Team v QPR?

[Matthew Le God]

A good side:

 

Davis

 

James ???? Perry Harding

 

???? Gillett Morgan Mills

 

Lallana

 

Rasiak

 

Subs: Bart and.............

 

That's 8 decent players just to have a decent team to play Millwall.

 

I think you don't realise how poor most teams in League One are. We need 2 or 3 more players and we'll be fine

[JibMcdo]

It's just a shame that a lot of people on here are still burying their head in the sand.....unless pardew pulls a fookin miracle out of the bag this week then be prepared for another relegation.

We cannot afford to fall behind so early in the season or it will require a miracle just to get out of the bottom 3.

Today should be close to a starting lineup as you are going to get for the team against millwall and by the sounds of it,it's not going to be good enough.

 

I really,really do hope that ML and pardew have a plan.

 

It is getting desperate now - sadly some will still keep heads firmly buried below the ground.

 

Are you watching Mr Moneybags?

 

Sort it out ffs.

 

And 10 away from having a decent side and a bench.

 

I hate this forum.

 

Pardew has been in the job for 2 weeks and it's quite obvious he isn't just going to wheel and deal. The transfer window, believe it or not, doesn't shut for another month and the loan market doesn't shut until November!

 

What's more, the manager has publically recognised that we are rubbish and that he will sign multiple players but strangely that just isn't enough for our fans.

 

We need a centre half, a centre midfielder, a right winger and two strikers. Pardew will sign them but he's not just going to sign anyone. He will sign quality players (Harding being an example) but they might not be before the Millwall game. Get ready for some wrist slitting. Can't believe I'm having to write this a week before the season.

[eelpie]

I think you don't realise how poor most teams in League One are. We need 2 or 3 more players and we'll be fine

 

I'd feel more positive if we had managed to beat just one non-league team recently.

[NickG]

Back from the game - Kelvin had very little to do to be honest. We probably shaded the possession and got into the better positions, though we didn't really test their keeper. Apart from a lovely ball by James in the 1st half which Mills should should have kept down with his header, we were pretty awful in our crossing.

 

Thought Mills, Schneiderlin, Murty and Harding all had good games and I was much happier with Lallana's willingness to use the width of the pitch and stay on the right.

 

Like some of the otherd, I would say we are three players short - a CB, a central midfielder and a forward- basically the spine of the team, starting with i) a CB (positionally, Lancashire is dogs**t and intent on ballwatching), then ii) a targetman and iii) a bit more steel in the middle (but there's no reason why Gillett and Schneiderlin can't do a job, though both are prone to injuries). Bring in some experience in these positions and I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

 

not based on todays game, as didn't go but would agree with your assessment on what we need.

 

We are not 10 players away.

Decent CB, exp midfield playmaker type to share load with Gillett/Schneiderlin and CF and we will have decent side.

[NickG]

I'd feel more positive if we had managed to beat just one non-league team recently.

 

Hearts, 3rd in SPL, 3-0.

[sambosa75]

Busy rather than dangerous - should have done better with a free header, played a coupled of nice balls through to saga (caught offside). But his willingness to get into forward positions (as well as track back) was encouraging. Maybe we lack of a bit of pace on the left but think with mills, it looks alot more balanced.

 

Thought Harding kept Routledge reasonably quiet today, which would suggest he's got some pace. I'd say the left side of the pitch is the most promising aspect of the side at the moment. Awful up front. Even half-arsed, Rasiak is 10 times better than Patterson. He might not right all day or chase back when he loses possession but he causes problems which is what you want from a forward. If they can do both then great, but if its one or the other you want a forward that gives the oppositions defence something to think about.

[St_Tel49]

I didnt hear the interview myself (dont get the solent here in Glasgow) someone else posted about it on another thread. also said they saw it in the pink?

 

Yep I agree it will take time - i dont want 7 new players tomorrow and realise it will take time, 2 or 3 new faces before Millwall would be a good boost however

...and interpreting Pardew's post match interview on Solent I think that we are likely to see that happen. I think that it is clear the AP is well aware of where he needs to strengthen but he also has some uncertainties - will he have Rasiak and Saganowski or not? I would predict that we will get a CB and a strong midfielder before next Saturday. But I suspect he is waiting to see what happens on the Rasiak front before he tries to sign a big striker.

