Another lovren but who?

[Mr X]

If we had another defender of the same class as lovren we'd seriously have a good defence fonte and yoshida are reasonable stand ins but not at anywhere nr the same level, shaw and chambers will be more than good enough for the flanks. Any player suggestions ?

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Ball playing centre-halves suitable for the modern game who can still defend well are at a premium. I suspect we only got Lovren as he had a poor season at Lyon in the first place.

 

That said, Astori is still at Cagliari - and he seems very suitable and attainable.

[Window Cleaner]

Ball playing centre-halves suitable for the modern game who can still defend well are at a premium. I suspect we only got Lovren as he had a poor season at Lyon in the first place.

 

That said, Astori is still at Cagliari - and he seems very suitable and attainable.

 

 

you don't need to have a poor season at Lyon to be saleable, all you need is to be coming towards the end of your contract and not be falling over yourself to accept a pay-cut for a new contract. Aulas is an idiot, he'll sell anything that moves if it suits him. This summer he's sold Lovren,Lisandro and Bastos and let Reveillere go because he wanted a year's contract with a year's option and Aulas just wanted to give him 1 year. Reveillere is still kicking about somewhere, , if Luke seems to be getting injured a lot then we could look at signing him as he's a free agent and better than Fox.

[SuperSAINT]

If we're lucky enough to keep the level of finance going that we've had recently, there's no doubt that a left sided centre-half will be targeted next summer.

[SaintNeil90]

Lyon have a very good transfer policy, might have something to do with it.

 

People should read Soccernomics, it explains what Lyon do.

[hypochondriac]

Fonte hasn't done a lot wrong this year so far.

[SaintNeil90]

Read this...

 

http://www.sportdw.com/2010/11/lyon-transfer-market-masters.html

[SaintNeil90]

Fonte hasn't done a lot wrong this year so far.

 

I'm hoping this is not a serious comment...

 

If it is... 2 games, 1 conceded, 1 scored... not bad so far.

[Lighthouse]

Khacheridi, Ukraine's number 3 last night.

[Restark19]

Fonte has been very impressive. For me Lovren and Fonte are easily a midtable premier league quality pairing. Yoshida is very good backup and Hooiveld can do a job if called upon

[Smirking_Saint]

Fonte hasn't done a lot wrong this year so far.

 

Exactly, looked a lot more assured this season, as I thought would be the case now that Jos is back on the bench.

 

Not entirely sure what the issue with Yoshi is either TBH, obviously the latest casualty of Mr Xs ability blindness

[hypochondriac]

I'm hoping this is not a serious comment...

 

If it is... 2 games, 1 conceded, 1 scored... not bad so far.

 

Eh?

[Olallana]

I agree that Fonte hasn´t done anything wrong this year, but that doesn´t mean that you should be looking for an upgrade if you can find it....??

[melmacian_saint]

Ahh Fonte, possibly the most underrated player in Saints recent history.

[Bucks Saint]

Yep defence is defo where we have the weakness / need to improve at the moment

[hypochondriac]

Ahh Fonte, possibly the most underrated player in Saints recent history.

 

Not from me. I've always rated him.

[ART]

Ahh Fonte, possibly the most underrated player in Saints recent history.

Can't agree more and obviously Pochettino sees many things in his play and rates him more than a lot of folk who are Saints followers.

[studentsaint]

Hrs done well but just because he's done well so far doesn't mean he won't mess up. I would bring yoshida in soon and quit while ahead with tonte before his inevitable mistake. I think all he is missing is that element of concentration.

[saints_is_the_south]

I watch a helluva lot of Serie A, and Astori is extremely overrated and extortionately over priced.

 

I like Hector Moreno of Espanyol. Mexican international with 47 caps, won Espanyol's player of the season in 2011/12 under Poch. He'd be a step up on what we already have (Lovren aside).

[hypochondriac]

Hrs done well but just because he's done well so far doesn't mean he won't mess up. I would bring yoshida in soon and quit while ahead with tonte before his inevitable mistake. I think all he is missing is that element of concentration.

 

Well that is just pathetic and sums up the mentality of some on this forum.

[Toadhall Saint]

Hrs done well but just because he's done well so far doesn't mean he won't mess up. I would bring yoshida in soon and quit while ahead with tonte before his inevitable mistake. I think all he is missing is that element of concentration.

 

I think you want perfection. Every defender messes up now and again just like every striker misses a sitter every now and again.

[david in sweden]

Fonte hasn't done a lot wrong this year so far.

 

No he hasn't....but like everyone else he has a birthday every year, and if his form suddenly goes bad, or he gets a serious injury .....what then ?

 

I don't see Jos getting many games and sooner or later Fonte will move on...and I'd be happier to think we had someone who was familiar with the club already and not to have to panic buy to cover for him.

[Toadhall Saint]

No he hasn't....but like everyone else he has a birthday every year, and if his form suddenly goes bad, or he gets a serious injury .....what then ?

 

I don't see Jos getting many games and sooner or later Fonte will move on...and I'd be happier to think we had someone who was familiar with the club already and not to have to panic buy to cover for him.

