Dissappointed

[buctootim]

Or we have used it on other things like paying off transfer fees from prior years and Staplewood.

 

I'm not sure the OP was about numeracy and logic.

[CanadaSaint]

Or we have used it on other things like paying off transfer fees from prior years and Staplewood.

 

Fair comment, but there's a balance to be struck between paying for the (possible) excesses of the past, investing in the longer-term future, and being as strong as we can be in the present - all while remaining sustainable and compliant with FFP.

 

FWIW I think the Board are doing a cracking job, and - regardless of whether Katharina, Ralph and Koeman stay for the longer term - I believe that we are better-placed than the Club has been at any time in its history, and much better placed than most of our peers. To fault people who have done that for us would be churlish in the extreme.

 

But I'm also a fan, and I think we're very close to rock-solid Top 6 status - perhaps two very good players away. It seems from other threads that those two players could soon be on their way, and I hope we'll be willing and able to pay what it (reasonably) takes to get them here.

[OttawaSaint]

Well said. I think this season could see us struggling a the wrong end of the table and that is down to penny pinching in the transfer market.

 

Still, if we make our two key signings we should be ok this season.

 

Go on, say it!!! Say it!!!

 

17th!!!!

 

There it is!!

[BlakeySFC]

What a f@cking chuffster.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

I'll reserve judgement until I've seen who else we bring in. As things stand I think we're in worse shape than we were last season. We lost 50% of our back 4 and a defensive midfielder who is pretty much irreplaceable. Our back 4 undoubtedly played a massive part in achieving the position that we did. Has it improved? No. Whilst I think Caulker is a good signing, he's not in the same league as Alderwiereld. Our performance against Newcastle demonstrated exactly what we need. 2 quality additions.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

Well said. I think this season could see us struggling a the wrong end of the table and that is down to penny pinching in the transfer market.

 

Still, if we make our two key signings we should be ok this season.

 

Exactly!

[Wes Tender]

I love it when you deliberately misspell people's names to make them look rubbish. Can we have one for Les Reed please? What about Less Weed?

 

Stop being so sensitive, Rupert.

[shurlock]

Stop being so sensitive, Rupert.

 

Good one, Les.

[sadoldgit]

I'll reserve judgement until I've seen who else we bring in. As things stand I think we're in worse shape than we were last season. We lost 50% of our back 4 and a defensive midfielder who is pretty much irreplaceable. Our back 4 undoubtedly played a massive part in achieving the position that we did. Has it improved? No. Whilst I think Caulker is a good signing, he's not in the same league as Alderwiereld. Our performance against Newcastle demonstrated exactly what we need. 2 quality additions.

 

No one is irreplaceable and Morgan isn't even a firm starter for his country. It could well be that we will not be as strong defensively as last year but even if the people who left had stayed there was no guarantee that they would have performed as well again. The club have said that they are looking to bring others. Caulker is a replacement for Gardos and we have yet to see what Clasie can do. No need to wet the bed just yet.

[Secret Site Agent]

Maybe it's just me, but does anyone else feel a bit let down by the transfer dealings of the last 2 summers.

 

Whilst I'm massively thankful for all the Liebers efforts since taking over Southampton, it feels like the momentum built of the last few years has been lost. The vision lost and the passion for development of the club somewhat slowing & decreasing.

 

This summers signings have in my opinion from what I can see not moved us forwards as a club, and with all the sales of the last few transfer windows I wonder now whether as a club we've now on a downward trajectory.

 

I think we did quite steller last year comparing to where EVERYONE and his wife expected us to be.

 

This year, after playing 3 games of which one is a Prem game against a reinvigorated team at home and with the transfer window still open, I'll happily wait a little longer before being critical of the new boys.

[Wes Tender]

If you were only talking about this summer specifically you might have a point.

 

Until proven otherwise you have to assume that Clasie won't be as good as Schneiderlin, and it certainly seems that Martina & Cedric combined will never come close to adequately replacing Clyne.

 

Add to that the fact that we haven't signed another top-quality centre-back to replace Alderweireld (as Caulker certainly isn't a like-for-like swap) and you could be quite justified in believing that we haven't covered for the loss of our best three players particularly well to be frank.