[Arizona]

Paterson, Gobern, Saga, Thomas etc

 

Stop being such a drama queen, we're in now way near as bad a position as some people on here are trying to make out.

 

Paterson and Gobern are unproven. Saga apparently couldn't look less interested and Thomas has a dubious injury record.

 

I'm not being a drama queen, I just feel we are dangerously unprepared. I've been having this conversation for three summers in a row now. Being called a drama queen, negative budgie etc. We've gone into the last game of the season in the drop zone for the last 2 years. :smt102

 

I'm not one for blowing my trumpet, but I really don't want to be proven right 3 years in a row.

[NickG]

I bet a lot of the players you write off would be snapped up by other league 1 sides.

Youngsters are year older now.

I doubt there are many better than

Kelvin, Thomas, Harding, Murty, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Gillett, Holmes in this division.

We just need a few experience players in key position to balance it out.

 

Sounds like those will come.

 

We are league lower remember

[Bearsy]

Southampton: Davis, James, Harding, Wotton, Lancashire, Perry, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Saganowski, Paterson, Mills.

 

We appear to have a very white team this year.

 

I hope our new German owners were not too disappointed with the performance.

[SNSUN]

Not disheartened by this, and I haven't been ribbed as much as I thought I would by the QPR fans here at work.

 

It's a long road to promotion, I feel it will happen over two or three seasons, and I think we could be in a much worse position than we are. Gillett and Mills could be the young stars of this league this season, Murty, Thomas, Davis and Perry are the experienced heads on an otherwise young team.

 

I'm bloody looking forward to the start of the season now, and with Pardew claiming there could be one or two signings in the coming week, I'm just can't wait!!!

 

UTS!!!

[lordswoodsaints]

I hate this forum.

 

Pardew has been in the job for 2 weeks and it's quite obvious he isn't just going to wheel and deal. The transfer window, believe it or not, doesn't shut for another month and the loan market doesn't shut until November!

 

What's more, the manager has publically recognised that we are rubbish and that he will sign multiple players but strangely that just isn't enough for our fans.

 

We need a centre half, a centre midfielder, a right winger and two strikers. Pardew will sign them but he's not just going to sign anyone. He will sign quality players (Harding being an example) but they might not be before the Millwall game. Get ready for some wrist slitting. Can't believe I'm having to write this a week before the season.

 

Don't come on here then if you cannot handle a different opinion to your own!

As you rightly point out we do need a few players,I think this is apparent to everybody but waiting until September,October or November will be too late.

[Andy_Porter]

Paterson and Gobern are unproven. Saga apparently couldn't look less interested and Thomas has a dubious injury record.

 

I'm not being a drama queen, I just feel we are dangerously unprepared. I've been having this conversation for three summers in a row now. Being called a drama queen, negative budgie etc. We've gone into the last game of the season in the drop zone for the last 2 years. :smt102

 

I'm not one for blowing my trumpet, but I really don't want to be proven right 3 years in a row.

 

We're in a different league now, we're 10 players away from having a solid Championship side. If we want to really kick on this season which we should then IMO we need a creative midfielder, a left winger, two centre backs and Murty signed up then any first teamers who leave replaced.

 

That's still five players we're going to need in before Septemeber, ideally then we can use loans to cover injuries.

 

Davis, Bart and Forecast

Murty and James

Harding, Mills and Molyneux

Perry, Thomas, Lancashire and two new centre backs

Thompson, McLaggon and Lallana

Mills, Holmes and new left winger

Gillett, Schneiderlin, Wotton, James, Gobern and new centre mid

Rasiak, Saga, Lallana and Paterson

 

Not really sure what other five positions you think we need to fill? That squad leaves us with a lot of cover for every position with some real quality for league one.

[team-saint]

I bet a lot of the players you write off would be snapped up by other league 1 sides.

Youngsters are year older now.

I doubt there are many better than

Kelvin, Thomas, Harding, Murty, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Gillett, Holmes in this division.

We just need a few experience players in key position to balance it out.

 

Sounds like those will come.

