The Saints who'll make the grade in 2012/13 (From Daily Echo)
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The Saints who'll make the grade in 2012/13
3:39pm Wednesday 9th May 2012 in Saints News
By Adam Leitch, Chief Sports Writer
RICKIE LAMBERT
With the dust having settled on promotion to the Premier League, thoughts are already turning to what Saints can expect in the top flight next season.
At the forefront of fans’ minds, as well as manager Nigel Adkins, will be what needs to happen to his squad to compete with the best teams in the country.
The Saints boss has already said the squad will evolve, and there will be signings.
But what of the players that remain?
Only a handful are nailed on to be ready for the Premier League – Kelvin Davis, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert – but many have earned a chance to prove themselves Some will remain as squad members while there are quite a few – about a third of the players, in fact – that face a real battle to stay in the mix.
Chief sports writer Adam Leitch takes a look at who will stay and who could be heading for the St Mary’s exit door in today’s Daily Echo.
Comments(68)
warrens 76
says...
3:55pm Wed 9 May 12
y the standard necessary to achieve success in Premier requires some real flair to finish of and create chances against organised defences and a real spine to the team..Centre half and centre back of world class quality...with this in mind...replace our weakest 3 players with 3 who are even better than our best in their respective positions..ie 3 players better than Lallana, Lambert and Davis...together with this a couple of quality time served old pro's to lick the nippers into shape and keep cool heads in difficult situations....this provided we keep all the positives from last season WILL create a top half position, possibly fringe Europa...
Over the Edge
says...
4:17pm Wed 9 May 12
Seabourne, Bart, Connelly, Jaidi, Barnard, Dickson, Holmes, Richardson, Puncheon, Guly, Harding, Butterfield The Weather Forecast, Forte
The one's to keep ,Rickie, Adam, Kelvin, Fox, Cork, Spiderman, Chappers, Steeeeve, Sharpshooter, Jos and Jose, Aaron Martin, Tadanari Leeeeeeeee, and few youngsters.
Dickosfc
says...
4:17pm Wed 9 May 12
warrens 76 wrote:You wont find a beter player than Adam lallana!!!! :-)
Last season was ab abject lesson in superb man management and team spirit.....regretabl y the standard necessary to achieve success in Premier requires some real flair to finish of and create chances against organised defences and a real spine to the team..Centre half and centre back of world class quality...with this in mind...replace our weakest 3 players with 3 who are even better than our best in their respective positions..ie 3 players better than Lallana, Lambert and Davis...together with this a couple of quality time served old pro's to lick the nippers into shape and keep cool heads in difficult situations....this provided we keep all the positives from last season WILL create a top half position, possibly fringe Europa...
.
Plus I wouldn't want anyone different, I want Lallana. The guy is a Saint through and through and you can't always buy that!!
The Salv
says...
4:33pm Wed 9 May 12
Would keep:
Davis, Jos, Frazer, Fox, Spider, Lallana, Lambert, Sharp, Lee, Punchy, Chaplow, Corky, Fonte.
Really dont think Fonte is up to the task? Worth keeping though as back up.
Dickosfc
says...
4:38pm Wed 9 May 12
.
Davis, Jos, Frazer, Fox, Spider, Lallana, Lambert, Sharp, Lee, Punchy, Chaplow, Corky, Fonte, Steeeeve,Hammond, Harding, Holmes, Bart, Seabourne, Barnard, Connoly, Butterfield, Do Prado, Adkins, Cortese
.
Keep
.
Dorris the tea lady
:-)
Ashley Charles Pragnell
says...
4:42pm Wed 9 May 12
Over the Edge wrote:Over the edge has got it right to a certain degree but I would keep Richardson is crosses for goals this season was very high, Harding and Guly will stay. But I am supprised Hammond is not on your list as I think he is simply not quick enough for the Premier league.
The one going should be, Seabourne, Bart, Connelly, Jaidi, Barnard, Dickson, Holmes, Richardson, Puncheon, Guly, Harding, Butterfield The Weather Forecast, Forte The one's to keep ,Rickie, Adam, Kelvin, Fox, Cork, Spiderman, Chappers, Steeeeve, Sharpshooter, Jos and Jose, Aaron Martin, Tadanari Leeeeeeeee, and few youngsters.