 

Compare that to last summer's outs, ins and replacements:

 

Lambert = Pelle

Lallana

Lovren

Boruc = Forster

Shaw = Bertrand

 

This summer's window has been markedly below that in my opinion.

 

You hoist yourself with your own petard by making those comparisons, as exactly the same scepticism met those signings when they were originally made. Why, one poster even opined that Bertrand was a rubbish signing. As usual we have posters going off half-cock by making assessments on how players will perform for us before they have hardly even unpacked their suitcases on arrival.

 

There are players who have a far greater reputation in World football who arrive at a top club and prove ineffective and there are others who do not quite make it at a top club and make a good impact elsewhere. Interestingly, your little list includes examples to illustrate that very point, where Lovren wasn't good at Lyon, was good here and not so good at Scousehampton. Alderveireld wasn't in the frame in Ath. Madrid, but good here, and who knows how he will fare at Spurs? Bertrand is arguably better than Shaw and it is far too early to assess Cedric's prowess against Clyne. I have a hunch that Stekelenburg might well prove to be as good as Forster. I suspect that Caulker is primarily there for extra squad depth and that somebody like V V-D might prove to be as good as Alderweireld.

 

As the window hasn't closed yet, a proper judgement on the merit of our Summer's signings is as usual premature. The fact that comparisons are being made against the signings of the past couple of seasons ought to have established some confidence in the board and some benefit of the doubt awarded to them until it is proven later on in the season that they might have made errors of judgement in the case of one or more individual players.

[Wes Tender]

Good one, Les.

 

Thanks Shylock

[View From The Top]

Usual c**ts spout their usual c**tishness thinking that running a football club is like their existence on FM15.

[Andy Durman]

Usual c**ts spout their usual c**tishness thinking that running a football club is like their existence on FM15.

 

I just couldn't write something like this whatever I felt about the post or posters

[ally_uk]

Is the original poster for real? or just a grade A melt.

 

We are never going to be able to splash 50 odd Million on a Carlos Kick A Ball. I am happy with the clubs vision and the staffing I and the way we scout players.

 

Take Shane Long for example sure people initially were like £12 Million for him? Ok so he isn't the best consistent finisher however what he brings to the table is dedication, hard work, has this knack for disrupting the opposition / making life difficult. You know what you get from him a player who will run his socks off and will chip in with the odd vital goal here and there.

 

Pelle sure he hit a bit of a rough patch last season, however the man still gave us 13 goals and that is not taking into consideration how many times he hit the woodwork. Could of easily of been 20+ is already off to a flyer and has 3 goals.

 

Tadic Box of tricks and Mane box of tricks

 

How can you not like our signings?

[a1ex2001]

Or we have used it on other things like paying off transfer fees from prior years and Staplewood.

 

This! It's obvious that we have invested a massive amount of cash at Staplewood (significantly more than the original budget) and we have also had to fund the transfer fee's and contracts of some failures at the top end of the market. Hopefully with Osvaldo gone and Ramirez to follow at the end of his contract and the training ground nearing completion we will see some more investment in the playing staff.

 

I can't say I'm that disappointed with this summers dealings so far:

Clyne --> Sores (Yes he might take time to settle but he is an international defender who on paper looks the perfect replacement only time will tell)

Schniderlin --> Classie (Impossible to replace like for like those sort of players just are not available to us, hopefully Classie will grow into the roll as Morgan did)

Alderwiereld --> Caulker (On paper probably the worse swap, I suspect we will get another DC but two years ago Caulker was being raved about he obviously has potential and we haven't ambled any money so fingers crossed he finds his feet again)

 

The transfer window has a couple of weeks to run so lets wait and see before we judge the results I'm confident we will have another DC onboard and I expect another midfielder and possibly a striker.

[Saint_Ash]

Usual c**ts spout their usual c**tishness thinking that running a football club is like their existence on FM15.

[sadoldgit]

Being "disappointed" about the transfer window now is like being disappointed with the Christmas presents you have opened before 25th December. Wait to see what you have under the tree on Christmas Day before you weigh up how well you have done from Santa. Also remember that the biggest isn't always the best!

[brmbrm]

Shameless repost here but:

 

 

 

'Flabbergasted' might be a strong way of putting it but...seriously? Am I being all that unreasonable if I say that I'm a little disappointed by the recruitment so far?

