One player we can't do without?

[Instant Classic]

Was thinking this last night. What player in our squad would you LEAST like to get injured or suspended? There's the obvious ones: i.e Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert but actually thinking about it, we DO have a pretty decently strong cover in those positions (Puncheon for AL and Billy Sharp for Rickie) so I started thinking a little deeper into the squad.

Of course I wouldn't like Kelvin getting injured either but I am one of Bart's very few fans on here. I honestly believe the game he messed up in this season (Blackpool incidentally, wasn't it?) was just a blip and with a push in the right direction, he could go on to be a pretty decent goal keeper.

I have narrowed it down to two: Danny Fox and Jos the boss.

We miss Jos whenever he doesn't play SO badly. Infact I think I heard a stat the other week that all of our defeats this season have come when he hasn't been playing, which if true just speaks for itself. Absolute rock next to the skill-full Jose Fonte (Who I do like but I also don't mind Martin so he didn't fall into the 'must not lose' category). Whether he can do it in the Prem or not?? We'll just have to wait and see. (touch wood)

Danny Fox was my other thought as I said. I don't think our win record without him is brilliant either tbh and having spent most of the last 2 or so years defending Dan Harding when others put him down, I do think that lately he's been lacking something, not quite sure whether it's physical or mental but he just hasn't been up to the mark whenever he's been playing and this for me is a worry. I know Fox has his critics about his defensive ability but I honestly think he does a good solid job whenever he plays. His free kicks into the box are just something else aswell.

[Pancake]

Skd

[Saint Garrett]

Lambert is the only one that we don't have a like for like replacement for. I believe Bart could do a decent job if called upon.

[rtb]

Based on form over recent games, and for the final push to promotion :-

Morgan.

[doddisalegend]

Was thinking this last night. What player in our squad would you LEAST like to get injured or suspended? There's the obvious ones: i.e Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert but actually thinking about it, we DO have a pretty decently strong cover in those positions (Puncheon for AL and Billy Sharp for Rickie) so I started thinking a little deeper into the squad.

Of course I wouldn't like Kelvin getting injured either but I am one of Bart's very few fans on here. I honestly believe the game he messed up in this season (Blackpool incidentally, wasn't it?) was just a blip and with a push in the right direction, he could go on to be a pretty decent goal keeper.

I have narrowed it down to two: Danny Fox and Jos the boss.

We miss Jos whenever he doesn't play SO badly. Infact I think I heard a stat the other week that all of our defeats this season have come when he hasn't been playing, which if true just speaks for itself. Absolute rock next to the skill-full Jose Fonte (Who I do like but I also don't mind Martin so he didn't fall into the 'must not lose' category). Whether he can do it in the Prem or not?? We'll just have to wait and see. (touch wood)

Danny Fox was my other thought as I said. I don't think our win record without him is brilliant either tbh and having spent most of the last 2 or so years defending Dan Harding when others put him down, I do think that lately he's been lacking something, not quite sure whether it's physical or mental but he just hasn't been up to the mark whenever he's been playing and this for me is a worry. I know Fox has his critics about his defensive ability but I honestly think he does a good solid job whenever he plays. His free kicks into the box are just something else aswell.

Honestly I would have no problems with Harding or Martin filling in for Fox and Jos both can do a decent enough job. Personally I always think our central midfield looks worse without Cork. Hammond and Cork or Morgan and Cork work well but Morgan and Hammond never seems (IMO) to work as well. So for me Jack Cork would be the biggest miss.

[This Charming Man]

Whilst Fox is a decent player, the main reason we can't do without him is because Harding is just not good enough for this level.

[K,Billy's supersound]

Kelvin Davis for me. Bart is just not good enough imo.

[jimbojones10]

lambert easily

[Saint_lambden]

Over a prolonged period, it'd be Lambert I think, even though we did okay whilst he was suspended back in January.

Although his end product is questionable, Lallana creates things so is important but Fox is a good call with his set-pieces.

[Dimond Geezer]

KD.
Every other position has more than capable deputies & if the replacement isn't up to it, there are 10 other players with with the ability to bail out any errors made. As we all know if a goalie messes up, it could easily result in a goal, unfortunately Bart isn't up to it.

[terrasaint]

Jos

[Window Cleaner]

Jos

don't know, Seaborne seems to be back to nigh on full fitness now and is a left sided CB.Not that he's as good as Jos but I think the main Martin/José problem was one of 2 right feet rather than out and out quality. Don't rate Martin on the left at all and José doesn't like playing on that side.

[Tom]

Falque

[Armitage Shanks]

There is only one example I can think of this season where we have lost a key player and struggled without him and that was when Bart came in against Blackpool. So I would say Kelvin. We lost Lambo effectively at half time on Saturday and better than coped without him. I'm not saying we don't need him but we have enough cover to still win games in this league without him.

[Ashley Grute]

Jos for me

[Window Cleaner]

There is only one example I can think of this season where we have lost a key player and struggled without him and that was when Bart came in against Blackpool. So I would say Kelvin. We lost Lambo effectively at half time on Saturday and better than coped without him. I'm not saying we don't need him but we have enough cover to still win games in this league without him.

