...until January and at worst we will be 7th, this isn't taking into account if teams around us play each other etc etc, I just simply saw who would overtake us if we dropped 15 points and they gained them. Anyway at the start of the season people were saying things like "lets give the team a chance to prove themselves in the Championship then see in Jan if money needs to be spent" and "I tihnk we will spend money in Jan if we are in with a shout of the play-offs/autos" So at worst we will be in with a shout of the play offs come Jan so have people changed their tune? Think we will strengthen significantly? Bring in a couple of players in weaker posititons and hope not to disrupt the squad? I personally think we will only bring in 2 players a CB (Hooiveld?) and a ST which has been said 100's of times before. Do you think we should be looking for someone who can come to the Prem with us (hopefully) or just someone who can get us over the line but probably not going to play in the Prem (like a Phillips type player). Anyway I know its pretty early for this kind of thread, but with only 5 games til Jan I couldn't resist
There are a good number of strikers playing in the Championship who wil cut it in the premiership but we will need to pay premiership sized fees to get them
I've already had someone ask me if we're safe from relegation yet?! Let's just hazard a guess that we will be top or near the top in January...never be 7th. Unlike some, I don't think we've got money swilling around..Cortese is as careful as a balloon playing with a hedgehog. Adkins may have been too good...he's not exactly making a case for the need to spend money. I think that we will sign Jos or another CB, but I will be pleasantly surprised if we get anyone else.
I'm still yet to be convinced 100% by hooiveld. Yes he is a good player, but he's the standard of player i'd liketo have as back up as he looks prone to mistakes. I'm thinking about a team that could compete in the prem, to do that we need a CB, RB, RW, ST. This January I would look at the first and last of these positions, then strengthen the right side in the summer.
It's interesting that the 3 strikers strongly linked with a move to us in the summer are just hitting a bit of form. Jay Rod and Billy Sharp both scored 2 tonight and Maynard has been on fire recently. I wouldn't mind any of those three joining us, as I feel they have the potential to be Premiership strikers, although, saying that, I feel that Rickie, Guly and Conners could too.
could not agree more, using spider on the wing today shows how short we are on wingers, obviously we get the whinning git back from QPR soon- but does he have a future here after pissing nearly everyone off? We have showed over the years that the best place to bring kids along in these leagues is on the wing where they are less likely to get the **** kicked out of them, but do we have any such youngster. Clearly Steve is considered as an impact player
Hooiveld to sign is surely a given, would love to see Alex come back on loan, but I doubt it somehow.
I completely understand your logic Fran but disagree. Your (wonderful) analogy is no doubt accurate but I think that Cortese is also a very astute planner. He will have set aside funds for a push and I believe he'll use them regardless of us being 1st or 7th. Eyes on the prize and all that!
Sorry Fran but I agree with hotbovril. There would be no point in having a 5 year plan to get back to the Premier League if there weren't the funds to make it happen, even if it is a year or so early. This January will be very exciting for Saints fans, I believe!
Someone thinks we need a right back!? Have you not been watching this season? Richardson has been one of our best players! He is easily better than a lot of premier league full backs. Chamberlain back for half a season would be absolutely immense, but i think if arsenal loan him out then it will be to a premier league club like Bolton.
For me, you can take out "one of" from that sentance. Superb. Going back to the above though, I'm actually in Fran's camp. I can't see us spending much in Jan at all. Hooiveld (or another CB) certainly, and possibly, possibly a striker - but even that I'm not convinced of.
Hopefully will see Hoover signed and sealed. I think we possibly need another out and out winger a specialist in this area at least. I know we have a lot of people who can play there but they are not specialist goal scoring wingers in the mould of Chamberlaine. I also think we will be going for an out and out strker for the run in. Just have a gut feeling..........
Hoover and Hooper from Celtic ! Proven in this league, more than a goal every 2 games, and NA sold him to Celtic. I heard Celtic were enquiring about Jordan Rhodes Maybe as a replacement?), so could be .