 

I don't know...it seems a little underwhelming to be fair.

 

(I of course realise that the club is fantastically run, has a brilliant manager and is in the best position its ever been in and as a 24-year-old, the majority of my time following Saints growing up as a teenager and young adult was in the lower leagues, so I don't need to be told to appreciate where we are now!)

 

Its just that having said all that, speaking WRT to this transfer window alone...it is kinda disappointing.

 

No bites first time so you try again with the same old bait - take my advice: if no bites then use fresh bait.

 

And OP is right. Downhill for sure. i mean this year we have played most of our competitive games against lesser league teams from Holland FFS. Last 2 years it was Barcelon we were playing, wasn't it?

[Whitey Grandad]

No one is irreplaceable and Morgan isn't even a firm starter for his country. It could well be that we will not be as strong defensively as last year but even if the people who left had stayed there was no guarantee that they would have performed as well again. The club have said that they are looking to bring others. Caulker is a replacement for Gardos and we have yet to see what Clasie can do. No need to wet the bed just yet.

 

All very true, but my bladder is starting to get a bit full.

[sadoldgit]

All very true, but my bladder is starting to get a bit full.

 

Whitey, you cant join the night bed soiler brigade! Don't drink anything after 9pm and make sure you fully empty your bladder just before you go to bed and you will be fine.

[The9]

Just accept the fact that as soon as any club from the top 6 is remotely interested in 1 of our players they'll leave. We've finished as high as we can for a club our size. Fans gets accused of being deluded for wanting Champions League football but now the club are being accused of lacking ambition. Make up your ****ing minds.

 

Surely if someone wants CL football and they believe the club is lacking ambition in meeting that, their position isn't contradictory?

[ScepticalStan]

No bites first time so you try again with the same old bait - take my advice: if no bites then use fresh bait.

 

And OP is right. Downhill for sure. i mean this year we have played most of our competitive games against lesser league teams from Holland FFS. Last 2 years it was Barcelon we were playing, wasn't it?

 

Bait? Bites?

 

I can understand you personally feeling differently, but can you not even imagine that someone might be giving an honest opinion? Especially when they go out of their way to specify that they still appreciate how well that club has been doing overall?

 

You hoist yourself with your own petard by making those comparisons...

 

Why so confrontational? I'm simply reporting my own thoughts and asking if anyone else was feeling mildly concerned.

 

There needs to be a sticky about what fans on the forum have permission to think!

[The9]

FWIW I think we're still a CB (might be Caulker, might be someone we haven't signed yet) and a DM (might be Clasie, might be someone we haven't signed yet, might even be Reed) short of the level we were at last season.

 

That doesn't change the fact that Schneiderlin and Alderweireld are massive gaps, and the teams we're putting out now are on a par with those conceding 2 a match at the end of last season, not the fixed defensive beast we put out for most of the season before the last month or so.

 

We've clearly done very well with Stekelenburg and Cedric, and Martina is now starting to look up to the task too - they look, at worst, decent already.

 

The other two haven't yet had any kind of chance to make a positive impact, but it's unrealistic to expect every signing to be a success and we can't afford too many transfer mistakes if we're replacing 1:1 and selling established players, which is the reality of our sustainable financial position.

[sadoldgit]

Bait? Bites?

 

I can understand you personally feeling differently, but can you not even imagine that someone might be giving an honest opinion? Especially when they go out of their way to specify that they still appreciate how well that club has been doing overall?

 

 

Why so confrontational? I'm simply reporting my own thoughts and asking if anyone else was feeling mildly concerned.

 

There needs to be a sticky about what fans on the forum have permission to think!

 

Of course you can think and feel what you like and if you are disappointed sobeit. I think the point is that the transfer window isn't closed yet and two quality signings (if they happen) could well make all the difference. If you had posted this after the window had closed and you weren't happy, different case entirely. Didn't we sign Toby on the last day of the window last season?

[Bucks Saint]

And maybe wait until the new signings (so far) have played more than one, or none, PL games before saying they are not very good.

[Saint86]

There are some on here with brains that simply explode at the mere hint of something they can take as dissent towards the club.

