If you really think we don't need to buy...

[david in sweden]

We could do with a couple more attacking options, but when Hammond and Lallana are fit we'll look much stronger. when is that ?

We're guilty of being a little greedy. This squad should be more than good enough to get us up really, you shouldn't need to spend £3m + to get out of this league. Other teams don't need to.Take a look at our squad from the Man Utd game 3 years ago, we're now a division lower but IMO this squad is in a different planet to that lot.

 

Mmm. sounds a sensible comment but tell it to Leeds and Pompey fans ..

Edited 22 January, 2011 by david in sweden

[Turkish]

I've concluded that you actually couldnt give a toss about whether we get promoted or succeed generally or not.

 

You'd be happy and bigging the club up if we got relegated to Division 4.

 

Your perspective loses credibility by the minute, and today's game has buried the debate of this thread. And the two similar ones you started. Completely.

 

We didn't lose today because of a supposedly weak bench and squad. We lost because Tranmere had two shots at goal and scored twice, individual errors leading to the goals and most worryingly the attitude of the players. Quite simply in the first half Tranmere wanted it more, hussled and pressured us and played out of their skin. You can have a squad of 60 world class players but if their attitude isn't right then they wont win. I can accept us losing due to moments of brilliance from the other team or bad luck from us, sometimes it just doens't go for you, but what i cant accept is us losing because the other team want it more, especially in a game we should win easily on paper and when we have so much to play for.

[Saint Fan CaM]

It's totally different, it's like Saints playing Shrewbury in the FA Cup and resting Fonte, Lallana, Lambert or another key "star" player, like we did. Wenger picked a team to win the match and used their squad, that is what good managers do, the team he picked was good enough to beat Leeds relatively comfortably, why? Because he has a good, strong squad full of good players, capable of winning games without their star men. Not just significantly poorer quality cover players that only play when others above them in the pecking order get injured.

 

Wow - that's incredible - you've suddenly come around to my way of thinking! But hang on, your explanation means that there's no difference between the two examples.

 

It doesn't matter what level you're playing at, to succeed you need a squad of players that have a benchmark or average level of performance that is better than the teams you play. That way, as you correctly state above, you can rely on many members of the squad and not just a few stars. Unfortunately, at the moment Saints don't have anywhere near the consistency in the squad as is needed to consistently win enough games to make promotion a nailed on cert. Alpine got it smack-on when he mention "Exhibit A" - our bench today - it just isn't good enough to change the fortunes of a game and therefore we need more quality.

[Saint Fan CaM]

We didn't lose today because of a supposedly weak bench and squad. We lost because Tranmere had two shots at goal and scored twice, individual errors leading to the goals and most worryingly the attitude of the players. Quite simply in the first half Tranmere wanted it more, hussled and pressured us and played out of their skin. You can have a squad of 60 world class players but if their attitude isn't right then they wont win. I can accept us losing due to moments of brilliance from the other team or bad luck from us, sometimes it just doens't go for you, but what i cant accept is us losing because the other team want it more, especially in a game we should win easily on paper and when we have so much to play for.

 

So are you blaming Adkins completely for the loss today? After all he is supposedly a top sports physcologist who should be best placed to sort out player attitudes?

[Turkish]

Wow - that's incredible - you've suddenly come around to my way of thinking! But hang on, your explanation means that there's no difference between the two examples.

 

It doesn't matter what level you're playing at, to succeed you need a squad of players that have a benchmark or average level of performance that is better than the teams you play. That way, as you correctly state above, you can rely on many members of the squad and not just a few stars. Unfortunately, at the moment Saints don't have anywhere near the consistency in the squad as is needed to consistently win enough games to make promotion a nailed on cert. Alpine got it smack-on when he mention "Exhibit A" - our bench today - it just isn't good enough to change the fortunes of a game and therefore we need more quality.

 

If you read this thread i am not "coming round" at all, my arguement has alwasy been if we add two or three good players then brilliant, but signing cover players just to play when the first choice is injured is not the answer. I've always said we need 20-24 good players who we can use to adapt formation, tactics, players etc depending on the opposition.

