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Steven Davis: 'Southampton squad best since I joined'

doddisalegend

By doddisalegend
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doddisalegend

doddisalegend

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Posted

So what do people think footballer talking up current players or is there some truth to Steven's point of view?

 

There are people who have done a great job for the club over a number of years, so if you look at competition for places now within the squad, it's really healthy. It's arguably the best squad since I've been here."

 

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/southampton/news/davis-saints-squad-best-since-i-joined_248851.html#$$nve4xw&&Ua68YGXrEeWHjRJBhbMsDw$$

SuperSAINT

SuperSAINT

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So what do people think footballer talking up current players or is there some truth to Steven's point of view?

 

There are people who have done a great job for the club over a number of years, so if you look at competition for places now within the squad, it's really healthy. It's arguably the best squad since I've been here."

 

http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/southampton/news/davis-saints-squad-best-since-i-joined_248851.html#$$nve4xw&&Ua68YGXrEeWHjRJBhbMsDw$$

 

Well it's certainly the best in terms of numbers. 2 players in each position when everyone is fit.

Batman

Batman

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Think that's fair the bench looks much better this season you actually feel like there are options on the bench that can change a game.

 

Agree with that. Think we can cater for injuries and suspension a lot better.

 

You could say we are geared up to cope with more games :-(

VectisSaint

VectisSaint

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Best squad for sure. Might not be best starting XI quite yet. Only problem is goalkeeper, but then the position has been poorly covered for years, its no worse now, you could argue with a decent loanee and an injured England international that is stronger than before, but in truth with FF out long term, we are in the **** if The Stek gets injured.

maysie

maysie

Posted
Posted
Best squad for sure. Might not be best starting XI quite yet. Only problem is goalkeeper, but then the position has been poorly covered for years, its no worse now, you could argue with a decent loanee and an injured England international that is stronger than before, but in truth with FF out long term, we are in the **** if The Stek gets injured.

 

Saw FF at Marwell Zoo today. He is still limping fairly heavily. To be expected I'm sure.

Sour Mash

Sour Mash

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Saw FF at Marwell Zoo today. He is still limping fairly heavily. To be expected I'm sure.
Not good. After 6 months you'd have thought that he'd be a long way towards recovery.
buctootim

buctootim

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Posted
Not good. After 6 months you'd have thought that he'd be a long way towards recovery.

 

Exactly. I know all injuries are different but JRod was walking fairly normally within six weeks, and it still took him a year from then to get back playing.

Saint-Fred

Saint-Fred

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The only week spot is the central offensive midfield. Davies isn't good enough.

 

Who is Davies?

 

If you are talking about Davis check out the stats for most chances created this season first!

kjurwi

kjurwi

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Sorry i added an e in his name.

 

The man works hard and is a decent footballer and i like him, but we need a offensive midfielder that not just create chanses but also can score. And Davis (see i got it right this time) can't score.

Pastor Patrón

Pastor Patrón

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Probably the best squad but not the best starting 11

 

True, but an awesome starting 11 is pointless over the course of the season if your squad is garbage. You're better off having a very good starting 11 and very good squad if you want to do well in the league. I'd say we're a top RB short of having the best 11 we've had in recent memory too, I like Romeu a lot and think Clyne's been a bigger loss then Schneiderlin so far.

doddisalegend

doddisalegend

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  • Author
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True, but an awesome starting 11 is pointless over the course of the season if your squad is garbage. You're better off having a very good starting 11 and very good squad if you want to do well in the league. I'd say we're a top RB short of having the best 11 we've had in recent memory too, I like Romeu a lot and think Clyne's been a bigger loss then Schneiderlin so far.

 

****ing hell did you just make a sensible reasoned post :scared:

 

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Appy

Appy

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Not good. After 6 months you'd have thought that he'd be a long way towards recovery.

 

Snodgrass did the same injury last July, not expected to be back until the end of October.

Latheal

Latheal

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Posted

Morgan's loss was huge - but it would have been for any team as he is such a good player. If we look at all the players that have left over the past three seasons, not sure more than 3 would still get in the starting line up. Morgan definitely, Lallana probably, Shaw if fit (although that's not 100% nailed on as I thought it would be). Clyne is interesting as I don't think Soares has been any worse than him - certainly not the Clyne from the second half of last season. Lambert, Chambers, Lovren, Osvaldo definitely not. Puncheon & Cork may make the bench.

