Maynard is coming

[bender]

Until I see it actually happen, I would go along with richardc. I heard Adkins say Ricky will be our main striker this season when being quizzed about him not playing during the Liebherr Trophy. I can't believe we are considering paying this type of money on strikers that can only be considered middle of the road, there must be far better value on the continent. I watched Matty Fryatt score for Hull against Leicester at the weekend and just that level of striker would make so much a difference. A striker that can take on defenders without assistance. Give that striker pace and all of a sudden that back line is no longer pushing up so high and they are not looking at your centre forward as an alternative to the goal post as a safe place to leave their chewing gum when they go up for a header.

 

I am petty sure we are looking at an alternative to Connolly rather than Ricky, which may have a lot to do with the opinion of the medical staff.

 

Fryatt scored against Leicester and against Ipswich? He must be quality.

[beavis17]

Keogh is set to join Leeds on loan. Good signing for them.

 

And Fryatt is clearly a quality player. If you take notice of the Championship on a regular basis you will see a lot of his finishes which are usually excellent.

[thorpie the sinner]

Once Ricky gets off mark in Championship, I expect him to take off! Very similar to Holty and he scored a hatful last year!

[SuperSAINT]

Quality...

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14583867.stm

[Glasgow_Saint]

Quality...

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14583867.stm

 

Great goals! Leave lambert with the pens though

[SuperSAINT]

Great goals! Leave lambert with the pens though

 

+1

 

I'd sign Maynard any day of the week. But we won't pay 5m+ for him when he's out of contract next summer.

[pimpin4rizeal]

yeah great goals !

he looks fast skillfull and also really composed.

im praying we sign him i think it will be game over rest of championship if we do.

im not sold on rodriguez yet

for me maynard first choice ebanks blake 2nd

[hypochondriac]

We won't be signing him.

[trousers]

We won't be signing him.

 

Source?

[hypochondriac]

Source?

 

Solent saying we aren't interested. More likely to know than the average fan. Also doesn't really fit with our other signings. Jay Rod fits that profile much more.

[shurlock]

Solent saying we aren't interested. More likely to know than the average fan. Also doesn't really fit with our other signings. Jay Rod fits that profile much more.

 

Why doesn't he fit with our other signings?

[TopGun]

Whatever the pros and cons of another forward, we deffo need back up for Rickie. He works so hard he's bound to tire at some point and so far we've been lucky he hasn't got injured.

[dubai_phil]

Whatever the pros and cons of another forward, we deffo need back up for Rickie. He works so hard he's bound to tire at some point and so far we've been lucky he hasn't got injured.

 

Agree. We have Guly, Barnard, Forte & even Lallana & De Ridder as cover for Connolly or to give something different up front. None of them of course is a Connolly but we have COVER.

 

What we don't have is anything close to cover for Rickie and what he brings to the team with his all round play.

 

IMHO I still believe we should be looking for cover for him, we've been lucky he hasn't had an injury, and I don't believe for one moment that NA & NC will let luck play a part with our squad.

 

Looking for someone to come in as cover then it is a Youngster on Loan or someone who is good enough to play that sort of role for a max of 5 or 6 games this season which fits our current "profile" of buying players who can go all the way to the PL. IF Rickie drops form or gets a long term injury then we can look again in January for a first choice every week. We have 3 QUALITY strikers on the books still and enough to help out.

 

My money is on someone from Europe. Lambert remains first choice and they'd have to be a helluva player to bring more to the TEAM than he does at the moment

[Toadhall Saint]

Agree. We have Guly, Barnard, Forte & even Lallana & De Ridder as cover for Connolly or to give something different up front. None of them of course is a Connolly but we have COVER.

 

What we don't have is anything close to cover for Rickie and what he brings to the team with his all round play.

 

IMHO I still believe we should be looking for cover for him, we've been lucky he hasn't had an injury, and I don't believe for one moment that NA & NC will let luck play a part with our squad.

