markr27 Posted 30 January, 2010 Share Posted 30 January, 2010 Has he been issued with his squad number yet? (I missed his presentation today so do not know if he held up a shirt with his name/number on?). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 30 January, 2010 Share Posted 30 January, 2010 No quality midfield general in Saints squad still then.... Totally agree,But very few in the Ball or Case mould are around or available nowadays ie someone who can dictate or control the game. Someone who generally plays in midfield? Obviously not old enough to remember Ball or Case ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 My Pilgrims supporting pal from Glenrothes in Fife says that Plymouth fans have been surprised that Puncheon wasn't recalled from MKD because of the goals he was scoring, espacially as Plymouth can't buy a goal. Suggestion is that there's been something in his character that has held him back but that he's worth a try. Possibly a concern,but I'd read on Pasoti that he could not settle as too far from London. There's a cloud on every silver lining...... Boring. On the contrary I think Alpine has a valid point. In Lawries terms of 'dustbinmen and violinists', perhaps we lack a conductor for our orchestra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st alex Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Maybe he could also be useful in the central midfeild position that many thought we needed strengthening? McGoldrick's positions were up front or on the wing but then when converted to cm he looked more impressive I thought. I dont remember Puncheon playing, but what kind of player is he (style wise)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dark Munster Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 So is he cup-tied for the FA cup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wycombe Saint Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Great signing, get Lallana in the middle and Puncheon out on the wing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Possibly a concern,but I'd read on Pasoti that he could not settle as too far from London. On the contrary I think Alpine has a valid point. In Lawries terms of 'dustbinmen and violinists', perhaps we lack a conductor for our orchestra. Lawrie was the conductor, and so is Pardew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badger Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Lawrie was the conductor, and so is Pardew. Fair point,but Lawrie had someone to take it onto the pitch in Ball and later Case.Perhaps they could be termed "lead violinists" to continue Lawrie's analogy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Jason Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Disappointed by that to be honest!!! Not with Puncheon , but I still felt we needed one more!! Oh well, not long til the summer!!! Really disappointed????? Really???? 5 January signings and your still disappointed!!!! Last January we shipped out any and everyone we could, this year we sign 5 and some fans are still disappointed................couldn't make it up!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Wayman Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 No quality midfield general in Saints squad still then.... Surely you realise the team is being built around Morgan Schneiderlin??? What more do you want as a future midfield-general? Wotton is there as father-figure extrodinaire whilst MS gets up to speed. "He is the very essence of a midfield gen-er-al" as the old G&S song has it! This lad will be captain of France in about 5 or 6 years and we'll do very well to keep those leeches of North and West London off his skin even if the magical £10m is offered. We don't need it anyway, who knows maybe we'll start buying their players for a change... Anybody fancy Terry for starters? No, thought not... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chez Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Really disappointed????? Really???? 5 January signings and your still disappointed!!!! Last January we shipped out any and everyone we could, this year we sign 5 and some fans are still disappointed................couldn't make it up!! we didn't actually sell anyone in last January's transfer window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_Mabes Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 You may be right about the team being built around him - but he is NOT a midfield general! Hammond was meant to be the general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulletsaint Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Possibly a concern,but I'd read on Pasoti that he could not settle as too far from London. On the contrary I think Alpine has a valid point. In Lawries terms of 'dustbinmen and violinists', perhaps we lack a conductor for our orchestra. I agree, he does have a point. Unfortunately, as per usual he can only find the negative to any situation. If he'd gone "Great signing, really pleased! However I'm still worried about the lack of a really quality central midfielder to hold everything together." most of us would not only be nodding our heads in agreement, but also trying to scrape our jaws off the floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Surely you realise the team is being built around Morgan Schneiderlin??? What more do you want as a future midfield-general? Wotton is there as father-figure extrodinaire whilst MS gets up to speed. "He is the very essence of a midfield gen-er-al" as the old G&S song has it! This lad will be captain of France in about 5 or 6 years and we'll do very well to keep those leeches of North and West London off his skin even if the magical £10m is offered. We don't need it anyway, who knows maybe we'll start buying their players for a change... Anybody fancy Terry for starters? No, thought not... