NickG Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 We have had a lot better players than we have now over the years, but in the past we seemed to have quite poor back up players. I can't remember us having two decent players for each position. There is a good chance the following 11 will all be fit for the first game of the season and not start: Bart, Butterfield, Jaidi, Martin, Dickson, Ox-C, Chaplow, Schneiderlin, Holmes, Guly and Barnard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Garrett Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 If Chamberlain is fit, he will start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 28 July, 2011 Author Share Posted 28 July, 2011 you could make a case for several of those - which suppose is my point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egg Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 We have had a lot better players than we have now over the years, but in the past we seemed to have quite poor back up players. I can't remember us having two decent players for each position. There is a good chance the following 11 will all be fit for the first game of the season and not start: Bart, Butterfield, Jaidi, Martin, Dickson, Ox-C, Chaplow, Schneiderlin, Holmes, Guly and Barnard! That team would more than hold it's own in this league. Nigel is going to have to work very hard to keep the fringe players happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avenue Saint Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 We have had a lot better players than we have now over the years, but in the past we seemed to have quite poor back up players. I can't remember us having two decent players for each position. There is a good chance the following 11 will all be fit for the first game of the season and not start: Bart, Butterfield, Jaidi, Martin, Dickson, Ox-C, Chaplow, Schneiderlin, Holmes, Guly and Barnard! Morgan an important starter in my book nick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 A fantastic place to be. Let's just hope that the starting 11 would be strong enough to be at the sharp end, depth is nothing without quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 28 July, 2011 Author Share Posted 28 July, 2011 Morgan an important starter in my book nick? personally I would but think Hammonds experience puts him ahead for Adkins. I would probably Jaidi in, and both fullbacks you could toss a coin as they are so close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Stimp Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 Morgan an important starter in my book nick? You could easily say that about Ox, Jaidi, Guly and Barnard, but replace those players with whoever Adkins does decide to play and the back-up team doesn't really get any weaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 A fantastic place to be. Let's just hope that the starting 11 would be strong enough to be at the sharp end, depth is nothing without quality. We are in a great place at the mo, and I get frustrated by fans that can't see this and demand more and more signings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 28 July, 2011 Author Share Posted 28 July, 2011 sure we can improve but there are no glaring weaknesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alanh Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 I think your thread title is a bit misleading. What you are saying is we have one of our best squads ever. We have got two very competent contenders for every position now, with few automatic first choice picks in each position, perhaps only Fonte, Lallana and Lambert. It's a great position to be in and one that will stand us in good stead throughout the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan The Flames Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 A couple more in's would be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 If Chamberlain is fit, he will start. If De Ridder plays like he did last night at Yeovil on Saturday I wouldn't be 100% sure about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerceSaint28 Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 Guys we are in a good place but lets not get carried away. The point about quality is still valid.... I am one who thinks we still need 2 more signings...a centre half and another striker. If we get 2 quality players in these positions i will be more than happy to harp about our quality. If you are objective, we have a decent keeper, fairly average at full back position if the truth be told...certainly lacking pace. Centre half, we have one outstanding centre half in Fonte, Jaidi is a good back up, Seabourne is poor, Martin is a good youngster who needs a short loan and games. Midfield we are very strong, provided Holmes doesn't break down as usual, he is decent cover and the addition of Cork and De Ridder looks fantastic business. Up front we have strength and some good strikers...although Connolly has a horrible injury record. Forte is a winger and therefore the argument over lack of pace is still valid. If we can get Jamel in and a new striker and off load Seabourne, Mills and Puncheon....i will feel we can make a strong impact on the league. We are still a little short at present....let's hope this changes soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 In 2003 our 'reserve' team would have been something like: Jones Telfer - Hall - Kenton - Higginbotham Tessem - Delap - Prutton - McCann Ormerod - Pahars Not good enough for the Prem, but probably stronger than our second string at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 Guys we are in a good place but lets not get carried away. The point about quality is still valid.... I am one who thinks we still need 2 more signings...a centre half and another striker. If we get 2 quality players in these positions i will be more than happy to harp about our quality. If you are objective, we have a decent keeper, fairly average at full back position if the truth be told...certainly lacking pace. Centre half, we have one outstanding centre half in Fonte, Jaidi is a good back up, Seabourne is poor, Martin is a good youngster who needs a short loan and games. Midfield we are very strong, provided Holmes doesn't break down as usual, he is decent cover and the addition of Cork and De Ridder looks fantastic business. Up front we have strength and some good strikers...although Connolly has a horrible injury record. Forte is a winger and therefore the argument over lack of pace is still valid. If we can get Jamel in and a new striker and off load Seabourne, Mills and Puncheon....i will feel we can make a strong impact on the league. We are still a little short at present....let's hope this changes soon I agree with most of this. Certainly another signing at centre back would be nice and Jamel would fit the bill for me. Yes, another striker too, somebody with a bit of pace would be good, but with what we've got and provided Connolly stays fit, we aren't that far off up there, especially with the quality of players who can now provide them with the service. But I agree broadly with the sentiments of the OP. I can't remember when we had such strength in depth. Adkins could put out two separate teams and there would be some lively debate as to which was the stronger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 In 2003 our 'reserve' team would have been something like: Jones Telfer - Hall - Kenton - Higginbotham Tessem - Delap - Prutton - McCann Ormerod - Pahars Not good enough for the Prem, but probably stronger than our second string at the moment. It's all about opinions, but I'd rather have the second string we could put together now. In particualr, I'm not terribly impressed with that midfield, nor Kenton in the heart of defence and I'd bracket Ormerod with Barnard as similar contributors up front, although yes please to Pahars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 28 July, 2011 Author Share Posted 28 July, 2011 In 2003 our 'reserve' team would have been something like: Jones Telfer - Hall - Kenton - Higginbotham Tessem - Delap - Prutton - McCann Ormerod - Pahars Not good enough for the Prem, but probably stronger than our second string at the moment. who were first 11 then? Could put a case that midfield is stronger now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lighthouse Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 (edited) who were first 11 then? Could put a case that midfield is stronger now Niemi Dodd - Claus - Killer - Le Saux Fernandes - Oakley - Svensson - Marsden Beattie - Phillips Something like that anyway. I'm not so sure about the midfield being better now. Prutton and Delap were much criticised, but they were easily better than Hammond and Chaplow IMO. Holmes or McCann... both pertty average Championship midfielders I'd have said. De Ridder looks better than an ageing Tessem, I'll give you that one. Edited 28 July, 2011 by Lighthouse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikee Posted 28 July, 2011 Share Posted 28 July, 2011 One of my favourite moments as a Saints fan was watching that pre-season Reds v Yellows match and thinking that we were really on the cusp of something special. Didn't expect it to be 2 relegations and administration! Had a similar(ish) feeling at the ML Memorial Trophy but think we are still a couple of players short of getting near that squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 28 July, 2011 Author Share Posted 28 July, 2011 02/03 squad http://en.eufo.de/football/squad/southampton-fc/2002-03 03/04 http://en.eufo.de/football/squad/southampton-fc/2003-04 was quite a bit of depth then - maybe some better players than now but not as good comparatively if that makes sense (today's 2nd 11 would still be decent championship side, those 2nd 11's would not have survived in prem) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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