01 Dec 2012 20:20:02
Shaw and Clyne look quality, but Yoshida, Fonte and Jos look way to iffy. If we are ever going to progress, let alone survive in the premiership we need to invest heavily in the defence.
From a keeper perspective Gazzinega is young but I am confident he will get better and could probably benefit from a few years on loan in the Championship. Super Kelv has been a loyal and devoted player, and a perfect example of how all professional footballers should be, but he doesn't quite cut it in the Premiership. Boruc's antic's quite possibly mean he will never play for us again. So we need to invest in an experieced keeper.
Gaston and Adam are fantastic footballers, Punch has worked his backside off this season and warrents his place in the side. Whilst I have been massively impressed with Cork and Morgan in the centre, I can't help but think we need a bit more bite in the centre to close games.
Rickie is a natural born goalscorer but can be a bit more exposed. Jay will get better but isn't quite there yet. Mayuka looks decent but Adkins doesn't seem to give him many opportunities. We need a proven goalscorer to offer genuine competition for Rickie.
In short we have some genuinly great players but need to seriously invest if we are to compete at this level. Im sure every Saints fan knows all of this but just had to vent!
Wouldn't worry about gazzaniga, he'll get experience in the championship next season with soton
Unhelpful 1st comment... Anyway Yoshida and Fonte played well together in the Newcastle and Norwich games. I agree we should sign at least one more Centre back though to contend for the spot and hopefully pull forwards our defensive standards. Hooiveld isn't good enough.
Gazzaniga is a very good Goalkeeper but I agree maybe not quite there yet. I think we need a new keeper and to sell off Boruc. If he's not settled he shouldn't stay. Maybe go for a nice youngish European keeper.
I think we have the Central midfielding options. James Ward-Prowse is a very good player so disappointed with the fact we don't see much of him at the moment. But maybe it'd be worth selling Chaplow and brining in new competition seeing as he doesn't get games.
As for wingers. We have options with Gaston, Lallana and Puncheon really being good for the roles and Mayuka and S Davis are potentially able to play those positions. Maybe worth getting in someone new there. Not desperate though.
Strikers are fine I think. Rodriguez is a good finisher but doesn't seem to get much game time. Completely agree on Mayuka needing more game time he is a great player and I imagine will score plenty given a chance. Although might be worth recalling Billy Sharp.
Really the players who aren't getting games should be looking into departing. Think we should get rid of Chaplow, De Ridder, Butterfield, Seaborne and Guly Do Prado for that reason they don't/shouldn't play. Then we can get better replacements.
Great posts these My thoughts as well.
I agree we need a top GK but honestly dont think there is much out there with the experience and availible. Stick with what we have and invest in..................
The defence. We are fine on the flanks, Nath Rich Luke and Fox do the job. Jose Yos are okay but but this needs the investment Would love to see a Jonny Evans or Lescott on Loan
CM is fine with Davis Spider Cork and JWP
Wings good Adam Maka Lee and Punch
Forwards Jay and Billy are great back up to Rickie
So in short - sell Dickson Hammond Butters Guly De Ridder Jos Forte and Chappers
Need two international - what ever the cost in the transfer window COYS
I think the CB is definitely the priority, I think Fonte is showing signs of improvement, Yoshida seems ok, not great against Suarez though :/ I think Michael Dawson would be perfect for us as he's a class player and available at the mo, I agree we're fine at the FB now, with Shaw and Clyne really looking quality, in CM I think we're pretty much covered although a hard tackling DM in the future, on the wings I think we're ok as Mayuka, and Lee can provide cover if Adkins ever decides to play them! Up front, in my opinion we only have 2 players who can play up there on there own, Rodrigues and Lambert, we either need to recall Sharp or look at someone like Charlie Austen who I think will be quality in the future, or maybe Garry Hooper?
Instantly can say Hooper would be a mistake. Not worth the price Celtic would demand. Austin's not great value for money either. Think we should look to Europe again and try to find a young striker with a good shot on him. Also think Dawson is becoming less realistic as a target seeing as Spurs have started using him again. Maybe have to turn our attentions to Europe again to find Centre backs. Not sure I can name anybody in particular to get though.
^jean armel kana biyik?
I would much rather sign English players then random foreighners
I have yet to see an English CB who can BOTH defend well AND play out from the back to international standard. This is why I suspect Saints will be looking outside UK.
I'd argue their is an English CB who can defend and play out from the back to international standard. I think Cahill is that good. That's just an opinion though and really besides the point. Saints will look abroad because English players are often overpriced for their level of skill.
Think we should get a keeper too. Look to Spain, France or Germany for a keeper in his twenties which could be good.
This is the reason our national team never wins anything, cuz our top division teams are always looking at european players
I understand your statement, but if more English players moved overseas and developed some of the European skills, then our national team would do better when it came up against top European teams.
No point in expecting to do well in European, or world football, if you can't match them tactically. At the moment, that means bringing in players from outside the UK. Hopefully, with the new development programs for young players in UK, that will change-but I expect that to take another 5 years minimum.
I think the new development program will help, but I'd rather we had a stronger majority of english players in the top flight, I think that would be the first step, then as there will be more English players I'm sure player would move abroad, for regular football but I think we've got to fill our teams first, and with our excellent training facilities and youth academy reputation we can do that