have Jos and Yoshida which would be poor. If one of those got suspended we would have Fox at CB.

 

Shaw and Fox are ok at LB for me, plus Clyne and Reeves could also cover there.

 

Totally agree re winger. For me it's Winger, CB, Gk, CM, LB

[Window Cleaner]

CM is strong when Morgan and Cork play but without either of them it's weakened a lot.

 

But can we afford a top class CM to sit on his backside in the posh seats? JWP can do a job with one of our 2 main men I'm sure, then we have Moore in waiting somewhere. No point forming young players if you're going to push them down to 5th or 6th choice for the first team. Some of our young starlets aren't all thaty young compared to the 2 lads we have in CM already who've hundreds of games between them on the counter. Got to plan for the future, thought we were supposed to be doing that all through the side.

Edited 28 December, 2012 by Window Cleaner

[Smirking_Saint]

I echo what everyone else says really, we have two very good finishers in Ruckie and J Rod, for whatever reason J Rod isnt in favour through the middle and IMO Lambert probably isnt mobile enough but feed him the chances he will score.

 

Thats our problem though, for all of our creative talent we fail to get any meaningful chances and are often restricted to shooting from range etc This is partly to do with Lamberts lack of movement but its been that way for years, but slso as we seem to want to fanny around with it too much.

 

Lallana injury doesnt help and shoving Ramirez wide helps even less, Id like to see Ramirez stick through the middle and someone out wide who can balance the front four, guly will do for now.

 

Mininum in Jan should be a CB, GK, wide man.

[Saint Charlie]

But can we afford a top class CM to sit on his backside in the posh seats? JWP can do a job with one of our 2 main men I'm sure, then we have Chambers in waiting somewhere. No point forming young players if you're going to push them down to 5th or 6th choice for the first team. Some of our young starlets aren't all thaty young compared to the 2 lads we have in CM already who've hundreds of games between them on the counter. Got to plan for the future, thought we were supposed to be doing that all through the side.

 

It's a squad game, you need depth in all positions. JWP is a good prospect, and fine in a central 3 but not in a 2, see Everton away when we were so open with him and Davis playing.

 

Everyone realises the difference Cork has made, another good CM would really help.

[Window Cleaner]

It's a squad game, you need depth in all positions. JWP is a good prospect, and fine in a central 3 but not in a 2, see Everton away when we were so open with him and Davis playing.

 

Everyone realises the difference Cork has made, another good CM would really help.

 

 

I'm inclined to be concerned about one of ours being filched rather than whether we need another one.

[Smirking_Saint]

I'm inclined to be concerned about one of ours being filched rather than whether we need another one.

 

I agree, and agree with what you said earlier, we wont get anyone with any real quality thats going to sit on the bench for weeks, besides this will take wages and a fee, JWP is good enough to deputise, we have more pressing needs, especially in goal and out wide.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

It's just a thought, not one I'm entirely convinced of myself - Just to be clear IM NONT SAYING WE SHOULD 100% DO THIS.

 

But, I'm curious if Shaw could be pushed on to LW, with Foxy in behind him. Shaws defensive instincts may mean he'd leave foxy less exposed?

 

Gaston is clearly wasted out wide. It was instantly noticeable when he moved back inside at the cottage, everything started to go through him. Even if those horrible thugs were doubling on and kicking lumps out of the guy.

 

Anyways, just a thought.

[Window Cleaner]

It's just a thought, not one I'm entirely convinced of myself - Just to be clear IM NONT SAYING WE SHOULD 100% DO THIS.

 

But, I'm curious if Shaw could be pushed on to LW, with Foxy in behind him. Shaws defensive instincts may mean he'd leave foxy less exposed?

 

Gaston is clearly wasted out wide. It was instantly noticeable when he moved back inside at the cottage, everything started to go through him. Even if those horrible thugs were doubling on and kicking lumps out of the guy.

 

Anyways, just a thought.