 

And as i said above we didn't lose today because of "exhibit a" the team we had out should have been easliy good enough to see off Tranmere, it was because of individual errors and Tranmere wanting it more, that is unacceptable, it doesn't matter how strong the bench is, if that attitude is wrong you will fail.

[Chez]

So are you blaming Adkins completely for the loss today? After all he is supposedly a top sports physcologist who should be best placed to sort out player attitudes?

 

Have I missed something, I thought he was a physiotherapist not a physcologist?

[saint1977]

I think there is room for both schools of thought here - the players attitude is clearly not good enough and they get a bit cosseted at SFC. Tranmere being first to every 50/50 and running the midfield is unacceptable, I agree with Turkish. However, the lack of impact options on the bench has been obvious all season. If the players can see competition, they will soon give a bit more. I can't wait to get Man U out of the way - irrespective of result - bag the TV money and gate reciepts and use it on a couple of lively, pacey forwards and a tough old CM to get us up. Then the final furlongs of the season begin. At the same time, having people like Puncheon around must drag down morale - we've all worked with someone like him and it gives everyone else a lift when they clear off to mope somewhere else and you can get on with trying to achieve something. Time to ship him and Morgan out.

[Turkish]

So are you blaming Adkins completely for the loss today? After all he is supposedly a top sports physcologist who should be best placed to sort out player attitudes?

 

Collective responsibility i think. I didn't go today so cant comment on the overall performance but by all accounts it sounds like we were complacent at first. The manager can only do so much, once the players take to the pitch its down to them.

[NickG]

think we should keep buying until we win

[St Marco]

think we should keep buying until we win

 

Or until we have a better players on the bench. The bench we have now is really weak. Other then Barnard nobody there who can come on and change a game. Which is a serious problem.

[NickG]

Puncheon's replacement

[Ivan Katalinic's 'tache]

Or until we have a better players on the bench. The bench we have now is really weak. Other then Barnard nobody there who can come on and change a game. Which is a serious problem.

 

Exactly. Although why keep putting players like Doble on the bench if you're never going to give him the chance to influence a game? Might as well go with less than the 7 subs and save on the travel / hotel fees.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Have I missed something, I thought he was a physiotherapist not a physcologist?

 

Really? My bad!

 

Mind you, as Manager it's his responsibility to get the players minds right. If he cannot, surely that's tantamount to 'losing the changing room'?

[Saint Fan CaM]

Collective responsibility i think. I didn't go today so cant comment on the overall performance but by all accounts it sounds like we were complacent at first. The manager can only do so much, once the players take to the pitch its down to them.

 

Well I know what you mean, however if you don't get to the root cause of pitiful performances you'll not identify how to improve. One last thing - it always amazes me how some seem to think that improving the squad by bringing in better players means spending huge amounts of money. I would wager that Tranmere didn't pay a fortune for Jennings, so where did he spring from as an example? Why should those players appear to be far more motivated than our players who I suspect are earning more money?

[MarkSFC]

He has a Diploma in Sports Psychology.....not sure to what level

[david in sweden]

Exactly. Although why keep putting players like Doble on the bench if you're never going to give him the chance to influence a game? Might as well go with less than the 7 subs and save on the travel / hotel fees.

 

The whole "success" of the having (ex) Academy lads around is to get them familiarised with the first team environment, rather than playing alongside other juniors at the training ground. When they play alongside first-teamers in training, you have to feel like a team member - off the field as well. It's part of the "in-schooling " process for the newer lads.

[JustMike]

I've concluded that you actually couldnt give a toss about whether we get promoted or succeed generally or not.

 

You'd be happy and bigging the club up if we got relegated to Division 4.

 

Your perspective loses credibility by the minute, and today's game has buried the debate of this thread. And the two similar ones you started. Completely.