 

I raised similar points a few weeks ago that the first team was not as strong as last seasons and that the board were not really learning enough lessons as things stood at that time. Since then we have signed no one and renewed no contracts. But I am happy to wait until the end of the transfer window to reserve judgement on the summer.

 

The simple truth is that the club played away against a re-invigorated Newcastle side with 5 of last season’s back 6 not there. It is also one of the toughest tests they have faced so far this season in terms of pressure.

 

We have lost Clyne (replaced), toby (not replaced), Morgan (not replaced), Forster (replaced), bertrand (short term injury).... We kept Fonte. It is not surprising that the team looked panicky when you consider that.

 

On the plus side, Martina looks a very tidy player so far and good for the money. Cedric also looks to be a very good player and I feel he will surpass Clyne but is young and needs a season of experience to settle. Can't blame him for that. Caulker was a panic replacement for toby and Gardos… We missed our main man (Toby) and have failed with the celtic kid thus far. But! As a back up, it is a caulker is a good deal as a loan with option to buy.

 

Juanmi up front looks promising and i think that Clasie will be good for us when he settles and gets fit. But people will need to remember with him that he has been injured, missed a lot of pre season and had barely any game time... expect something similar to LaLa's first season at liverpool tbh, don't expect great things from him just yet, very unfair.

 

But as above… We have lost and not replaced 2 of our main men in Morgan and Toby. One was an utter cock up, and replacing Morgan with a CDM seems to have been overlooked so far... time will tell.

 

We have 2 years of massive TV revenues, a very sustainable and low wage structure, and transfer profits from last summer and this summer. If that money isn't truly invested or shown to have been used to clear debts or to cover infrastructure then I think fans are correct to raise a few eyebrows and be concerned and shouldn't be slammed for doing just that. I would hope it is the same if the club were spending like the blue few and raised comments about that approach as well… however I think the fanatical few on here would have to have their say regardless.

 

At present, the board have done fairly well on recruitment so people should hold fire on judgement. But also the fact remains that contracts are repeatedly allowed to run down, we keep selling our best players, we have barely any academy starters atm because of this strategy and not all funds appear to be reinvested when there is fantastic potential to break that glass ceiling at this point in time. A bit of transparency is required i feel. rather than the constant PR output that the club prefer to give out., and which is frequently BS (i.e. all the players we are "signing" - but haven’t, or the players whose contracts we are renewing - but didn’t).

 

I mentioned on here a while ago that nothing had been done about wanyama, it then got mentioned by the club... time they delivered on one of these key players renewing tbh.

 

Further to that, the real elephant in the room with the same time left as Wanyama, and the same time left as Clyne had last summer, is Ronald himself... now I know he is injured, but ffs that contract needs to be in discussions and up for renewal. He, and his team, are key!

 

So, fingers crossed the club deliver and really do get a class CB and CDM in the door; because to push on we need both. I think it is not ambitious enough from the naysayers on here to think that the club should expect to take a hit in the league to have a europa run when there is money available to strengthen in a similar fashion to last summer. I support the club whatever, but I will also point out where I think we are frustrating as feck at times, and the board have made some cock ups as well as brilliant decisions... I wish this forum could give more voice to both sides and be open about that rather than slamming all and sundry for their concerns... although some do put a noose around their necks all too willingly.

 

Hard hat on!

[Jez]

Get in the sea.

 

This is my favourite thread of the summer, and my my favourite reply quoted above. I am assuming it is where he think the OP belongs based on his 'dissapointment'. Awesome.

 

(caveat - it is only my favourite reply until Granite_City_Saint turns up anyway)

[Wes Tender]

 

So, fingers crossed the club deliver and really do get a class CB and CDM in the door; because to push on we need both.

 

And we have a couple of weeks to sign both. If we do not, then there is reason for criticism about our Summer signings

[jasonb]

As for tieing players down on longer contracts including the manager. We can't force them. I would be amazed if the club weren't trying to do this in order to maximise potential transfer fees.

 

Furthermore, I don't think Koeman will stay beyond his contract anyway. He seems a man of integrity but also very ambitious.

 

If we continue along this trajectory then I fully expect Koeman to leave a hero a la Feyenoord and for us to appoint either Monk or Howe as his replacement.

