Jump to content

Signings for The Premier League

Professor

By Professor,
in The Saints

 Share

Recommended Posts

SuperMikey

SuperMikey

Posted
Posted
What about Lee Chung-Yong from Bolton if they go down? 23, right winger, maybe a bit of a risk as he broke his leg in pre-season and has been unable to play so far this season. But when fit he is a quality player.

 

One of the best wingers outside the Top 6. Yes please!

 

Really hard to know what is realistic. Someone said no chance to Jarvis. Why not? Been decent but average at best this season, relegated, will there be a huge queue?

 

He's English, young and has been Wolves' best player this year. I bet you if Wolves go down then there will be lots of teams going in for him. He might choose us if we bid for him, but I think he'd go for a more established team.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Rebel

Rebel

Posted
Posted
Have to say we will still go up imo!! Looking at our team yesterday though really made me think! We need 2 full backs, a new CB, a new CM, one bloomin fast winger and a fast striker ( maybe Lee). That team as it stands would struggle week in week out, first time I have really noticed how lightweight we are!

 

We will need those players whether we go up or not - although I would make it 2 fast wingers and a tall centre forward as well a fast strker

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Monk

Monk

Posted
Posted
what about lee chung-yong from bolton if they go down? 23, right winger, maybe a bit of a risk as he broke his leg in pre-season and has been unable to play so far this season. But when fit he is a quality player.

 

yes

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Window Cleaner

Window Cleaner

Posted
Posted
Have to say we will still go up imo!! Looking at our team yesterday though really made me think! We need 2 full backs, a new CB, a new CM, one bloomin fast winger and a fast striker ( maybe Lee). That team as it stands would struggle week in week out, first time I have really noticed how lightweight we are!

 

Told you so, 6 minimum, 10/12 for any realistic squad depth,still think we need a new keeper as well .

Link to comment
Share on other sites
S-Clarke

S-Clarke

Posted
Posted

I would take Curtis Davies in a heartbeat, or a defender of similar ilk. What I mean by that is a centre back who's nice on the ball and has a bit of pace.

 

I don't think Dirk would give us what we need, which is pace and movement up top. He's a little too static, but he does work hard to be fair to him.

 

What I'd look or though is pace through he heart of the team and down the flanks, we will not get anywhere next year if we have no pace on the flanks as we're way too predictable. Food and drink for top premiership teams.

 

Hooper and Jay Rodriquez are linked with us as centre forwards, but I'm not sure they'll bring us the pace up top I think we need....Someone like victor moses in behind would be great, although maybe not too realistic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff

Posted
Posted
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.

 

Agree with most, but not the striker. We have enough up front at the moment. The real problems are in midfield. Apart from AL and Morgan we have nobody who is good enough. Hammond huffs and puffs but is just about Championship level and Cork looks pretty, but does sweet FA.

 

Between Cork, Hammond and Morgan we have three league goals all season. It's simply not good enough. cork and Hammond have not got many assists either. Look at Norwich and Swansea they have goals from everywhere. We won't get so many from Jos next year as corners will be defended better in the Prem, so I'd really like to see a CM who can get a few goals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff

Posted
Posted
that is just ridiculous...he wins the ball/intercepts god knows how much

 

trouble is, people expect a midfield of lallanas....aint going to happen

 

But he is generally the more forward playing midfielder of the two and he hasn't scored a single goal. That's terrible. He hasn't set up many either. If he plays with Morgan or Hammond we have two central midfielders who are good at breaking up the play but hardly ever score and very rarely play a killer ball. In the Prem we can't rely on long balls to the far post to Lambert, it just won't work. We're going to need more from cm going forward and for me I would keep Morgan and ditch Cork, even if he is good at intercepting!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Thedelldays

Thedelldays

Posted
Posted
But he is generally the more forward playing midfielder of the two and he hasn't scored a single goal. That's terrible. He hasn't set up many either. If he plays with Morgan or Hammond we have two central midfielders who are good at breaking up the play but hardly ever score and very rarely play a killer ball. In the Prem we can't rely on long balls to the far post to Lambert, it just won't work. We're going to need more from cm going forward and for me I would keep Morgan and ditch Cork, even if he is good at intercepting!

but that is how we play......our CM don't score much....not this season, nor last

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Boris Karloff

Boris Karloff

Posted
Posted
but that is how we play......our CM don't score much....not this season, nor last

 

I think we'll need to agree to disagree. That was pretty much my point, it's OK in the lower leagues but it's going to put a lot of pressure on the forwards and Lallana if CM don't score in the prem as we won't get so many from corners and set pieces. But is it so much the way we play anyway? It's not as though he hasn't had chances, he's had plenty, they just never seem to hit the target.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Webby

Webby

Posted
Posted
Between Cork, Hammond and Morgan we have three league goals all season. It's simply not good enough. cork and Hammond have not got many assists either. Look at Norwich and Swansea they have goals from everywhere. We won't get so many from Jos next year as corners will be defended better in the Prem, so I'd really like to see a CM who can get a few goals.

