Personally, I don't think getting promotion this season having strengthened the squad need necessarily block the progress of the promising youngsters. It should give them better role models to measure their own progress by, such is the team-spirit fostered by Nigel Adkins, where there is no place for big-time Charlies. And don't forget we can still have seven on the bench in the Premier League, so more room for young players. I see no reason why we can't have the best of both worlds, strengthen the squad to get us promoted, and make the best of our amazing youth structure later on.
Good point about the 7 subs,forgot they still have 7! should never of went down to 5 in the football league,absolute numpties are in charge obviously! bring back mulwhinney or maybe not!
We definately need another striker. When we signed Lambert and Norwich signed Holt, both were lower league plodders, but both clubs realised that they had a lot of underlying ability that could be unlocked with lifestyle/training changes and better players around them. Proven PL strikers who are still fairly young will be out of our range until we actually get there, so our best bet is to find a good player in a crap side, like Sharp, Maynard, Jutkiewicz, Sordell, and make them better. Unless of course we reaally can pull a rabbit out of the hat. NC and NA will certainly have been planning since September.
don't want a has-been like owen etc. We want a young hungry player that we can mould into a better player then he already is
Would like to point out this thread was was not a dig at anyone but it was clear at Doncaster a game i was at that without Lambert we are badly lacking with no real sign of a reliable support or back up for him,,i have no problem with what Cortese has done at Southampton but our dealings in the transfer market have a little to be desired,maybe players were not convinced that saints were good enough this season having just been promoted ,,, i just feel we need a TOP quality signing in the january opening and one that is looking forward to promotion, May be thread title badly thought out but in the end it will be Cortese that will have to decide the ammount of cash to be spent so really it is time he stood up on the transfer front
I would hope for a good young striker who would fit in with our team, but wouldn't say no to a goal poacher like Owen (if fit) as back up to Ricky or to play as big guy/little guy combination. Yes, I do know it's not going to happen!
The simple fact is this is the best chance of promotion we will have! We won't have this kind of form come next season! We were underestimated this season, hence out success. But say we're in the Championship next season, we will be the team to beat an may struggle to break teams down...
It would be very hard to repeat this season's form next year if we don't get promoted. This is our best chance. Being in the PL would be a different challenge which I'm sure Adkins and Cortese would relish.
this make me laugh - im not saying i want owen to join but he is still a brilliant goal getter - only 31 i think - and i would be amazed if other saints fans were not smiling if this happened. remember keegan?
Big signing in January is supposedly what has happened/is planned. I hope the deal is done whoever it is. Doubt anything would be announced until mid January. Hopefully it's a good signing that will take us by surprise
Would be nice to have an announcement early in January, but Nicola seems to favour the later the better. We'll probably have someone play several games for us before Nicola thinks to put something on the OS (the source of all world knowledge).
If a deal has already been done, it will go through as soon as the window opens. No point in delaying it if it's all there to be completed.
We're fairly fortunate with the fixtures next month, mainly due to the FA Cup. Unless something has been pre-arranged (which presumably would happen this month), no-one is going to be signed before Brighton - the transfer window would have only been open for 36 hours! But that game aside, we only have one other league fixture before Jan 23rd (which is away to Forest on 14th Jan). It's not like we have three league games in the first 10 days.
Owen is past it, he is always injured. He could be 24 and still be a has-been it all depends how his career has gone. Due to his long injures and the fact they are getting more frequent no way do we want him. As for making you laugh i'm glad itis xmas after all
This thread beggars belief! I don't wish to be accused of insulting a Saints fan for expressing his opinion but any Saints fan now should have worked out that NC is a highly intelligent man who has a plan and will adapt the plan to changing circumstances and will have thought how best to strengthen the squad, with consultation with Adkins - your thread title is insulting to him and to ML's family who has supported the club so well.
We'll spend what Nigel thinks is necessary. And if that's bringing in only one player, a striker, then so be it. We're 3 points clear at the top of the table with the squad we have right now, so it's not as if the current crop of lads aren't capable of keeping that up. Watch West Ham and Leicester spend stupidly to overtake 'little Southampton' and fail. Keep the faith.
How the hell is stating my opinion that I think we need another top quality striker an insult to ML,s family,,get a life it's a football issue of opinions not a personal smear unlike your reply