 

We are league lower remember

 

We are in a lower division but if we want to get out of this division we need to be the best in this division and that means being Championship quality. If we just lower ourselves to league 1 quality then we'll end up in mid-table.

[Glasgow_Saint]

...and interpreting Pardew's post match interview on Solent I think that we are likely to see that happen. I think that it is clear the AP is well aware of where he needs to strengthen but he also has some uncertainties - will he have Rasiak and Saganowski or not? I would predict that we will get a CB and a strong midfielder before next Saturday. But I suspect he is waiting to see what happens on the Rasiak front before he tries to sign a big striker.

 

Hopefully he will get tough with Rasiak and learn from the Stern John saga! I would sit him down (last week) and say do you want to be here? If yes excellent but if no say good bye. I would be very happy if 2 new faces come in next week and maybe even another full time or on loan.

[Verbal]

Paterson and Gobern are unproven. Saga apparently couldn't look less interested and Thomas has a dubious injury record.

 

I'm not being a drama queen, I just feel we are dangerously unprepared. I've been having this conversation for three summers in a row now. Being called a drama queen, negative budgie etc. We've gone into the last game of the season in the drop zone for the last 2 years. :smt102

 

I'm not one for blowing my trumpet, but I really don't want to be proven right 3 years in a row.

 

Of course we're dangerously unprepared! That much was evident at QPR - and Pardew said as much before the game. But are we in the same situation as the last two seasons, when the club was in the clutches of the Pol Pot of football? I don't think so.

 

It's going to be tough playing catch-up with teams that have had a settled pre-season and with the -10. But we were playing a team from the top-half of the division above us today, and it showed. Even so, a few judicious signings - starting with Murty - and we'll be on the up.

 

And by the way, we really do have some pretty good players in search of a team. Last season, we were dependent on a cut-price Dutch no-hoper to find it; this year, we have a manager with a proven track record to go looking for it.

 

Things just aren't THAT bad.

[NickG]

Don't come on here then if you cannot handle a different opinion to your own!

As you rightly point out we do need a few players,I think this is apparent to everybody but waiting until September,October or November will be too late.

 

maybe his opinion is just more realistic than yours?

[NickG]

for arguements sake, a team like this for Millwall?

KD

Murty Thomas Size Harding

Lallana Schneiderlin Holland Mills

Rasiak Paterson

 

Two signings, both realistic targets and think that would be v good team for this league

[Glasgow_Saint]

We are in a lower division but if we want to get out of this division we need to be the best in this division and that means being Championship quality. If we just lower ourselves to league 1 quality then we'll end up in mid-table.

 

I think some feel that we still have a CCC standard team and by default we will therefore be ok.

I'm however not sure we have had a CCC team since the playoff season and last season our team was very poor. We have lost a percentage of the talent we did have and now our current team is very poor indeed.

 

I would suggest a mass clear out and 7 or 8 new players in - I think if the ML takeover had happened in May we may have done just that.

[SNSUN]

I think some feel that we still have a CCC standard team and by default we will therefore be ok.

I'm however not sure we have had a CCC team since the playoff season and last season our team was very poor. We have lost a percentage of the talent we did have and now our current team is very poor indeed.

 

I would suggest a mass clear out and 7 or 8 new players in - I think if the ML takeover had happened in May we may have done just that.

 

For the CCC yes, we'd be torn a new asshole if we were in the CCC, but we're in League One this season. While I doubt we'd last the whole season, with the team we currently have we'd easily finish in the top half.

[John B]

for arguements sake, a team like this for Millwall?

KD

Murty Thomas Size Harding

Lallana Schneiderlin Holland Mills

Rasiak Paterson

 

Two signings, both realistic targets and think that would be v good team for this league

 

Even better if we could get another striker but that is going to be difficult I would have thought

[Glasgow_Saint]

for arguements sake, a team like this for Millwall?

KD

Murty Thomas Size Harding

Lallana Schneiderlin Holland Mills

Rasiak Paterson

 

Two signings, both realistic targets and think that would be v good team for this league

 

Size and Holland in (are you ITK) would be great. the team (on paper) then looks ok.