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Fair point,but Lawrie had someone to take it onto the pitch in Ball and later Case.Perhaps they could be termed "lead violinists" to continue Lawrie's analogy. nah i'd call them the drummers, powerful and able to maintain the rhythm and tempo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 France aren't that great to be fair. If he is the best midfielder in the French youth teams then he is near guaranteed to play regularly at senior level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkySaint Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Has he been issued with his squad number yet? (I missed his presentation today so do not know if he held up a shirt with his name/number on?). I would have thought he'd take number 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkySaint Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Wikipedia seams to think that he is number 4 but that could be someone making the same assumption as me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkySaint Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1949524,00.html It is 4. I'll shut up now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC Forever Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Like the working out of the question. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 I would have thought he'd take number 4 Really? Interesting theory. Wikipedia seams to think that he is number 4 but that could be someone making the same assumption as me Wikipedia isn't very reliable though really. http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~1949524,00.html It is 4. I'll shut up now Oh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 No quality midfield general in Saints squad still then.... I have to agree with this from Alpine and I don't think we needed to sign Puncheon given the options we have wide and on a three and half year contract? Understandable if the cost was £3m to protect our investment but hardly the player to take us further forward in the Championship when we get there. We were poor yesterday and Hammond was a big miss. Wotton is a ball winner but is also cumbersome and his distribution / vision was at best not very good. We need a central midfielder with some real vision and quality to execute it, to ensure we start giving some quality ball to our front two or wide as yesterday you could only feel sorry for Barnard who was ineffective because of final ball being so poor. Holmes probably didn't need a shower at the end of the game let alone have his kit cleaned despite finding plenty of space. I am not saying Puncheon is poor player I just don't think IMO he is the type of player we need at the moment. We don't need a midfielder who can play wide or vice versa we need a central midfielder capable of dictating the pace and the quality of the game. Pardew signings have been good with question marks perhaps over Seaborne (reserve judgement until he is tested) and Puncheon (not really what we need IMO) but we now look weak in Midfield especially given our congested fixture list and Schniederlin's ability to get booked through rash tackles and reliance to date on Lallana and Hammond - how serious are their injuries? If they are long term or result in fragility of these two players ability to play out the season Puncheon will look like an error of judgement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 There is every possibility Puncheon will play centre right in midfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 There is every possibility Puncheon will play centre right in midfield. I would have preferred we had signed a player that would play in centre midfield with a high degree of probability. No disrepesct to Puncheon he just adds to a list of possibilities but we need quaility cover and a challange to our first choice central midfield pairing. Just feel we may have missed a beat on this one athough at the price and length of contract if he does well the club are likely to make a nice profit as if we keep to the 5 year plan it is diffcult seeing him lasting the course based on evidence to date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 I would have preferred we had signed a player that would play in centre midfield with a high degree of probability. No disrepesct to Puncheon he just adds to a list of possibilities but we need quaility cover and a challange to our first choice central midfield pairing. Just feel we may have missed a beat on this one athough at the price and length of contract if he does well the club are likely to make a nice profit as if we keep to the 5 year plan it is diffcult seeing him lasting the course based on evidence to date. What I like about him from the 2 times I've seen him play against us is his speed and mobility, good first touch and subsequent control when running, plus his ability to run at, take on and beat defenders. Obviously he can hit a good free-kick. If he combines well with Papa's speed and can release him early, then we have something