 

Yoshida

[farawaysaint]

Ahh Fonte, possibly the most underrated player in Saints recent history.

 

You have got to be kidding? Fuller, John, Oakley, Fernandes, Lundekvam all took more stick than Fonte despite putting in great shifts and that's only in the last 7-8 years.

[farawaysaint]

No he hasn't....but like everyone else he has a birthday every year, and if his form suddenly goes bad, or he gets a serious injury .....what then ?

 

I don't see Jos getting many games and sooner or later Fonte will move on...and I'd be happier to think we had someone who was familiar with the club already and not to have to panic buy to cover for him.

 

He's only 29, I can't believe this is his 5th season with us and he's been here that long. He's made 140 appearances for us

[david in sweden]

He's only 29, I can't believe this is his 5th season with us and he's been here that long. He's made 140 appearances for us

 

.......and I'd like to think he might make another 140, but at this level you have to be on top form all the time. I do like him as a player, but he has trouble with pace when under pressure.

 

His form is a bit inconsistant and he was responsible for some bad errors last season. When we lost 0-2 v.Wigan at SMS, Kone beat him twice for pace and scored.

[david in sweden]

Yoshida

 

thats my answer, too but he doesn't have too many admirers on this site, but maybe MP has a higher regard for him ?

[Toadhall Saint]

thats my answer, too but he doesn't have too many admirers on this site, but maybe MP has a higher regard for him ?

 

Well MP seems to rate Fonte higher but some on here think they know better than him

[farawaysaint]

thats my answer, too but he doesn't have too many admirers on this site, but maybe MP has a higher regard for him ?

 

I can't keep up, I thought we liked Yoshida? I certainly was always impressed with him.

[Turkish]

I watch a helluva lot of Serie A, and Astori is extremely overrated and extortionately over priced.

 

I like Hector Moreno of Espanyol. Mexican international with 47 caps, won Espanyol's player of the season in 2011/12 under Poch. He'd be a step up on what we already have (Lovren aside).

 

I watch a lot of Serie a and have followed Astoris career closely. He is the new Maldini IMO and massively underrated and underpriced. I remember watching his debut and thinking this is a proper defender we've got here. I expect lots of people saying how good he is have never seen him play though and are just saying it because we've been linked with him a few times.

[The Kraken]

I watch a lot of Serie a and have followed Astoris career closely. He is the new Maldini IMO and massively underrated and underpriced. I remember watching his debut and thinking this is a proper defender we've got here. I expect lots of people saying how good he is have never seen him play though and are just saying it because we've been linked with him a few times.

I was visiting relatives in Italy last year and caught a pre-season game that Astori played in. He scored an own goal, conceded a penalty and was subbed off after 50 minutes. I'm not sure if he's as good as you say.

[Turkish]

I was visiting relatives in Italy last year and caught a pre-season game that Astori played in. He scored an own goal, conceded a penalty and was subbed off after 50 minutes. I'm not sure if he's as good as you say.

 

You must have caught him on a bad day, i did hear about that game as i folllow cagliari closely, a few fans described him as the Italian Richard Dryden. however when I was visiting relatives in Sardinia I saw him play against AC Milan and he was amazing, the ball was like a magnet to his head and he won everything. Even the Milan travelling fans applauded him off the pitch and joined in with a rousing rendition of

 

He plays in the middle

He plays at back

Davide astori

Make Maldini look cack.

 

I think he's probably worth £37m

Edited 11 September, 2013 by Turkish

[simo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A-Y0DFUQNI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[CB Saint]

When did yoshida become ****e?

[Smirking_Saint]

Well MP seems to rate Fonte higher but some on here think they know better than him

 

I always thought Yoshi was MPs first choice, but due to internationals came back to pre season needing a rest and Fonte took his chance.

[studentsaint]

Fonte also had his worst game against west ham away last year. Gave away a stupid penalty, and although not having to deal with Carroll, this style of football may be his weakness.

[Super_Saint]

What's going on with Clyne exactly?

[St_Tel49]

I can't keep up, I thought we liked Yoshida? I certainly was always impressed with him.

There is not much in it between Fonte and Yoshida but Fonte has the shirt at the moment. One injury and it could all change. That is why we need a squad where the replacement is pretty much as good as the replaced.

[corky morris]

What's interesting about Lyon is the focus on Brazilian's. We can't do that in the UK for work permit reasons. My youngest (6) is at Man U (might only be 10 weeks) & at Stoke City's development centres. I can't get over how different they are. At Man u it's totally focused on ball work. No passing, no shooting, no fitness - everything is about having the skill to beat a man. At Stoke it's about pass & move. Space & awareness.

My point is, there are various ways to get success & IMHO Saints are doing it the right way with the youth team, but may well be overpaying in the transfer market.

[david in sweden]

When did yoshida become ****e?

 

he never was in my book, but he seems to have a few critics and a rather small fan club on this site, anyway.

 

Personally, I think he's a good first choice.