alpine_saint Posted 8 January, 2011 Posted 8 January, 2011 Every club in the world needs to strengthen, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man Utd, Chelsea etc will all look to strengthen all the time. It doesn't mean that Barcelona aren't good enough to win the champion league now, it means that teams are always evolving, developing improving, there is no such thing as the perfect squad. In the same way we are good enough to win L1 now with the squad. So yes we do need to strengthen but if we dont right now it's not a disaster as what we have is good enough to win promotion. Is that clear enough for you? I know it's been a tough few weeks for you what with us winning 4 in a row and signing our best player up on a 4 year deal. Nope you dont get it, clearly. Transfer window closes, someone key then gets injured, we cant get cover. Promotion quest falls apart. Is that clear enough for you ? Oh, and the last sentence of your post is pure childishness. I am delighted at the run we've put together, and I expressed my delight at Lallana signing on again earlier today. Try discussing things in an adult manner and get your head around the fact that this is the same team more-or-less that was sh*te at the beginning of the season and I therefore have my doubts they can be consistent enough to win automatic promotion. OK ?
WATERSIDEIFASAINT Posted 8 January, 2011 Posted 8 January, 2011 We are trying to strengthen with substantial bids in according to NA.If we can get the right quality players in to enhance our squad further with players capable of helping us challenge at the top end of the championship then all well and good. There is no point bringing average players in who will not be good enough for next season if we fulfil our goal this season.We can always bring in loans like all our rivals have done if we can't sign the players we want for whatever reason which can cover injuries and loss of form upto sometime in march when the loan window closes. I think our current squad is good enough but if we could sign Austin,Danns,Woolford or players of that calabre I would be very happy to have the extra quality in our squad
wessex saint Posted 8 January, 2011 Posted 8 January, 2011 oh for god's sake Alpine please just do us all a favour and **** off!! You are so BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've spent yrs watching your pessimistic almost suicidal view on Saints and you make me want to cry. Take some advice froma grown up... get off the PC... drink a beer or two ... and try to meet some adults. If that fails try 'www.redtube.com' Good luck buddy
S-Clarke Posted 8 January, 2011 Posted 8 January, 2011 If Punch stays that's the wide area's sorted. I'd still like to see us bring in another forward though, but other than that our squad depth and quality really takes the **** in this league.
PokingFun Posted 8 January, 2011 Posted 8 January, 2011 Nope you dont get it, clearly. Transfer window closes, someone key then gets injured, we cant get cover. Promotion quest falls apart. Is that clear enough for you ? Oh, and the last sentence of your post is pure childishness. I am delighted at the run we've put together, and I expressed my delight at Lallana signing on again earlier today. Try discussing things in an adult manner and get your head around the fact that this is the same team more-or-less that was sh*te at the beginning of the season and I therefore have my doubts they can be consistent enough to win automatic promotion. OK ? No team has cover for every position (well not two in each position of the same calibre anyway). Under NA this team has been as consistent as it gets in L1 so I would suggest that means we have every chance of automatic promotion and if we didnt sign another player but kept everyone we currently have then we are in good shape. Our third and fourth string CB's were good today, Bart was decent, we have a great midfield for this league and striking riches most only dream of. If we get an injury crisis then that will be bad luck. You cant pay players in L1 to sit around doing nothing on the off chance a crisis might come. Remember most teams are going to be weakened more than us by their own injuries / suspensions. My guess is that we will be fine.
alpine_saint Posted 8 January, 2011 Posted 8 January, 2011 If Punch stays that's the wide area's sorted. I'd still like to see us bring in another forward though, but other than that our squad depth and quality really takes the **** in this league. Whats wrong with looking forwards to building a team for the NPC ? Isnt that what Pardew wanted to do ? If the players NA wants for next season are available now, he should bring them in and use them as appropriate now.
S-Clarke Posted 8 January, 2011 Posted 8 January, 2011 Whats wrong with looking forwards to building a team for the NPC ? Isnt that what Pardew wanted to do ? If the players NA wants for next season are available now, he should bring them in and use them as appropriate now. Nothing wrong with it, but signing too many when it's not really necessary can also have detrimental effects on the team structure. At the moment Adkins has the rotation and squad setup perfectly - it's working bang on. The last thing I think we need in this window is a mass influx of new players like last January. And I believe this squad could more than enough hold their own in the top half of the CC.
