hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Wouldnt be surpirsed if it was Stephens. Not convinced by him though and would have been hoping we're aiming a bit higher than him. Is he going to be above Schneiderlin/Hammond/Chaplow ?! Am expecting a new CM in the window, but was expecting someone that would walk into the first team aka a signing like Fonte. Exactly. Last year we signed the likes of Lambert and Fonte, players who quite obviously improved the team immediately. With the added attraction of the NPC, we should have that same mentality this year. Even the skates got Lawrence last year and we should look for similar.
Chez Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 why? You've got three players that have played at that level before and a very promising youngster who is wanted by Everton. I think it looks a good midfield 4, easily good enough for the Championship. Who exactly are you expecting? I'm Morgan's biggest fan but he has a bit to prove at that level, Chaplow didn't pull any trees up at Preston and had a huge drop off in form after xmas for us so there are a few doubts there, Hammond hasn't really shined at that level as far as I know and there is no chance Stephens is wanted by Everton based on what he has done for us to date.
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Newspapers say he's wanted by Everton. newspapers also say that chambo is worth £10m....yet we agree
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 poor dale he is a young lad, moved from home up north, came into a very settled squad and made a contribution..and people have already consigned him to the rubbish bin....
shurlock Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Finally, the Fris Hansen appointment? Reckon its something with prose, quotes, photos - something requiring work to be put together as JS implies. Same could be said about the new kit or Stephens signing...But im plumping for the announcement of a new Director of European Football. By the same (loose) logic, publishing a retained list or new ST prices would wouldn't require much work.
thorpie the sinner Posted 17 May, 2011 Author Posted 17 May, 2011 I have faith in the fact that Saints have seen something some of the webbers haven't !! Could be a good signing!
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 I have faith in the fact that Saints have seen something some of the webbers haven't !! Could be a good signing! to be fair...some "webbers" thought adkins was pony
Turkish Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 I'm Morgan's biggest fan but he has a bit to prove at that level, Chaplow didn't pull any trees up at Preston and had a huge drop off in form after xmas for us so there are a few doubts there, Hammond hasn't really shined at that level as far as I know and there is no chance Stephens is wanted by Everton based on what he has done for us to date. Morgan played there as an 18 year old in his first season here and did okay, he has come on leaps and bounds since then. Apart from his time with us Chaplow has played his whole career in the championship or premier league, he is a proven Championship player, who has done well at all his clubs, apart from Preston. Hammond has done a job in the championship. Stephens only played 3 or 4 times for us, you cant judge him on that but is highly rated. I dont think 2 from those 4 for central midfield is a bad choice to have and I really dont know what sort of players people are expecting us to sign.
Turkish Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 poor dale he is a young lad, moved from home up north, came into a very settled squad and made a contribution..and people have already consigned him to the rubbish bin.... writing him off, 21 year old lad after 4 appearances, not forgetting he got a fairly bad injury on his debut.
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Morgan played there as an 18 year old in his first season here and did okay, he has come on leaps and bounds since then. Apart from his time with us Chaplow has played his whole career in the championship or premier league, he is a proven Championship player, who has done well at all his clubs, apart from Preston. Hammond has done a job in the championship. Stephens only played 3 or 4 times for us, you cant judge him on that but is highly rated. I dont think 2 from those 4 for central midfield is a bad choice to have and I really dont know what sort of players people are expecting us to sign. you do... it has started already..people are going to be disappointed..and keep going on about lambert and fonte...when we were building a new team
hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 poor dale he is a young lad, moved from home up north, came into a very settled squad and made a contribution..and people have already consigned him to the rubbish bin.... No they haven't, simply suggesting that now we are in the NPC there are better offers available.
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 No they haven't, simply suggesting that now we are in the NPC there are better offers available. how would you know that after 4 appearances.. serious question..?
shurlock Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Midfield is still an issue - the players are too 'samey' and inconsistent. I thought Chaplow would come in and shake things up but it hasn't quite worked out that way. Even NA who initially favoured a Hammond-Chaplow pairing, ended up started Morgan again (and a weakness of Pardew's team was that Morgan and Hammond were too static). Of course, if Stephens does sign, its hard to see what future there is for Gobern at the club.
benjii Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Why on earth not? Morgan has been there and done it before and has now matured. Easily the best CM in League 1 so should do fine. Chaplow again is a proved Championship Player and Hammond has played there before as well. I take your point on Stephens who is unproven but he has shown some promise and is one for the future so won't be first choice. I really don't know what people are expecting us to do this summer. Why dismantle a team which has done so well to finish 2nd? Leeds, Millwall and Norwich kept the core of their teams and did well. No reason we should have to make wholesale changes. Can't see anyone asking for wholesale changes. What I would like to see is us sign a CM who offers us something different to what we already have and is a good player. I'm not convinced at all that Stephens offers us anything new.
hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 you do... it has started already..people are going to be disappointed..and keep going on about lambert and fonte...when we were building a new team Which we are doing. A team to get us out of the NPC. Players of the same quality of Fonte should be easily achievable.