New Centre half to replace Seabourne replacement for Hammond a box to box midfielder with pace and with an eye for goal . Being based in Scotland the player I think would be ideal is Joe Ledley. We need a right winger ie in the mould of Philips Jarvis Whittingham or Snodgrass. Chaplow players better in the middle and Guly is best used as second striker. We need better cover at right back for Richardson, and suggestions, a back up striker for Sir Ricky. A Second keeper is needed prehaps Kasper from Leicester or Paul Robinson is on a Bosman. I expect some of the new players will be from Europe , possibly Norway and Sweden as we have been well served in the past by the likes of Claus, Egil, Joe, Anders Michael and Tors all did a good shift for us plus Nemi and Parhars. Southampton suits North European footballers.
BlandfordSaint
says...
4:43pm Wed 9 May 12
Over the Edge wrote:Would keep Richardson and Guly as would add to the squad Six quality additions and we are ready to rock.
The one going should be, Seabourne, Bart, Connelly, Jaidi, Barnard, Dickson, Holmes, Richardson, Puncheon, Guly, Harding, Butterfield The Weather Forecast, Forte The one's to keep ,Rickie, Adam, Kelvin, Fox, Cork, Spiderman, Chappers, Steeeeve, Sharpshooter, Jos and Jose, Aaron Martin, Tadanari Leeeeeeeee, and few youngsters.
Little time for sentiment - COYR
Andy Welsh
says...
4:46pm Wed 9 May 12
Ashley Charles Pragnell
says...
4:50pm Wed 9 May 12
Strasbourg Saint
says...
5:01pm Wed 9 May 12
Andy Welsh wrote:On the back of what was said above, I think this is probably close.
I can't understand why people want to keep De Ridder when he clearly isn't good enough for Premiership. Guly may be more suited to Prem than Championship. Richardson and Butterfield are worth keeping if only as backup and Harding has just signed a new contract and will push Fox hard. Seabourne and Barnard have both had injury problems and the club will take a view as to whether they will be able to adapt to the new level required. Puncheon will go as he only has a year left on his contract and his value will decrease rapidly. Can't argue with the rest although you can only get rid of players if they are out of contract or someone else wants them and we have several players who may not fit into this category and will therefore come along for the ride without being involved.
More importantly, the way the club is handling this is spot on.
I understand players will have to beaxed and realise that the sooner they are told the more time they will have to look elsewhere, AND I think Brian McD has done a great job at Reading, but he might have let the dust settle a bit before weilding the axe.
Andy Welsh
says...
5:02pm Wed 9 May 12
warrens 76
says...
5:16pm Wed 9 May 12
Dickosfc wrote:Dickosfc, read the bloody post, I would never get rid of Lallana, I am saying that we need to aspire to have better than our current best not replace them nor just replace our worst with a bit better.
warrens 76 wrote:You wont find a beter player than Adam lallana!!!! :-)
Last season was ab abject lesson in superb man management and team spirit.....regretabl y the standard necessary to achieve success in Premier requires some real flair to finish of and create chances against organised defences and a real spine to the team..Centre half and centre back of world class quality...with this in mind...replace our weakest 3 players with 3 who are even better than our best in their respective positions..ie 3 players better than Lallana, Lambert and Davis...together with this a couple of quality time served old pro's to lick the nippers into shape and keep cool heads in difficult situations....this provided we keep all the positives from last season WILL create a top half position, possibly fringe Europa...
.
Plus I wouldn't want anyone different, I want Lallana. The guy is a Saint through and through and you can't always buy that!!
Think big and prosper.
allsaintsnocurves
says...
5:41pm Wed 9 May 12
I'd like to see Hooper brought in...and some players already in the Premiership as experience is going to be important.
The club won't overflow the positions though as it is important our youth players have a path into the 1st team. Players like Luke Shaw, Ward-Prowse, Aaron Martin need to be given chances.
sj1987
says...
5:47pm Wed 9 May 12
Confucious
says...
5:47pm Wed 9 May 12
sj1987
says...
5:51pm Wed 9 May 12
sotonfc
says...
5:52pm Wed 9 May 12
Andy Welsh
says...
6:16pm Wed 9 May 12
slugger
says...