PokingFun Posted 8 January, 2011 Posted 8 January, 2011 Whats wrong with looking forwards to building a team for the NPC ? Isnt that what Pardew wanted to do ? If the players NA wants for next season are available now, he should bring them in and use them as appropriate now. Nothing wrong with that at all, but to build for next season we should be only looking at players capable of playing at play offs or better in the NPC and those players are hard to come by when we are in L1. January window is not the best time for signing those sort of players unless we are willing to break the bank which is not sensible either. NA and NC have said we will bring players in if they improve what we have got and thats a good philosophy in my opinion.
Super_Uwe Posted 8 January, 2011 Posted 8 January, 2011 Every club in the world needs to strengthen, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man Utd, Chelsea etc will all look to strengthen all the time. It doesn't mean that Barcelona aren't good enough to win the champion league now, it means that teams are always evolving, developing improving, there is no such thing as the perfect squad. In the same way we are good enough to win L1 now with the squad. So yes we do need to strengthen but if we dont right now it's not a disaster as what we have is good enough to win promotion. Is that clear enough for you? I know it's been a tough few weeks for you what with us winning 4 in a row and signing our best player up on a 4 year deal. Nail on the head there. We all know there are certain areas that could be improved, but at the end of the day sometimes you need to have perspective and belief in what you already have. The other question I would put to those who are worried is simply this - which team in League One has a better all-round squad than ours right now? I genuinely believe we have the best all-round squad in this division by a country mile - it's not perfect by any means, but I'd be willing to bet that most managers in League One would LOVE to have the resources that we have. Some clubs barely get a few thousand turning up each week for goodness sake! All we can hope is that the team keeps the momentum going; as mentioned by others on here, winning 4 in a row is not exactly something we are used to. No doubt we'll lose some games before the end of the year that we shouldn't. But we are going places now, make no mistake.
NickG Posted 8 January, 2011 Author Posted 8 January, 2011 Every club in the world needs to strengthen, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man Utd, Chelsea etc will all look to strengthen all the time. It doesn't mean that Barcelona aren't good enough to win the champion league now, it means that teams are always evolving, developing improving, there is no such thing as the perfect squad. In the same way we are good enough to win L1 now with the squad. So yes we do need to strengthen but if we dont right now it's not a disaster as what we have is good enough to win promotion. Is that clear enough for you? I know it's been a tough few weeks for you what with us winning 4 in a row and signing our best player up on a 4 year deal. Correct. You wouldn't think it was that difficult would you? Every team wants to and will try to improve. This squad has enough quality and enough cover to win this league. Doesn't mean it will, nor will paying £2m for Austin to sit on the bench, £1m for Antonio to sit on the bench etc etc. We have two of the best LBs and two of the best RBs in this league - what if they all get injured, should we have five for each position??? We left out today: Kelvin, Butterfield Fonte Jaidi Dickson Chaplow Ox-C Guly Do Prado David Connolly Oscar Gobern The quality is there. THe depth is there. We have, ever since Adkins arrived been the best side in this league We have gone from having lowest points in league after 4 or 5 games to be 2nd just short of half way. Therefore the form is there. It is likely we will be top 3. NO signing or signings will guarantee top 2. Adkins will probably come away from every training session and every game thinking there is room for improvement with current players and additions. He has said, and I agree, this squad is good enough to win this league. Look at Brighton's squad! Alpine - you ask if the squad is good enough why shouldn't we win it? - You follow football you should know, because its a sport! Can Man City guarantee the league just by keep adding players? You wonder why you get abuse when you claim that everyone else on here, where about 90% agree are all talking boll@cks.
NickG Posted 8 January, 2011 Author Posted 8 January, 2011 Post from November comparing our "weak" cover upfront. I appreciate since then Guly has started scoring for fun and Puncheon has been knocking them in at a higher level so stat a bit out of date Our forwards this season Lambert 6 Lallana 6 Barnard 5 Alex Ox-C 4 De Prado 3 Connolly 1 Last year, at this level Lambert 35 Lallana 20 Barnard 26 Connolly 7 Don't know how good Ryan Doble is. Brighton -forwards in their squad and goals scored this season Barnes 7 (lower league player before this season) Murray 5 (14 last year) Sandaza 1 (relased from Dundee last season) then couple of 18 year olds who haven't scored. We are not weak for this league!!!
Roger Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 Lambert is certainly a back on form now. He was superb again today. Would like to see another left back and another centre back to go with fonte and maybe another big forward to give ricky a rest occasionally.
NickG Posted 9 January, 2011 Author Posted 9 January, 2011 Left back in addition to Harding, Dickson and Mills (recall from loan)? Rested Jaidi and Fonte and our CBs had Euell, Brett and all under control. Bigger forward than Guly? Nice to get signings but how will keep squad balanced and players happy etc?
