The SAINTS 23...

[david in sweden]

...as England took only 23 players to S.A. I tried to figure what positions/players set-up was most desireable to provide good cover in a squad. I came up with : 3 Goalies, 4 full backs, 5 central defenders, 6 midfielders and 5 strikers. (roughly same as England.)

 

Then comparing with Saints " established first team and most likely replacements I came up with;

3 goalies ; Davis, Bart and Forecast.

3 full backs; Harding, Dickson and Mills

4 central def; Jahdi, Fonte, Seabourne and A Martin.

5 midfielders; Punch, Hammond, Schneiderlin, Wotton and Holmes.

3 strikers; Lambert, Lallana, Barnard

 

This leaves us 5 short of the 23....so what's missing in the squad.

Goalies : No problem and we even have Pernecky as a fourth string choice.

At least ONE full back. If no-one comes and he gets back fit , AP will re-sign Murty.

we have our four CD's but need at least one more.

we have 5 midfielders . Several promising youngsters but with zero experience. We need ONE poss / two more.

Only 3 strikers; Hopefully Connolly will sign on but need at least ONE good cover for Lambert in particular.

Of course, we have more juniors but very few could stand-in for a prolonged period. So by this logic need.

ONE full back, One central defender, another midfielder and at least one poss 2 strikers.

 

Anyone agree ..or ??+

Edited 2 July, 2010 by david in sweden

[MINIBARCELONASAINT]

Would prefer we replaced Mills with two right backs and either dropped him out of the 23 or replaced Holmes with him

I would like to think that we can start the season with a 23 that doesnt include Holmes, I rate him, Pardew clearly doesn't so I dont see the point in him being in a 23.

Yes 2 more strikers is ideal, 1 foreign export that is young one experienced striker that when is needed steps up for Lambert and draws energy out of the team and inspires performances.

 

I would happily chuck Oxlade Chamberlain into that 23, and Gobern, not too sure on McNish

[Saint Fan CaM]

I like your methodology, but to be fair the answer has not really changed anything. So yeah, agree.

[The Kraken]

Effectively what you're looking for is (at least) 2 players in each position, with 3 keepers. Although you may have some types of players like we had in Lloyd James who can play in a number of positions (albeit not very well.....).

 

So we're clearly missing a right back, and a back-up right back (although Harding has filled in there he's not ideal for the position). We're definitely missing one central midfielder, maybe 2 to give us real options if we go 451, although Wotton will suffice in times of desperation. Lallana and Puncheon would be our starting wingers but we're a touch short in backup there. I like Holmes but agree that AP clearly doesn't. Hopefully Antonio will be back, which leaves Holmes or AN Other as cover on the left. Mills hasn't looked the part there buy maybe deserves another chance to impress. And if Connolly signs we're also looking for one more up top to support Lambert and Barnard.

 

One or two of the players needed my step up from the youth but I would expect the rest to come from new signings and loans.

[Scudamore]

Not enough Cortese talk in this thread to sustain my interest i'm afraid...

[Winchester_Saint]

I wouldn't call Lallana a striker, meaning that we are even shorter in the department up top. All the full backs are left backs, too, so obviously a right back and striker are key. Nothing that we don't know already, though

[70's Mike]

unless we get a couple of players in with pace to replace Antionio and Papa we will be very one dimenisional going forward, in fact that is my biggest worry regarding the playing side of the club.

a long with can the players handle being favorites for promotion

[The Kraken]

unless we get a couple of players in with pace to replace Antionio and Papa we will be very one dimenisional going forward, in fact that is my biggest worry regarding the playing side of the club.

a long with can the players handle being favorites for promotion

 

We know that AP wants to re-sign Antonio, and I really hope we do; but its also logical to think that if we can't get him we'll be looking to recruit someone similar. I won't miss Papa as much as others on here, I always thought he was far too frustrating and we could probably get a better player for the high wages he was sure to be on.

[saints_is_the_south]

Why the need for 5 CB's? 2 players per position is perfect. IMO we need 1 right back, 1 CM, 1 winger and 1 striker.

[Badger]

...as England took only 23 players to S.A. I tried to figure what positions/players set-up was most desireable to provide good cover in a squad. I came up with : 3 Goalies, 4 full backs, 5 central defenders, 6 midfielders and 5 strikers. (roughly same as England.)

 

Then comparing with Saints " established first team and most likely replacements I came up with;

3 goalies ; Davis, Bart and Forecast.

3 full backs; Harding, Dickson and Mills

4 central def; Jahdi, Fonte, Seabourne and A Martin.

5 midfielders; Punch, Hammond, Schneiderlin, Wotton and Holmes.

3 strikers; Lambert, Lallana, Barnard

 

This leaves us 5 short of the 23....so what's missing in the squad.

[Anyone agree ..or ??+

 

Not sure I would want to even consider Forecast or Holmes as squad players and Wotton may be a(nother) season beyond it.