 

If anyone wants the lottery numbers this week PM me.

[Cosmic]

There are some on here with brains that simply explode at the mere hint of something they can take as dissent towards the club.

 

I raised similar points a few weeks ago that the first team was not as strong as last seasons and that the board were not really learning enough lessons as things stood at that time. Since then we have signed no one and renewed no contracts. But I am happy to wait until the end of the transfer window to reserve judgement on the summer.

 

The simple truth is that the club played away against a re-invigorated Newcastle side with 5 of last season’s back 6 not there. It is also one of the toughest tests they have faced so far this season in terms of pressure.

 

We have lost Clyne (replaced), toby (not replaced), Morgan (not replaced), Forster (replaced), bertrand (short term injury).... We kept Fonte. It is not surprising that the team looked panicky when you consider that.

 

On the plus side, Martina looks a very tidy player so far and good for the money. Cedric also looks to be a very good player and I feel he will surpass Clyne but is young and needs a season of experience to settle. Can't blame him for that. Caulker was a panic replacement for toby and Gardos… We missed our main man (Toby) and have failed with the celtic kid thus far. But! As a back up, it is a caulker is a good deal as a loan with option to buy.

 

Juanmi up front looks promising and i think that Clasie will be good for us when he settles and gets fit. But people will need to remember with him that he has been injured, missed a lot of pre season and had barely any game time... expect something similar to LaLa's first season at liverpool tbh, don't expect great things from him just yet, very unfair.

 

But as above… We have lost and not replaced 2 of our main men in Morgan and Toby. One was an utter cock up, and replacing Morgan with a CDM seems to have been overlooked so far... time will tell.

 

We have 2 years of massive TV revenues, a very sustainable and low wage structure, and transfer profits from last summer and this summer. If that money isn't truly invested or shown to have been used to clear debts or to cover infrastructure then I think fans are correct to raise a few eyebrows and be concerned and shouldn't be slammed for doing just that. I would hope it is the same if the club were spending like the blue few and raised comments about that approach as well… however I think the fanatical few on here would have to have their say regardless.

 

At present, the board have done fairly well on recruitment so people should hold fire on judgement. But also the fact remains that contracts are repeatedly allowed to run down, we keep selling our best players, we have barely any academy starters atm because of this strategy and not all funds appear to be reinvested when there is fantastic potential to break that glass ceiling at this point in time. A bit of transparency is required i feel. rather than the constant PR output that the club prefer to give out., and which is frequently BS (i.e. all the players we are "signing" - but haven’t, or the players whose contracts we are renewing - but didn’t).

 

I mentioned on here a while ago that nothing had been done about wanyama, it then got mentioned by the club... time they delivered on one of these key players renewing tbh.

 

Further to that, the real elephant in the room with the same time left as Wanyama, and the same time left as Clyne had last summer, is Ronald himself... now I know he is injured, but ffs that contract needs to be in discussions and up for renewal. He, and his team, are key!

 

So, fingers crossed the club deliver and really do get a class CB and CDM in the door; because to push on we need both. I think it is not ambitious enough from the naysayers on here to think that the club should expect to take a hit in the league to have a europa run when there is money available to strengthen in a similar fashion to last summer. I support the club whatever, but I will also point out where I think we are frustrating as feck at times, and the board have made some cock ups as well as brilliant decisions... I wish this forum could give more voice to both sides and be open about that rather than slamming all and sundry for their concerns... although some do put a noose around their necks all too willingly.

 

Hard hat on!

 

 

Caulker - a 'panic replacement' who we've been tracking for about four years.

'No Schneiderlin replacement' - Clasie.

'Toby c*ck up' - he decided he wanted to go to Spurs. We can't hold a gun to his head.

'Contract renewals' - we can't hold a gun to anyone's head.

'Toby replacement' - the club and Koeman have said we are still looking to sign players every single time they've been asked.

 

I think you might be confusing silence with inactivity. I also think you might be a bit daft.

[alpine_saint]

Being "disappointed" about the transfer window now is like being disappointed with the Christmas presents you have opened before 25th December. Wait to see what you have under the tree on Christmas Day before you weigh up how well you have done from Santa. Also remember that the biggest isn't always the best!

 

Is that what your missus says ?