Saint Charlie Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Stephens is clearly a good passer, just needs a bit more authority in the middle. Sure we could develop him into a good player.
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Which we are doing. A team to get us out of the NPC. Players of the same quality of Fonte should be easily achievable. really...where did you get that from..?
benjii Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Midfield is still an issue - the players are too 'samey' and inconsistent. I thought Chaplow would come in and shake things up but it hasn't quite worked out that way. Even NA who initially favoured a Hammond-Chaplow pairing, ended up started Morgan again (and a weakness of Pardew's team was that Morgan and Hammond were too static). Of course, if Stephens does sign, its hard to see what future there is for Gobern at the club. Exactly. The only caveat would be if we had been asking Stephens to play a deeper role he is not usually used to, which is a possibility I suppose.
thorpie the sinner Posted 17 May, 2011 Author Posted 17 May, 2011 well, anyway, Mr Armstrong seems pretty clued up! It will be Stephens, more than happy!
hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 really...where did you get that from..? Erm because we are building a team to get us out of the NPC. Unless you think we are looking to stay here???
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 one thing that is clear about the thinking of the club...getting players in for now and for the future to try and bring them on.. much like the lad we got from argyle...just that dale is a little bit older
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Erm because we are building a team to get us out of the NPC. Unless you think we are looking to stay here??? maybe nige thinks he has the core to do that kelvin harding/dickson butterfield/frazer fonte morgan hammond chaplow lallana barnard most have great NPC experience and above throw in lambert and OxO who will easily do well in the NPC
hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 one thing that is clear about the thinking of the club...getting players in for now and for the future to try and bring them on.. much like the lad we got from argyle...just that dale is a little bit older Premiership standard? Definitely not from what I have seen so far.
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Premiership standard? Definitely not from what I have seen so far. who said about prem standard....is the lad from argyle prem standard..? isnt is the job of the coaching staff to make him a better player (which im sure they think they can)
hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 maybe nige thinks he has the core to do that kelvin harding butterfield/frazer fonte morgan hammond chaplow lallana labert barnard most have great NPC experience and above I agree. So the other signings will hopefully be those which will significantly improve what we have. IMO based on what I have seen so far Stephens does not offer that.
revolution saint Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 poor dale he is a young lad, moved from home up north, came into a very settled squad and made a contribution..and people have already consigned him to the rubbish bin.... OK, based on what you've seen so far would you sign him? I'm sure you'll probably come out with the "I trust Nigel" line but frankly IMO Stephens really hasn't done anything - if he was 5 years older most people would be slagging off his performances so far. I just don't see any natural attribute he has that will get better, apart from gaining experience which will make him an average L1 player. If he can't hack it in a very good league 1 team then don't expect him to be better in a less competitive championship one. Obviously I don't rate him but even if we were a newly promoted side just looking to stave off relegation I wouldn't fancy signing him. to be fair...some "webbers" thought adkins was pony To be fair you thought we should accept we weren't going to get automatic promotion........
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 I agree. So the other signings will hopefully be those which will significantly improve what we have. IMO based on what I have seen so far Stephens does not offer that. after 4 appreances.....after 4 adkins games you said he was pony..so I am assured in the fact that stephens will be mustard
sfc4prem Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Stephens will turn out to be a decent buy I reckon, if he is let off the leash like he was at Oldham, scoring long-rangers as a result. Has potential and will cost pennies, presumably. I'm still certain we will see another CM signed with higher quality. Dale is a good backup to have.
hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 who said about prem standard....is the lad from argyle prem standard..? isnt is the job of the coaching staff to make him a better player (which im sure they think they can) Jack is four years younger. IMO I think there are better options available, certainly considering we are looking at prem football in a maximum of three years, possibly less.
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 so, after 4 games...we have already decided he is not good enough...
Turkish Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 you do... it has started already..people are going to be disappointed..and keep going on about lambert and fonte...when we were building a new team I suppose so, as long as people are deluded into thinking we are signing the likes of Jamie O'Hara and Micheal Owen they are going to be disapointed. On another note, those banging on about Morgan being unproven at Championship level, well so is Chamberlain and Lallana only has one full season there, we need to be looking to improve on these two as well in that case. FFS
david in sweden Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 if it is Stephens then I'm not surprised (as he wouldn't of left Oldham on a 3 month loan unless it was going to turn into a transfer) but I am disappointed. Disappointed Chez?, he gives us yet another midfield option and with the possibilities to make the changes, we now have AOC, Lallana ....and any number of other combinations.
hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 after 4 appreances.....after 4 adkins games you said he was pony..so I am assured in the fact that stephens will be mustard If you are just going to lie then again it is not worth talking to you.
david in sweden Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 he is OK.. only 21 and one to look at for the future at the mo another post says... he's 23 ..and already past it ! (can you believe some of these people ?)
