44 days to go

[lamby]

Just over 6 weeks until kick off and the anticipation is mounting. I know we're all feeling a bit frustrated by the low level of transfer activity but I honestly think this is the most excited I've been pre-season since the Keegan signing!

Our beloved club have had a truly great last 4 seasons but I think this coming one could top the lot!

How is everyone else feeling?

COYR!!

 

[Lff]

I was thinking how important this season is for us and funnily enough, I'm not as optimistic as I was last season. Having said that, I was probably wildly over-optimistic last year when I thought that we would just push on from our Championship year and sweep all before us.

If we are to be taken seriously as future European contenders then it starts here. We have seen how difficult it appears to be to attract top players here. Now this is partly due to money but also partly to thoughts of, "Southampton, who are they"? Other teams seem to think it is hugely funny when we are linked with any semi-decent player. So, one really good season could be one way of getting our name out there for next year.

Also, important are the sponsors we can attract. As much as it pains me to say it, if we want the top players we have to match what other clubs are willing to pay, so the more income we can generate the better. A good season will attract more income from sponsorships, our shirt sponsorship for example.

I said that I wasn't as optimistic this season as I was last and I think this is based on two things; our inability to beat teams we should have been beating last season and the lack of transfers so far this summer. So, basically all it would take to turn me back to wild optimism would be a couple of decent signings and a win at West Brom.

 

[ChilcoSaint]

Excited like you Lambie. I definitely subscribe to the "no news is good news" philosophy as far as transfers are concerned, and while a marquee signing or two would be fantastic to set us up for the impending campaign, you have to remember the long-term plan of bringing through the academy boys. Looking at the Youth Review thread yesterday was, from a long term perspective, even more exciting than the prospect of Wanyama or Banega turning up for preseason.

 

[Clem Fandango]

I'm expecting this season to be comfortable. Maybe a good cup run?

 

[lamby]

Yes a cup run would be good. I'd be very happy with a top 10 finish and maybe a cup final!

 

[Libby]

Yes a cup run would be good. I'd be very happy with a top 10 finish and maybe a cup final!

I think that's very optimistic!

I would love a cup run this year. Hope MP takes them more seriously than NA ever did.

 

[Number 1 Jasper]

Looking forwards to it , but job is not as secure as it once was , so no ST for me this year , will still go to SOME games , but needs must and all that .

 

[TheSecondStain]

It all depends on who we sign really. If Cortese gets who he wants, then nothing less than a top 6 will do. If he doesn't then we'll be doing well to be top 10.

 

[Che’s Godlike Thighs]

Well in the next 44 days I will be saying goodbye to China, saying a quick hello to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Thailand, before arriving back in Shirley a week before it all kicks off. So I might have a bit of catching up to do in that final week as to who has signed who etc.

Yay for exotic holidays!!

 

[robbieBB]

Norwich fan here. Like you we haven't yet much to show on the transfer front: Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (secured in January), and Nathan Redmond. But we have released or otherwise let go far more players than it seems you have. As of today (if I have counted correctly) your senior squad stands at 33 in all, whereas ours is down to 23 or thereabouts. Hence we are expecting more to come, rather than just hoping. I just wondered how you view your current squad, and what you are expecting and/or hoping for.

 

[st_brendy]

Norwich fan here. Like you we haven't yet much to show on the transfer front: Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (secured in January), and Nathan Redmond. But we have released or otherwise let go far more players than it seems you have. As of today (if I have counted correctly) your senior squad stands at 33 in all, whereas ours is down to 23 or thereabouts. Hence we are expecting more to come, rather than just hoping. I just wondered how you view your current squad, and what you are expecting and/or hoping for.

If we can find buyers for them, then up to ten players could be on their way out. So far though, we've only been able to let go of the small handful of players who were out of contract.

Unfortunately all those players who we are looking to let go are arguably no better than Championship quality, so shifting them may not be easy - not only does that reduce the possible market, but also one assumes that some, or all, of those players received a pay rise of sorts following our PL promotion. If so, then they're likely to take to take a pay cut if they're to return to the Championship.

But all account we're looking to get 2 - 3 more players in.

I haven't counted how many senior players we have, but if 33 is correct then all of the above happening would leave us with about a squad of the 25 man limit (obviously those under 21 don't need to be registered).

 

[TheSecondStain]

Well in the next 44 days I will be saying goodbye to China, saying a quick hello to Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Thailand, before arriving back in Shirley a week before it all kicks off. So I might have a bit of catching up to do in that final week as to who has signed who etc.

Yay for exotic holidays!!

Sounds like a very interesting trip.