[Saint86]

Someone writes ********, people respond with logic, confusion and mocking, someone says what we're not allowed a different opinion then, someone else points out being entitled an opinion also means others being entitled to mock it, descends into *****ing, then MLG will pop up with some tedious facts, while defending how accurate football manager is.

 

And yet somehow, we all keep coming back for more

 

But great summary. Never understand the massive anger that gets unleashed on this forum or indeed on the internet.

[Dellman]

My opinion is that the squad is stronger than I have ever known it (I go back to when Day, Wayman and Bates were in the forward line) and the 'bench' looks a load stronger than last year (goaly excepted). We now look capable of playing in Europe and the Premiership in the same week quite regularly (what a triumph if we do). The loss of best players is a bitter blow but it is trap we can't do anything about. I can't see that we have covered Toby, but there are 20 days to go and I think we will do. As for the strike power, we've got enough variety to make every club in Europe know they have their hands full. I'm pleased I've lived to see the day and I can't stand the moaners, they don't know how lucky they are

[The9]

No loan to buy for Caulker, saint86... also confirms we've been tracking him for "a number of years".

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20150729-steven-caulker-announcement-signing-2579154.aspx

 

As for "strongest squad ever known", how can it be when it's weaker than the end of last season as there are no currently functioning replacements for Schneiderlin and Alderweireld?

 

Even allowing for Targett not being as good as Bertrand and a slight, likely to be temporary drop off from Clyne to Cedric, the rest of the team is weaker and the squad overall is already undermined by injuries.

 

Stekelenburg/Forster only becomes valid when Forster is fit, Caulker is unproven though you'd hope better than Gardos even when he isn't injured, and Martina is a back up right back who seems fine but is nevertheless further from Clyne's level than Cedric is. Juanmi looks like he has potential but he's not offered much more than Djuricic or Elia did so far and Gaston Ramirez is back but out of the loop. We will have seen some improvements in Reed, Ward-Prowse and other younger players, but not to the extent that the loss of Schneiderlin and Alderweireld has weakened us.

 

What it seems to me is that we've added depth but lost quality (and the depth is being challenged by injuries and Europa schedule already).

[buctootim]

seems to me is that we've added depth but lost quality (and the depth is being challenged by injuries and Europa schedule already).

 

Seems to me at present we are stronger up front and a little weaker defensively. If Claisie proves to be a good replacement for MS and we get a good CB in then we'll be stronger than last year.

[sadoldgit]

Is that what your missus says ?

 

Jesus, Alpine, how did you know that?

[Whitey Grandad]

Jesus, Alpine, how did you know that?

 

He is your missus.

[ally_uk]

Bunch of Wet Tarts on here! the transfer window hasn't even closed and people are going into meltdown mode I hope I don't meet some of you in real life with all your negativity you wouldn't look out of place on Eastenders moan moan moan.......

[The9]

Seems to me at present we are stronger up front and a little weaker defensively. If Claisie proves to be a good replacement for MS and we get a good CB in then we'll be stronger than last year.

 

Yeah, but at the moment there's still the possibility we don't.

 

Even though I'm aware, and even predicting, that we will sign one or two loans only if we make the EL Group stages, we've got two big ol' holes at the moment and we shouldn't really be ok with a few games where we know we're under strength when you consider the margins we lost out by last season. Sooner the better if we're picking up a(nother) permanent centre back (not even sure Van Dijk is the solution, but we'll see).

[sadoldgit]

He is your missus.

 

[um pahars]

Disappointed???????

 

f@¥k off!!!!!!

 

Just had the best away day of my 40 years following Saints and that's after 5 cracking years. Disappointed is the wrong word even allowing for setbacks and problems thrown our way.

[Stud mark of doom]

Why was the related spoof post 'flabbergasted' locked? That was the funniest thing I have read on here in ages. Should have had a warning on it not to read somewhere where it was not appropriate to laugh out loud - such as in the big at work..

[Wes Tender]

No loan to buy for Caulker, saint86... also confirms we've been tracking him for "a number of years".

 

http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/20150729-steven-caulker-announcement-signing-2579154.aspx

 

As for "strongest squad ever known", how can it be when it's weaker than the end of last season as there are no currently functioning replacements for Schneiderlin and Alderweireld?