 

whereas you are a super fan who just moans about everything and therefore is, by law of averages, going to be right on some occasions. Wasnt that long ago that you said that we wouldnt reach the auto promotion spots, funny how quiet you went when we were 2nd

[JustMike]

He has a Diploma in Sports Psychology.....not sure to what level

 

 

posts like this were non existant when we were smashing 6 past Oldham on the back of 5 straight wins

[Turkish]

Well I know what you mean, however if you don't get to the root cause of pitiful performances you'll not identify how to improve. One last thing - it always amazes me how some seem to think that improving the squad by bringing in better players means spending huge amounts of money. I would wager that Tranmere didn't pay a fortune for Jennings, so where did he spring from as an example? Why should those players appear to be far more motivated than our players who I suspect are earning more money?

 

As i say, i cant say what the root cause was as i didn't go, however comments from mates who were there and the radio suggest that the team came out far to casual, complacent and expecting to win easily. When Tranmere got at us it knocked us out of our stride and took us until the second half to recover. Also it seems we played about 5 different formations during the game which seems a bit odd. So Adkins takes responsibility for the tactics, the players for the individual errors that lead to the first goal, have you seen it? Shockingly casual defending. Both take responsibility for the attitude, Adkins for not drumming it into the players that they have to earn the right to win and the players for being to complacent.

 

I quite agree re transfers and i leave that down to the management to decide who will improve the side, if that is a free transfer from Hereford or £1.5m pounds from Swindon the proviso is that they are better or at least as good as what we have and not brought in just as a squad player to use up the bibs at training and only play when everyone else is injured (unless they are in my cavet above of a really promising young player who might not be ready now but will be in a season or so) On this thread we discussed who we would like to sign and my two "dream" window signings would be Charlie Austin and Ryan Harley, because i've seen them play a fair bit and think they will add something to the squad other than filling up a place on the bench. That is all.

Edited 23 January, 2011 by Turkish

[CHAPEL END CHARLIE]

Well perhaps you could enlighten the forum as to whom these people are who are demanding we sign loads of mediocre 'squad' players ? Reading this thread again it seems to me that no one (no one at all) has actually called for that.

Edited 23 January, 2011 by CHAPEL END CHARLIE

[NickG]

three options -

 

class first team players - who, what position - who in first 11 should be relegated to bench?

 

mediocre squad players - no-one wants but danger that signing for signing sake would be at this level

 

youngster from lower level, happy to be on bench, learn their trade and make impact

[Legod Third Coming]

We didn't lose today because of a supposedly weak bench and squad. We lost because Tranmere had two shots at goal and scored twice, individual errors leading to the goals and most worryingly the attitude of the players. Quite simply in the first half Tranmere wanted it more, hussled and pressured us and played out of their skin. You can have a squad of 60 world class players but if their attitude isn't right then they wont win. I can accept us losing due to moments of brilliance from the other team or bad luck from us, sometimes it just doens't go for you, but what i cant accept is us losing because the other team want it more, especially in a game we should win easily on paper and when we have so much to play for.

 

So it's not new players that are needed but a change of manager??

[Legod Third Coming]

Well perhaps you could enlighten the forum as to whom these people are who are demanding we sign loads of mediocre 'squad' players ? Reading this thread again it seems to me that no one (no one at all) has actually called for that.

 

All I want is a creative midfielder to replace Lallana. We have cover and bloody good cover in every other position but we don't have two players who can unlock a defence. We have one and he's out...

[Turkish]

So it's not new players that are needed but a change of manager??

 

What are you going on about?

[Legod Third Coming]

What are you going on about?

 

Apparently you said the attitude of the players was wrong yesterday. Sorry for being thick, but I thought motivation was the manager's job?

 

(I should point out that I was being ironic. Clearly we don't need to change manager but I am getting a bit sick of him being feted when we win but let off the hook big time when we get a worse result than under the previous manager who was raosted for losing at Tranmere... For me, it's gone, but he needs to buck up the players and his own approach for the next game. I am sure he will.)

[Turkish]

Apparently you said the attitude of the players was wrong yesterday. Sorry for being thick, but I thought motivation was the manager's job?

 

(I should point out that I was being ironic. Clearly we don't need to change manager but I am getting a bit sick of him being feted when we win but let off the hook big time when we get a worse result than under the previous manager who was raosted for losing at Tranmere... For me, it's gone, but he needs to buck up the players and his own approach for the next game. I am sure he will.)