 

[Cruyff's Turn]

Hi lads (and girls) yes looking forward to kick off next month.I think we both should be ok this season.Will be starting "Relegation Watch" again on the Norwich site from just before the season begins,feel free to join in,we've always got on well with the Saints.Sadly though no Hoops to goad this year.

 

[robbieBB]

........ Unfortunately all those players who we are looking to let go are arguably no better than Championship quality, so shifting them may not be easy - not only does that reduce the possible market, but also one assumes that some, or all, of those players received a pay rise of sorts following our PL promotion. If so, then they're likely to take to take a pay cut if they're to return to the Championship ........

Yup, very much our situation last summer. But we were so strapped for cash in our first season back in the PL that we couldn't make the number and type of signings you did and had to go with virtually the squad that got us promoted. We were able to strengthen defensively last summer but had to rely largely on loans out to reduce the wage bill. Not easy, and while there's no room for too much sentiment, you like to make sure the players who did you proud are able to make good moves from their point of view as well.

Another question: how would you feel about your prospects this season if you had to go with what you've already got?

 

[Qwerty]

Norwich fan here. Like you we haven't yet much to show on the transfer front: Ricky Van Wolfswinkel (secured in January), and Nathan Redmond. But we have released or otherwise let go far more players than it seems you have. As of today (if I have counted correctly) your senior squad stands at 33 in all, whereas ours is down to 23 or thereabouts. Hence we are expecting more to come, rather than just hoping. I just wondered how you view your current squad, and what you are expecting and/or hoping for.

Like you the double promo left us with a lot of faithful servants who weren't quite up to the Prem, with a year or two left on their deals and quite high wages. Some got moves back to the Championship but there's quite a few left tiding themselves over with loans. It's not a huge issue for the club because they won't be in the 25 man squad, but it would probably be better for everyone if they got a transfer.

 

[st_brendy]

Yup, very much our situation last summer. But we were so strapped for cash in our first season back in the PL that we couldn't make the number and type of signings you did and had to go with virtually the squad that got us promoted. We were able to strengthen defensively last summer but had to rely largely on loans out to reduce the wage bill. Not easy, and while there's no room for too much sentiment, you like to make sure the players who did you proud are able to make good moves from their point of view as well.

Another question: how would you feel about your prospects this season if you had to go with what you've already got?

If we don't make another signing, them I'd back us to marginally improve on last season. But only marginally.

A year of PL experience under our belts, a year of the likes of Ramirez and Yoshida to adjust to English football, a year of extra growth and improvement etc for the younger members of our squad, Lovren being added to the defence. All massive positives.

However Lambert will be a year older, and those sides around us have either already improved their squads or will improve their squads. You can't really afford to stand still in this league. It is one fiercely competitive league below the top 6 or 7. And as much as I hope am I wrong, I do wonder just how big an impact Puncheon will have this time. My gut feeling is that he won't live up to last season, and I can also see a few defenders having worked him out.

But if we make the signings that we're being linked to, a top ten finish finish should really be the bare minimum. I'd like to think though that we could match Swansea or WBA from last season.

 

[Qwerty]

Yup, very much our situation last summer. But we were so strapped for cash in our first season back in the PL that we couldn't make the number and type of signings you did and had to go with virtually the squad that got us promoted. We were able to strengthen defensively last summer but had to rely largely on loans out to reduce the wage bill. Not easy, and while there's no room for too much sentiment, you like to make sure the players who did you proud are able to make good moves from their point of view as well.

Another question: how would you feel about your prospects this season if you had to go with what you've already got?

Reasonably happy but we struggled with squad depth and didn't have a lot on the bench. If Schneiderlin got injured we would be in major difficulty, and if he didn't play 36/38 games we would have been in a lot more relegation danger. So if we can add one or two options to the group, I would be very confident.


(same for Rickie btw, he dragged us out of some sticky situations)

 

[Saintmagic]

Yup, very much our situation last summer. But we were so strapped for cash in our first season back in the PL that we couldn't make the number and type of signings you did and had to go with virtually the squad that got us promoted. We were able to strengthen defensively last summer but had to rely largely on loans out to reduce the wage bill. Not easy, and while there's no room for too much sentiment, you like to make sure the players who did you proud are able to make good moves from their point of view as well.

Another question: how would you feel about your prospects this season if you had to go with what you've already got?

I think we would finish in a similar position to last season. The main priority for the summer imo was a new CB and that is the one player we have signed so far, so including him should in theory make us stronger than last season, I'm just not sold on how good he actually is so that is why I would say about 14th.

 

[robbieBB]

Again . All sounds good. Last time I looked the bookies had us fourth favourites for the drop after the three promoted teams. How unimaginative! If you don't get off to a flying start this season there will be a barrage of press articles about second season syndrome ............ .