Roger Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 I dont think any of our left backs are good enough. Not sure about seabourne. Also guly isnt a target man imo. Lambert is playing great now, his link up play is fab.
benjii Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 I dont think any of our left backs are good enough. Not sure about seabourne. Also guly isnt a target man imo. Lambert is playing great now, his link up play is fab. WTF? To get out of League One or to win the Champions League?
Smirking_Saint Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 I dont think any of our left backs are good enough. Not sure about seabourne. Also guly isnt a target man imo. Lambert is playing great now, his link up play is fab. You what ??? Harding had an absolute stormer last season and IMO we have signed someone better than him, then you have the arguement that our 3rd placed left back is playing football in the championship. Guly isn't playing as a target man he is playing as a No.10, or trequartista, or Totti/Del Piero/Baggio
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 (edited) Nope you dont get it, clearly. Transfer window closes, someone key then gets injured, we cant get cover. Promotion quest falls apart. Is that clear enough for you ? Oh, and the last sentence of your post is pure childishness. I am delighted at the run we've put together, and I expressed my delight at Lallana signing on again earlier today. Try discussing things in an adult manner and get your head around the fact that this is the same team more-or-less that was sh*te at the beginning of the season and I therefore have my doubts they can be consistent enough to win automatic promotion.OK ? No, no, i do it get it. Man Utd, Rooney gets injured, what then? Chelsea, Drogba gets injured what then? Barcelona, Villa gets injured what then? Injures can happen, thats football. These clubs dont have poorer like for like replacements sitting around waiting for someone to get injured and collection a big wage. They'll adapt their system to suit the players. Having a bloated squad full of "cover" players is not the answer. Having other formations, 4-5-1, todays 4-3-1-2 to compesate for injuries and suspensions is. What would you rather a smaller squad of 20-25 good players, or 35 average ones? Adkins has said he will sign players better than we have, not just for the sake of it, which i whole heartedly agree with. No point signing a player of the standard we need to sit on the bench in case someone gets injured. It seems we wont be having the old policy of "one for the squad" like we did in Lowes day with 35 average pros and we all know where that got us dont we, or perhaps you'd like a return to those days,?a massive squad low on quality. Or prehaps we might be better following the transfer policy of successful clubs who do sign players better than what they have to continue to progress, although maybe you know better than Fergusson, Guardiola etc? And your doubts about the team are based on what? What is your first hand experience of seeing the squad in action to form this opinion (which you bleat on about in every transfer window) that strengthening is essential or promotion will not happen? Edited 9 January, 2011 by Turkish
NickG Posted 9 January, 2011 Author Posted 9 January, 2011 You do wonder what sort of squad a few people expect in league 1! All this "what happens if we get loads of injuries" expect a lot of premiership sides would soon be onto untried youngsters if their first 4 forwards were all injured!
JustMike Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 FFS what a waste of 10 minutes reading all this was! Alps, you would be a neg head even if we are top of the league, 10 points clear with 3 games to go. Your constant negative side to everything attitude must make you a joy to be around
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 I dont think any of our left backs are good enough. Not sure about seabourne. Also guly isnt a target man imo. Lambert is playing great now, his link up play is fab. Well thats good then, seeing as how he isn't be used as a target man.
Thedelldays Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 Well thats good then, seeing as how he isn't be used as a target man. and that our left backs are pretty decent
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 and that our left backs are pretty decent both of them.
NickG Posted 9 January, 2011 Author Posted 9 January, 2011 what if all of our players get injured? We will be short of players and Alps will be right that we lacked foresight in not having a squad of 50 experienced premiership players.
aintforever Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 (edited) I think the squad is good enough to possibly win the league, but I think if Barnard and Lambert get injured I think we would struggle for goals. I don't see a Guly - Connolly partnership doing it consistently enough. Keepers - fine Defence - fine Central Midfield - Chaplow, Scheiderlin, Hammond & Gobern should do the job - maybe add one more. Wide players - fine if we keep Puncheon Strikers - I would sign up Guly and bring in one more top striker. We have enough resources to not let any possible injury problems derail us. Edited 9 January, 2011 by aintforever
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 (edited) what if all of our players get injured? We will be short of players and Alps will be right that we lacked foresight in not having a squad of 50 experienced premiership players. There is no point getting into an arguement about it, something i have done. Alpines opinons are based on nothing more than perception and reading what other people say. I LOLed just now reading his comments on the Schniderlin thread about not being able to make up his mind about him and Chaplow adds more to the team. Based on what?! How does he know?! Has he seen them play? Or is it just on what Saints player and this forum tells him? I just dont understand how someone can have such blinkered, arrogant and vociferious views on something they know nothing about first hand. On another note, 90% of people on this thread seem to agree that we dont need to sign all these new "cover" players and i think i am correct in assuming a high percentage of these will have seen the team this season. yet the one who is so aggessive and vocal in his claims that we need all these new players and trying to shout other down wont have seen the team this season. Based on this simple factor I think we all know who is talking b******. Edited 9 January, 2011 by Turkish
NickG Posted 9 January, 2011 Author Posted 9 January, 2011 I think the squad is good enough to possibly win the league, but I think if Barnard and Lambert get injured I think we would struggle for goals. I don't see a Guly - Connolly partnership doing it consistently enough. Keepers - fine Defence - fine Central Midfield - Chaplow, Scheiderlin, Hammond & Gobern should do the job - maybe add one more. Wide players - fine if we keep Puncheon Strikers - I would sign up Guly and bring in one more top striker. We have enough resources to not let any possible injury problems derail us. what about front two of Guly and Lallana - 15 goals?