Reality thou (not moaning) is Thomas will not stay fit (is already injured) Lallana inconsistant, Schneidelin yet to prove himself (and injury prone), Holland (if we did sign him) unlikely to play every week, Mills very young and probably one that AP considers "not ready" Rasiak wants out and Patterson again on AP's "not ready list"

 

My point is that while the team looks ok (on paper) the 11 you have mentioned may not be enough to get us promoted.

 

Just my opinion

[lordswoodsaints]

maybe his opinion is just more realistic than yours?

 

LOL you make I chuckle:-)

[Flyer]

There could be some bad new, Cerny was out with Swine flu, if he transferred it to others then it might have been transferred to the Saints squad.

 

Lets hope he was isolated before infecting anyone.

[Graffito]

For the CCC yes, we'd be torn a new asshole if we were in the CCC, but we're in League One this season. While I doubt we'd last the whole season, with the team we currently have we'd easily finish in the top half.

 

I disagree. Obvious point but we were relegated from the CCC, since when we've lost some of the better players. Aside from the patchy quality in the side we're not physically big and strong enough down the spine of the team to prosper in League 1. Take one aspect, today we looked dodgy defending corners and crosses and conceded from one. We never looked like scoring from a corner except when Rasiak came on and had one header blocked.

[drapertools]

Was there today, first time I have seen Saints in about 6 months so here my obsovations for waht its worth:

 

Davies - fine, not much to do other than pick up the ball from the net 3 times

Perry - Loads of heart, good positional sense, good bloke but 35 and 5ft f###k all

Lancashire - not too bad actually, needs some serious coaching but not the disaster that people say

Harding - we have had a right result there, the bloke is a dam good footballer and a good defender to boot.

other RB - cant remember his name, gone blank, too many ciders, looked ok first half

Mills - looked good, pacy got some bottle links well with Harding

Wooton - hmmm, he is quite **** but I must say never stopped talking on pitch and bullies the youngsters which may be an advantage

Schienderlin - Sorry I just don't get it with this fella, I just can't see what people see in him he was almost totally anyomous

LLanna - Got to say the boy did not stop all day, he never ever gave up, not too much end product but effort was phenominal

Saga - good in spells but got f###k all service

Patterdon - contrary to other posters, I think this boy has potential, loads of effort but he is a bit lightweight

Ras - OK but god he is a lazy f####er

Gobern - didnt do much at all.

 

What did concern me hugely that regardless of what league or standard we are in, we don't have a PROFFESSIONAL footballer that can take a bloody corner or free kick!!!

 

As for Loftus Road - nice little ground, good pub right next to it, friendly supporters, Saints yoof a joke and embarrasement.

[Arizona]

We're in a different league now, we're 10 players away from having a solid Championship side. If we want to really kick on this season which we should then IMO we need a creative midfielder, a left winger, two centre backs and Murty signed up then any first teamers who leave replaced.

 

That's still five players we're going to need in before Septemeber, ideally then we can use loans to cover injuries.

 

Davis, Bart and Forecast

Murty and James

Harding, Mills and Molyneux

Perry, Thomas, Lancashire and two new centre backs

Thompson, McLaggon and Lallana

Mills, Holmes and new left winger

Gillett, Schneiderlin, Wotton, James, Gobern and new centre mid

Rasiak, Saga, Lallana and Paterson

 

Not really sure what other five positions you think we need to fill? That squad leaves us with a lot of cover for every position with some real quality for league one.

 

We are infact 10 players away from the sh*te side that got relegated from CCC (Surman, BWP, Euell, DMG, Skacel, Size, Smith and a few more bit-part players like Killer and Gasmi)

 

for arguements sake, a team like this for Millwall?

KD

Murty Thomas Size Harding

Lallana Schneiderlin Holland Mills

Rasiak Paterson

 

Two signings, both realistic targets and think that would be v good team for this league

 

Dubious.

 

Murty, Size and Holland haven't signed yet and I think you've pulled the second two out of thin air. Paterson is unproven, Thomas is injured and you haven't got a bench. That's ignoring the possibility that Rasiak could be off and that Lallana often flatters to deceive when played out wide.

 

For the CCC yes, we'd be torn a new asshole if we were in the CCC, but we're in League One this season. While I doubt we'd last the whole season, with the team we currently have we'd easily finish in the top half.