Thing is Kelvin has made more cock-ups that have led to goals this season than Bart but Bart's are more noticeable because he's just had 1 first team league game.Who knows perhaps in the Bristol City home game Bart would have kept hold of the shot that Maynard turned in.You can't judge on just one game. Having said that I'm pretty certain that Bart has no future at SMS.

[iansums]

The boy Cortese, he's played a blinder so far.

[Alain Perrin]

Thing is Kelvin has made more cock-ups that have led to goals this season than Bart but Bart's are more noticeable because he's just had 1 first team league game.Who knows perhaps in the Bristol City home game Bart would have kept hold of the shot that Maynard turned in.You can't judge on just one game. Having said that I'm pretty certain that Bart has no future at SMS.

Bart isn't as good as Kelvin as has been proven by multiple appearances, not just his one league game this year. Experience makes a big difference to a GK and maybe Bart will mature - granted he needs game time to get that.

Every goalkeeper makes (usually very obvious) rickets but if you look at the number of points KD has saved us this year (Leeds alone is a great example) I'd have him over most keepers in the bottom half of the premiership.

The one thing that worries me (across the defence as a whole) is overplaying the ball through unnecessary short passes. Many a time we get caught when we 'fanny around' in defence and that kind of thing will be punished at a higher level (if we get there / usual caveats apply). That's not to say it isn't sometimes the right play, just that at times a sensible hoof might be a better option.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Kelvin - Morgan - Lambert. Spine of the team. However, there are some less missed others too - Lallana due to his skill and trickery. Jos due to his natural left-footedness and aerial strength.

[saintbob40]

Cork for me, the unsung hero. Does the simple things right and moves the ball quickly to create space for others, who then get the plaudits.

[Under Weststand]

Depends on the length of time out? Over a suspension say 3-games or a 2 week injury strain then I think we are more than capable of coping for a few games.
Long term its the obvious ones for me, Lallana probably the most talented player we have. And the one we probably look to to unlock a defense when they've come & parked the bus. And Lambert not only for his goals but his hold up play, assists & ability to bring other players into the game. Billy Sharp I have no doubt can score the goals, just not sure he can bring all that to the team as well as SRL

[Danish Saint]

Richardson for me... Butterfield can't provide the same drive and great crosses from the right side as he can.

[SNSUN]

Lallana for me. Granted Chappers covered well earlier in the season but he's key to promotion.

[supersonic]

Morgan

Easily our most talented player. His passing, tacking and work rate are second to none. The amount of chances he makes for us and prevents us conceding is a lot more than anyone else on our team. Just needs to add goals to his game....

[Bailey]

Cannot underestimate the importance of Hooiveld and Fox.

The former has been a revelation since joining, proving a lot of people wrong in the process, myself included!

As for Fox, his set-piece delivery and general play has been a real bonus for us. He's clearly worked on the defensive part of his game too. We've really felt his absence when Harding has stepped in, and that's no criticism of Harding either!

[Supersubpuckett]

Adkins

[keithd]

Cortese? Adkins? Are they fringe players? Maybe from developement squad?

Im confident in our run in if anybody gets injured we'll have cover. Most worrying would maybe be Bart if Kelv got injured this week and Bart had to perform on tv....

[S-Clarke]

Surprised he hasn't been mentioned yet, but Fonte is pretty pivotal to us.

He gives us ability on the deck at the back which allows us to play out from the back. When we were without him it was so noticeable how little football we played, and how the distribution from the back was no existent.

I think he's an outstanding player tbh and someone we really miss if he's out.

[VectisSaint]

Morgan, f'sure

[ottery st mary]

Kelvin would be a massive loss...

[dellgirl]

Morgan as he is the engine room,but Kelvin ,Jos ,Jose and Rickie are the people we rely on,also happier when Jack plays.

[SaintBobby]

Over 90 minutes, Kelvin.

Over 3-4 games, Lambert or Morgan.

[Tom28]

Richardson for me... Butterfield can't provide the same drive and great crosses from the right side as he can.

To be fair, Butterfield has played three league games and we've won all three by a total of 7 goals to nil. Not the end of the world if we lose Richardson and can produce those results.

[Tom28]

Stats talk - Richy Chaplow - we lose when he doesn't play, simples.

[Window Cleaner]

Stats talk - Richy Chaplow - we lose when he doesn't play, simples.

No we don't, ridiculous thing to say.
Did he play at Hull..no,did we lose ..no.

Chaplow is vastly overated,our blip was more to do with the peturbed central defence than Chaplow's absence.

[Blandford saint]

Has to be Kelv. Especially after the disaster that was Bart v Blackpool!

[eelpie]

Based on form over recent games, and for the final push to promotion :-

Morgan.

I agree.
I had been thinking Lallana for his mercurial midfield skills and workrate (more important even than Lambert since we now have Billy Sharp scoring goals). However, Morgan's contribution in midfield is outstanding. Watching him delivering intelligent, accurate balls around the pitch, where least expected by the opposition, and his ability now to defend with crucial tackles, makes him indispensable.

Morgan is a class above many and THE player we can least do without, right now. The player I would least like to have missing from the team in the final run up. He is confident and consistent. He reads the game well, controls midfield and inspire/dictates how we play.

[MrMojoRisin]

Whilst Fox is a decent player, the main reason we can't do without him is because Harding is just not good enough for this level.

Agree 100%