 

From what i have been told the players were far too complacent yesterday and as i said above it's a collective responsibility. Adkins appears to have got it wrong tactically yesterday, it souned like we played about 5 formations and the players made individual errors and were complacent and sloppy. IMO opinion i dont buy the "it's the managers job to motivate players". To a certain extent they can help, managing them properly, using them to get the best out of them but in any job if you want to be the best at your profession you need to be self motivated, motivation comes from within, do Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes etc need a manger to motivate them? No doubt they have been helped by them but at 37 years old does Ryan Giggs still have the enthusiams of a 17 year old because he manager tells him too?

[St Marco]

So because we beat a team who we were expected to beat (Oldham) we don't need any new players?

By that logic because we didn't beat two teams who were 18th and 19th in our last two games wouldn't that mean we do need players? Or are we not expected to beat teams in 18th and 19th place now? A draw at home to Notts County and a loss to Tranmere is now a good result for us?

 

I think some people need to stop arguing for the sake of arguing and look at the bigger picture. The club has a real chance to go up this year. Even when we have poor results we somehow are still there or there abouts. That is probably down to this years league being weaker but the point is the same. With a couple of decent players we could push on and maybe compete for the top 2 spots. I don't know about you guys but i am bored of this league now. If we have to buy our way out of the league by buying better players in the transfer window then personally i don't care! Because your only as good as your last game and based on our last two we are not good.

[Turkish]

So because we beat a team who we were expected to beat (Oldham) we don't need any new players?

By that logic because we didn't beat two teams who were 18th and 19th in our last two games wouldn't that mean we do need players? Or are we not expected to beat teams in 18th and 19th place now? A draw at home to Notts County and a loss to Tranmere is now a good result for us?

 

I think some people need to stop arguing for the sake of arguing and look at the bigger picture. The club has a real chance to go up this year. Even when we have poor results we somehow are still there or there abouts. That is probably down to this years league being weaker but the point is the same. With a couple of decent players we could push on and maybe compete for the top 2 spots. I don't know about you guys but i am bored of this league now. If we have to buy our way out of the league by buying better players in the transfer window then personally i don't care! Because your only as good as your last game and based on our last two we are not good.

 

Why dont you read the rest of the thread and not the last couple of posts before commenting.

[St Marco]

Why dont you read the rest of the thread and not the last couple of posts before commenting.

 

I have. And i think a lot of you are arguing for the sake of arguing. The arguments for why you don't think we need to sign players is pretty laughable in my book. I.e it was the tactics.

[Turkish]

I have. And i think a lot of you are arguing for the sake of arguing. The arguments for why you don't think we need to sign players is pretty laughable in my book. I.e it was the tactics.

 

Right, so it's laughable that we sign players better than we have is it? It's laughable that we add to and improve to the squad, good players enabling us to play formations and tactics other than 4-4-2 and have players good enough to rotate the squad depending on which players are best suited to the opposition, conditions and tactics? If you care to read the whole thread before describing my comments as "laughable" you will see that i am advocating signing players better than we have, not "cover" players like some are. We didn't lose because of our supposedly weak bench yesterday. NA said so himself, we lost because the players that started didn't turn up until half time, by then we were already 1-0 and chasing the game, we also lost due to individual errors, shocking defending for the first goal. According the radio we also played about 5 formations with no width when we were chasing the game which is bizarre.The side we had out yesterday should have won against the team 20th in L1. To suggest we lost because of players that weren't playing is quite frankly, laughable.

Edited 23 January, 2011 by Turkish

[sadoldgit]

Our reality is nearer Tranmere and Brentford than Oldham and Blackpool. We are probably good enough for a top 6 place but not consistant enough for automatic promotion. One of 2 things needs to happen. Either Adkins gets more out of the squad or we need to move things around a bit and bring in some new faces. No squad in any divison is that good that it doesn't need strengthening.

 

And while we are at it, what ever happened to the Plan B ???

[Turkish]

Our reality is nearer Tranmere and Brentford than Oldham and Blackpool. We are probably good enough for a top 6 place but not consistant enough for automatic promotion. One of 2 things needs to happen. Either Adkins gets more out of the squad or we need to move things around a bit and bring in some new faces. No squad in any divison is that good that it doesn't need strengthening.