6:21pm Wed 9 May 12
sotonfc wrote:you can't form a sentance to save your life !!!!!! ....... danny fox is quality imo .
danny fox is fukin ****. he could of cost of bare goals if the other teams put there chances away, fox out, he cant defend to say his life, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Confucious
says...
6:32pm Wed 9 May 12
jonny-shuttle wrote:Don't give up mate - live the dream.
I'll be honest I'm a worried about my contract being renewed. The gaffer didn't pick me once this season and a lot of the other players wont pick me in the warm up games we play mid week. I'm always the last one to be picked even when they wplit us with the numbers 1 and 2. I'm thinking of rather than waiting for Nigel and Nicola to summon me I might send off my CV to Crawley FC or Pompey, someone a bit sh*t basically where I'll fit in more.
I'm hoping to be appointed Head of Football Strategy, Tactics and Manoeuvring any day now.
I wrote to Nigel telling him who to pick and how to play before every game last season and on 30 occassions he followed my advice to the letter. No coincidence that we won those 30 matches!
Nigel has never actually replied or thanked me and I hope this is because he's been too busy and not because he's rather insecure and needs to steal all the glory.
To be on the safe side, however, I've written to Nicola to explain the situation. I'm sure he will be able to find the right way to make my appointment without putting Nige's nose out too much. Certainly, once in situ I shall keep a low 'backroom' profile and let Nige front my ideas on the telly as if they were his.
My advice to you is to contact the club direct as I've done and don't try to reach them via this forum. Club officials think most the posters on here could be outwitted by a frog - and the others are just drunks or the sort of slightly scary people who shout out strange things at the public in the town centre.
Of course I have defended all the regulars on here and explained that something coherent is in fact expressed by one or two of them on at least a monthly basis. Respect guys!
PS As sensitivity is the order of the day, once I am appointed, no announcement will be made by the club or myself. I think, however, that you can rest assured that my stamp will be firmly felt at St Marys next season.
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
6:33pm Wed 9 May 12
slugger
says...
6:50pm Wed 9 May 12
Optimist
says...
6:56pm Wed 9 May 12
To put it simply I would think that all of our players will be asked if they want to step up and progress as footballers, it's not an easy thing as 247 care needs to be taken of your body to compete at the top level.
Nigel and his team know who will put the effort in. Regardless of our opinions I am sure that hard work will be rewarded and any players going out on the town will struggle to get on the teamsheet.
I would expect 3-4 high quality hungry players that fit our scouting profiles (best years ahead, injury free, award winners, captains, promising youth), as well as additions to cover the gaps left by any players that do not think they are up for the challenge.
Make no mistake about it, next season will be the highest point of all of their careers, the commitment will match.
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
6:59pm Wed 9 May 12
Jamesfc
says...
7:03pm Wed 9 May 12
well, Sandro/Hargreaves, Jarvis/Adam Johnson, Robinson (on a bosman and class!), and maybe try sneakies for Lukaku/Yakubu. Either way: ''Keep Calm and Let Nigel do his Job!" :)
warrens 76
says...
7:12pm Wed 9 May 12
sorry about that shockingly inept but Jamesfc started it sir.
Ashley Charles Pragnell
says...
7:17pm Wed 9 May 12
Baddesley Bill
says...
7:24pm Wed 9 May 12
I'm not concerned with big name signings....I genuinely think NA will come up with a few nuggets of gold to ensure we can compete in the big league!
MGRA
says...
7:38pm Wed 9 May 12
slugger wrote:spot on. Guly and Hammond will be targets... ironically I think they will be the ones who ignite in the Prem... People seem to rate Fox but I have my doubts about him at a higher level. I am hearing on the jungle drums that Sir Ricky will still be the play maker next season and that signings will reflect this... so no div1 season striker role for him but that is great news... a couple of foils for him is what we need... Our best player by an absolute mile...if he gets even better then Prem league watch out...
we all seem to be assuming that all our players want to stay ........ i'll wager that other clubs will be in for a few of our players ....... this is where the cortese factor will come in !
MGRA
says...
7:45pm Wed 9 May 12
Fatty x Ford Worker wrote:no I reckon 50% of the fans aren't good enough....
50% 0f the squad simply aint good enough!
redduke
says...
8:08pm Wed 9 May 12
WobblyCat
says...
