I'm sure everyone will dissagree with this but oh well. I've changed my mind and I personally dont care if we dont sign anyone. I would love saints to go up but when you think about it what will we achieve when we go up? The realistic aim is in several years to be pushing for europa league (even this is optimistic, there are alot of bigger clubs than us in the prem) a competition no one really wants to be in. People talk about champions league but the only way that would ever happen is if we live well beyond our means something I dont want us to do. Anyway when I think what makes me proud to be a saints fan it's the players we have produced. Some of this countrys best players have come through us and there are several players in the prem at the moment from our academy, one who reportedly is wanted by Barca for 40 million! We're in a posistion now to give several young players a great chance to develop, we're a good side so they wont be relied upon as they were when we got relagated from the championship. I would rather see young players who have learnt their trade down here be given a chance rather than have their way closed of by overpaid 'stars' who have no conection to the club or city. I know a balance is needed and without our signings we wouldnt be where we are but I think now even if we dont go up but a few of the youngsters are given a chance I would be happy.
Fair enough, although I never claimed this would happen as I can safely say I have NO inside knowledge aha!
I heard an imaginary Arab is being lined up to take over at Pompey. That couldn't possibly happan......could it? I like rumours, but about other clubs preferably.
That we looking to get two permanents and possibly one on loan. don't what positions but sounds promising.
I disagree.I think we need 2 or 3 players in this window.I agree with you when you say we should use our academy players. Don't talk about champions league yet still need to build our 50 000 capacity stadium to achieve that yet and we need top players!
I seriously doubt we'll stop at just getting Lee in. A goal scoring midfielder and probably another defender are needed tbh.
Most of the young lads will need a few years to mature before they will be in contention. That process is likely to involve loans and the players are more likely to get loans if we're in the Premier League. A select few will jump straight into the first team, but let's not forget that most 16/17 year olds would get eaten alive in the PL or the Championship. A lot of good ones take their time - goalkeepers, centre halves and central midfielders especially. They'll break through so long as we operate in the right way and don't try a Man City, Chelsea or Portsmouth. I don't particularly like the PL, but it's the one everyone pays attention to and the one where players want to play. I'd rather be in it than out of it.
Blood the youngsters in the PL, Aston Villa & Everton are doing ok with a relatively tendor youth program
Indeed Everton are the model that we should be aiming at : A Top manager who inspires that little extra from his players. Don't have the best squad on paper so effectively 'punch higher than their weight' A sensible chairman who thinks more about the club's future than the lure of glory or demands from 'naive' fans. A squad that makes good use of it's youth players bringing them into the first team when possible. however their 'fickle' or 'foolish' fans think otherwise and a re demanding that Kenwright sell up so they can go the Chelsea/Citeh route No doubt many 'vocal' Saints fans would be of a similar nature, content with a slow rise through thePrem but once nipping on the heels of the top 6 would then start demanding heavy investment (whether viable or not.) If anything (other than history) we are in a slightly better situation having a similar attendance potential (once expansion is completed and going on PL sell outs.) We would be as sensible in the market as Everton are however we do have a little bumper behind us rather than having to sell to buy (although how long this would last is not clear.)
And moreover, if we want to see some of those great young players we develop wearing red and white past their 20th birthday, it's where we'll have to be.