 

Looking for someone to come in as cover then it is a Youngster on Loan or someone who is good enough to play that sort of role for a max of 5 or 6 games this season which fits our current "profile" of buying players who can go all the way to the PL. IF Rickie drops form or gets a long term injury then we can look again in January for a first choice every week. We have 3 QUALITY strikers on the books still and enough to help out.

 

My money is on someone from Europe. Lambert remains first choice and they'd have to be a helluva player to bring more to the TEAM than he does at the moment

 

Control the controllables springs to mind.

[Gingeletiss]

Agree. We have Guly, Barnard, Forte & even Lallana & De Ridder as cover for Connolly or to give something different up front. None of them of course is a Connolly but we have COVER.

 

What we don't have is anything close to cover for Rickie and what he brings to the team with his all round play.

 

IMHO I still believe we should be looking for cover for him, we've been lucky he hasn't had an injury, and I don't believe for one moment that NA & NC will let luck play a part with our squad.

 

Looking for someone to come in as cover then it is a Youngster on Loan or someone who is good enough to play that sort of role for a max of 5 or 6 games this season which fits our current "profile" of buying players who can go all the way to the PL. IF Rickie drops form or gets a long term injury then we can look again in January for a first choice every week. We have 3 QUALITY strikers on the books still and enough to help out.

 

My money is on someone from Europe. Lambert remains first choice and they'd have to be a helluva player to bring more to the TEAM than he does at the moment

 

Why the hell, are people obsessed with 'backup' we don't really need a striker imo, but if we do get one in, then get one in who is better that what we have.

[Chez]

What we don't have is anything close to cover for Rickie and what he brings to the team with his all round play.

 

when Guly played up front with Lambert the arguement was that they were the same player, both big and strong, but both looking to drop deep into the hole. They eat each others space and neither pushed hard to get in the box. Perhaps we already have Lambert cover - we haven't had to try as Lambert has played pretty much every game since Guly arrived.

 

Lukas Jutkiewicz could well be our target with us waiting till last minute when Cov will be desperate.

[dubai_phil]

Why the hell, are people obsessed with 'backup' we don't really need a striker imo, but if we do get one in, then get one in who is better that what we have.

 

Back up NOW who will get better with coaching & experience A player with high technical ability 21/13 years old. One for later in the season or next year in the PL rather than for now. Sure as hell didn't mean to go back down the Darren Kenton "Squad Player" road.

[SaintNeil90]

when Guly played up front with Lambert the arguement was that they were the same player, both big and strong, but both looking to drop deep into the hole. They eat each others space and neither pushed hard to get in the box. Perhaps we already have Lambert cover - we haven't had to try as Lambert has played pretty much every game since Guly arrived.

 

Lukas Jutkiewicz could well be our target with us waiting till last minute when Cov will be desperate.

 

desperate for what? they want to keep him!

[Turkish]

when Guly played up front with Lambert the arguement was that they were the same player, both big and strong, but both looking to drop deep into the hole. They eat each others space and neither pushed hard to get in the box. Perhaps we already have Lambert cover - we haven't had to try as Lambert has played pretty much every game since Guly arrived.

 

Lukas Jutkiewicz could well be our target with us waiting till last minute when Cov will be desperate.

 

I hope so, would be a great signing IMO and a lot cheaper than the others we've been linked with.

[sotonist]

So, when's he coming?

[up and away]

when Guly played up front with Lambert the arguement was that they were the same player, both big and strong, but both looking to drop deep into the hole. They eat each others space and neither pushed hard to get in the box. Perhaps we already have Lambert cover - we haven't had to try as Lambert has played pretty much every game since Guly arrived.

 

Lukas Jutkiewicz could well be our target with us waiting till last minute when Cov will be desperate.

 

And there you have it in a nutshell. Ricky is not playing the standard striker role but taking up Guly's best position, in the hole. Ricky gets nudged off the ball far easier than Guly but I cannot argue that it is working, even with Guly playing in his weaker position on the wing.

 

I have always thought that this formation would not work away from home, when the need is to counter attack. That has easily been dispelled by the performances at Barnsley and Ipswich, you just cannot argue with those performances. I have tried to work out the system that we are playing but everything is so fluid it just comes up as a myriad of different groups of 3 attacking with purpose.

