syd_barrett_saint

He does offer a lot defensively. More than Lallana, for example. I think we just watch different games.

I know you like Guly delldays, but I'm not sure I'd put him quite on MLT's level just yet ;-) (In all seriousness though, very intelligent addition to the conversation, thanks)

Exactly. And if we play 4-5-1 away from home next season, as I think could often happen, Guly would do an excellent job as the attacking player in a central midfield three.

Just as me and thousands of others were right.

Perhaps he won't get a game, but that will mean we will have brought in several better options than him, in which case, I'll be happy, and continue agreeing with Adkins. You on the other hand, will continue being wrong about Guly last season.

I'm glad that I agree with Nigel Adkins on this one, and not you. I'm pretty sure who out of you and him knows more about football.

He was more than good enough for the championship. Or did you miss all of his goals, assists and build-up play leading to goals, in a team that got automatic promotion?

Would love to see Guthrie back here... I think him and Schneiderlin in the middle would be a great combination.

I bet Guly surprises a lot of the naysayers on here next season, I'd wager he'll feature in at least half the games, either starting or on as a sub. Of course, that will only surprise the naysayers by him continually featuring, if he keeps doing the business (being involved in our goals, either scoring, assisting or in the build up, as he was countless times last season) they will just keep on ignoring that.

Man I'm really looking forward to many loooong seasons of Saints in Premiership action. I bet you are too.

If it wasn't for his recent injury record, Liverpool is definitely the kind of place I would expect Lodeiro to go. He is easily top 6 in the Prem class (although whether Liverpool are anymore is up for debate!). If he is over his injury problems, then us getting him would be a major coup.

Unfortunately they do seem to share the same kind of injury record recently :-/

I'd actually be far more excited about Lodeiro than Jay Rod, but it seems from Twitter that there are also several Italian clubs after him, including Cagliari, Udinese, Chevo Verona, and Parma. I think a young Uruguayan would feel much more at home in Italy than England due to the cultural similarities, but hope he comes to Saints all the same!

He's not a hard man at all... he's small, quick feet, good technique. A while back he was being touted as the "Uruguayan Messi" (before injuries and lack of chances at Ajax), so if anything, he's a new Lallana type player ;-) But left footed! We could have them as "inverse" wingers on each flank.

Would be a fantastic signing, still very highly thought of in Uruguay, though he seems not to have fulfilled his early promise at Ajax for whatever reason. He played a part for Uruguay in half of their Copa America games last year, winning the tournament. Don't know about his injuries, but if Nigel thinks he could get him fit then I doubt there are many better left footed midfielders we could realistically go for.

Sounds good, but makes this PR article on the OS about Chaplow looking forward to the Prem with us (http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10280~2788214,00.html) look a little strange.

The annoying thing about Twitter is it only takes one **** to ruin it for you. I have a business, and used to use Twitter to help promote it. Then my bitter ex girlfriend found my account, and kept on making false accusations about me and my business with @ replies to every Tweet I wrote. Now of course I was able to block her so that I couldn't see the tweets, but anyone doing a search on my company name would find those negative comments, they were even appearing in the Google search results. At least in Facebook you can block the person and that's that, they have no audience. Twitter gives an audience to any ****ing idiot.

Thanks Nigel. But are you sure you should be giving this sensitive information about our tactics away so freely over the internet?

You're right, I think it would indeed work better more like this: --------------------Davis----------------------- ----------Fonte----Schneiderlin----Hooiveld------ --Richardson-----------Cork------------------Fox-- ------------------------Guly------------------------- --------Lee--------Lambert--------Lallana-------

To be honest, in this system the "wing backs" would play a role more similar to the players on the right and left of a diamond midfield, with occasional extra defensive responsibilities. Chaplow can play that position in a normal 4-4-2 diamond, so don't see why he couldn't play it here. It is a role that requires a lot of huff and puff, and Chaplow has that in spades. But then again, we are getting into Football Manager territory here ;-)

Indeed it does! To be honest, I don't think either Cork or Schneiderlin would be completely at home on the right of a back three... I would prefer Fonte on the right, Hooiveld in the center (playing the Caldwell role in the Wigan analogy - doing "the dirty work in the penalty box", and then get a new player in to play on the left of the back 3. Then I'd keep Schneiderlin in the central midfield role, with Cork as back up for several positions.

Nothing wrong with having an extra system up our sleeves though, in case our current one falters in the league above, right? Personally I think full backs are our weakest position, and this system kind of gets around that problem... I think Fox would be far better suited to being a wing back, considering defending isn't his major strength, and I'd love to see Chaplow bombing up and down the right as a wing back, perfect for his energetic game. Getting more 2 on 1 situations with Chaplow and Lee on one side, and Lallana and Fox on the other, would be interesting to see. And I think Guly's best position is at the tip of the diamond in a midfield four, and this formation allows that without us being too attacking, and also means we could have Guly running into the box to join Lambert to get on the end of crosses resulting from the 2 on 1s. Just some ideas to get me through a boring day....

After reading this interesting article about how Wigan's fortunes changed for the better after switching to a fluid 3-4-3 this season (http://www.zonalmarking.net/2012/05/16/wigan-stay-up-after-a-switch-to-3-4-3/), I wondered if it might suit the players we already have at the club (before bringing any additions in/letting players go)... --------------------Davis----------------------- -----------Cork----Fonte----Hooiveld------------ --Chaplow--------Schneiderlin--------------Fox-- --------------------Guly------------------------- --------Lee--------Lambert--------Lallana------- Subs: Bart, Martin, Richardson, Hammond, Puncheon, De Ridder, Sharp Complete pie in the sky I know, but I'm bored. Thoughts?

Davis definitely deserves his chance in the Premiership after having stuck with Saints in League 1 and continued to improve during his time here. But we need a new young Gk to push him for a start, and eventually take over from him. Don't think Bart is anywhere near up to Prem standard, even as a number 2.

Francis Benali. End of argument.