 

I think we've seen all of Fox that we're likely to see, expect him out of the door as soon as we get a new LB (starter or reserve)

 

My out list :Butterfield, Fox,Chaplow,Guly,Dickson,SDR and some young players maybe on loan.

[Smirking_Saint]

Think Shaw would be pretty lost too far forward TBH, he isnt a Bale, more of a Bridge, solid first and attacks second if you know what I mean.

 

I just hope we sign a decent wide man in Jan, and fill the hole left with a non gaston looking shape for now.

 

Fox is decent enough for Emergencies only, but yes, come next year I think he will be gone.

[KelvinsRightGlove]

I think we've seen all of Fox that we're likely to see, expect him out of the door as soon as we get a new LB (starter or reserve)

 

My out list :Butterfield, Fox,Chaplow,Guly,Dickson,SDR and some young players maybe on loan.

 

Yeah possibly. I'm not advocating this as a first choice solution. More as a stop gap until Lallana is back? Or even if it is worth considering.

 

I'm not so sure fox will. It would mean replacing him with someone, who is most likely going to be second fiddle to a 17 year old. Not sure how many footballers would be dead keen on that, unless of course we got in someone top class to play ahead of him?

 

Which is probably A) going to cost a lot & B) stunt Shaws development. In which case Shaw would have to be loaned out, and we would then need yet another LB.

[Sour Mash]

CB more vital than LB IMO.

 

If Fonte was injured today and out for 2 months we would have Jos and Yoshida which would be poor. If one of those got suspended we would have Fox at CB.

 

Shaw and Fox are ok at LB for me, plus Clyne and Reeves could also cover there.

 

Totally agree re winger. For me it's Winger, CB, Gk, CM, LB

I can't see us bringing in a CB. How many are going to be available/affordable in Jan that would be an improvement on Fonte or Yoshida. Or a CB that would be happy to be on the bench, but is actually better than Hooiveld? Can't see it. To be honest I can't see us bringing in much in January.

[The Kraken]

I can't see us bringing in a CB. How many are going to be available/affordable in Jan that would be an improvement on Fonte or Yoshida. Or a CB that would be happy to be on the bench, but is actually better than Hooiveld? Can't see it. To be honest I can't see us bringing in much in January.

 

I think we'll bring in 2 players at most. I think a centre-back, but only if he's better than what we have. Whether that happens will I guess be determined by how much money we are able/willing to spend. And dependent upon how extensive Lallana's injury is, also a winger. In fact with the deliberation around Puncheon's contract perhaps a winger anyway.

 

I read someone the other day describe our attacking four (Puncheon, Ramirez, Lallana and Lambert) as "free-scoring". They really aren't. Puncheon has 3, Lallana and Ramirez 2 each. And Lambert has 7 from 18, which while being a decent return is worrying in that it's pretty good without being outstanding but still more than twice as many as anyone else in our squad. Put simply, our forward 4 need to contribute more goals.

[Saints boy in Leeds]

I get all that but surely you can see that if SRL gets injured J rod won't score loads nor will mayuka, just think we should go for another if we can get a decent loan option.

[Smirking_Saint]

I get all that but surely you can see that if SRL gets injured J rod won't score loads nor will mayuka, just think we should go for another if we can get a decent loan option.

 

Lambert is hardly scoring loads either, Mayuka has potential, Rodriguez will get you goals if he plays regular.

 

We wont get a decent striker to sit behind 2 possibly 3 players

[CeeBee]

Left winger would be good. I would play JWP a little more. Think he is a talent that needs nurturing but could be played a bit more regularly. GK a must if we are to survive and a CB would be a bonus if we could get one.

[RobM]

At the risk of sounding controversial, I'd like to see JRod and Mayuka given a run together. I think they would compliment each other well, be more mobile and more creative than our current attacking choices. I also think they are likely to be the future anyway.

 

The trouble is, we're so used to playing with SRL up front we struggle without him. We also have that pesky African CON coming up.

[pap]

We should see if we should gazump Didier Drogba from underneath the noses of AC Milan.