that has the potential to be highly exciting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 There is every possibility Puncheon will play centre right in midfield. So there is also the possibility that he wont only time will tell. When Hammond and James are fit we will surely have enough CMs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Porter Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 More power and pace in the wide areas. Just hope we play to our strengths now we have Puncheon. Puncheon on the left, Waigo or Antonio on the right with them both playing very wide with Schneiderlin looking for the out ball whenever he picks it up. If we set up like that and get the ball into the box Lambert, Lallana etc will score for fun in this league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 What I like about him from the 2 times I've seen him play against us is his speed and mobility, good first touch and subsequent control when running, plus his ability to run at, take on and beat defenders. Obviously he can hit a good free-kick. If he combines well with Papa's speed and can release him early, then we have something that has the potential to be highly exciting. I don't disagree with that but at this stage I would prefer to see in midfield something more than possibilities and potential and something a little more definite as Alpine alluded to. A lot of our signings have potential, Seaborne being the other obvious example but I just feel we needed to sign a well regarded and recognised central midfield general to borrow Alpine's phrase as Wotton is not the answer and Gillet not well regarded or so it seems. Puncheon is a possibility/potential or even a gamble but not a recognised quality CM. To be honest he sounds more like cover for Lallana than a Hammond or Schneiderlin who could also do with a little competition for their place in the team. If we couldn't afford such a player then maybe we should have sold/released more of the deadwood / fringe players from the squad otherwise they will need to start producing the programme on A4 to help us read our squad. I don't deny Puncheon has potential and can possibly play centrally or wide I just question if he helps with our central midfield weaknesses in the long term as evidenced by our performance yesterday where we lacked an influential and domiant presence in midfield. No doubt we will soon have the answer and I hope I'll be eating the humble pie but only if I can have custard and cream with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonManager Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 I don't deny Puncheon has potential and can possibly play centrally or wide I just question if he helps with our central midfield weaknesses in the long term as evidenced by our performance yesterday where we lacked an influential and domiant presence in midfield. No doubt we will soon have the answer and I hope I'll be eating the humble pie but only if I can have custard and cream with it. To quote DannySFC 'We will see' COYR:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 I would have preferred we had signed a player that would play in centre midfield with a high degree of probability. No disrepesct to Puncheon he just adds to a list of possibilities but we need quaility cover and a challange to our first choice central midfield pairing. I agree NC looking back to the Ipswich game and the number of times Garvin and Leadbitter got beyond their attackers...when did we see this lately? Our midfield is so static that we are so easy to play against. Morgan is a pretty player with no pace, Holmes cannot run past anyone and Wotton would be beaten over 10 yards by Heather Mills! Is Puncheon that sort of midfield player if he isn't then no different to what we have. The same as Barnard from what I have seen in 3 games is he that different to Saga...couldn't the money we paid be used to pay his wages? He certainly is no substitute for Ricky! No pace, power or strength to lead the line SO FAR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazlo78 Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Read several reports that he was MK Dons best player agains us - nice! Also the description on the OS is very unique - it looks like AP has more to say about Puncheon than the usual clichés. Expect the unexpected Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostBoys Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Very pleased with this signing - we just needs Danns and we have covered all the weak spots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Saint Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Midfield right to left :- Antonio (Waigo) - Puncheon - Schneiderlin - Lallana is he bet until Hammond is fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derry Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 Midfield right to left :- Antonio (Waigo) - Puncheon - Schneiderlin - Lallana is he bet until Hammond is fit. I hope not Ron. I'd take Antonio Lallana Schneiderlin Puncheon as long as Waigo was up front with Lambert. If not Waigo instead of Antonio but It won't happen. It's far too attacking for the manager. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 I can't believe he insisted that the club found him a mint 12" copy of 'Rappers Delight' by the Sugar Hill Gang before he would sign anything. The demands being made by some players these days. Tuh, I don't know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 I agree NC looking back to the Ipswich game and the number of times Garvin and Leadbitter got beyond their attackers...when did we see this lately? Our midfield is so static that we are so easy to play against. Morgan is a pretty player with no pace, Holmes cannot run past anyone and Wotton would be beaten over 10 yards by Heather Mills! Is Puncheon that sort of midfield player if he isn't then no different to what we have. The same as Barnard from what I have seen in 3 games is he that different to Saga...couldn't the money we paid be used to pay his wages? He certainly is no substitute for Ricky! No pace, power or strength to lead the line SO FAR. I can't comment on the Ipswich game as I didn't see it but based on what I saw yesterday and the commentaries on Solent I have heard recently we seem to be lacking something centrally. What that something is I'm not sure and leave that to the experts but yesterday in the middle we lacked drive, energy, desire or call it what you like but we looked lackadaisical and I don't buy the theory it was a nervy first half as they barely tested us despite their 4 corners or whatever it was. Hammond was a big miss and we need someone else of his equal if not more. Puncheon strikes me as cover or first selection for other areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMikey Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 I can't believe he insisted that the club found him a mint 12" copy of 'Rappers Delight' by the Sugar Hill Gang before he would sign anything. The demands being made by some players these days. Tuh, I don't know. I'd heard he actually wanted a copy of 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun' but with the vocals sung by Ron Perlman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 31 January, 2010 Share Posted 31 January, 2010 I can't comment on the Ipswich game as I didn't see it but based on what I saw yesterday and the commentaries on Solent I have heard recently we seem to be lacking something centrally. What that something is I'm not sure and leave that to the experts but yesterday in the middle we lacked drive, energy, desire or call it what you like but we looked lackadaisical and I don't buy the theory it was a nervy first half as they barely tested us despite their 4 corners or whatever it was. Hammond was a big miss and we need someone else of his equal if not more. Puncheon strikes me as cover or first selection for other areas. Agree with all of this. In the last few games the central midfield had looked weak and been easily dealt with by the opposition. It's all very well having wingers who can take the fullbacks on and cross into the box, but with no midfielders making the runs to get into the box, the strikers are left having to beat all of the defenders and the keeper to the ball. Similarly, we rarely have someone waiting right on the edge of the box for the ball to drop back- a Paul Scholes type player. At the moment when we get the ball, say in central defence, the immediate action is usually either to hoof it to Lambert or to try to spread it out to the wings. Even when the central midfielders get it, they try to look for the fullbacks or wingers. I think we need to be more direct, in playing down the centre of the pitch, which requires a midfielder to pick the ball up and drive forward. They don't necessarily have to take players on but go forward and exchange passes and run at the defence, directly. I think Hammond does this to an extent, and therefore we are missing him, but I too would have liked to have seen a 'midfield general' type player brought in to do this job. Having said all this, I am of course still very happy that we have signed Puncheon, and I think he will bring a lot to the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMike Posted 1 February, 2010 Share Posted 1 February, 2010 I agree NC looking back to the Ipswich game and the number of times Garvin and Leadbitter got beyond their attackers...when did we see this lately? Our midfield is so static that we are so easy to play against. Morgan is a pretty player with no pace, Holmes cannot run past anyone and Wotton would be beaten over 10 yards by Heather Mills! Is Puncheon that sort of midfield player if he isn't then no different to what we have. The same as Barnard from what I have seen in 3 games is he that different to Saga...couldn't the money we paid be used to pay his wages? He certainly is no substitute for Ricky! No pace, power or strength to lead the line SO FAR. Agree with some of your points but the "Holmes cannot run past anyone" bit i disagree 100%. He did it plenty v Stockport just had no-one to pass to so ended up having to cut inside to look for a pass. Morgan also has pace, ok he is not as fast as Antonio but he is often told to sit back which i dont understand as he is our best passer of the ball my a long way. And in the game v MK dons he played more advanced in the 1st half and did very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 1 February, 2010 Share Posted 1 February, 2010 I'll reserve judgement on this until I've seen what he brings to the table. Undoubtedly judging by the disappointment that has been expressed by the MK Dons fans at his departure and the good game he had against us here, he does have some talent and also good mobility and free-kick prowess. I also believed that we needed a midfield general type and Schneiderlin has not proven to be that player yet. But the problem