Want to ask Tom some questions?

Out of interest I checked on Southampton-huge number of ins and outs in 2011-2012. I think with other clubs we just don't know about the "nearly" signings and fringe players.

According to "transfer markt" which I accept may not be accurate, players acquired 2011-2012 include:

Lee
Cork
Sharp
Fox
Hooiveld
de Ridder
Falque
Saville
Doble
Puncheon
Forecast
Dickson
Dean
Reeves

Some may be loan returnees, Puncheon one I think, but it just shows how much recycling goes on. There are similar number of outs.

Blackpool 2011/2012:
Ins 25, out 25

Cardiff 2011/2012:
Ins 23, outs 17

Reading 2011/2012:
Ins 24, outs 30

West Ham 2011/2012:
Ins 26, outs 29

Hull 2011/2012:
Ins 26, outs 29

Derby 2011/2012:
Ins 26, outs 30



This total includes all incomings and outgoings, so also includes, for example, players going out on loan and coming back in again, but it shows that squads at all clubs change hugely within the course of a season, and between seasons, and that we are similar to other clubs in this regard.

Sorry Mostyn.

Vidal, never apologise to mostyn when you've proved him wrong!

although enlightening, it doesnt really prove me right or wrong. I mention the core of a team, we seem to have had an ever changing 'core' to our team, and yet it seems we still need the midfielder and striker situation sorting out.

The figures you quote can be and are quite misleading. These teams have been steady for a few seasons now with the same core players in the team. Hopefully, next season, we will start with an established core of Fielding, Shackell, Barker (albeit injured), Bryson, Hendrick/Bailey, Ward and I imagine Steve Davies. We havent had that continuity for a long time.

It's OK, Mostyn, I wasn't expecting a climbdown or anything, it isn't in your nature!

"It doesn't really prove me right or wrong"

Yet you said "you'll only see 3-4 changes to the SQUAD a season".

Its a typo Vidal. Here is the corrected verion.

"you'll only see 34 changes to the SQUAD a season".

You've got to forgive the guy for a typo.

Vidal / Iwas - I suspect Mostyn might give this thread a miss from now on!

I would only have one question.

"Why has our club got the financial clout to plan the construction of Shops, restaurants and fast food establishments around the stadium, yet precious little to construct a squad to be proud of and develop our Stadium from the INSIDE?"

Almost every day on the forums we have Fans bragging about our larger than average fiercely loyal fan base, yet here we are still languishing in the mediocrity of mid table CCC.

The 3 year Mission Statement only seems to get rolled out at ST renewal time these days. I can only speak for myself here, but if I want to shop I'll go to the shops. If I want to watch the Football I want to go to Pride Park. What has happened to our once great club, that Fans are now happy to have Corporate interests as an attraction to go watch their team?

I, like many others who come here, remember a time when all we needed as Fans to have us swamping the turnstiles and creating a cauldron like atmosphere was a competitive attitude from our Club/Team. WTF happened to us?

not at all Vidal. You say yourself that your figures include everything from youth team to retirees to everything inbetween! Given that many clubs release 10-15 academy players a season, obviously your figures are distorted. 'Squads' by this context means quite clearly people who are gonna be in and around the 1st team on a match day, not young players and scholars yet to kick a ball.

I know you like to discredit anything I say, which is a shame when I have a point. My point is you look at a team like Reading and you think of 6 or 7 players immediately, same for other clubs that are consistently around there at the top.

Don't worry Mostyn. Most of us, in the course of our lives, have made pompous pontifications that make us look, well, a bit daft when they are shown to be without basis. The smart thing is to man up, take it on the chin and admit it.