 

Even allowing for Targett not being as good as Bertrand and a slight, likely to be temporary drop off from Clyne to Cedric, the rest of the team is weaker and the squad overall is already undermined by injuries.

 

Stekelenburg/Forster only becomes valid when Forster is fit, Caulker is unproven though you'd hope better than Gardos even when he isn't injured, and Martina is a back up right back who seems fine but is nevertheless further from Clyne's level than Cedric is. Juanmi looks like he has potential but he's not offered much more than Djuricic or Elia did so far and Gaston Ramirez is back but out of the loop. We will have seen some improvements in Reed, Ward-Prowse and other younger players, but not to the extent that the loss of Schneiderlin and Alderweireld has weakened us.

 

What it seems to me is that we've added depth but lost quality (and the depth is being challenged by injuries and Europa schedule already).

 

Funny that when assessing the team against that at the end of the season, you go through most of the players and make no mention of Rodriguez. He is like a new signing for us up top, so we are certainly arguably strengthened in attack, if weakened at the back until we strengthen further there too.

[The9]

Funny that when assessing the team against that at the end of the season, you go through most of the players and make no mention of Rodriguez. He is like a new signing for us up top, so we are certainly arguably strengthened in attack, if weakened at the back until we strengthen further there too.

 

He's not yet proven he's back to his previous form and he's not an addition to the squad as he was already there. As I said, Stekelenburg as a new squad member only actually improves the squad when Forster is fit. As far as the team goes, I don't see much difference to when Forster was playing, though he's obviously an improvement on Davis / Gazzaniga.

 

Rodriguez has offered a bit more than Juanmi so far but not all that much. It'll understandably take time, but so far he's just another squad player.

 

You're also missing that point that a weaker defence is far more detrimental to us than a stronger attack benefits us, as well. Weak links are exploited in defence whilst weak attackers can be covered for by numerous other methods.

Edited 11 August, 2015 by The9

[CB Fry]

Anyone who thought we would come put of this window with an on paper "upgrades" to three of our best players leaving us with an on paper "stronger first eleven" is a fool.

 

If upgrades on Morgan, Clyne and Toby were easily available then I'd suggest Man U, Spurs and Liverpool would be signing them instead of the inferior Morgan, Clyne and Toby.

 

Cedric is a perfect example of the replacements we are going to secure - youth, potential, some relevant experience and a chance he is worth £18m in a couple of years himself, at which point we can all have a good old whine about the length of his contract, how we "co cked up" keeping him and how our replacement isn't an upgrade.

 

The replacements to TA and MS will fit the same pattern. Obviously. Fu cking obviously. Get used to it.

 

The CM and the CB will be signed and we will have a lovely team all good and ready for the season ahead. And jolly good it will be too.

[Saint_Tony]

Anyone who thought we would come put of this window with an on paper "upgrades" to three of our best players leaving us with an on paper "stronger first eleven" is a fool.

 

If upgrades on Morgan, Clyne and Toby were easily available then I'd suggest Man U, Spurs and Liverpool would be signing them instead of the inferior Morgan, Clyne and Toby.

 

Cedric is a perfect example of the replacements we are going to secure - youth, potential, some relevant experience and a chance he is worth £18m in a couple of years himself, at which point we can all have a good old whine about the length of his contract, how we "co cked up" keeping him and how our replacement isn't an upgrade.

 

The replacements to TA and MS will fit the same pattern. Obviously. Fu cking obviously. Get used to it.

 

The CM and the CB will be signed and we will have a lovely team all good and ready for the season ahead. And jolly good it will be too.

Spot on, I think some people just expect us to constantly upgrade on players like Morgan, when there are very few players of his quality are available, hence why bigger clubs are buying them. If we were able to buy better players we'd be in the top 4, but it isn't going to happen. It's quite clear what our strategy is when it comes to buying and selling players, and I can't see that changing anytime soon. Despite all the world class players Stoke, Swansea and Palace have brought in, I see no reason we can't finish in a similar position to last season.

 

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

[alpine_saint]

There are some on here with brains that simply explode at the mere hint of something they can take as dissent towards the club.