8:13pm Wed 9 May 12
Baddesley Bill wrote:I agree, big name, big wages, big ego's! Sure Nigel can unearth another Marion or two. (And a bit of proven quality experience minus big head).
Whoever gets the news that they will be moving on....they will go with my sincere gratitude. The last 3yrs have been immense...beyond all our dreams....and all the names in the frame have played their part (Tommy Forecast makes a great after match cuppa by all accounts!).
I'm not concerned with big name signings....I genuinely think NA will come up with a few nuggets of gold to ensure we can compete in the big league!
Strasbourg Saint
says...
8:20pm Wed 9 May 12
WobblyCat
says...
8:23pm Wed 9 May 12
WobblyCat
says...
8:28pm Wed 9 May 12
Baddesley Bill
says...
8:41pm Wed 9 May 12
WobblyCat wrote:To be fair...I'm given to understand that Preston is almost as depressing as Portsmouth...but a little less potless! :O)
Blackpool fans have nicked our 'we hate pompey (get your fathers gun)' rap! They want to shoot the preston scum! Bless 'em!
Costa Baz
says...
8:55pm Wed 9 May 12
In previous interviews he states "evolution not revolution" when upgrading his squad, and does not want to upset the "togetherness" that is so clearly a part of the clubs rise from the ashes.
But he is a professional who openly states that he hates losing, so some of the squad will have to be replaced, regardless of what they brought to the team last season.
This is a fact of life in football.
Fox and Richardson were key goal providers, throughout last season, but as already said in other posts, they lack pace. When playing in a 442 formation, this isn't so important, but when we play the diamond shape they will both be needed to give the team attacking width. Are they quick enough to do that in the PL???
De Ridder has pace, but not the skills needed, so a talented and pacey right midfielder is needed.
I think Chaplow could do well in centre mid and give us the goals we lack there.
Tad Lee will be good up front, but may not be fit for the season's start, so another pacey striker (preferably a big'un who could also stand in for Lambo) would be good.
A pacey centre back would also be good, to complement what we already have.
5 players needed, IMO.
Confucious
says...
9:01pm Wed 9 May 12
WobblyCat wrote:Just for clarification, most are using pace in the sense of speed. I've been using it as the measure of distance used in Ancient Rome (passus) - ie the measure of a full stride from the position of a lifting heel to the place where the same heel meets the ground again.
Everyone seems to be obsessed with pace since we got promoted! Speaking of which, does anyone know how super saint got on in the mascot grand national at kempton??
Invidia
says...
9:17pm Wed 9 May 12
slugger
says...
9:21pm Wed 9 May 12
Invidia wrote:lol , post of the topic imo .
I find that all this who we should get rid of and who we should bring in is very tiresome, if we could could really choose, why not just get the whole Barca squad, well all except for Messi get rid of him and keep Lallana, I know this is supposed to be fun but get real people we will still go to the matches whoever the team will be, cheer and complain when things don't go to our expectations, so yes if you find all this fun then carry on but keep a grip and don't be serious.
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
9:29pm Wed 9 May 12
Fatty x Ford Worker
says...
9:33pm Wed 9 May 12
MGRA wrote:Tweet from Percy swing low on his Perch,Bert the Budge says when we got the Gooners away!
Fatty x Ford Worker wrote:no I reckon 50% of the fans aren't good enough....
50% 0f the squad simply aint good enough!
techsture
says...
9:41pm Wed 9 May 12
All the rest are not good enough,
First two out the door after the chaps out of contract have to be Hammond and Guly, having afit missus doesnt make you good enough for the PL else i'd be Liverpool's keeper
rob the saint in NZ
says...
9:51pm Wed 9 May 12
Confucious wrote:After your 174 unanswered emails to Nige last season I see you have moved on to Nicola.