NickG Posted 9 January, 2011 Author Posted 9 January, 2011 There is no point getting into an arguement about it, something i have done. Alpines opinons are based on nothing more than perception and reading what other people say. I LOLed just now reading his comments on the Schniderlin thread about not being able to make up his mind about him and Chaplow adds more to the team. Based on what?! How does he know?! Has he seen them play? Or is it just on what Saints player and this forum tells him? I just dont understand how someone can have such blinkered, arrogant and vociferious views on something they know nothing about first hand. he wrote Morgan off as light-weight before ever seeing him play, not having the fight for it - before moaning about his temperment!
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 (edited) a interesting comment from Daily Echos Simon Carter in his article in todays Pink about the Saints squad. The starting line against Exeter contained 5 £1m players. 4 signed by Saints in Fonte, Lambert, Schniderlin & Davis and Chaplow signed by WBA not long ago for £1.5m, add Lallana and Chamerlain and you have a side on paper as good as any in third division history. Kind of puts it into perspective. Another point of note is that we made 8 changes from the side that beat Dagenham and Redbridge we won comfortably. In effect yesterday was our squad players v a premier leagues side squad players. Edited 9 January, 2011 by Turkish
aintforever Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 what about front two of Guly and Lallana - 15 goals? Might work, not sure if they have player together up front much this season though. Buy another striker and you don't have to change Lallana's position, if you have a team that is working well you are better off keeping it consistent and not having to shuffle players around or change the system when injuries hit.
NickG Posted 9 January, 2011 Author Posted 9 January, 2011 Might work, not sure if they have player together up front much this season though. Buy another striker and you don't have to change Lallana's position, if you have a team that is working well you are better off keeping it consistent and not having to shuffle players around or change the system when injuries hit. don't think we need a stiker. Changing Lallana's position would only be needed if others all unfit and still good option
John B Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 anyone saying otherwise is, to quote another poster "talking ********". Yes I agree if Guly stays but that has still to be comfirmed - there must be some problem as I was told he was going to sign before Christmas
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 Yes I agree if Guly stays but that has still to be comfirmed - there must be some problem as I was told he was going to sign before Christmas His loan doesn't end until the end of the month, in true Saints style we will probably announce it at the last possible moment. Plus there is all sorts of issues such as visas and work permits that take time to sort out.
madruss Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 don't think we need a stiker. Changing Lallana's position would only be needed if others all unfit and still good option I think we need a striker to replace Connolly. Whilst I doubt we could find one who is as talented as him, we could easily find one who would spend less time in the treatment room. A right-footed pacey winger to compete with Chambo would be a good addition, preferably one who can play up front too. A certain Mr. Antonio would fit the bill perfectly
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 I think we need a striker to replace Connolly. Whilst I doubt we could find one who is as talented as him, we could easily find one who would spend less time in the training room. A right-footed pacey winger to compete with Chambo would be a good addition, preferably one who can play up front too. A certain Mr. Antonio would fit the bill perfectly People need to get over it, Antonio is not coming back, Chamerlain is twice the player he is anyway and Gully is proving the same with Waigo.
NickG Posted 9 January, 2011 Author Posted 9 January, 2011 good point, all those moaning about Papa and Antonio - they have both been replaced by both - if we keep them
madruss Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 People need to get over it, Antonio is not coming back, Chamerlain is twice the player he is anyway and Gully is proving the same with Waigo. Calm down dear. I was highlighting the type of player I think we needed, using an actual player to support my assertion. I don't need to 'get over' anything, I agree Chambo is better than MA, as is Puncheon, but at present we don't have an ALTERNATIVE to Chambo who can come on and do a job when he cramps up after 70 minutes. Who did we replace him with against Brighton? Butterfield. And immediately we were less of a threat going forward. Same thing happened against dagenham and we very neatly lost the game. Do you really think the squad is perfect as it is?
