Jump to content

Signings for The Premier League


Professor

Recommended Posts

What signings should Saints make during the summer? How soon should the club start looking? Do we already have a list of possibles?

 

Just in case anyone thinks that's a bit premature, Reading's prospective new owner claims that Reading have been scouting for Prem players for the past 3 weeks and that they do have a list of targets. That suggests they were thinking about next season well before promotion was certain for them when there were still about 8 games to go and they were only 2 points ahead of West Ham. It suggests that the one game at a time philosophy may not be the approach at Reading. They have performed better than we have over the last 3 months, doing us for 3 - 1 at home on the way but given the attention they are getting, it would be very nice if they lose at Birmingham and we pip them for the title!

 

It does look as if complacency is not in Reading's forward plan and I don't think anyone would accuse Cortese of complacency so what do we expect to happen to our squad in the close season? Will there be a well-earned rest after which the club will see who's still available in July, or will we hit the ground running? Or maybe there will be loyalty to the players who won promotion with only minimal changes unless or until we start losing games. Will there be a major clear out of fringe players and one or two who are creeping over the hill?

 

Who wants to see us hit the ground running and who thinks we can wait until August?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What signings should Saints make during the summer? How soon should the club start looking? Do we already have a list of possibles?

 

Just in case anyone thinks that's a bit premature, Reading's prospective new owner claims that Reading have been scouting for Prem players for the past 3 weeks and that they do have a list of targets. That suggests they were thinking about next season well before promotion was certain for them when there were still about 8 games to go and they were only 2 points ahead of West Ham. It suggests that the one game at a time philosophy may not be the approach at Reading. They have performed better than we have over the last 3 months, doing us for 3 - 1 at home on the way but given the attention they are getting, it would be very nice if they lose at Birmingham and we pip them for the title!

 

It does look as if complacency is not in Reading's forward plan and I don't think anyone would accuse Cortese of complacency so what do we expect to happen to our squad in the close season? Will there be a well-earned rest after which the club will see who's still available in July, or will we hit the ground running? Or maybe there will be loyalty to the players who won promotion with only minimal changes unless or until we start losing games. Will there be a major clear out of fringe players and one or two who are creeping over the hill?

 

Who wants to see us hit the ground running and who thinks we can wait until August?

 

It's not just him, Nigel said quite a while back that although nothing was certain and nothing yet acquired plans were underway because you have to plan ahead for all eventualities.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm confident that we already have a very ambitious list of transfer targets that we'd have tried for no matter what happend.

 

It's going to be an exciting summer where we're linked with all sorts of big names, but let's not forget that our transfer policy so far has been fautless. We know what we're doing, big names or no big names.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'll just repeat what I've been saying since about September :

 

We need about 4 or 5 new players in the summer who are expected to be better than the ones we have, and then another 4-ish in the Winter. It's a constant process of evolution and improvement without impacting on the core team.

 

For the summer :

Definitely

CB to challenge Fonte and Hooiveld (it won't be Jaidi and who knows about Seaborne)

RM as we don't really have one regular there

CM as we lack Prem experience there and Hammond stepping up would be pushing it

ST with Prem experience to replace Connolly/Barnard

 

and possibly (more likely in January)

GK if Davis plays like he did last time he was in the Prem

CB if Martin

LB if Shaw doesn't step up

RB if Stephens doesn't step up

ST to replace Connolly/Barnard

 

I'm sure someone will spout the argument that Norwich and Swansea didn't sign loads of players. They are wrong, they have both turned over at least 7 regular starters since January 2011.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Am I alone in thinking we should perhaps actually make sure of promotion before starting this discussion?

 

Although Nige did say post-match that behind the scenes planning foe the Prem started ages ago.

 

You are not alone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As far as exact players go :

 

GK : I'd love to see us sing Schmeichel, but who knows. Whoever it is has to be a good kicker and passer who makes decisions quickly.

RB : I'm hoping Jack Stephens steps up, can't think of many great right backs at the moment, Richardson might be up to it.

CB : I have no idea, but someone a damn sight better than Alex Pearce. ;)

LB : Hoping Shaw steps up, fairly happy with Fox, less keen on exposing Harding.

RM : I want Thomas Ince or Robert Snodgrass.

CM : I would kill for the only on loan and absolutely perfect fit Gylfi Sigurdsson - though Stephen Dobbie seems to be surplus to requirements at Swansea due to him too and is a class above most Championship CMs. Danny Guthrie might also like a return and to be a regular starter rather than cover, also suits our style. There is a possibility that Ward-Prowse could come through

LM : Happy with Lallana with Lee and Fox as cover, would have to be a hell of a player.

ST : We have Lambert, Sharp and Lee who I'm comfortable with, need to replace Connolly and probably Barnard. Not sure whether Sinclair, Seidi et al are going to come through.

 

I dare say whichever of the bottom Prem sides who go down will have a few of "our type" who might be a good fit. I rate that Skate O'Hara, but he's probably a little injury-prone. Matt Jarvis would give Lallana a run for his money and he could always switch sides and play inverted.

Edited by The9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On a more serious note i think we should look at some of these

 

Vladimir Weiss

Morten Gamst Pedersen

Steven Nzonzi

Stephen Hunt

Grant Hanley

 

Weiss would be a quality signing at RM. Isn't he captain of the Slovakia team?

