Southampton Banter Archive December 23 2013

23 Dec 2013 16:31:09
"quiet" doesn't mean nothing, expect one or two signings, besides Poch hasn't always been truthfull when talking about transfers, remember he said we weren't interested in Osvaldo? I'd love Forster and Micah Richards to add some class to our team and maybe a winger but I'd love to see young Jake Sinclair being used in a wide position, as he's a great prospect! COYR!

What is he supposed to do? Say 'Yes, we want to sign Lovren (for example)' before the deal is done? As far as I'm concerned, Poch does what is required.

Some people forget that it's Cortese that goes and sorts out the deals, so IF Cortese says to Poch, 'Don't talk about signings' Poch will do what he says.

Ultimately Cortese is the Puppet-Master, and I'm sure right now he is feeling quite content with the progress of the club. Yes our squad does require improving, but equally our squad has improved dramatically from last season.

Certainly during my lifetime/memory this Saints squad is the best or strongest it's ever been.

In previous years we've had determined work-horses who give their all, but clearly lack the cutting edge, or top ability, today's times we have a very rich array of talent, both homegrown and brought in.

Even just four or five years ago our squad looks so different compared to now, in terms of how good each and every player is.

Happy New Year everyone, keep supporting the Saints (and football itself) and keep the dream alive.

Saint Etienne.

23 Dec 2013 13:24:58
I feel Saints are little bit caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment. It's laudable that they appear to want to stay out of the transfer market and continue the policy of promoting from within, giving their academy graduates a chance, but there's got to be a balance struck somewhere. The squad is crying out for some quality cover immediately, not an untried kid who may take 2-3 seasons to flourish, if at all.

I just hope the obvious flaw in the self sufficient plan - that the overall quality of the players coming through isn't of a great standard, yet they're fast tracked anyway - doesn't come to pass. I remember Middlesbrough getting all kinds of good press for playing an XI at the end of the season all sourced locally.

They were relegated the following year, and of that XI, I think only Adam Johnson turned out to be a half-decent player.

But how many decent players have Borough turned out?

We produce 2/3? a season who can get to the top of the game and atleast a few others who'll be prem players, and they're just the one's who get promoted to the first team. Right now, Shaw and JWP would make it into any Prem team, Chambers is fast approaching, Reed has looked like he'll be even better than JWP in his first appearances, Gallagher - who's set to be Rickie's replacement and has looked just like a more moblie version of him in the youth team. Then there's players like Targett, Turnbull, Stephens, McCarthey, Leggett, Robinson, Moore, Gape, Hesketh, Rowe, Sinclair, Isgrove, Seager - who are all of the same quality and will be promoted in Jan or at the end of the season - even now a lot of them could walk in to any top championship club and run rings around a lot of teams, People rave about Tom Ince, but Rowe, Sinclair and Isgrove are all better than him, albeit for some top level experience.

All you have to do is look at MoPo's record of developing youth to know that not only is our future is pretty much sorted but the players will only be brought up when they're ready and won't be a detriment to the team

the only problem we're going to have is producing too many top players

I think that's a pretty rose-tinted view of the likes of Targett, Turnbull, Stephens, McCarthey, Leggett, Robinson, Moore, Gape, Hesketh, Rowe, Sinclair, Isgrove and Seager.

Isgrove was only given a one year contract in the summer and has made no impact on the first team. He won't make it at Saints, along with 90% of the named players here.

Lallana was only given a one year contract once. I guess you watch the under 21's and 19's regularly then? Stephens, Turnbull, Rowe and Sinclair are guaranteed to be promoted at the end of the season. MoPo has praised every player listed and has invited them to train with the first team.

This is a bit of a silly discussion isn't it, since no one can look into the future.

What is clear is that Poch recently stated that there were 7 kids ready to step up to first team duty (if required) and where of a good enough standard.

Isgrove seems to have disappeared. I have seen him training with Guly, so it may well be that he is injured. Only time will tell how these kids develop.

It would be almost unheard of if all of these kids actually come though and make it. Similarly, we won't have room in the first team for every player we develop. However, Cortese/Poch is being clever in the way that we are marrying youth with experienced players.

Some of these kids will come good, and we'll buy quality players as well.

23 Dec 2013 10:38:42
Well we have got loads of injuries right now. Seven players out? Boruc, Davis, Clyne, Shaw, Wanyama, Osvaldo, and I guess Fonte is carrying a knock. As have been Lallana and Schneiderlin. A couple of years from now I think the squad will be better and we won´t be in this kind of position, just need to get rid of a couple of obvious players and sign a few more gradually, along with graduates improving. But sign too many now and it´s a waste of money, and graduates have no chance to come through.
Having said that if I was manager I´d avoid playing Fox at all costs. Thought yesterday was our worst performance of the season. I know we´re low on confidence with inuries and results, so let´s get behind the team, but I feel FOx just brings down the whole standard of the team. We never looked like equalising to me until he got substituted. Like I would play Cork at right back, Chambers left back, Ward Prowse in midfield (anything but Fox). And Hoiveld must be SOuthampton´s record ever owngoal scorer, incredible, it´s like starting with a handicap! Poch is right we were like Santa. I´d play Yoshida if Fonte is injured. Buy a new CB in the summer, sell one of the others. Hooiveld, FOx and Gazza : recipe for disaster. Playing Hooiveld is basicly suicidal, everyone can see that now surely! It would be safer to start with Yoshida, and instruct him to commit Harikari on the pitch after 20 minutes then to have the owngoal machine out there. Also not slagging Poch, but maybe his probs with Gaston are personal? Stamping your authority is important, but let's give him a second chance, he looked interesting yesterday, always looks likely to create something, and we spent big to sign him. That is all

Maybe I´m just spoiled with all the good performances of late. Just a shame both Clyne and Shaw were out. And both Boruc and Davis. We need a new cb in the summer, until then Fonte, with Yoshida deputising for injuries

23 Dec 2013 01:24:22
We will have to buy one or two good players in each window if we want to play in Europe in the next few years.
It is also easier to sign quality players when you are doing well in the top half of the BPL, rather than fighting in the bottom half which could happen towards the end of this season.

Look at Newcastle and Swansea their BPL seasons have suffered badly with all the extra games and Saints can't even cope without Europe at the moment, and I doubt all the answers will come from our academy as some people think.

Just a steady trickle of added strength and depth to the squad over time, no more than three in any one window just like this summer.

Without these signings Europe prob won't happen and if it did it would be a curse anyway.