 

Despite all of what I've just said, you think THIS squad, the one we have right now, can maintain playoff form for a 46 game season? :confused:

[Andy_Porter]

We are infact 10 players away from the sh*te side that got relegated from CCC (Surman, BWP, Euell, DMG, Skacel, Size, Smith and a few more bit-part players like Killer and Gasmi)

 

With the right ten players we'd be able to compete in the CCC. Especially when you consider we've actually got a proper manager now who hasn't got his hands tied by his chairman.

 

I'd still like to know which ten positions you think need strengthening.

[Arizona]

With the right ten players we'd be able to compete in the CCC. Especially when you consider we've actually got a proper manager now who hasn't got his hands tied by his chairman.

 

I'd still like to know which ten positions you think need strengthening.

 

GK: Fine

RB: Need 2. Murty could be one of them. James should only be an emergency.

LB: Fine

CB: Need 2 to cover Thomas and Perry.

RM: Need 1 James is the only current suitable candidate IMO.

LM: Need 1 to cover Holmes.

CM: Need 3 Gillett is good enough. Schneiderlin... maybe. The rest...

ST: Need 2 Rasiak and Lallana good. Saga off.

 

Yes we have players like Thomson, Gobern, McLaggon, Paterson who MIGHT be good enough. However not being good enough for CCC last season doesn't automatically make them good enough IMO.

 

That's actually 11 players, I'm not just plucking that number out of thin air. That's my take on the current squad.

 

I am expecting responses saying I am wrong about LM (because Mills can cover 2 possitions) and CM (after all, we have Wotton and Pulis). IMO however Wotton and Pulis are carp. When Mills gets injured we're suddenly down to the bare bones on the left and forced to rely on Holmes being fit.

[John B]

GK: Fine

RB: Need 2. Murty could be one of them. James should only be an emergency.

LB: Fine

CB: Need 2 to cover Thomas and Perry.

RM: Need 1 James is the only current suitable candidate IMO.

LM: Need 1 to cover Holmes.

CM: Need 3 Gillett is good enough. Schneiderlin... maybe. The rest...

ST: Need 2 Rasiak and Lallana good. Saga off.

 

Yes we have players like Thomson, Gobern, McLaggon, Paterson who MIGHT be good enough. However not being good enough for CCC last season doesn't automatically make them good enough IMO.

 

That's actually 11 players, I'm not just plucking that number out of thin air. That's my take on the current squad.

 

I am expecting responses saying I am wrong about LM (because Mills can cover 2 possitions) and CM (after all, we have Wotton and Pulis). IMO however Wotton and Pulis are carp. When Mills gets injured we're suddenly down to the bare bones on the left and forced to rely on Holmes being fit.

 

Do you know what life is like in League 1 because I dont

 

 

How does our squad compare with the rest of the teams

 

 

Do they have large squads

 

 

We may be making ill informed comments based on experiences in CCC and Premiership

 

 

I dont know but I expect us to hold our own

[Arizona]

Do you know what life is like in League 1 because I dont

 

 

How does our squad compare with the rest of the teams

 

 

Do they have large squads

 

 

We may be making ill informed comments based on experiences in CCC and Premiership

 

 

I dont know but I expect us to hold our own

 

No, I also confess to knowing very little of L1. However I want to be prepared for L1, regardless of how good the rest are.

 

I'd like players who are good enough for League 1, rather than just whoever didn't escape from last season and the desperate hope that because they weren't good enough for CCC, that therefore makes them promotion material in L1.

 

I'm not suggesting a large squad. In my ideal world we'd have 30 players, with 7 or 8 of those being young players like Thomson, Gobern and McLaggon and Wotton, Pulis and Molyneux nowhere to be seen.

[NickG]

GK: Fine

RB: Need 2. Murty could be one of them. James should only be an emergency.

LB: Fine

CB: Need 2 to cover Thomas and Perry.

RM: Need 1 James is the only current suitable candidate IMO.

LM: Need 1 to cover Holmes.

CM: Need 3 Gillett is good enough. Schneiderlin... maybe. The rest...

ST: Need 2 Rasiak and Lallana good. Saga off.

 

Yes we have players like Thomson, Gobern, McLaggon, Paterson who MIGHT be good enough. However not being good enough for CCC last season doesn't automatically make them good enough IMO.