 

I raised similar points a few weeks ago that the first team was not as strong as last seasons and that the board were not really learning enough lessons as things stood at that time. Since then we have signed no one and renewed no contracts. But I am happy to wait until the end of the transfer window to reserve judgement on the summer.

 

The simple truth is that the club played away against a re-invigorated Newcastle side with 5 of last season’s back 6 not there. It is also one of the toughest tests they have faced so far this season in terms of pressure.

 

We have lost Clyne (replaced), toby (not replaced), Morgan (not replaced), Forster (replaced), bertrand (short term injury).... We kept Fonte. It is not surprising that the team looked panicky when you consider that.

 

On the plus side, Martina looks a very tidy player so far and good for the money. Cedric also looks to be a very good player and I feel he will surpass Clyne but is young and needs a season of experience to settle. Can't blame him for that. Caulker was a panic replacement for toby and Gardos… We missed our main man (Toby) and have failed with the celtic kid thus far. But! As a back up, it is a caulker is a good deal as a loan with option to buy.

 

Juanmi up front looks promising and i think that Clasie will be good for us when he settles and gets fit. But people will need to remember with him that he has been injured, missed a lot of pre season and had barely any game time... expect something similar to LaLa's first season at liverpool tbh, don't expect great things from him just yet, very unfair.

 

But as above… We have lost and not replaced 2 of our main men in Morgan and Toby. One was an utter cock up, and replacing Morgan with a CDM seems to have been overlooked so far... time will tell.

 

We have 2 years of massive TV revenues, a very sustainable and low wage structure, and transfer profits from last summer and this summer. If that money isn't truly invested or shown to have been used to clear debts or to cover infrastructure then I think fans are correct to raise a few eyebrows and be concerned and shouldn't be slammed for doing just that. I would hope it is the same if the club were spending like the blue few and raised comments about that approach as well… however I think the fanatical few on here would have to have their say regardless.

 

At present, the board have done fairly well on recruitment so people should hold fire on judgement. But also the fact remains that contracts are repeatedly allowed to run down, we keep selling our best players, we have barely any academy starters atm because of this strategy and not all funds appear to be reinvested when there is fantastic potential to break that glass ceiling at this point in time. A bit of transparency is required i feel. rather than the constant PR output that the club prefer to give out., and which is frequently BS (i.e. all the players we are "signing" - but haven’t, or the players whose contracts we are renewing - but didn’t).

 

I mentioned on here a while ago that nothing had been done about wanyama, it then got mentioned by the club... time they delivered on one of these key players renewing tbh.

 

Further to that, the real elephant in the room with the same time left as Wanyama, and the same time left as Clyne had last summer, is Ronald himself... now I know he is injured, but ffs that contract needs to be in discussions and up for renewal. He, and his team, are key!

 

So, fingers crossed the club deliver and really do get a class CB and CDM in the door; because to push on we need both. I think it is not ambitious enough from the naysayers on here to think that the club should expect to take a hit in the league to have a europa run when there is money available to strengthen in a similar fashion to last summer. I support the club whatever, but I will also point out where I think we are frustrating as feck at times, and the board have made some cock ups as well as brilliant decisions... I wish this forum could give more voice to both sides and be open about that rather than slamming all and sundry for their concerns... although some do put a noose around their necks all too willingly.

 

Hard hat on!

 

Far too sensible a post for this place. No touchy snippy responses when Lowe's name mentioned, no references to confectionery, no general moronic sarcasm.

 

Last summers recruitment was arguably on a par with the losses, this summer's is well below par in my opinion. Consdiering the amount of time we take to do business, I cannot see us being in the positive on balance come the end of August. I think Koeman is deluding himself when he talks of 3 more signings.

[sadoldgit]

Alpine agrees with an Alpine clone post shocker.

[sadoldgit]

Here's the thing. Things change. All of the time. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes for the worse. Sometimes there is little difference. The doom merchants didn't like the change last year but things worked out better. The doom merchants don't like the changes again this year but we wont know how that pans out for another 37 games. If moaning and whinging changed anything I would be a strong advocate of us moaning and whinging. But it doesn't. We have until 1st September until we know exactly what our squad will be for this season. We bought Toby on the last day last year. Cant we put off the moaning and whinging to at least then? By the way, we are one point better off at the same stage as last year. Yay.