 

And while we are at it, what ever happened to the Plan B ???

 

He was on the live lounge over Christmas but not heard much from him since, great second album though, first was a bit too much gansta for me.

[St Marco]

Right, so it's laughable that we sign players better than we have is it? It's laughable that we add to and improve to the squad, good players enabling us to play formations and tactics other than 4-4-2 and have players good enough to rotate the squad depending on which players are best suited to the opposition, conditions and tactics? If you care to read the whole thread before describing my comments as "laughable" you will see that i am advocating signing players better than we have, not "cover" players like some are. We didn't lose because of our supposedly weak bench yesterday. NA said so himself, we lost because the players that started didn't turn up until half time, by then we were already 1-0 and chasing the game, we also lost due to individual errors, shocking defending for the first goal. The side we had out yesterday should have won against the team 20th in L1. To suggest we lost because of players that weren't playing is quite frankly, laughable.

 

I wasen't refering to your remarks as such, more so to those who think we don't need players. At least you admit we do.

Our problem in my view is not the tactics. Yes sometimes we go into games a bit predictable and when we get stuck in the mud we can't revert to another style. I 100% agree with that. Like for example when we drop Guly into midfield. Has that actually ever worked?

 

But the reason we do that is not because we think he can do the job but because we have nobody on the bench who can come on and do a better job then him. Even if the guy on the bench is fresh! We can't play a different way because we don't have the players to play a different way. Like as i mentioned in my first post on the 2nd page. We have no pacey striker we can bring on. Last season we could do that with either Waigo or Antonio. We have AOC and can put him up there but he is just a kid. He is learning to be a winger, can't expect him to be our forward too. Especially if he is knackered from running up the wings all day.

 

Add to that "some" of the players we have are really badly out of form for whatever reason. Players like Morgan. Don't get me wrong i like him, he does a good job a lot of the time and he has potential. It just seems whenever we really need the central midfield to step up and help out with their share of creativity he goes missing. The same i guess could be said of Hammond. If it was up to me i would bring in someone to take Morgans place. Someone who is an experienced central midfielder but not old and past it. Bringing Chaplow in was a good move by Adkins. But again the same thing applies. When we are not doing so well and we look at the bench who can come on for either him or Morgan? In the past few games the only midfielder has been Gobern. Now no offence to him but he is nowhere near as good as those two. That is why Adkins doesn't bring on all 3 subs as the people on the bench are simply not as good as those on the field. Even when they are knackered.

 

I agree about the players missing. It is like Man Utd not having Rooney and Nani. They still have a squad of players who can jump in and do the role. Not as good but enough to still win or avoid defeat. Can we say the same? I don't think so. Our defence is ok, we have cover for that. But our midfield and attack is lacking experienced cover. Connolly is always injured as is Holmes. Hammond gets booked a lot so misses games through suspension or injury. Morgan is a player who can't change a game in my opinion. He plays well when the team plays well. Puncheon....well we can forget him! But other then Lallana and AOC who is there to run the wings? Nobody. Considering our strikers are big slow lumps we rely heavily on our wingers getting forward getting crosses in our getting forward enough to help out the strikers. I can go on and on but you see my point.

 

When everyone is fit and not throwing the toys out the pram we are a good team. The problem is that doesn't happen too often. And when it doesn't happen we look to our bench for options. But there are none.

[Turkish]

I wasen't refering to your remarks as such, more so to those who think we don't need players. At least you admit we do.

Our problem in my view is not the tactics. Yes sometimes we go into games a bit predictable and when we get stuck in the mud we can't revert to another style. I 100% agree with that. Like for example when we drop Guly into midfield. Has that actually ever worked?

 

But the reason we do that is not because we think he can do the job but because we have nobody on the bench who can come on and do a better job then him. Even if the guy on the bench is fresh! We can't play a different way because we don't have the players to play a different way. Like as i mentioned in my first post on the 2nd page. We have no pacey striker we can bring on. Last season we could do that with either Waigo or Antonio. We have AOC and can put him up there but he is just a kid. He is learning to be a winger, can't expect him to be our forward too. Especially if he is knackered from running up the wings all day.