 

I do know that the opposition are equally confused as myself, not knowing fully who to pick up and who goes to cover when Lallana or Guly come off the wings. Full praise to who ever has come up with this and it's going to be interesting which team manages to find an answer. If there is one when you are passing/moving with such intelligence and skill. It's going to be a different problem when someone comes and parks the bus as I expect Millwall to on Saturday, but this is where Guly comes into his own in the team, nearly as good as Jack Frost with his key collection.

 

Adkins has clearly had this system in his mind for a long while and through the summer has fine tuned it on the practice pitch. Add into that equation Jack Cork and a fit Ricky and you see what we have now. Full praise to all, manager, coaches, analysts and players, but I have to admit I just never saw this working as exceptionally well as has been demonstrated.

 

Please shoot this down in flames as you wish, but the only other club I can think of that plays in a similar style, is Barcelona? Where defenders are left marking fresh air until they find a triangle passing through them from where ever.

[TopGun]

when Guly played up front with Lambert the arguement was that they were the same player, both big and strong, but both looking to drop deep into the hole. They eat each others space and neither pushed hard to get in the box. Perhaps we already have Lambert cover - we haven't had to try as Lambert has played pretty much every game since Guly arrived.

 

Lukas Jutkiewicz could well be our target with us waiting till last minute when Cov will be desperate.

 

The point about Guly might be right and maybe we've not seen that yet but I don't see him as a proper number 9 player. My concern is that we know Rickie is a powerful and effective point man who ties up central defenders, takes space up in the middle and worries defences with his presence - and that's not been shown with others yet. I think Nige also viewed or views Forte in that role a bit, but he hasn't shown anywhere near Rickie's all-round abilities in his albeit limited opportunities to date either.

Edited 20 August, 2011 by TopGun

[Scudamore]

Back up NOW who will get better with coaching & experience A player with high technical ability 21/13 years old. One for later in the season or next year in the PL rather than for now. Sure as hell didn't mean to go back down the Darren Kenton "Squad Player" road.

 

I'm not sure a 13 will really fit the bill...

[Chez]

desperate for what? they want to keep him!

they want the best price. Money is needed to keep the wolves from the door.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

West Ham in for Maynard:

 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7115799,00.html

[Saint Without a Halo]

West Ham in for Maynard:

 

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7115799,00.html

 

"Enquiries have been made as discreetly as possible says Allardyce" to SKY! not quite the saints way then

[Dalek2003]

Is he here yet ?

[Saint Garrett]

GameOf_2Halves Game Of 2 Halves

Leicester ready to up the pace in their pursuit of Nicky Maynard. £5.5m bid #LCFC #BCFC

[itchen_dan]

GameOf_2Halves Game Of 2 Halves

Leicester ready to up the pace in their pursuit of Nicky Maynard. £5.5m bid #LCFC #BCFC

 

For that price they can have him. £5.5m for a championship striker in the final year of his contract is madness IMO.

[notnowcato]

And there you have it in a nutshell. Ricky is not playing the standard striker role but taking up Guly's best position, in the hole. Ricky gets nudged off the ball far easier than Guly but I cannot argue that it is working, even with Guly playing in his weaker position on the wing.

 

I have always thought that this formation would not work away from home, when the need is to counter attack. That has easily been dispelled by the performances at Barnsley and Ipswich, you just cannot argue with those performances. I have tried to work out the system that we are playing but everything is so fluid it just comes up as a myriad of different groups of 3 attacking with purpose.

 

I do know that the opposition are equally confused as myself, not knowing fully who to pick up and who goes to cover when Lallana or Guly come off the wings. Full praise to who ever has come up with this and it's going to be interesting which team manages to find an answer. If there is one when you are passing/moving with such intelligence and skill. It's going to be a different problem when someone comes and parks the bus as I expect Millwall to on Saturday, but this is where Guly comes into his own in the team, nearly as good as Jack Frost with his key collection.

