Teamwork

[Professor]

Nigel Adkins makes a strong point about teamwork being key to the club's success. He plays his own part in that team with some astute tactical decisions but also from the way he has built on Alan Pardew's squad that he inherited. An analysis of the current first team squad shows how teamwork stretches back, even to before the sale of the club in 2009 and that continuity, linked to gradual adaptation is key, as opposed to the slash and burn strategy adopted by some clubs. Pardew's part in building a team to get out of League 1 and compete in the Championship is apparent in the present squad although some of those are now second, rather than first choice players.

 

Perhaps the only disapointment is that the list only includes one player from the Academy, but partly due to forced sales of Chamberlain, Walcott and Bale who arguably became top quality when the club could only offer lower league football.

 

The following analysis of the current team might be of interest, but please excuse any errors or inaccurate assumptions:

 

Squad at Feb 2012 – Championship

 

Davis Signed by Burley (£1m+) debut 2006 (Played Prem Sunderland)

Richardson Signed by Pardew (£450K) debut 2010 (Played Prem Leeds)

Fonte Signed by Pardew (£1.2m) debut 2010 (International at u-21)

Hooiveld Signed by Adkins (up to 2m) debut 2011 (loan 2011)

Fox Signed by Adkins (£1.8m) debut 2011 (International Scotland)

Chaplow Signed by Adkins (£50K) debut 2011 (loan 2006)

Schneiderlin Signed by Poortviet (£1.2m) debut 2008 (international u-21)

Cork Signed by Adkins (£750K) debut 2011 (loan 2008) (International u-21)

Lallana Saints Academy debut 2008 (International u-21)

Lambert Signed by Pardew (£1m+) debut 2009

Lee Signed by Adkins (Free transfer) debut 2012 (International Japan)

 

Butterfield Signed by Pardew (Free transfer) debut 2010

Harding Signed by Pardew (Free transfer) debut 2009

Martin Signed by Pardew (Free transfer) debut 2010

Hammond Signed by Pardew (£400K) debut 2009

Puncheon Signed by Pardew (£200K) debut 2010

Guly Signed by Pardew (£500K) debut 2010

Connolly Signed by Pardew (Free) debut 2009 (Former International & Prem)

Sharp Signed by Adkins (£1.8m) debut 2012

[david in sweden]

I think I recall reading there some sort of " a deal" ....for A. Martin coming from Eastleigh...?, not sure if it was a " free"

 

Did Guly really cost 500K ? ..didn't see that anywhere...still , I think he's worth it ..on todays valuations ....

 

(Hooiveld) ...an item on a Celtic fan site stated that someone ITN ,..said it was £1.4 mill. (if so ..it was a " steal").

 

of course Lee Holmes and Ryan Dickson are also first team squad-ies (though out on loan at present.)...as is Jonathan Forte.

[Barry the Badger]

It's been great to see a group of players grow gradually together in quite a steady way. I forget how many signings we've made but recently watched the jpt highlights and the team that day makes you realise how far we've come.

[Dig Dig]

Interesting that 5 of the first team from last couple of games are now Adkins signings in comparison to 3 made by Pardew (big hat tip for SRL!), yet some still maintain that NA is riding on Pardews crest of a wave.

Edited 27 February, 2012 by Dig Dig

[lambertsrightleg]

Lallana made his debut in 2006 against Preston IIRC. #justsaying