 

Add to that "some" of the players we have are really badly out of form for whatever reason. Players like Morgan. Don't get me wrong i like him, he does a good job a lot of the time and he has potential. It just seems whenever we really need the central midfield to step up and help out with their share of creativity he goes missing. The same i guess could be said of Hammond. If it was up to me i would bring in someone to take Morgans place. Someone who is an experienced central midfielder but not old and past it. Bringing Chaplow in was a good move by Adkins. But again the same thing applies. When we are not doing so well and we look at the bench who can come on for either him or Morgan? In the past few games the only midfielder has been Gobern. Now no offence to him but he is nowhere near as good as those two. That is why Adkins doesn't bring on all 3 subs as the people on the bench are simply not as good as those on the field. Even when they are knackered.

 

I agree about the players missing. It is like Man Utd not having Rooney and Nani. They still have a squad of players who can jump in and do the role. Not as good but enough to still win or avoid defeat. Can we say the same? I don't think so. Our defence is ok, we have cover for that. But our midfield and attack is lacking experienced cover. Connolly is always injured as is Holmes. Hammond gets booked a lot so misses games through suspension or injury. Morgan is a player who can't change a game in my opinion. He plays well when the team plays well. Puncheon....well we can forget him! But other then Lallana and AOC who is there to run the wings? Nobody. Considering our strikers are big slow lumps we rely heavily on our wingers getting forward getting crosses in our getting forward enough to help out the strikers. I can go on and on but you see my point.

 

When everyone is fit and not throwing the toys out the pram we are a good team. The problem is that doesn't happen too often. And when it doesn't happen we look to our bench for options. But there are none.

 

Finally someone who puts forward a reasonable arguement. Re your comments on MS, it is horses for courses, yesterday we needed a Hammond & Chaplow midfield pair to use their extra energy and battling qualitites to match Tranmere. Morgan is good when we are at home or on top in a game, but not one to put his boot in when he has to fight for the ball in the midfield or when things aren't going our way. Chaplow was an excellent signing and just what we needed. What i fail to understand is these people that keep saying we need cover. For example in the centre of midfield we have 3 good players there, but if we sign another "cover" player there, will they be any better than Gobern or Wotton? Unlikely as what sort of player is going to come to a league one club as cover and 4th choice? However if we go out and sign a top L1 player or NPC player there which improves the standard of the squad and first team then brillaint. Same goes for every other position. What is the point of signing a "cover" player for Lallana? he wont be as good as him for sure, so why sign a poorer like for like replacement? Why not go for a good player who can play left midfield, and also centre or right? Ryan harley for example. If we got him he would give us options of 4-4-2,he could come in for Lallana when he is injured on the left or we can play 4-3-3 or an attacking 4-5-1 away from home with him, Lallana and OC all starting, that would frighten most teams at this level.

 

People on here are so blinkered and just think 4-4-2, like for like replacements without thinking about any other tactics or formations. It is a fact that all the most successful teams dont have "cover" players, they have good squads with options. Who would be your first choice Man Utd midfield out of Nani, Anderson, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs, Park, hargreaves (when fit) & Valencia (again when fit)? They've got 9 good players there all of a similar standard which enable them to adapt to the opposition, fitness and tactics. You wouldn't consider any of them "cover" players and we need to follow this example, not the one we did under Lowe and Burley of just signing player after player which lead to a massive squad full of players not good enough for the level we were playing at. If we simply sign "cover" players then when we get promoted we will have a squad full of L1 players playing in the NPC on contracts that have two or three years left to run on them and the same situation, a squad of players not good enough for the level we need.

[SFKA South Woodford]

No one is saying 'let's sign players for every eventuality' those of us that want to see some signings made, agree with Turkish in that they shoud be players to improve the first team first and foremost. The lack of creativity in the absence of Lallana is shocking, add to that we do not have a forward with pace and haven't replaced the wingers that did so well for us last season and it's fairly apparent that we are still in need of at least two players if not three.