 

Adkins has clearly had this system in his mind for a long while and through the summer has fine tuned it on the practice pitch. Add into that equation Jack Cork and a fit Ricky and you see what we have now. Full praise to all, manager, coaches, analysts and players, but I have to admit I just never saw this working as exceptionally well as has been demonstrated.

 

Please shoot this down in flames as you wish, but the only other club I can think of that plays in a similar style, is Barcelona? Where defenders are left marking fresh air until they find a triangle passing through them from where ever.

 

Just seen this post both exceptional and prophetic - well done sir ( or madam)

[The9]

And there you have it in a nutshell. Ricky is not playing the standard striker role but taking up Guly's best position, in the hole. Ricky gets nudged off the ball far easier than Guly but I cannot argue that it is working, even with Guly playing in his weaker position on the wing.

 

I have always thought that this formation would not work away from home, when the need is to counter attack. That has easily been dispelled by the performances at Barnsley and Ipswich, you just cannot argue with those performances. I have tried to work out the system that we are playing but everything is so fluid it just comes up as a myriad of different groups of 3 attacking with purpose.

 

Not the Ipswich performance from Lambert, no, but on the back from the game thread for Barnsley I was asking the question "what did Lambert do?" without any answers. We'd played great football but he was by no means as influential as Cork, Connolly or Lallana. It was pretty obvious from the highlights what he was doing at Ipswich though, one long ball for him to bring down and bury and one through ball that he got to as he'd already started his run from deep - neither were the kind of passes he'd been getting or movement he'd been making in the first two matches of the season.

 

Edit : from post #31 here : http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthread.php?31939-Was-there-a-(just)-back-from-the-match-thread-for-Barnsley

Edited 23 August, 2011 by The9

[DT]

He'll score against us on Sat, knowing our luck. Or not.

[Dalek2003]

For that price they can have him. £5.5m for a championship striker in the final year of his contract is madness IMO.

 

Incredible if true, how much money have Leicester spent and how much is their private backer prepared to spend.

Can't see the Liebherr's being follwing this example, and in a way there is a certain honesty in the way we are building for the long term. I am more convinced than ever that our goal this year was to establish ourselves in the NPC this year and push on over the following two seasons.

Remember the five year plan ?

[Matthew Le God]

I am more convinced than ever that our goal this year was to establish ourselves in the NPC this year and push on over the following two seasons.

Remember the five year plan ?

 

Signing Fox, Cork and De Ridder puts Saints quite high on the Championship spenders list for 2011/12. Plus, the squad didn't need that much added to it anyway as a lot of spending had already taken place. If Lallana, Connolly, Guly, Schneiderlin, Lambert and Fonte had signed for Saints this summer along with Fox, Cork and De Ridder, following through your own logic you'd be delighted?

 

Just so happens the squad was already largely in place and didn't need much more than a tweak to be competitive at the top end of the Championship, as highlighted with four league wins out of four in the embryonic league campaign so far.

Edited 23 August, 2011 by Matthew Le God

[Dalek2003]

Signing Fox, Cork and De Ridder puts Saints quite high on the Championship spenders list for 2011/12. Plus, the squad didn't need that much added to it anyway as a lot of spending had already taken place. If Lallana, Connolly, Guly, Schneiderlin, Lambert and Fonte had signed for Saints this summer along with Fox, Cork and De Ridder, following through your own logic you'd be delighted? Just so happens the squad was already largely in place and didn't need much more than a tweak to be competitive in the Championship, as highlighted with four league wins out of four in the embryonic league campaign so far.

 

I agree we have a good squad. However, the fight for Premier status is well known to be a tough one, with tough opposition from the likes of Leicester, Brm, Ham and Boro. It is when we pick up injuries and suspensions during the cold winter months and the long spring that we may need that extra depth.

You obviously think we have the depth already, I believe we are just a touch light. IMO that can mean the difference between mid table and promotion.

Having said that, if we are lucky with injuries and suspensions we might make it. But, I believe this would be a bonus and not necessarily part of the original plan.