 

That's actually 11 players, I'm not just plucking that number out of thin air. That's my take on the current squad.

 

I am expecting responses saying I am wrong about LM (because Mills can cover 2 possitions) and CM (after all, we have Wotton and Pulis). IMO however Wotton and Pulis are carp. When Mills gets injured we're suddenly down to the bare bones on the left and forced to rely on Holmes being fit.

 

Murty sounds likely

did you see James second half of last season? Played pretty well at RB - his first season there and higher league. That would be plenty for RB.

LB good.

CB agree and Pardew has said today should have CB by next week, plus Thomas back.

RM Lallana is playing there.

LM Mills/Holmes - good.

CM -yes one better/more exp to share duty with form player out of Schneiderlin/Gillett

 

Bet not many teams will have likes of Gobbern, Thompson, McClaggon as 4th/5th choice.

[Arizona]

Fair enough. Looks like we have a different philosophy, so we're never going to agree 100%.

 

Having ended up playing midfielders at fullback all season for the last 2 years, I really would like to have some decent cover. I've read comments that we don't need 2 specialist RBs/LBs, but IMO we do. Yes Wright, James and Skacel have done an admirable job filling in for 2 years, but they are much better off in midfield IMO. I'd hate to see James, who looks an excellent prospect in midfield, being held back having to cover at RB when fat, 35 year old Murty gets injured.

[NickG]

I actually think we had some decent player last year - but totally lost confidence and without enough experience around them - which is enough to make us look dreadful- but hopefully not too hard to address.

 

agree to disagree.

[Matthew Le God]

 

I'm not suggesting a large squad. In my ideal world we'd have 30 players

 

You clearly don't know League One.

 

30 players is a HUGE squad in League One

[S-Clarke]

You clearly don't know League One.

 

30 players is a HUGE squad in League One

 

totally.

 

I've been reading around on some other forums, Stockport only have 16 professionals at the moment and Carlisle are playing Graham Kavanagh as a striker.

 

Let's get some perspective and realise that we're in a better place than over 80% of league 1 clubs.

[Matthew Le God]

I'd say only...

 

Leeds

Charlton

Norwich

MK Dons

Huddersfield

Millwall

 

...pose a threat. The rest of the League is very poor.

[Arizona]

You clearly don't know League One.

 

30 players is a HUGE squad in League One

 

Why should squads get smaller the lower down the leagues you go? :-S Players are just as likely to get injured, there are just as many games to play, more so than in the Prem.

 

Leeds for example have 28 first team players, of which only 4 are under 21.

[Matthew Le God]

Why should squads get smaller the lower down the leagues you go?

 

Because budgets are smaller.

[Arizona]

Because budgets are smaller.

 

Yes, meaning wages are smaller.

 

If you don't have sufficient cover, you're still going to be badly prepared whatever division you are in. I don't care if Stockport only have 1 man and his dog in their squad, they were battling relegation last season and aren't a good role model for a promotion campaign. If we had that kind of squad, minus 10, we'd be relegated. Not where I want to be if I'm honnest.

[oxfordshire_saint]

Christ, just seen the goals from the QPR game on SSN and we were shocking at the back.

 

The lack of muscle can be blamed for the first goal, but the second and third were just awful defending with poor positioning and nobody willing to make a tackle. I know we lack physical players, but tackling is a basic for a defender of any size.

 

We need people to start putting their foot in.

[Matthew Le God]

Yes, meaning wages are smaller.

 

If you don't have sufficient cover, you're still going to be badly prepared whatever division you are in.

 

You will still find that lower league teams have significantly smaller squads than higher league teams.

 

Larger squads are also used for squad rotation. You don't need to have squad rotation like Prem clubs the further down you go and thus lower league sides have much smaller numbers of senior players. Squad rotation is a luxury which requires money. You are right wages in lower leagues are lower but that doesn't mean it makes economic sense to have bloated squads. The evidence for this is found in the average squad sizes in League One. There may well be exceptions like you mention with Leeds but certainly not the rule.

