Saint Fan CaM

I’m still of the opinion that our defence is not the most pressing problem and Lyanco is a good enough player for the Championship. With some focused training around the system Martin wants to play, there’s even an opportunity to improve further. We urgently need more of a goal threat to win games…no team wins games of football 0-0.

Smallbone is one of those players I would look to move on…he’s not shown enough in either a DM role or an AM role and for me is just a very average ‘Jack of all trades’. He certainly can’t shoot. Stephens is another player who has some ability but ultimately is not at a standard required for a solid dependable CB. Regardless, what Martin needs to do is decide soon who his main CB pairing is so that experience and an understanding can be built up as his system starts to embed. It’s not a position that works well with tinkering IMO.

Agree that overall squad quality improvement is essential, however I don’t think Lavia or JWP could be classed as top quality Prem players at this time. Lavia COULD be as his performances have shown much promise, but he’s not had the opportunity to shine in a top team yet. JWP was a poor version of an average midfielder last season in my view and I’m not sure he’ll be any better in the Championship, although he is better option than Smallbone.

Saw an interesting table of squad value on FB. Had Saints top with a squad value of circa £370m and Sheffield Wednesday with a squad value of circa £8m!!! I somehow doubt those values will be reflected in the match result at the end of day one of the season.

Yes that’s true and even more profound given we were gash last season, even against lower league opposition. To have a chance of promotion this coming season the old Prem squad actually needs to be improved IMO. I don’t predict a step change coming from these players due to Martin’s appointment, so the one glimmer of hope is that we bring in a really dominating and experienced striker which the club does have a choice in.

Yes it is and while we’ll certainly lose some games by more than a goal, my feeling is there’s enough about our defence to cope. What I am more certain about is our historic and current lack of ability to score more goals than the opposing team, which means we don’t win games.

I might agree with you, however we’re talking here about a group of players that are not strangers…most of them were together over the last couple of seasons. And if we’re to lose 3-4 of our best players (whoever they are) that will further decrease the overall squad quality further. Most agree that losing Romeu was a bad move and now we’re faced with Lavia moving on to be replaced with Charles - that’s progressive weakening of the team and it’s happened too many times.

I’m not a Baz fan as such, but we won’t concede a high number of goals in the Championship I reckon. Our biggest and most urgent concern is the lack of goals…it’s been a persistent problem for 3 seasons and the main reason for our relegation IMO. There’s a long way to go to getting it fixed, starting with a revamp of the striker personnel.

Yes and ABK is looking for an exit too according to some, so will the focus be on bolstering our CB options?

Oh don’t misunderstand me - I completely agree…I’m just surmising how SR will see it given there’s a new Manager supposedly trying new things. Stats and all that 😏

Indeed, but in my view relying on another youngster like Ballard to lead the line will be a critical mistake. We need an experienced, dominating CF to change the dynamic up front - one that knows where and when to move in the box to put away those chances. You know, a bit like Ings!

I agree, it will be fascinating. Not sure about Stephens - has he ever featured as left sided CB? I doubt Alcarez will play deep in a DM three and I’m not sure they’ll put Charles straight in anyway? Will Sulemena get enough minutes to claim a starting place? Thinking maybe it’s more like… Baz Tino Bednarek Salisu Manning JWP Smallbone Tella Alcarez Mara Adams

So, to get this thread back on track, here’s my take on the forward/striker position. I wonder if SR are thinking that in Adams, Armstrong and Tella we’ve got three of the most prolific Championship scorers, plus there’s Alcarez, Sully and Mara to add to that mix, so that group will be enough to fire us back up to the Prem. Plus of course there are the kids like AA who are breaking through. It’s a bloated squad already and the consensus seems that more players will leave, but who? Lavia? JWP? KWP? Quite possibly, but there’s no clear indication that any of the above forwards/strikers will depart. So is there room in the squad for another striker that is better than what we have already (in the eyes of SR)? It’s a dilemma because for me, alongside improving attacking play in general, it’s the most pressing concern facing the club and has been for the last three seasons.

You may well be right. But among the currently highly bloated squad, what position(s) do you think will be replaced? If we purchase new players they MUST be better than what we have already to improve performances, which means there will be a need to off-load players but who might that be? My gut feeling is that we’ll start the campaign with the forward players we have now…after all we’ve got Adams, Armstrong and Tella who have all proven themselves to be prolific in the Championship, plus Mara, Alcarez and Sulemana.

Woah there, Mane taking time to come good is a different proposition entirely from a 1st team operating at even a basic level that looks like it collectively has a scooby how to put sustained pressure on the opposition defence and score goals. Against a 2nd division Turkish side. Yes you’re right, we damn well DO need to address attack…we’ve needed to address that for 3-4 seasons and clearly it’s still not fixed even with supposedly some of the most prolific Championship strikers in Adams, Armstrong and Tella. We’re still relying on individuals taking on defenders (and running into brick walls) rather than creatively passing to players in space who then have an opportunity to shoot. There’s no running of channels. Wingbacks in advanced positions but largely ignored by their teammates. Let’s be clear, the concern is NOT about pre-season results…its about passages of play that lead to shots on goal / goals (without which the passing stats will look lovely but we’ll not win many games). SO FAR I’m not seeing any promise of real attacking skill…just a team going through the same motions as previous pre-seasons - a bloated squad of mediocrity not able to translate the Managers ideas into performances on the pitch. IMO its a valid concern and I hope Martin and his coaching team have got answers to the persistent goal drought that’s plagued the club for so long (with the strange exception of the last Liverpool game - whatever happened there?!).

It’s a pre-season friendly, but there are some worrying signs that this squad has reached its natural level - Turkish division 2 level. And even then it would struggle to score. Relying on Adams, Armstrong and Mara to score goals is like waiting for a bus in the middle of the Sahara desert. I want to believe, I want to like Martins football…but it ain’t happening at the moment.

Small one not looking up to the task…not great at ball retention.

Tella in acres of space on the right wing but being largely ignored because they’ve been told to go inside. Great stop from Lis.

Goztepe going long to catch us high up pitch. They’ve done their homework!

Messing about at the back almost gifts them an early goal.

Blimey - 42degC heat in Goztepe!!! 😳

All good to go…better looking starting line-up and presumably there’ll be a few changes at half-time. Interesting to see Lis in goal for Goztepe…bragging rights if he has a good game (probably will as we can’t shoot).

Agreed,, although at least with Stu A he typically Lost the ball when he was driving forwards to attempt to create a goal scoring opportunity. I’d be concerned that we didn’t have that attribute in any of our midfielders otherwise we’ll be witnessing a continuous recycling of the ball between defence and midfield.

Well if it’s players like Diallo being shown the door perhaps things are looking up. I actually don’t think he was the worst o a bad bunch, but he’s not a player that would suit Martin’s style of play…just not comfortable enough in possession.

Have you suddenly turned on MLG pedant mode?! 🤣