 

He might initially fancy Milan and Champions League football. Then Cortese shows him the architectural splendour of Leisure World. Done deal.

[Deano6]

Unlike most here, I actually agree with the OP. Take out Lambert, who himself has not been at his best recently, and we have a woefully weak set of strikers. Just Mayuka and Rodriguez?? 1 goal between them at this level (yes I'm aware they haven't played too many games, but still!). I'd rather have Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak and Jason Roberts than go it with just those two.

[pingwing]

I'd rather have Le Fondre, Pogrebnyak and Jason Roberts than go it with just those two.

 

Not sure if serious...

 

You'd rather have a L1 poacher, an unproven journey man and 34 year old who hasn't been good enough for a long time??

 

Mayuka and Rodriguez both have some pace and mobility, when Readings 3 don't really, both can pass and move into channels, none of Readings 3 can...

[lambertsrightleg]

Goalkeeper for sure

A centre back with prem experience

Somebody with some pace on the wing who will get to the byline (how often do we do this?)

A striker. Seriously starting to doubt Lamberts capabilities as much as I love him. He gives very little in terms of running the channels

A left back to give Shaw a break, he won't be able to play every game for the rest of the season.

[Thedelldays]

amazing that after £30m spend..we still need (probably) another £10-15m worth of players

[The Kraken]

Not sure if serious...

 

You'd rather have a L1 poacher, an unproven journey man and 34 year old who hasn't been good enough for a long time??

 

Mayuka and Rodriguez both have some pace and mobility, when Readings 3 don't really, both can pass and move into channels, none of Readings 3 can...

 

I'd definitely rather have Pogrebnyak than either Rodriguez or Mayuka. Unproven? 8 goals and 33 games at international level for Russia. Won the league in Russia, and has played in the Bundesliga as well as having a decent scoring rate for his short time in the PL. He's entirely the type of striker we should have bought in the summer instead of Rodriguez IMO.

[Dig Dig]

amazing that after £30m spend..we still need (probably) another £10-15m worth of players

 

Good players are expensive.

[The Kraken]

Good players are expensive.

 

And in our case some average ones too....

[Saint Charlie]

amazing that after £30m spend..we still need (probably) another £10-15m worth of players

 

We came up from L1 in two seasons. Many of the teams we are competing with have been spending 15m or more for the last 5 years to build their squads.

 

Two years ago we were adding Dean Hammond whilst Wigan were signing McCarthy.

 

You can't expect 30m to just buy a good team. In the Prem it's not a great deal. Squads are built over years. Ramirez at 12m has added quality and class, a CB of the same value also would, but it wouldn't instantly stop you conceding goals or make Davis any better.

[Thedelldays]

We came up from L1 in two seasons. Many of the teams we are competing with have been spending 15m or more for the last 5 years to build their squads.

 

Two years ago we were adding Dean Hammond whilst Wigan were signing McCarthy.

 

You can't expect 30m to just buy a good team. In the Prem it's not a great deal. Squads are built over years. Ramirez at 12m has added quality and class, a CB of the same value also would, but it wouldn't instantly stop you conceding goals or make Davis any better.

i believe we came up with a better squad than say, wigan, stoke or hull did....

[The Kraken]

We came up from L1 in two seasons. Many of the teams we are competing with have been spending 15m or more for the last 5 years to build their squads.

 

Two years ago we were adding Dean Hammond whilst Wigan were signing McCarthy.

 

You can't expect 30m to just buy a good team. In the Prem it's not a great deal. Squads are built over years. Ramirez at 12m has added quality and class, a CB of the same value also would, but it wouldn't instantly stop you conceding goals or make Davis any better.

 

We keep getting Norwich thrown as an example; they spent much less than £30M when they came up and finished comfortably mid-table. They've again spent far less than £30M this summer and have pushed on further. So I disagree; to some extent you can expect £30M to buy you a good team.