 

Find it difficult to say its not our best 11 to be honest. League is a lot more even this year, have results have already shown. I don't think the Lambert - Lallana - Jay Rod is any more potent than the Tadic- Pelle - Mane combination (or throw Jay Rod in there). Probably a bit lighter in the midfield three, but the back 5 are on a par with what we have had.

Ohio Saint

Ohio Saint

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I'm very happy with the squad.

 

It is very unlikely that we will achieve what we did last year in terms of league success, but we now have a stronger foundation. Players will still come and go, but we now have a stronger model that will be the base of any future dealings.

 

To me, it looks as though the board are implementing a considered strategy to eliminate our weak spot of having star players that move on at the sniff of a bumper payout.

 

Like it or not, this is the strategy that will define our level of achievement for the next few years. I fully expect though, that the board will be building from from this base.

 

It would be crazy to expect us to improve every single year in terms of our league position. It seems to me that we have entered a phase of consolidation in preparation for the next stage.

Daft Kerplunk

Daft Kerplunk

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Posted

I would suggest the financial position of the club is now much stronger and as we enter the next phase of the TV deal, we will be able to hold on to star players unless we are offered stupid money when it is a better decision to move them on and develop the squad. Signs on Saturday were good in that the team is beginning to understand each other and we still have players to return (Clasie and FF) although this will be offset by other injuries. Then the young players will need to step up their levels to get in the team, which is no bad thing at all.

Sour Mash

Sour Mash

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Posted
I would suggest the financial position of the club is now much stronger and as we enter the next phase of the TV deal, we will be able to hold on to star players unless we are offered stupid money when it is a better decision to move them on and develop the squad. Signs on Saturday were good in that the team is beginning to understand each other and we still have players to return (Clasie and FF) although this will be offset by other injuries. Then the young players will need to step up their levels to get in the team, which is no bad thing at all.

 

That's no different to what's happened in the last few years.

Ohio Saint

Ohio Saint

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Best XI.

 

Well done sir. You have made a choice. I honestly feel that this is where we are at right now. Whatever we think ourselves, Saints have made a definitive decision for the future. I suggest we just grab hold of anything we can, and go along for the ride. It may well be a bumpy one though.

Daft Kerplunk

Daft Kerplunk

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That's no different to what's happened in the last few years.

 

Clyne didn't go for stupid money, others wanted to go and we couldn't necessarily stop it so had to extract more. The difference from now is that it feels that we won't need to due to being in a better position to match wages that others can offer.

Sour Mash

Sour Mash

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Posted
Clyne didn't go for stupid money, others wanted to go and we couldn't necessarily stop it so had to extract more. The difference from now is that it feels that we won't need to due to being in a better position to match wages that others can offer.

 

No, that's not changed at all. The big clubs can still offer a lot more than us and can attract our best players.

CB Fry

CB Fry

Posted
Posted
Clyne didn't go for stupid money, others wanted to go and we couldn't necessarily stop it so had to extract more. The difference from now is that it feels that we won't need to due to being in a better position to match wages that others can offer.

Except the new TV deal is entirely relative.

 

Our position in the food chain remains identical.

SaintLiam

SaintLiam

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Posted
Think that's fair the bench looks much better this season you actually feel like there are options on the bench that can change a game.

 

Yeah, before Christmas we usually only had Cork and Long on the bench as attacking options. Against Everton last year at SMS we had 6 academy players on the bench because no one else was available.

shurlock

shurlock

Posted
Posted (edited)
Except the new TV deal is entirely relative.

 

Our position in the food chain remains identical.

 

No it doesn't. It strengthens our position vis-a-vis European clubs and that's a massive boon as we now recruit most of our players from abroad. Indirectly, that should help us to compete domestically, even if it doesn't change our ability to hold onto players when the bigger prem clubs come sniffing.

Edited by shurlock
Avenue Saint

Avenue Saint

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Posted
Yeah best squad but little use if you can't find a settled team and the manager keeps making weird decisions.

 

I still fear each game he'll try to be clever thinking Yoshida or Martina will cope with the opposing attacking better at RB. Endless messing around for the sake of it. I've never seen a good back 4 anywhere that doesn't play together regularly, and who on earth doesn't think our best back 4 is Cedric/Fonte/VVD/Bertrand?

 

Then there's Romeu. He's been excellent yet keeps getting dropped. Davis AND JWP doesn't work for me. Yes we won a game but even Koeman didn't seem that impressed about some of it. I imagine he'll favour Clasie more so one of them will get dropped, but I feel bad for Romeu really. Still, very good options to have in the centre.