Edited 1 August, 2009 by Matthew Le God

[SNSUN]

Despite all of what I've just said, you think THIS squad, the one we have right now, can maintain playoff form for a 46 game season? :confused:

 

I didn't say play-offs, I just don't think we'll be languishing in the bottom half, especially as I expect Pardew to strengthen before the end of August.

 

In that, I was adding that Saga and Rasiak are still here, which more than likely won't happen. Let's judge the team at the end of August, not before.

[SNSUN]

I disagree. Obvious point but we were relegated from the CCC, since when we've lost some of the better players. Aside from the patchy quality in the side we're not physically big and strong enough down the spine of the team to prosper in League 1. Take one aspect, today we looked dodgy defending corners and crosses and conceded from one. We never looked like scoring from a corner except when Rasiak came on and had one header blocked.

 

All of which we have a month to sort out. And longer with loans...

[Arizona]

Squad rotation may well be a luxury, but I don't think having cover is. To me, having 2 players in each possition is a nescessity. A luxury would be like Man City having 9 strikers.

 

Here's an interesting article:

 

http://www.theoffside.com/europe/is-limiting-squad-sizes-to-25-a-good-idea.html

 

"The solution Gaillard sounds most upbeat about is limiting squad sizes to 25. Yes, this already happens in the Champions League and UEFA Cup, but the new idea is to limit squad sizes for domestic campaigns too.

 

Gaillard said a move to curb squads would help reduce massive wage bills at clubs and provide “a more level playing field”.

 

“It would stop the hoarding of players by the richer and more powerful clubs. Players would be signed to play rather than to possibly prevent opponents from signing the player,” Gaillard said.

 

I can see where hes coming from here. Yes, Man Utd would likely have a better 25 than West Brom, so that’s not going to change. But now that Man Utd can’t accommodate players #26 and #27, those guys will need to look for a new team, which might make them available to the Baggies.

 

One problem is that maybe chances would be limited for young players, but if the squad rules follow the Champions League format, then players under 21 could be exempt. Allowing clubs to have a 25 man squad plus freedom to play youth team players could definitely work. Wage bills go down, younger players have more opportunities and European Union labour laws remain unbroken.

 

So maybe this is the future?"

[Arizona]

I didn't say play-offs, I just don't think we'll be languishing in the bottom half, especially as I expect Pardew to strengthen before the end of August..

 

In that, I was adding that Saga and Rasiak are still here, which more than likely won't happen. Let's judge the team at the end of August, not before.

 

Well, for that to happen, we're going to need 10 more points than the team in 12th place. Last season Colchester finished 12th on 63 points, the last playoff team was Scunny with 76 points

[Faz]

Well, for that to happen, we're going to need 10 more points than the team in 12th place. Last season Colchester finished 12th on 63 points, the last playoff team was Scunny with 76 points

 

In the last 5 years the smallest gap between the last Play Off position and 12th place is 8 points, and the largest 15. Average around 12 - so yes we need to show play off form to finish mid-table.

 

But it's all about momentum imo. Gaining traction and then keeping it. We've seen Leeds go off like a train and claw back their deficit, and still not go up. Pardews plan is to get back the 10 points asap, see where we are by Xmas, and then push on if we have a shout. The fact is we need the momentum in the 2nd half of the season, not the first. Steady progress up to Xmas will do for me.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Still far too many 'players' hanging around from last season. I am sure Pardew sees this and it will be sorted over the next month or so. You can't polish a turd, and I'm sure Pardew doesn't intend to try. Some of our lot will shortly have to revise their understanding of the term 'flush of youth'.

[Andy_Porter]

GK: Fine

RB: Need 2. Murty could be one of them. James should only be an emergency.

LB: Fine

CB: Need 2 to cover Thomas and Perry.

RM: Need 1 James is the only current suitable candidate IMO.

LM: Need 1 to cover Holmes.

CM: Need 3 Gillett is good enough. Schneiderlin... maybe. The rest...

ST: Need 2 Rasiak and Lallana good. Saga off.

 

Yes we have players like Thomson, Gobern, McLaggon, Paterson who MIGHT be good enough. However not being good enough for CCC last season doesn't automatically make them good enough IMO.

 

That's actually 11 players, I'm not just plucking that number out of thin air. That's my take on the current squad.