[Saint Charlie]

We keep getting Norwich thrown as an example; they spent much less than £30M when they came up and finished comfortably mid-table. They've again spent far less than £30M this summer and have pushed on further. So I disagree; to some extent you can expect £30M to buy you a good team.

 

They have done well, and fair play to them. But on the whole, 30m is not a 'team changing' amount for Prem teams to spend. Any promoted team is playing catch up on squad quality, apart from if you have gone up having been relegated the year before and managed to keep your better players like WH did.

 

Spending is generally required, but you build each year like Stoke have, Swansea are looking like doing, and you need to keep adding players better than what you have which costs money usually.

Edited 28 December, 2012 by Saint Charlie

[The Kraken]

They have done well, and fair play to them. But on the whole, 30m is not a 'team changing' amount for Prem teams to spend.

 

It should have been enough for us to be at a Norwich level right now. If not team-changing then certainly enough to plug the gaps and be a 10th - 15th ranked side. £30M is a huge amount of money however you look at it (hence why we were the 7th highest spenders in Europe). How many other promoted clubs have been afforded that luxury of spend? not too many.

[Window Cleaner]

We keep getting Norwich thrown as an example; they spent much less than £30M when they came up and finished comfortably mid-table. They've again spent far less than £30M this summer and have pushed on further. So I disagree; to some extent you can expect £30M to buy you a good team.

 

Norwich are a bit sneaky on the transfer market, few fees are disclosed and they've bought quite a lot of mid-range players.

doubt if they're up to 30 million yet but overall they'd not be far off. Bassong,Tettey, Morrison,Snodgrass..probably not all free gifts with cornflakes.

[The Kraken]

Norwich are a bit sneaky on the transfer market, few fees are disclosed and they've bought quite a lot of mid-range players.

doubt if they're up to 30 million yet but overall they'd not be far off. Bassong,Tettey, Morrison,Snodgrass..probably not all free gifts with cornflakes.

 

Nowhere near £30M for what Norwich spent. Even if it had have been, its had a huge effect on them. Not sure if you can say that about our signings. Not yet, anyway.

[Window Cleaner]

Nowhere near £30M for what Norwich spent. Even if it had have been, its had a huge effect on them. Not sure if you can say that about our signings. Not yet, anyway.

 

well no but wouldn't that be because some 11 million of our outlay has gone on players who aren't first team regulars. F*cking idiotic idea of a transfer committee really, especially if Reed is on it, knows litttle and has actually done less.

[Matty's Caddy]

I'm no tactician but given the amount of assists from Richardson last year, could he not slot in at right midfield?

[Saint Charlie]

Nowhere near £30M for what Norwich spent. Even if it had have been, its had a huge effect on them. Not sure if you can say that about our signings. Not yet, anyway.

 

If Cardiff come up and spend 30m would you expect them to be better than Sunderland if Sunderland spent zero in the summer but kept all their best players?

 

In one summer to sign players to match Fletcher, Johnson, Larsson, McLean, Mignolet, Sessegnon etc on paper would cost far more than 30m, and Sunderland are fairly average.

 

Sunderland would likely have a better squad and team despite spending nothing, because being in the Prem allows them to build their squad to the right standard over a few years.

 

If you look at spend over say 3 or 4 years its more realistic IMO as that's how long it takes to build a squad. Stoke for example have spent a ****load in that time to get where they are.

 

Norwich might not have but the spend of the likes of Wigan, Sunderland,Fulham, Aston Villa is miles more than us since say 2009.

 

So is it realistic to expect 30m spend to suddenly overhaul those clubs, especially when most of them spent again this summer too?

[The Kraken]

well no but wouldn't that be because some 11 million of our outlay has gone on players who aren't first team regulars. F*cking idiotic idea of a transfer committee really, especially if Reed is on it, knows litttle and has actually done less.

 

Indeed. I can see the logic for that sort of transfer strategy in the years to come; get young, largely untried players in who can develop and improve with the team. On our first year back in the PL? No way. We needed at least one or two players of top ability to come straight into the side. Worry about the future when we're slightly more secure. I just hope we address it in January; our recent results have papered over the cracks that we've been taken apart by a lot of the better teams we've played.