As I keep saying, I know Lallana is a class apart in this league and probably the one above as well, so we will not get a better player or anyone as good as him, but we have to get someone who will be able to cut in running at the defence and be abe to pass or shoot at the end of the run. Add to that a pacy striker to get in behind the defence, as we have to be able to open up more space in the oppo's defence if we are going to get the consistentcy we need for promotion. There must be another Papa or Antonio out there somewhere, who can play either up front or on the wing, if we can find one then we'll be sorted.

 

Not getting promoted this season is a horrible thought, not only are alot of us sick of this league and it's tiny little sh*thole grounds, it's also getting tedious being everyone's cup final, but the most alarming thing is that if we do not get promoted, we will be saying goodbye to most of our first team as they will not be wanting to hang around wasting another year of their precious career and earning potential playing in this league.

[John B]

At least two other Squads will be promoted in May who in theory are not as good as ours is at the moment and they wont be buying.

 

 

 

So I wonder why that is

[lambertsrightleg]

I'm really starting to worry about the lack of action in this transfer window. Have we actually got any money because if you're serious in the market then within 3 weeks money talks. We need about 3 players to be competitive, if this means shipping out Chamberlain then ffs get it done.

[Window Cleaner]

At least two other Squads will be promoted in May who in theory are not as good as ours is at the moment and they wont be buying.

 

 

 

So I wonder why that is

 

Seriously though we seem to be one of the few League 1 outfits who don't have any Premiership clubs' youngsters on loan.

Couldn't say if that's right but it seems that way.

[Thedelldays]

i'm really starting to worry about the lack of action in this transfer window. Have we actually got any money because if you're serious in the market then within 3 weeks money talks. We need about 3 players to be competitive, if this means shipping out chamberlain then ffs get it done.

wtf.????

[aintforever]

Yesterday's bench: 24 Bialkowski, 12 Butterfield, 17 Martin, 19 Seaborne, 27 Gobern, 09 Barnard, 29 Doble

 

Not a lot there that is going to come on and change the game. I would get another striker and a replacement for Puncheon.

[diggs]

I reckon we we still need 3 players in but can't see it happening to be honest we need a fast striker a winger you can play both flanks a attacking mid player aswel

[Legod Third Coming]

From what i have been told the players were far too complacent yesterday and as i said above it's a collective responsibility. Adkins appears to have got it wrong tactically yesterday, it souned like we played about 5 formations and the players made individual errors and were complacent and sloppy. IMO opinion i dont buy the "it's the managers job to motivate players". To a certain extent they can help, managing them properly, using them to get the best out of them but in any job if you want to be the best at your profession you need to be self motivated, motivation comes from within, do Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes etc need a manger to motivate them? No doubt they have been helped by them but at 37 years old does Ryan Giggs still have the enthusiams of a 17 year old because he manager tells him too?

 

Then all the success is down to the players too right?

[Window Cleaner]

I just want to see a fast striker who can use both feet instinctively and a new central defender with pace.If we'd had these yesterday we might have got somewhere.Lambert always goes onto his right foot even when the left is the first choice option. Noticed on the first chance he missed yesterday,left foot...easy knock in ,right foot not so much because the keeper had already closed down that angle.

[david in sweden]

Yesterday's bench: 24 Bialkowski, 12 Butterfield, 17 Martin, 19 Seaborne, 27 Gobern, 09 Barnard, 29 Doble

 

Not a lot there that is going to come on and change the game. I would get another striker and a replacement for Puncheon.

 

Funny ..that's what I suggested 292 posts ago when I started this thread. Not a lot of people agree with us ...

[Turkish]

Then all the success is down to the players too right?

 

Why are you being a f*cktard? The manager buys the players, trains them and chooses the tactics. It's down to the players to motivate themselves, work hard and perform.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Don't agree we cannot get someone as good as Lallana. By all accounts the boy Jennings ran rings around us yesterday. Ryan Harley is very much in the mould of Lallana - maybe as good with the right guidance and better players around him? Also, did Jennings cost Tranmere a fortune to buy - I think not?

 

Some simple facts/common sense...

 

1. Signing a player that is as good or better than what you have is not diluting the squad...it's improving the overall competency of the squad.