 

Up front things are better than ever IMO. Pelle is playing ok, although I still have huge doubts about him away from home. We have pace, width, goals. Can't campaigner really.

 

Totally agree. Davis and Jwp carry 0 goal threat. Will be immensely frustrating if Clasie comes in to fitness and Davis keeps him out.

 

Romeu should become a regular partner for Wanyama as was Morgan. Romeu looks to be able to pass it as well having a decent shot on him.

 

Our recent successes have undoubtedly been linked to having a settled team. It will inevitably take time for players to build relationships on the pitch as well as learn each other's game and for that reason, we should try and establish a settled back six.

 

Cedric----Fonte---VvD----Bertrand

-------Wanyama----Romeu

 

You can then chop and change the forwards according to gameplan, tactics and opposition.

 

We almost had the best defence in the league last season and we always had a settled back six irrespective of opposition.

Donatello

Donatello

Posted
Posted (edited)
Yeah best squad but little use if you can't find a settled team and the manager keeps making weird decisions.

 

I still fear each game he'll try to be clever thinking Yoshida or Martina will cope with the opposing attacking better at RB. Endless messing around for the sake of it. I've never seen a good back 4 anywhere that doesn't play together regularly, and who on earth doesn't think our best back 4 is Cedric/Fonte/VVD/Bertrand?

 

I still don't understand where this interpretation is coming from. Soares has started 6 of the 7 league games, with Martina/Yoshida largely being selected for Europa League action...which is why we signed Martina, and is Yoshida's role (backup/rotation).

 

P.S I think it's obvious (to the point of smacking you in the face) that Koeman knows this is the best back 4 long term.

Edited by Donatello
Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd

Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd

Posted
Posted
Totally agree. Davis and Jwp carry 0 goal threat. Will be immensely frustrating if Clasie comes in to fitness and Davis keeps him out.

 

Romeu should become a regular partner for Wanyama as was Morgan. Romeu looks to be able to pass it as well having a decent shot on him.

 

Our recent successes have undoubtedly been linked to having a settled team. It will inevitably take time for players to build relationships on the pitch as well as learn each other's game and for that reason, we should try and establish a settled back six.

 

Cedric----Fonte---VvD----Bertrand

-------Wanyama----Romeu

 

You can then chop and change the forwards according to gameplan, tactics and opposition.

 

We almost had the best defence in the league last season and we always had a settled back six irrespective of opposition.

 

Couldn't agree more. F***, that's twice in a month that I've agreed with something that you've posted on here.

The9

The9

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Posted
Except the new TV deal is entirely relative.

 

Our position in the food chain remains identical.

 

Relative to other Prem clubs, but not relative to every other club in the world - we're now able to pay more money than lots of top European teams, it's now about selling our position to players who aren't getting signed by the top 6. It's an incremental thing, but we could probably compete in wages to sign players from any Europa League sides except Spurs and Liverpool now, and are probably able to pay more than most Champions League sides.

CB Fry

CB Fry

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Posted
Relative to other Prem clubs, but not relative to every other club in the world - we're now able to pay more money than lots of top European teams, it's now about selling our position to players who aren't getting signed by the top 6. It's an incremental thing, but we could probably compete in wages to sign players from any Europa League sides except Spurs and Liverpool now, and are probably able to pay more than most Champions League sides.

 

No it doesn't. It strengthens our position vis-a-vis European clubs and that's a massive boon as we now recruit most of our players from abroad. Indirectly, that should help us to compete domestically, even if it doesn't change our ability to hold onto players when the bigger prem clubs come sniffing.

Well, I was responding to someone talking about us holding on to players in his previous couple of posts. So I was referring to our position in the food chain with regards to keeping hold of players from other Premier League top 6 clubs as that was topic in hand. The new deal makes no difference to that, as we aren't losing players to European clubs now anyway.

 

For what it's worth I agree with both of you in these posts.

eelpie

eelpie

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Posted

Last season our first choice team was very strong, but we suffered when they were injured. Now we have very good replacements, so it will be interesting to see how the season pans out. However we are not stronger in four positions, that of Alders (who I rate better than an excellent VVD), Clyne, FF and Schneiderlin. Against the top five we may not have the edge that we had last year, but since we are getting better each week......... who knows?

 

It will also be interesting to watch how clubs who benefited from stealing them do when we play them.

david in sweden

david in sweden

Posted
Posted
Probably the best squad but not the best starting 11

 

I see I'm not alone in agreeing with that statement. Our biggest failure last season, and even before that was having a good starting side, but very few options on the bench.

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