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 Calm down dear. I was highlighting the type of player I think we needed, using an actual player to support my assertion. I don't need to 'get over' anything, I agree Chambo is better than MA, as is Puncheon, but at present we don't have an ALTERNATIVE to Chambo who can come on and do a job when he cramps up after 70 minutes. Who did we replace him with against Brighton? Butterfield. And immediately we were less of a threat going forward. Same thing happened against dagenham and we very neatly lost the game. Do you really think the squad is perfect as it is? Read my comments above, no squad is perfect. I have answered your questions in repsonse to Alpine in thread numbers 53 and 70 on this thread.
madruss Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 For what it's worth, I completely agree with the OP. This squad IS good enough for promotion as it is. However if we're able to bring in a pacey right-footed winger/striker to add competition to aoc, then we should, and that player should be of sufficient quality to be an integral part of our NPC promotion challenge next year. I'm not saying that player should be Antonio, if anything it should be a better version of him..that's where our ambitions should be
Daren W Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 a interesting comment from Daily Echos Simon Carter in his article in todays Pink about the Saints squad. The starting line against Exeter contained 5 £1m players. 4 signed by Saints in Fonte, Lambert, Schniderlin & Davis and Chaplow signed by WBA not long ago for £1.5m, add Lallana and Chamerlain and you have a side on paper as good as any in third division history. Kind of puts it into perspective. There is the world of difference between needing to sign players and wanting to buy players. The squad we have can win the title, no doubt about it.... but it would be nice to get a few more players in who could lift the dressing room just with their presence. Just as you said, we've had more than our fair share of players bought just for the sake of it and unless there's a signing that adds genuine class I'm not interested...
Deppo Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 He has zero fist hand knowledge He has plenty of that, I reckon.
Daren W Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 He has plenty of that, I reckon. Post of 2011 thus far... Definite knowledge of fisting...
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 There is the world of difference between needing to sign players and wanting to buy players. The squad we have can win the title, no doubt about it.... but it would be nice to get a few more players in who could lift the dressing room just with their presence. Just as you said, we've had more than our fair share of players bought just for the sake of it and unless there's a signing that adds genuine class I'm not interested... Exactly my point, i'd love us to sign a player or two better than what we have. Unless it's someone that is going to improve the first XI then it really will be signing players for the sake of it. THere is no need for all these cover plays some are obsessed with.
Legod Third Coming Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 Surely looking at our squad in isolation is a total waste of time Look at this squad in comparison to the rest of the league and it is akin to comparing a bunk up with Cherly Cole to a night with Ashley Cole (Brighton), Joe Cole (Bournemouth), Andy Cole (Charlton - Sheffield Wednesday) and the remainder Old King Cole!!!! We will walk this league from now. We should and we will.
Daren W Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 Exactly my point, i'd love us to sign a player or two better than what we have. Unless it's someone that is going to improve the first XI then it really will be signing players for the sake of it. THere is no need for all these cover plays some are obsessed with. What's really scary is a list of some of the nothing players we signed either on the off chance they might be good or just because we were bored and were looking for something to do.. Arias? Van Damme? Yahia? Stig Johansen? Marco Almeida? Jason Bowen? The list is endless...
Brussels Saint Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 I would still like us to sign a Fonte class CB. Dont think its needed for us to win the league, but will be in the NPC and if one is available now, we should go for it.
SuperMikey Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 I would still like us to sign a Fonte class CB. Dont think its needed for us to win the league, but will be in the NPC and if one is available now, we should go for it. I think Sh!ttu at Millwall was only on a 3 month contract, meaning that he's available soon (20th Jan). He's played at Prem level for years and years, and would be quality in L1, solid in the NPC and good cover in the Prem.
Turkish Posted 9 January, 2011 Posted 9 January, 2011 I think Sh!ttu at Millwall was only on a 3 month contract, meaning that he's available soon (20th Jan). He's played at Prem level for years and years, and would be quality in L1, solid in the NPC and good cover in the Prem. we dont need anymore defenders this season, what he have is plenty good enough for promotion thank you. We will need to look at it in the summer if promotion is achieved though.
NickG Posted 9 January, 2011 Author Posted 9 January, 2011 (edited) IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, AND I RESPECT ALL OTHERS (BAR ONE) ON THIS FORUM Lallana Chaplow and Guly all signing contracts would be good window for us. Ox-C and Puncheon staying even better. Extra winger could be good. Anything else that could prepare us for where we hope to be next season would be a nice luxory. Edited 9 January, 2011 by NickG
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