 

GK:I'm not convinced I want to rely on Bart as back up tbh.

FB: well documented that this area (rb)needs improving

CB: yes need one more; Jaidi cannot play twice a week ,Martin is inexperienced and the jury is out on Seabourne

MF:I didn't realise we were so short in this area,although I'd include Lallana here.

Strikers: ditto as MF.

[NickG]

Why the need for 5 CB's? 2 players per position is perfect. IMO we need 1 right back, 1 CM, 1 winger and 1 striker.

 

about right.

[Marsdinho]

Not sure I would want to even consider Forecast or Holmes as squad players and Wotton may be a(nother) season beyond it.

 

GK:I'm not convinced I want to rely on Bart as back up tbh.

FB: well documented that this area (rb)needs improving

CB: yes need one more; Jaidi cannot play twice a week ,Martin is inexperienced and the jury is out on Seabourne

MF:I didn't realise we were so short in this area,although I'd include Lallana here.

Strikers: ditto as MF.

 

Ditto

[NickG]

Not sure I would want to even consider Forecast or Holmes as squad players and Wotton may be a(nother) season beyond it.

 

GK:I'm not convinced I want to rely on Bart as back up tbh.

FB: well documented that this area (rb)needs improving

CB: yes need one more; Jaidi cannot play twice a week ,Martin is inexperienced and the jury is out on Seabourne

MF:I didn't realise we were so short in this area,although I'd include Lallana here.

Strikers: ditto as MF.

 

do you really think Bart is now not good enough for a reserve in league 1?

[stu0x]

I must have missed something here... is/was Connolly only on a season long deal?

 

A squad of 23 should be 2 players in each position, plus a keeper.

 

You can afford to have an average 'cover' player provided you've got very able cover from one of the other positions.

 

ie between them Lallana, Dickson and Harding provide excellent options on the left as any 2 out of 3, so you can afford to use the fourth left sided spot (either lb or lm) to develop a youngster.

 

On that basis I would say we are between 3 and 5 players short of a squad of 23 that should be favourite against any other this season.

[John B]

Not sure I would want to even consider Forecast or Holmes as squad players and Wotton may be a(nother) season beyond it.

 

GK:I'm not convinced I want to rely on Bart as back up tbh.

FB: well documented that this area (rb)needs improving

CB: yes need one more; Jaidi cannot play twice a week ,Martin is inexperienced and the jury is out on Seabourne

MF:I didn't realise we were so short in this area,although I'd include Lallana here.

Strikers: ditto as MF.

 

I agree with what you are saying except I think Bart is OK

[Badger]

do you really think Bart is now not good enough for a reserve in league 1?

 

I'm sure he is a good reserve, but I'm not convinced that I want to rely on him as a medium term replacement if KD had a dip in form or was injured for say 6-8 weeks.

[Chez]

to win the league we need a central midfielder that is better than Wotton to come in should Hammond and Schneiderlin be out, or if I am really gready to go in ahead of them.

[NickG]

was disappointed with Hammond and a CM to control the game would be my second priority after RB

[Andy_Porter]

Why the need for 5 CB's? 2 players per position is perfect. IMO we need 1 right back, 1 CM, 1 winger and 1 striker.

 

Spot on, not sure why people are so obsessed with signings after how well we finished the season.

 

Clyne, Stock, Antonio and someone like Trundle, Pitmann or Akinfenwa would be a perfect summer.

[dronskisaint]

I wouldn't call Lallana a striker, meaning that we are even shorter in the department up top. All the full backs are left backs, too, so obviously a right back and striker are key. Nothing that we don't know already, though

 

I know what you mean but as a midfielder Lallana scored more goals than most recognised strikers in L1 last year so is a versatile option

 

2 right backs, a central midfielder & a cover striker would be plenty for me.

[david in sweden]

Why the need for 5 CB's? 2 players per position is perfect. IMO we need 1 right back, 1 CM, 1 winger and 1 striker.

 

sounds logical but not so long ago we had SIX INJURED central defenders....Allowing for the fact that defenders get per sé more bookings than the average player, I don't want to think that we might have 2-3 injuries and a suspensions or two, all at the same time.

[70's Mike]

still think we need pace in the team

[West End Saint]

I would like to see Pards re sign Murty (if fit) he was class at the start of last season great leader on the pitch, Connolly great finisher would also help improve the younger players and get Antonio back either signed or on loan pace & power improved a lot over the season and he scores goals.

 

We must sign a decent right back we also need at least 1 quality midfielder (Nicky Butt Niel Dans Brian Stock) and we need cover for Lambo.

 

So I think we need 6 players but the best bit of business we will do is hanging to all our current 1st team players.

 

There is no doubt our owners are serious about getting us back to the prem and I feel sure they will give Pards the resources to do some business and we will start with the best squad in the league

 

Looking forward to the next few weeks and the start of the season once the world cup finishes the transfer action will start.