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13 Feb 2014 11:26:43
Hodgson has hinted that Luke Shaw will be in the England Squad against Denmark next month. He has also left it open for Clyne/Chambers to be involved in the squad, however he suggested that Clyne would need more game time between now and May, whilst Chambers would need to put on a special run of form to propel him from the U18s to the first XI.
Since the friendly will be used to blood new players and try new things out, could we see the following starting XI next month?:
Foster
Clyne; Jagielka; Cahill; Shaw
Wilshere; Gerrard
Lallana; Barkley; Rodriguez
Lambert
I know it's never going to happen. But the prospect of 5 Saints in England's XI is a measure of how far we have come.
1.) I think he also mentioned JWP and Corcky
2.) Personally I think Cork deserves a shout since we lack a CDM in the England set up. But I think after Shaw/Rodriguez/Lambert/Lallana and possibly Clyne are considered, it might be a step too far form him to include JWP/Cork.
Think Hodgson would come into some criticism (although not from me!) if he just selects the whole Southampton team to go to Brazil. It would be brave for him to take more than 4 of our boys.
3.) I don't know if I'm the only one but I think the problem is that England play nothing like the way Southampton play. So our players are not great for Hodgesons tactics - whatever they may be because you don't see many.
4.) I think we could realistically look at 4 saints in the set up for the WC.
Shaw
lallana
Rodriguez
Lambert
Said it a while ago and seemed to be proved right that Woy isn't happy about Cole at the moment.
With regards to Corky I would pick him over Carrick every day of the week at the moment but I think the DM role is likely to land at Gerrards feet as he is playing in that position for his club.
If Clyne was plying 90 week in week out I still think he would be behind Johnson but alongside Walker.
Too early for JWP but he will be a regular in the future.
5.) Considering that England can hold onto the ball for more than 3 passes, I think Cork could well be a huge benefit to the national side. Very tidy player.
Heard an ex player say recently that Shaw could go, but he has only played a few good games recently, so if he keeps it up he could go as an understudy to Baines - he blatantly hasn't been watching Shaw much!
On a purely selfish note, I hope that Woy doesn't take any Saints to the World Cup. Why? because we all know it's going to be a disaster, and I'd rather that all the lads come back fit and raring to go for the coming season
Chill out. I'm not saying dedicated fans can't afford to go now. Fact is, we've never sold out SMS, unless it's against big clubs in the prem (25% of games)
To get to the next level and potentially work toward an expansion/europe, a few incentives would help generate interest. Travel incentives are key because Southampton isn't a big or well connected city (unlike London, Manchester, Birmingham etc) so easier, cheaper travel links with the surrounding area are sure to drum up interest.
The choice is:
A - keep with the current model, sit mid table each year and have around 28k attendance for most games;
B: try and push on to break the top 8 (all of which [bar Spurs who are looking to move] have grounds which take 45k+) and have 35-40k each game.
I know which option I'd like to aim for.
Agree 100% St Christopher. It's not cheap. However it would pay itself back in the long run, so hopefully KL would inject the required funds.
The primary reason I would champion a drop in ST prices is because I can only see justification for any sort of expansion if we can guarantee 40,000 week in week out - which at current ticket pricing is a long way off.
An expansion simply can not take place without a drop in prices to get more bums on seats. Truth be told we struggle to fill 32k for 75% of games at the moment. Talk of expanding is laughable.
Having said that, I firmly believe we, potentially, have one of the largest and most affluent catchment areas in the whole of England - there is no reason why with a bit of encouragement (i. e. free transport and a ST price drop/freeze for a few years) we can't get more people down at St. Mary's on a saturday afternoon.
Also - on a slightly unrelated note - I really hope we get our stripes back. There are plenty of 'plain' coloured clubs at the top end of the table. From a marketing stand point there is no reason why we can't become 'THE' striped club in the top end of the premiership, rather than just another generic red one.
I think we should increase capacity and drop ticket prices for a few seasons to get people involved.
Most revenue comes through TV and advertising contracts so drop the prices, get 40,000 in every week.
Also worth setting up cheap/free transport links across the South as part of tickets. We've got a massive catchment area and need to utilise this.
If it was up to me? Cheaper season tickets, inc free transport from the major towns in Hampshire/Dorset/Sussex.
Cup matches £10.
Get rid of 'true' on second line and it works.
Bring back stripes. No team in the top 7 has stripes. Three red teams. We can still market ourselves as a red club but we do have a chance to make ourselves THE striped team in the prem, rather than just another red one.
Oh and OP your '£20m over 5 years' for Shaw is well out.
Shaw valued much higher. 18 year old English player with regular prem starts at a top 8 club and an international cap, who is tied into a 5 year contract? With multiple clubs lacking a quality LB (United, Chelsea etc). There will be a monumental bidding war. Worth £30m if he goes this summer. And that's being conservative.
We're obviously not going to make it this season. 8th looking like a best scenario.
As for future seasons. it's too early to tell. If we keep our best players and invest in the squad then we have every chance.
Equally if a few key players move on and we don't re-invest wisely then we will struggle to do any better than 8th.
We can't possibly speculate our future success beyond "we probably won't get relegated" and "we probably won't win it".
We have a BIG summer coming up. Time to see what KL's plans are, and if Pochettino is committed long term to this project.
Still want to be competitive.
Would be tempted to have a bench of youngsters and give them a bit more game time (say, half an hour) rather than a token 5mins each match.
Although Chambers highlights the benefits of giving a young, no namer a good chunk of game time and letting them thrive.
1. Think Lallana will definitely go.
2. Rickie will go if he keeps up scoring unless Carroll hits form and is amazing in the back end of the season.
3. Shaw and Rodriguez will get their chance in the friendly. If they play well they'll go, but it's a lot to ask to impress in just one game with a disjointed team.
My hunch? 2 from Saints will go. Lallana and probably Rickie.