 

2. The value of a player in terms of transfer fee does not necessarily equate to the improvement in overall competency to the squad that player offers...i.e. for a variety of reasons, a free transfer could turn out to be a far better player than one costing £1m for example.

 

3. Signing a player to the squad does not mean that player is mandated to start every game...that player will get a start or a bench place if they can prove that they deserve it in training. If they don't then they need to work harder. There is no such thing as "cover", "reserve" or "bench" players at Saints now...you get picked if you're (a) good enough (b) fit with the Managers game plan for that game. Puncheon is an example of a player 'not on the bus' with regards this strategy.

 

4. There is a minimum level of competency that all players need to reach to be considered capable of a 1st team place. The fewer options of players in the squad that meet or exceed that minimum level, the fewer opportunities are provided to the Manager to get the squad right for match-day. We do not have enough players in the squad that meet or exceed that minimum level PLUS we also have too many that do meet the level either injured or wantaway and de-motivated.

 

I dare say someone will find something wrong with these simple truths though! (;

[Saint_clark]

Don't agree we cannot get someone as good as Lallana. By all accounts the boy Jennings ran rings around us yesterday. Ryan Harley is very much in the mould of Lallana - maybe as good with the right guidance and better players around him? Also, did Jennings cost Tranmere a fortune to buy - I think not?

 

Some simple facts/common sense...

 

1. Signing a player that is as good or better than what you have is not diluting the squad...it's improving the overall competency of the squad.

 

2. The value of a player in terms of transfer fee does not necessarily equate to the improvement in overall competency to the squad that player offers...i.e. for a variety of reasons, a free transfer could turn out to be a far better player than one costing £1m for example.

 

3. Signing a player to the squad does not mean that player is mandated to start every game...that player will get a start or a bench place if they can prove that they deserve it in training. If they don't then they need to work harder. There is no such thing as "cover", "reserve" or "bench" players at Saints now...you get picked if you're (a) good enough (b) fit with the Managers game plan for that game. Puncheon is an example of a player 'not on the bus' with regards this strategy.

 

4. There is a minimum level of competency that all players need to reach to be considered capable of a 1st team place. The fewer options of players in the squad that meet or exceed that minimum level, the fewer opportunities are provided to the Manager to get the squad right for match-day. We do not have enough players in the squad that meet or exceed that minimum level PLUS we also have too many that do meet the level either injured or wantaway and de-motivated.

 

I dare say someone will find something wrong with these simple truths though! (;

 

He came through the youth team, and Harley is nowhere near as good as Lallana.

[Window Cleaner]

Anyway Harley has been given away to Swansea with the proviso that Exeter keep him until June.

[SaintRichmond]

We didn't lose today because of a supposedly weak bench and squad. We lost because Tranmere had two shots at goal and scored twice, individual errors leading to the goals and most worryingly the attitude of the players. Quite simply in the first half Tranmere wanted it more, hussled and pressured us and played out of their skin. You can have a squad of 60 world class players but if their attitude isn't right then they wont win. I can accept us losing due to moments of brilliance from the other team or bad luck from us, sometimes it just doens't go for you, but what i cant accept is us losing because the other team want it more, especially in a game we should win easily on paper and when we have so much to play for.

 

WHY did they want it more ???

 

IMHO, We have a little game v Man Utd this Saturday

 

This will prove to be the biggest destabilising of ou (supposed) Promotion Push

 

Coupled with the (repoerted) unrest in the Camp, the rails could be completely off at Saturday's final whistle

 

We should play our Reserves, and keep our supposed Best Players for what should be No 1 Target, THE LEAGUE

[ohwhenthesaints]

WHY did they want it more ???

 

IMHO, We have a little game v Man Utd this Saturday

 

This will prove to be the biggest destabilising of ou (supposed) Promotion Push

 

Coupled with the (repoerted) unrest in the Camp, the rails could be completely off at Saturday's final whistle

 

We should play our Reserves, and keep our supposed Best Players for what should be No 1 Target, THE LEAGUE

 

Yeah, **** the fans who have paid over the odds to go see the game, let's get hammered!