 

FWIW I think we should be looking at a RM, a CB, cover for full back (don't rate Harding and Butterfield in the Prem), an experienced CM and a ST.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On a more serious note i think we should look at some of these

 

Vladimir Weiss

Morten Gamst Pedersen

Steven Nzonzi

Stephen Hunt

Grant Hanley

 

All fairly sensible, not sure about Pedersen though, a fair few seasons past his best and plays where one of our best players does. Right attitude though. Weiss was decent on loan at Bolton a couple of years back.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Victor moses

 

If Wigan do down I'd like their GK Al Habsi.

 

These two would be great signings, don't think they'll happen unless Wigan go down.

 

Phillips from Blackpool, O'Hara, Scott Dann, Roger Johnson, Jarvis, Whittingham would do nicely.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

These two would be great signings, don't think they'll happen unless Wigan go down.

 

Phillips from Blackpool, O'Hara, Scott Dann, Roger Johnson, Jarvis, Whittingham would do nicely.

 

Not sure about Dann (basically I just don't know anything at all about him) and Roger Johnson has been getting absolutely battered by Wolves fans this season as McCarthy made him captain.

 

Aren't Phillips, Jarvis and Whittingham all Lallana left-siders too ? How many left midfielders do you want ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not sure about Dann (basically I just don't know anything at all about him) and Roger Johnson has been getting absolutely battered by Wolves fans this season as McCarty made him captain.

 

Aren't Phillips, Jarvis and Whittingham all Lallana left-siders too ? How many left midfielders do you want ?

 

Phillips & Jarvis plays down the right I think and Whittingham can play all across the middle.

 

Johnson was good for Brum, hes been a bit of a scapegoat I think. Danns is decent, better than Fonte and Hooliveld.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It does stun me that prior to the Blackpool game someone started a who will our first game of next season be? The farmer let the sheep out and we have Premiership teams in the first few posts, and looks what happens

Now we have this little gem rock up! Obviously there are a few on here who do not subscribe to what Mr Adkins says every chuffin week, "it's easy to get ahead of ourselves" "lets stay in the here and now and take one game at a time".

 

Still before long we will have the HCDAJFU thread riddled with every pit pony and glue pot in football we should sign. Just look at Norwich and Swansea who did not make wholesale changes, compared to QPR who piddled pennies up the wall on the likes of Barton and SWP who have proved to be a waste of space.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We don't want to sign a striker to replace Barnard. We want to sign a striker that will challenge Lambert for a starting place.

 

Hooper may fit the bill - I'm aware he is not the same typd of player but not the point. Point is to buy better, not buy reserves.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can see either Frimpong or Myachi from Arsenal on loan, Myachi would be interesting a Japanese mate for Lee

 

Frimpong seems like an absolute tool and he's quite reckless with his tackling (although tbf he is a funny f*cker!). Don't think we'll bring him in. Miyaichi would be great though, tricky winger/striker with bags of pace.

 

I don't think This Charming Man would be too happy with having 2 Japanese players in the squad though, get too many Japanese fans with placards at games ;)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Am I alone in thinking we should perhaps actually make sure of promotion before starting this discussion?

 

Although Nige did say post-match that behind the scenes planning foe the Prem started ages ago.

 

Chill out. It's in the bag.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Phillips & Jarvis plays down the right I think and Whittingham can play all across the middle.

 

Johnson was good for Brum, hes been a bit of a scapegoat I think. Danns is decent, better than Fonte and Hooliveld.

 

Phillips played down the right against Saints the other week, Ince was their right mid. Though in a 4-3-3 I suppose you could argue they can have two wide "midfielders" on each side. Never seen Jarvis on the right (used to keep Surman out of the team a couple of seasons ago) but then I can't say I've been paying much attention to the Prem strugglers since we haven't been one.

 

Is that Danns or Dann ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We don't want to sign a striker to replace Barnard. We want to sign a striker that will challenge Lambert for a starting place.

 

Hooper may fit the bill - I'm aware he is not the same typd of player but not the point. Point is to buy better, not buy reserves.

 

Well yeah, whenever I post "replace" assume I mean "get rid of crap squad player and replace with starting quality player". Signing back-up is for idiots.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Phillips played down the right against Saints the other week, Ince was their right mid. Though in a 4-3-3 I suppose you could argue they can have two wide "midfielders" on each side. Never seen Jarvis on the right (used to keep Surman out of the team a couple of seasons ago) but then I can't say I've been paying much attention to the Prem strugglers since we haven't been one.

 

Is that Danns or Dann ?

 

Scott Dann, sorry, although come to think of it Neil Danns could be decent shout as well. I was impressed with Ince. We do need to address the right side of midfield, been a problem area this season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'd like to see the nucleus of the current squad all given a chance should we go up. They have earnt promotion. The last thing i'd want see is journeyman mercenarys coming in.

 

Replacing 5 never-playing squad players with 5 Prem standard starters wouldn't be a problem would it ? Or do you think Jaidi, Dickson, Connolly, Seaborne and Reeves have been irreplaceable for Saints this season ? EDIT : Add Forte and Doble to that.

 

I seriously doubt we'll be signing any journeyman mercenaries based on our previous signings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scott Dann, sorry, although come to think of it Neil Danns could be decent shout as well. I was impressed with Ince. We do need to address the right side of midfield, been a problem area this season.

 

I've been really impressed with Danns recently too, no coincidence that Leicester stopped winning when he got injured.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scott Dann, sorry, although come to think of it Neil Danns could be decent shout as well. I was impressed with Ince. We do need to address the right side of midfield, been a problem area this season.

victor moses would have been ideal

don't know if he would have fit in mind...could not barely string a sentence together the other day

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...