jonny-shuttle wrote: I'll be honest I'm a worried about my contract being renewed. The gaffer didn't pick me once this season and a lot of the other players wont pick me in the warm up games we play mid week. I'm always the last one to be picked even when they wplit us with the numbers 1 and 2. I'm thinking of rather than waiting for Nigel and Nicola to summon me I might send off my CV to Crawley FC or Pompey, someone a bit sh*t basically where I'll fit in more.Don't give up mate - live the dream. I'm hoping to be appointed Head of Football Strategy, Tactics and Manoeuvring any day now. I wrote to Nigel telling him who to pick and how to play before every game last season and on 30 occassions he followed my advice to the letter. No coincidence that we won those 30 matches! Nigel has never actually replied or thanked me and I hope this is because he's been too busy and not because he's rather insecure and needs to steal all the glory. To be on the safe side, however, I've written to Nicola to explain the situation. I'm sure he will be able to find the right way to make my appointment without putting Nige's nose out too much. Certainly, once in situ I shall keep a low 'backroom' profile and let Nige front my ideas on the telly as if they were his. My advice to you is to contact the club direct as I've done and don't try to reach them via this forum. Club officials think most the posters on here could be outwitted by a frog - and the others are just drunks or the sort of slightly scary people who shout out strange things at the public in the town centre. Of course I have defended all the regulars on here and explained that something coherent is in fact expressed by one or two of them on at least a monthly basis. Respect guys! PS As sensitivity is the order of the day, once I am appointed, no announcement will be made by the club or myself. I think, however, that you can rest assured that my stamp will be firmly felt at St Marys next season.
Good luck with that & your impending appointment at SMS. You are flying so far under the radar as to be undetectable.
As for your low opinion of the posters on here, I have to agree. Where else can we be allowed free expression without fear of a strange sideways glance, people crossing the street to avoid us, & mothers hiding their young childrens' eyes?
thesotonsaint
says...
9:58pm Wed 9 May 12
slugger wrote:Not sure about Fox being quality, he's been done more times than Divine Brown hanging round Sunset Boulevard, but totally agree with the "sentence" statement! I'm sure he could say "his life" and defend at the same time.....
sotonfc wrote:you can't form a sentance to save your life !!!!!! ....... danny fox is quality imo .
danny fox is fukin ****. he could of cost of bare goals if the other teams put there chances away, fox out, he cant defend to say his life, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baddesley Bill
says...
10:11pm Wed 9 May 12
thesotonsaint wrote:DF helped get us to the prem mate...on another point...I really have no idea what the rest of your post is meant to mean.
slugger wrote:Not sure about Fox being quality, he's been done more times than Divine Brown hanging round Sunset Boulevard, but totally agree with the "sentence" statement! I'm sure he could say "his life" and defend at the same time.....
sotonfc wrote:you can't form a sentance to save your life !!!!!! ....... danny fox is quality imo .
danny fox is fukin ****. he could of cost of bare goals if the other teams put there chances away, fox out, he cant defend to say his life, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MGRA
says...
10:16pm Wed 9 May 12
Baddesley Bill wrote:Fox does get done far too often.... he will need to improve....
thesotonsaint wrote:DF helped get us to the prem mate...on another point...I really have no idea what the rest of your post is meant to mean.
slugger wrote:Not sure about Fox being quality, he's been done more times than Divine Brown hanging round Sunset Boulevard, but totally agree with the "sentence" statement! I'm sure he could say "his life" and defend at the same time.....
sotonfc wrote:you can't form a sentance to save your life !!!!!! ....... danny fox is quality imo .
danny fox is fukin ****. he could of cost of bare goals if the other teams put there chances away, fox out, he cant defend to say his life, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SAINTS 4 EVER
says...
10:25pm Wed 9 May 12
Thoughts on this anyone ??
Baddesley Bill
says...
10:28pm Wed 9 May 12
MGRA wrote:As will the rest of the squad...they are in the big league now...and I'm quite certain they ALL want to step up to the mantle.
Baddesley Bill wrote:Fox does get done far too often.... he will need to improve....
thesotonsaint wrote:DF helped get us to the prem mate...on another point...I really have no idea what the rest of your post is meant to mean.
slugger wrote:Not sure about Fox being quality, he's been done more times than Divine Brown hanging round Sunset Boulevard, but totally agree with the "sentence" statement! I'm sure he could say "his life" and defend at the same time.....
sotonfc wrote:you can't form a sentance to save your life !!!!!! ....... danny fox is quality imo .
danny fox is fukin ****. he could of cost of bare goals if the other teams put there chances away, fox out, he cant defend to say his life, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baddesley Bill
says...
10:33pm Wed 9 May 12
warrens 76
says...