probably is that players with those credentials are difficult to find in the Premiership, let alone in this division. It is said that Puncheon can play anywhere across the middle and it could be that Pardew sees possibilities of him playing centrally rather than wide. Certainly we have several options, as although Papa is a candidate for playing out wide or up front, presumably he could also play behind the strikers as an attacking midfielder too. So until we see what Pardew has in mind for Puncheon, it is early days to form some valid opinion. What is interesting is why Plymouth let him out on loan when he has apparently done such a good job in helping MK Dons' cause this season? It smacks of a fall out, a personliy clash with the management at Plymouth. Pardew rather interestingly describes him as "a bit of a maverick". Nothing wrong with that provided that the manager can control him and there is a mutual respect. Also that needs to apply to his team mates too. But what I do appreciate is our ability to target these players that clubs wish to keep and prise them away. But it would still be nice to hear that later today we have done the business with Danns too. It does appear at the moment that with Hammond or Schneiderlin out, we are too one-dimensional and lack bite and direction in midfield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpine_saint Posted 1 February, 2010 Share Posted 1 February, 2010 Surely you realise the team is being built around Morgan Schneiderlin??? What more do you want as a future midfield-general? Wotton is there as father-figure extrodinaire whilst MS gets up to speed. "He is the very essence of a midfield gen-er-al" as the old G&S song has it! This lad will be captain of France in about 5 or 6 years and we'll do very well to keep those leeches of North and West London off his skin even if the magical £10m is offered. We don't need it anyway, who knows maybe we'll start buying their players for a change... Anybody fancy Terry for starters? No, thought not... Do leave it out. If we are building the team around Schneiderlin, we are in big trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMike Posted 1 February, 2010 Share Posted 1 February, 2010 Do leave it out. If we are building the team around Schneiderlin, we are in big trouble. and this coming from someone that goes every week...oh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nineteen Canteen Posted 1 February, 2010 Share Posted 1 February, 2010 and this coming from someone that goes every week...oh Whilst it helps to confirm your own perspective I don't think you need to attend games to form an opinion on a player as to if that player can be the one the team is built around. Lets face it with Alpine based in Austria its hardly conducive to attending matches but no doubt he is well served by information gained from the newspapers, internet, forums, radio and friends to be able to formulate his own judgement. In this instance going to a game would only endorse his judgement IMO. Schneiderlin is a decent and important player for us but he is also a hot head and hardly drives the team forward or executes the killer pass week in week out. I agree with Wes the type of player we need is probably but a pipe dream in this league (hence the Puncheon signing) but Schniederlin is unlikely to be the next Michael Carrick or Zidane to use a comparison with his fellow countryman. That said given his rashness at times you wouldn't be suprised to see him emulate that great player's most rash 'tackle' at some stage during his career IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam Posted 1 February, 2010 Share Posted 1 February, 2010 Whilst it helps to confirm your own perspective I don't think you need to attend games to form an opinion on a player as to if that player can be the one the team is built around. Lets face it with Alpine based in Austria its hardly conducive to attending matches but no doubt he is well served by information gained from the newspapers, internet, forums, radio and friends to be able to formulate his own judgement. In this instance going to a game would only endorse his judgement IMO. Schneiderlin is a decent and important player for us but he is also a hot head and hardly drives the team forward or executes the killer pass week in week out. I agree with Wes the type of player we need is probably but a pipe dream in this league (hence the Puncheon signing) but Schniederlin is unlikely to be the next Michael Carrick or Zidane to use a comparison with his fellow countryman. That said given his rashness at times you wouldn't be suprised to see him emulate that great player's most rash 'tackle' at some stage during his career IMO. I already rate Schneiderlin but on Saturday he showed in the second half that he could drive the team forward. He became more mobile and our whole display improved. I hope he can (and is allowed to) do that every week in future. If he does then we will see a real gem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St. Jason Posted 1 February, 2010 Share Posted 1 February, 2010 we didn't actually sell anyone in last January's transfer window. Where did I say "sell"????????????????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jam Posted 1 February, 2010 Share Posted 1 February, 2010 Where did I say "sell"????????????????? So who did we ship out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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