Pardew on Saints TV - pretty revealing

[david in sweden]

If you haven't seen it, worth doing so. 7-8 min interview -pretty honest and definitely a few pointers as to upcoming decisions and choices.

 

-While impressed with the infrastructure here (fans, stadium), he singled out the scouting network as singularly poor. He is also looking to bring in an assistant sooner rather than later.

-Spoke about familiar faces- Kelvin, Perry and Stern John as a thorn in his side - John will possibly get a new lease of life under AP, especially given what Pilchards was saying yesterday.

-Not surprisingly, happy to have picked up Harding on a bosman - thinks this could be the beginning of a long journey.

-Sent a few veiled threats to players with 'big reputations here' - if you're not motivated to play for us, especially in L1, better f**k off. Don't need to be a genius to figure out he was addressing Rasiak and Saga.

-Talked about adding one or two players - not sure what he meant by this: whether its the proverbial or literal one or two. In places, talks about not making million changes, doing things nice and steady; in others saying the squad is really thin of experience and quality.

-Says he's been reading alot of fans comments about areas of weakness, and frankly, his views mirror ours to a large extent. The obvious areas are all for us to see.

 

 

 

Well if AP is looking for weaknesses in the side he'll have to get the strike force sorted and quick ! Having Stern John back would be a good start, and Paterson is looking sharp but there aren't too many left with the departure of BWP and Euell.

 

The two Poles really are an enigma. We know they can be good. Rasiak is still only the third 20 goal-a-season man in our recent history. (MLT 3 times and Beattie before him). Saga really does have a confidence problem, he had a great start under Burley (10 goals in 11) and then went off base. After his loan period he came back and started well, but together they don't seem very happy. L1 isn't great in career terms and they dream of playing for Poland again - and want a higher level.

If one (or both ) goes we'll still need at least TWO other proven scorers IMHO.

 

In defence, Thomas has a good track record but didn't play a lot before he was injured. We also need a big, ugly, tough central defender. Perry is good as sweeper/ second CH - but we need extra support in case of injuries or suspensions.

 

We have a myriad midfielders both young and older so it's upto AP to find the right four in the middle.

One or two of the younger players need loans to get some match experience.

Ollie Lancashire had rave reviews as a junior, but he seems out of his depth with giving away pens. and two red cards.

So too Molyneaux,Goble and Doble. They are good but need games at a better level than Academy / Reserves can offer.

 

....and what are we doing with FIVE goalies?. KD is automatic choice, and Poke and Forecast as reserves. Pernecky earned his spurs as a junior but unless Bart is loaned out ...I can't see him staying.

Edited 24 July, 2009 by david in sweden