Turkish Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 OK, based on what you've seen so far would you sign him? I'm sure you'll probably come out with the "I trust Nigel" line but frankly IMO Stephens really hasn't done anything - if he was 5 years older most people would be slagging off his performances so far. I just don't see any natural attribute he has that will get better, apart from gaining experience which will make him an average L1 player. If he can't hack it in a very good league 1 team then don't expect him to be better in a less competitive championship one. Obviously I don't rate him but even if we were a newly promoted side just looking to stave off relegation I wouldn't fancy signing him. To be fair you thought we should accept we weren't going to get automatic promotion........ He's only played about 4 games of us FFS!!!
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 gulys first 4 games for us were an embarrassment. yet he has turned out great... antonio was a complete headless chicken when he first arrived.....yet he was the 2nd coming
hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 so, after 4 games...we have already decided he is not good enough... I don't think it is worth paying wages and a transfer fee on a signing when there are better options available. If we do sign him then I hope he comes good but based on what I have seen so far I think we can do better.
hypochondriac Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 gulys first 4 games for us were an embarrassment. yet he has turned out great... antonio was a complete headless chicken when he first arrived.....yet he was the 2nd coming No one is writing him off, simply giving their opinion based on what they have seen so far on a messageboard.
Hopkins Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Think it might be the kit. If it is Stephens then fair enough but something tells me that Oldham wouldn't be too chuffed about selling him and then having to wait a few hours for Saints to tease and make up there mind about when too announce it.
saintscottofthenortham Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 From what I have heard DS has had nuggets in his pants each and every time he has set foot on the pitch in a Saints shirt. Lets give the lad a bit of bloody room shall we? You don't score 10 goals in 20 games from centre mid in a pretty sh*t team and attract the interest of premiership sides if there is nothing about you. He has something in him, I have seen it anyhow.
Stu Man Do Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 poor dale he is a young lad, moved from home up north, came into a very settled squad and made a contribution..and people have already consigned him to the rubbish bin.... Serious question but how much of a contribution do you feel he actually made that couldn't equally have been made by a player already in the squad? Arguably Gobern made much more of a contribution than DS this season and yet he might be released!
dune Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 I'd be gutted if we signed Michael Owen after the slagging off i've given him throughout his entire career. I simply can't stand the little git.
shurlock Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 maybe nige thinks he has the core to do that kelvin harding/dickson butterfield/frazer fonte morgan hammond chaplow lallana barnard most have great NPC experience and above throw in lambert and OxO who will easily do well in the NPC How many of those have standout, occasionally team-of-the-week NPC experience? True Fonte -or was it Speroni - always stood out. Frazer was a regular in a team that made the playoff finals; but hasn't reproduced that form with us as yet. Lallana looked excellent in his breakthrough season (though his finishing was woeful). Morgan has bulked up since his debut season but he's still an unknown quantity. Other than that, most of the aforementioned players would make reliable NPC journeymen but its hard to see how they would push us on.
saintscottofthenortham Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 I don't think it is worth paying wages and a transfer fee on a signing when there are better options available. If we do sign him then I hope he comes good but based on what I have seen so far I think we can do better. Please read below... He's only played about 4 games of us FFS!!!
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Serious question but how much of a contribution do you feel he actually made that couldn't equally have been made by a player already in the squad? Arguably Gobern made much more of a contribution than DS this season and yet he might be released! in his 4 games he has played..he has assisted in at least 1 vital goal...two if im correct. he made a great contribution at argyle away..when the pressure was on
revolution saint Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 He's only played about 4 games of us FFS!!! Indeed and in any of those four games did he do anything?
Chez Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Morgan played there as an 18 year old in his first season here and did okay, he has come on leaps and bounds since then. Apart from his time with us Chaplow has played his whole career in the championship or premier league, he is a proven Championship player, who has done well at all his clubs, apart from Preston. Hammond has done a job in the championship. Stephens only played 3 or 4 times for us, you cant judge him on that but is highly rated. I dont think 2 from those 4 for central midfield is a bad choice to have and I really dont know what sort of players people are expecting us to sign. I don't have any issues with Morgan. He's a class act and as you say has come on a great deal. He's much stronger and he seems to fancy a tackle now. Chaplow will hopefully comeback into form, but even when he struggles his workrate makes up for it. Hammond has been excellent for the vast majority of the season, but his lack of pace concerns me. Perhaps that holding role he has played more often than not covers that lack of pace. Stephens is my concern. OK so we should never judge a player so quickly, especially a young player, but he just looked so lightweight, slow and lacking in first touch. I love the fact we've gone for promising youngster with massive potential, but is he the right one? Hope so.
Thedelldays Posted 17 May, 2011 Posted 17 May, 2011 Indeed and in any of those four games did he do anything? yes, actually in his 4 games he has played..he has assisted in at least 1 vital goal...two if im correct. he made a great contribution at argyle away..when the pressure was on
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