 

I am expecting responses saying I am wrong about LM (because Mills can cover 2 possitions) and CM (after all, we have Wotton and Pulis). IMO however Wotton and Pulis are carp. When Mills gets injured we're suddenly down to the bare bones on the left and forced to rely on Holmes being fit.

 

You really don't rate some of our youngsters highly enough.

 

How come Mills is ready to be part of our squad but Paterson and Gobern aren't? They all seem to be at a similar level imo and all have the same sort of experience. All three of those are more than ready to be part of our squad and i'd probably still have them as part of the CCC squad if we wheren't relegated, Paterson has been a real class act in pre season.

 

Then there are the next tier of youngsters who may or may not be ready, Thompson, White, Lancashire and McLaggon who may not be ready yet and probably shouldn't be included but they can probably all do a job as cover.

 

I also don't really see any point in just assuming someone like Saga or Rasiak will leave, doesn't seem to be much interest in them currently so I think we will start the season with them here.

 

I think James would be much more use in the centre than as a right winger, I don't really understand why so many talk him up as a winger, he can cross a ball and has a decent engine but he's far too slow to be effective. Play him through the middle or as cover for Murty and he will excell. We either need to play Lallana every game inside right or pick up an old fashion right winger with a bit of pace. Personally i'd like to see Lallana and Murty as our right side, think it's very balanced and will stop us getting over run in the middle by teams playing 4-5-1.

 

As for your last paragraph, I don't think you really read my post at all, I said one of the main signings we needed was a central midfielder and a left winger.....

 

I don't think you're wrong as such in saying we need players I just think you really underate some of our youngsters Paterson and Gobern in particular or maybe i'm just over rating a few of them.

[Arizona]

You really don't rate some of our youngsters highly enough.

 

How come Mills is ready to be part of our squad but Paterson and Gobern aren't? They all seem to be at a similar level imo and all have the same sort of experience. All three of those are more than ready to be part of our squad and i'd probably still have them as part of the CCC squad if we wheren't relegated, Paterson has been a real class act in pre season.

 

Then there are the next tier of youngsters who may or may not be ready, Thompson, White, Lancashire and McLaggon who may not be ready yet and probably shouldn't be included but they can probably all do a job as cover.

 

I also don't really see any point in just assuming someone like Saga or Rasiak will leave, doesn't seem to be much interest in them currently so I think we will start the season with them here.

 

I think James would be much more use in the centre than as a right winger, I don't really understand why so many talk him up as a winger, he can cross a ball and has a decent engine but he's far too slow to be effective. Play him through the middle or as cover for Murty and he will excell. We either need to play Lallana every game inside right or pick up an old fashion right winger with a bit of pace. Personally i'd like to see Lallana and Murty as our right side, think it's very balanced and will stop us getting over run in the middle by teams playing 4-5-1.

 

As for your last paragraph, I don't think you really read my post at all, I said one of the main signings we needed was a central midfielder and a left winger.....

 

I don't think you're wrong as such in saying we need players I just think you really underate some of our youngsters Paterson and Gobern in particular or maybe i'm just over rating a few of them.

 

Mills has shown he is good enough playing on loan at Scunny last year as well as apparently being one of the best players of pre-season.

 

The rest, people seem to be going by the logic that because they weren't good enough to fight relegation in CCC, they are good enough for a promotion push in L1. Paterson, okay he had that one goal at Portman Road. Gobern, 45 minutes at Deep Dale. Beyond that however I think it's more hope than anything.

 

I'm not saying these 'kids' aren't good enough. Just that we've seen nothing yet to suggest they are. We could well be in danger of doing what we did last season. Shoving players like DMG, Lallana and Lancs into the first teaam every week, when they aren't really ready. Inevitably their form will stutter, they will lose confidence and we will slag them off.

 

People will hate me saying this, but we should take a leaf out of Redknapps book. Even though he clearly had a fantastic tallent, he started off with a few sub appearances here and there and wasn't starting games regularish until Decemeber time.

 

RE: James. I'm not sure he is tall enough to play CB that well. I'd have him as a winger because his crossing is pretty impressive, but if he gets skinned, it's NBD compared to if he was playing RB. Skacel and Holmes lacked pace, but they both did a decent job on the wing.