[Thedelldays]

I agree we have a good squad. However, the fight for Premier status is well known to be a tough one, with tough opposition from the likes of Leicester, Brm, Ham and Boro. It is when we pick up injuries and suspensions during the cold winter months and the long spring that we may need that extra depth.

You obviously think we have the depth already, I believe we are just a touch light. IMO that can mean the difference between mid table and promotion.

Having said that, if we are lucky with injuries and suspensions we might make it. But, I believe this would be a bonus and not necessarily part of the original plan.

a touch light of fighting for promotion....does a "tough light" equate to finishing 17th..?

[Dalek2003]

a touch light of fighting for promotion....does a "tough light" equate to finishing 17th..?

 

I still maintain that the squad will hold its ownover the course of the year and yes we will finish closer to 17th than in the top six.

I also concede that the start we have made has been brilliant, better than I thought and of course I am delighted.

However, I still do not believe that this will be sustained.

[Tokyo-Saint]

I still maintain that the squad will hold its ownover the course of the year and yes we will finish closer to 17th than in the top six.

I also concede that the start we have made has been brilliant, better than I thought and of course I am delighted.

However, I still do not believe that this will be sustained.

 

If only we had Hoddle in charge!

[Appy]

I still maintain that the squad will hold its ownover the course of the year and yes we will finish closer to 17th than in the top six.

I also concede that the start we have made has been brilliant, better than I thought and of course I am delighted.

However, I still do not believe that this will be sustained.

 

Believe or hope?

[bristolsaint29]

I still maintain that the squad will hold its ownover the course of the year and yes we will finish closer to 17th than in the top six.

I also concede that the start we have made has been brilliant, better than I thought and of course I am delighted.

However, I still do not believe that this will be sustained.

 

You really are a miserable old goat aren't you?

[thorpie the sinner]

You really are a miserable old goat aren't you?

 

lol, yes he is!! Keep hoping its reverse psychology but not convinced!! Think if we win the league, he would say, this team isn't good enough for premiership and will go straight back down!

[Webby]

If Maynard is as good as he is said to be, then he isn't gonna get any cheaper than 5m. Grab him now or regret it when somebody else does and pips us to promotion. Same applies to JRod.

[miserableoldgit]

Fourth_OfficialFourth Official

 

 

Amusing how #Saintsfc fans are turning on me, don't bite the hand etc etc they'll crawl back....

 

 

 

 

Fourth_OfficialFourth Official

 

 

Regarding #Saintsfc I put my money where my mouth was before the start of the season on them winning the league at 16/1 based on info

[MOSaint]

Fourth_OfficialFourth Official

 

 

Amusing how #Saintsfc fans are turning on me, don't bite the hand etc etc they'll crawl back....

 

 

 

 

Fourth_OfficialFourth Official

 

 

Regarding #Saintsfc I put my money where my mouth was before the start of the season on them winning the league at 16/1 based on info

 

Fourth official has some good info but he does take some stuff tweeted to him a little bit too personally

[Smirking_Saint]

I'd pay 5.5mil for Maynard, if his injuries are behind him he will just get better and better IMO.

 

Plus has attributes that would work well in the team.

[Crouchie's Lawyer]

Mods can the title of this thread now be changes to simply 'Maynard'? Annoys me everytime I look at it and think he is coming...

[Lambert7]

Mods can the title of this thread now be changes to simply 'Maynard'? Annoys me everytime I look at it and think he is coming...

 

Are you really that silly then?

[Guest Dark Sotonic Mills]

I'd pay 5.5mil for Maynard, if his injuries are behind him he will just get better and better IMO.

 

Plus has attributes that would work well in the team.

 

Drop Nicola a line then, I'm sure he'll give you his PayPal details for the payment.

[Thedelldays]

£6m is silly....sadly..for either maynard or rodrigez

 

hernandez cost man u £6m.....

[Smirking_Saint]

Drop Nicola a line then, I'm sure he'll give you his PayPal details for the payment.

 

Watching the Ebay bid atm, I may step in at the last minute, the reserve isn't met however, which is concerning.