 

For what it's worth I agree with you and I've been thinking and saying it for ages. However, it's been pointed out to me that it's cos they're holding midfielders, that that's the way we play, and that "look we're top scorers" as if that makes up for it. Look, if they'd scored maybe 6 goals between them, we might be up by now.

 

Hammond and Cork aren't out and out holding midfielders. They don't just sit in front of the back four, and even if they did, do we need two? They're also clearly not attacking midfielders. For me, they need to get better at being holding midfielders if that's the way we're gonna play, but I fear that Hammond won't make the step up next season, unless as I say, he adapts his game and just sits in front of the back four, with Morgan playing ahead of him.

 

We will definitely find goals harder to come by next season so goals from different areas of the pitch (and by that I mean different players) will help. You know, people (opposition fans mostly) say that we're a one man team (Lambert) which we're clearly not, but he brings other players into the game and his movement and ability in the air and on the ground gives us a focal point. There's no denying that we play better when he's in the side, whether he scores or not. Personally, I can understand the one man team jibe.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SaintJackoInHurworth

SaintJackoInHurworth

Posted
Posted

I think there are some pretty ridiculous comments from some on this thread. I agree that whether or not we go up it is important that we strengthen - if we go up then we need to strengthen in order to compete in the Premier League, just as when we were promoted last year we strengthened to be able to compete in The Championship. If we somehow fail to go up, then we need to strengthen to make sure we don't make the same mistakes last time!

 

However, to make wholesale changes would be foolish. We must maintain our team identity, so any changes need to be gradual and targetted. I would suggest that there are areas we need to strengthen and there are areas that are strong enough to hold their own in the Prem. Personally, I think our biggest problem weaknesses remain as:

 

1. Disciplined defending

2. Converting possession into clear-cut chances.

 

For this reason, I would say we need to strengthen at right full back, centre back and right midfield:

 

Left back: Fraser Richardson could yet be a revelation in the Prem, but Butterfield may not cut the mustard - certainly if he performs anything like he did on saturday against Boro. A quality left back would be a good investment.

Centre back: Secondly, I hate to say this, but I think Fonte may struggle in the Prem. He struggled on Saturday and was done for pace when he conceded the free-kick that led to their goal. He has been great for us the past couple of seasons and would not want to see him leave as he would be great defensive cover in the event of an injury, but I just think being a regular in the Prem may be a step too far for him.

Right Midfield: This has been a concern for a few years and I still don't think we have got it right. Chaplow did well on Saturday before getting injured, but he is more suitable when we need a player who will work hard for the team and pressure the opposition high up the field. He is not a right winger who can take players on, get to the byline and knock in a great cross or score a wonder goal from a wide position and I think we need a player of that sort. Unfortunately, the last one of those we had has had a great season in the Prem playing for Swansea. De Ridder looked like he was going to be that player, but it hasn't worked out. Puncheon has never had the consistency and is too lazy.

 

Personally, I would go for Junior Hoilet, if we can afford him and if he would come to Saints. Realistically though I suspect he will get a move to a team already established in the higher reaches of the Prem. Pederson is also a good suggestion and would be quite an ironic signing as it was his brilliance against Blackburn in 2005 that did for us in the relegation season and destroyed our confidence. However, I actually think he is a bit too old to be signing - he is 31.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TijuanaTim

TijuanaTim

Posted
Posted

1. Paul Robinson - desperately wants outa Blackburn

2. Jonas Olsen - typical (within budget) Saints style CB

3. Whittingham - solid talent, wasted in Wales

4. Tim Matavž - if we could get him

 

I'll get killed for this, all the same, a shed load of willing, good attitude, desperate for a chance, talent in the MLS - especially good for big, quick, calm, athletic CBs and great 'keepers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Webby

Webby

Posted
Posted
I think there are some pretty ridiculous comments from some on this thread. I agree that whether or not we go up it is important that we strengthen - if we go up then we need to strengthen in order to compete in the Premier League, just as when we were promoted last year we strengthened to be able to compete in The Championship. If we somehow fail to go up, then we need to strengthen to make sure we don't make the same mistakes last time!

 

However, to make wholesale changes would be foolish. We must maintain our team identity, so any changes need to be gradual and targetted. I would suggest that there are areas we need to strengthen and there are areas that are strong enough to hold their own in the Prem. Personally, I think our biggest problem weaknesses remain as:

 

1. Disciplined defending

2. Converting possession into clear-cut chances.

 

For this reason, I would say we need to strengthen at right full back, centre back and right midfield:

 

RIGHT back: Fraser Richardson could yet be a revelation in the Prem, but Butterfield may not cut the mustard - certainly if he performs anything like he did on saturday against Boro. A quality RIGHT back would be a good investment.

fixed for you
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
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...