[The Kraken]

If Cardiff come up and spend 30m would you expect them to be better than Sunderland if Sunderland spent zero in the summer but kept all their best players?

 

In one summer to sign players to match Fletcher, Johnson, Larsson, McLean, Mignolet, Sessegnon etc on paper would cost far more than 30m, and Sunderland are fairly average.

 

Sunderland would likely have a better squad and team despite spending nothing, because being in the Prem allows them to build their squad to the right standard over a few years.

 

If you look at spend over say 3 or 4 years its more realistic IMO as that's how long it takes to build a squad. Stoke for example have spent a ****load in that time to get where they are.

 

Norwich might not have but the spend of the likes of Wigan, Sunderland,Fulham, Aston Villa is miles more than us since say 2009.

 

So is it realistic to expect 30m spend to suddenly overhaul those clubs, especially when most of them spent again this summer too?

 

Yes. I would say its fairly realistic, if Sunderland are still moping about in the lower reaches. What are your expectations of Cardiff coming up and spending £30M? Where do you think they should finish with that sort of outlay.

 

I also think Sunderland should be doing better with the amount of cash they've spent in recent seasons, yet they've perenially struggled because I don't think they've particularly bought well. Same for us; we've spent a lot but not bought particularly well for the short term, hence we're doing worse than I consider we could be doing had we spent differently.

[Window Cleaner]

Indeed. I can see the logic for that sort of transfer strategy in the years to come; get young, largely untried players in who can develop and improve with the team. On our first year back in the PL? No way. We needed at least one or two players of top ability to come straight into the side. Worry about the future when we're slightly more secure. I just hope we address it in January; our recent results have papered over the cracks that we've been taken apart by a lot of the better teams we've played.

 

 

don't think we'll do much in January at all, clear-out and better squad players perhaps, ones that could be used if necessary as opposed to some that we have actually. I might be pleasantly surprised though.

[Saint Charlie]

Yes. I would say its fairly realistic, if Sunderland are still moping about in the lower reaches. What are your expectations of Cardiff coming up and spending £30M? Where do you think they should finish with that sort of outlay.

 

I also think Sunderland should be doing better with the amount of cash they've spent in recent seasons, yet they've perenially struggled because I don't think they've particularly bought well. Same for us; we've spent a lot but not bought particularly well for the short term, hence we're doing worse than I consider we could be doing had we spent differently.

 

I just think Championship teams tend to have good Championship players. Premier League teams, even the weaker ones, have better players they have been gathering for a few years.

 

If a promoted team spends 30m, but so does a lower Prem team (even if they spend 15m) then how does that close the gap? Have improved our squad, but so have Wigan, Sunderland, Fulham etc who all had better squads than us to begin with.

 

To make a significant difference over those sides surely you need to spend double what they do for a couple of windows, or find a couple of those rare bargains ie Ba or Michu which everyone is trying to do.

 

My opinion: 30m spend is a lot for Saints but doesn't mean we should automatically be higher up, we have a lot of good Championship players who are finding their way in this league.

[Appy]

I still think we want Hooper.

 

But I can't see him leaving Celtic at the moment especially with them still being in the Champions League.

[The Kraken]

I just think Championship teams tend to have good Championship players. Premier League teams, even the weaker ones, have better players they have been gathering for a few years.

 

If a promoted team spends 30m, but so does a lower Prem team (even if they spend 15m) then how does that close the gap? Have improved our squad, but so have Wigan, Sunderland, Fulham etc who all had better squads than us to begin with.

To make a significant difference over those sides surely you need to spend double what they do for a couple of windows, or find a couple of those rare bargains ie Ba or Michu which everyone is trying to do.

 

My opinion: 30m spend is a lot for Saints but doesn't mean we should automatically be higher up, we have a lot of good Championship players who are finding their way in this league.