10:34pm Wed 9 May 12
Baddesley Bill wrote:"indeed" Preston and Portsmouth are interchangeable, portsea really has no place on the south coast, it stinks the place out!
WobblyCat wrote:To be fair...I'm given to understand that Preston is almost as depressing as Portsmouth...but a little less potless! :O)
Blackpool fans have nicked our 'we hate pompey (get your fathers gun)' rap! They want to shoot the preston scum! Bless 'em!
Tirau Dan
says...
10:44pm Wed 9 May 12
Baddesley Bill wrote:Here here..
Forgive me for this...but it gets my goat a little when posters right off our players as if they are incapable of improvement. From what I've seen this season, many of our squad have stepped up a mark and proved many of us wrong. I'm totally up for giving them the chance to step it up again...and if NA says it's ok...then it is ok by me!!!! (minor rant over) :O)
I used to love having a guess who we could get and who may go but I love what these guys have done and how far we've come.
Nigel and Nicola will add and some will go. That is all we know cos Nigel said so.
saint t.boy
says...
10:48pm Wed 9 May 12
Jesus_02
says...
11:38pm Wed 9 May 12
I am sure that very few will leave. I am sure that they all have pay-rises in their contract and all will hope that they can get a game or two in the premiership.
Those that have been there and done it, and who's contract is up may go. Basically Jedi and Connolly. Maybe Puncheon (though probably not)
townieboy
says...
6:18am Thu 10 May 12
sotonfc wrote:Dead right. He cant defend and thats his number one priorty.
danny fox is fukin ****. he could of cost of bare goals if the other teams put there chances away, fox out, he cant defend to say his life, !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian1
says...
6:34am Thu 10 May 12
WobblyCat wrote:If blackpool don't go up, I hope we move for Tom Ince & Matt Phillips . They both looked class when we played them
Blackpool fans have nicked our 'we hate pompey (get your fathers gun)' rap! They want to shoot the preston scum! Bless 'em!
mack chinnon
says...
7:12am Thu 10 May 12
Brian1 wrote:If West Ham dont go up I hope we move for Vaz Te.
WobblyCat wrote:If blackpool don't go up, I hope we move for Tom Ince & Matt Phillips . They both looked class when we played them
Blackpool fans have nicked our 'we hate pompey (get your fathers gun)' rap! They want to shoot the preston scum! Bless 'em!
milton road
says...
7:48am Thu 10 May 12
Get real.
Fox over laps, your midfielder drops to cover. Um no, cos he is class and makes Messi look ...
So you leave space behind you.
If someone hits the ball past you, then you are not going to get back. Its not a case of being slow. The ball moves faster than the man.
NA sees this, just decided the advantages out weigh the dis- advantages.
You either move Adam more central and a more defensive player wide. Who can cover.
Or you play 5 in midfield with one as a sweeper in front of defence, who will cover.
Or you carry on.
We play open attacking football, which allows other to do the same. Yes they miss chances, not half as much as we do. Then that is called the ratio of opportunities. We also score more than other teams because we take the risk.
milton road
says...
8:21am Thu 10 May 12
Likely departures.
Connelly, Forte, Jaidi, Holmes, Bart or/and Forecast and maybe one other.
IN
A young class keeper to challenge KD who still has 2-3 seasons left and is one of the best keepers in english football.
Seabourne was playing really well until he got injured. he covered Fonte's little lapses well. And was present during our best form of the season.
He is worth another season.
Hammond will give 100% and worth a squad place.
Guly, Morgan, Adam, Rick, KD, Cork, Fox. Hoover. I think will prove themselves.
Chappers(injury prone), Lee, Sharp, Fonte, Richardson. Will possibly make it.
Seabourne, Hammond, Harding, Martin, Barnard, De Ridder etc. I think will get a season to prove themselves. When the opportunity arises.
In
4 proven quality players in.
2 quality young prospects.
Our under 21 players do not have to be registered in the 25 man squad to play.
Just my view.
Alicesdad
says...
9:08am Thu 10 May 12
slugger wrote:Indeed. Very good point.
we all seem to be assuming that all our players want to stay ........ i'll wager that other clubs will be in for a few of our players ....... this is where the cortese factor will come in !
For some there will be the whiff of a big time salary. and we will also have players who become targets. We are in the big league now .. it's dog eat dog .. with the sort of money that will be around we will have to fight hard to get the right players and keep those who have formed our foundation.