You close the gap by buying better than your opponents. The amount spent is no guarantee of quality, but it helps. We spent way more than other clubs this summer but much of it has, so far, been wasted. £7M Rodriguez mostly on the bench. £3M Mayuka on the bench. That's around what Norwich, Swansea and QPR all spent on transfers on their promotion to the PL. Its a hell of a lot of money. £30M is an almost obscene amount of money to spend for a newly promoted club. So, I completely disagree with your assessment. With that sort of spend I expected better, and I can't agree with your assessment that the £30M was well spent (which given you don't think we should be higher up I presume you must think we spent well?)

[Saint Charlie]

You close the gap by buying better than your opponents. The amount spent is no guarantee of quality, but it helps. We spent way more than other clubs this summer but much of it has, so far, been wasted. £7M Rodriguez mostly on the bench. £3M Mayuka on the bench. That's around what Norwich, Swansea and QPR all spent on transfers on their promotion to the PL. Its a hell of a lot of money. £30M is an almost obscene amount of money to spend for a newly promoted club. So, I completely disagree with your assessment. With that sort of spend I expected better, and I can't agree with your assessment that the £30M was well spent (which given you don't think we should be higher up I presume you must think we spent well?)

 

I didn't say we spent it well. I agree with much of what you said. But posters like Delldays are constantly referring to having spent 30m as if we should be in the top 6.

 

As you say, whilst money helps it is no guarantee of buying successfully, all teams are trying to buy the best they can, a promoted team who are less of an attraction for a prospective player than an established Prem side with most likely a higher wage bill have no right to 'buy better' than anyone else.

 

We have spent a decent amount of money for us,but any team that comes up, especially in consecutive years from L1 is very likely to be in a relegation battle whatever they spend unless its ludicrous like 60m. (I know Norwich didn't...)

 

Some posters were disappointed with a draw at Fulham, a team that had a squad capable of reaching the Europa League final the year we played at Dagenham. To catchup to their standard in 2 years takes more than 30m!

Edited 28 December, 2012 by Saint Charlie

[The Kraken]

I didn't say we spent it well. I agree with much of what you said. But posters like Delldays are constantly referring to having spent 30m as if we should be in the top 6.

 

As you say, whilst money helps it is no guarantee of buying successfully, all teams are trying to buy the best they can, a promoted team who are less of an attraction for a prospective player than an established Prem side with most likely a higher wage bill have no right to 'buy better' than anyone else.

 

We have spent a decent amount of money for us,but any team that comes up, especially in consecutive years from L1 is very likely to be in a relegation battle whatever they spend unless its ludicrous like 60m. (I know Norwich didn't...)

 

Sorry, I just can't go along with that. What we spent is nowhere near enough to justify a clamour for us to be in the top eight come the end of the season. No way. But it should IMO be plenty to have us a few more points away from the relegation struggle; somwhere comfortably between 10th and 14th, if the money had been spent better. I really don't see how you can say that when in recent years Swansea and Norwich have spent far less than that and survived comfortably without even flirting with relegation, and West Ham look like they're going to this season.

[Saint Charlie]

Sorry, I just can't go along with that. What we spent is nowhere near enough to justify a clamour for us to be in the top eight come the end of the season. No way. But it should IMO be plenty to have us a few more points away from the relegation struggle; somwhere comfortably between 10th and 14th, if the money had been spent better. I really don't see how you can say that when in recent years Swansea and Norwich have spent far less than that and survived comfortably without even flirting with relegation, and West Ham look like they're going to this season.

 

Why should we be 10th - 14th? Ahead of who? Teams like Fulham, Sunderland, West Ham, Swansea, Stoke, Newcastle?

[The Kraken]

Why should we be 10th - 14th? Ahead of who? Teams like Fulham, Sunderland, West Ham, Swansea, Stoke, Newcastle?

 

Why should we be 10th - 14th? Because I've seen us drop some points this season whereby had we had different personnel within the squad (had we bought differently) we may not have dropped those points. And therefore we would be on more points right now, enough to have us up in a position between 10th and 14th.