Our squad of 25 this time next year will be very dofferent from the one we have now. Its just hard to imagine after our struggle to regain our rightful position.
Beer Monster
says...
10:09am Thu 10 May 12
warrens 76 wrote:Having been to Preston, I can confirm that both places would benefit from an atom bomb.
Baddesley Bill wrote:"indeed" Preston and Portsmouth are interchangeable, portsea really has no place on the south coast, it stinks the place out!
WobblyCat wrote:To be fair...I'm given to understand that Preston is almost as depressing as Portsmouth...but a little less potless! :O)
Blackpool fans have nicked our 'we hate pompey (get your fathers gun)' rap! They want to shoot the preston scum! Bless 'em!
Costa Baz
says...
12:05pm Thu 10 May 12
Do those of you having a pop at others who are suggesting new players are needed REALLY think we don't need new players?
And if we don't get new players but "give a chance to those that got us promoted" and get are @rses kicked every week, would that be ok with you guys?
Just wondering....
All due respect to you opinions, but if the manager announces in an interview that new players will be brought in, shouldn't you take that as an indication that the squad DOES need strengthening?
NA has worked wonders in getting us to the PL and I am glad he has the foresight to realise that no matter what he owes to the current squad, for getting us there, he will be looking to safeguard that place in the PL by improving the squad.
I am very grateful to all the players that contributed to our promotion, but the bottom line is this.
I support Southampton Football Club, not individual players, and at the end of the day the success of the club is paramount. Even if it means players I think should be kept are released and players I think should be released aren't.
Hobson82
says...
12:17pm Thu 10 May 12
cheshireexile
says...
12:40pm Thu 10 May 12
redduke
says...
7:37pm Thu 10 May 12
Costa Baz wrote:Spot on. As we were closing in on promotion a lot of the fringe players would have been realistic enough to think 'this is great but not sure i'm gonna be getting a game next season'. The weaknesses are obvious, we have to address them
So to clarify.
Do those of you having a pop at others who are suggesting new players are needed REALLY think we don't need new players?
And if we don't get new players but "give a chance to those that got us promoted" and get are @rses kicked every week, would that be ok with you guys?
Just wondering....
All due respect to you opinions, but if the manager announces in an interview that new players will be brought in, shouldn't you take that as an indication that the squad DOES need strengthening?
NA has worked wonders in getting us to the PL and I am glad he has the foresight to realise that no matter what he owes to the current squad, for getting us there, he will be looking to safeguard that place in the PL by improving the squad.
I am very grateful to all the players that contributed to our promotion, but the bottom line is this.
I support Southampton Football Club, not individual players, and at the end of the day the success of the club is paramount. Even if it means players I think should be kept are released and players I think should be released aren't.
batesieboy
says...
7:06pm Fri 11 May 12
warrens 76 wrote:Erm, did you mean An object lesson...? Or is it really abject?!!
Last season was ab abject lesson in superb man management and team spirit.....regretabl
y the standard necessary to achieve success in Premier requires some real flair to finish of and create chances against organised defences and a real spine to the team..Centre half and centre back of world class quality...with this in mind...replace our weakest 3 players with 3 who are even better than our best in their respective positions..ie 3 players better than Lallana, Lambert and Davis...together with this a couple of quality time served old pro's to lick the nippers into shape and keep cool heads in difficult situations....this provided we keep all the positives from last season WILL create a top half position, possibly fringe Europa...
St Retford
says...
10:24pm Fri 11 May 12
batesieboy wrote:Haha.
warrens 76 wrote:Erm, did you mean An object lesson...? Or is it really abject?!!
Last season was ab abject lesson in superb man management and team spirit.....regretabl
y the standard necessary to achieve success in Premier requires some real flair to finish of and create chances against organised defences and a real spine to the team..Centre half and centre back of world class quality...with this in mind...replace our weakest 3 players with 3 who are even better than our best in their respective positions..ie 3 players better than Lallana, Lambert and Davis...together with this a couple of quality time served old pro's to lick the nippers into shape and keep cool heads in difficult situations....this provided we keep all the positives from last season WILL create a top half position, possibly fringe Europa...
jonny-shuttle says...
3:45pm Wed 9 May 12