Is there much wrong with our squad?

[NickG]

Is there much wrong with our squad?

 

during the transfer window some posters were moaning that our squad was not strong enough and needed several signings - saying it was weaker than last year.

 

I felt we needed a combatative CM, another forward, and impact/speedy sub winger.

 

Thought that impact sub could be Ox-C.

 

All of those have now been addressed.

 

I am happy with the squad.

 

Do you think its short of strength anywhere?

[Smirking_Saint]

I thought we needed another CM to add competition and another forward.

 

With Ox-C coming on the scene at the start of the season i thought we were pretty over-stocked with wide men.

 

We need another forward to have a great squad this year.

[NickG]

another CM as well as Chaplow?

[Thedelldays]

if we kept everyone we have right now till the end of the season..we would have more than enough to go up as champions IMO

[Mr Saints]

We need another wide man incase Lallana gets injured again. It was not a coincidence we couldn't hit a barn door while he was out.

 

A strong central mifielder would be handy too.

[Smirking_Saint]

another CM as well as Chaplow?

 

No at the start of the season we needed one, Chaplow has probably plugged this gap, though i would love to have a new fantastic CM better than Hammond and Chappers if we can get one, but Chappers will do.

 

We also need a striker as Connelly has had it IMO.

[Andy_Porter]

We've got more than enough to go up as Champions. Even without Bignall we will be ok IMO.

[NickG]

Think the defence is very strong in depth - as it was at the start of the season.

 

Midfield - would be nice to add a central figure of chapmionship level to be first name on team sheet but can't complain

 

CM - Hammond, Morgan, Chaplow, Wooton - plenty.

Wide - Lallana, Puncheon, Ox-C, Holmes, Dickson, Bignall,

Forward - Lambert, Barnard, Guly, Connolly, Bignall

 

The 4th/5th choice forwards aren't great (in not proven or injury prone) but Ox-C and Lallana can also move up there and do.

 

Would be happy if there were no more transfer windows.

[Vershinin]

Another pacy striker and pacy left winger just in case of injuries and buy chaplow, then we would be flying IMHO.

[Dalek2003]

We've got more than enough to go up as Champions. Even without Bignall we will be ok IMO.

 

We are not that good. If we get into the playoff lottery that will be about right.

[Andy_Porter]

We are not that good. If we get into the playoff lottery that will be about right.

 

If we don't go up as Champions it will Cortese's fault for messing around with the manager and taking his time appointing Adkins. We are easily one of the best two teams player for player in the league.

[SuperSAINT]

Squad's good at the moment. Have 2 players in each position.

 

We'd like a striker if Bignall leaves (No way I trust DC's fitness)

 

Depending on your take on Wotton, we could do with an extra central midfielder too...

[Dalek2003]

If we don't go up as Champions it will Cortese's fault for messing around with the manager and taking his time appointing Adkins. We are easily one of the best two teams player for player in the league.

 

I don't know that we are one of the best teams. Let's see where we are in January.

[saintsmonkey]

Another pacy striker and pacy left winger just in case of injuries and buy chaplow, then we would be flying IMHO.

 

walcott and bale??

[Andy_Porter]

walcott and bale??

 

Both need to show a bit of consistency if they're going to force there way back into our team.

[NickG]

We are not that good. If we get into the playoff lottery that will be about right.

 

would take serious problems and drop in form for us not to be at least in play offs. Top possible, 2nd to 4th very likely imho.

[Smirking_Saint]

If we don't go up as Champions it will Cortese's fault for messing around with the manager and taking his time appointing Adkins. We are easily one of the best two teams player for player in the league.

 

I think even without the upheaval champions is always a hell of a task, doesn't matter how good you are. But i agree that auto-promotion should be the real target and anything less will be a relative failure.

[sandwichsaint]

Personally I would have paid Reading what they wanted for Antonio, he has been (or could have been) the 'missing link' in this squad.

Young, fit, pacey, direct, made goals, scored goals, used as a starter, or as an impact sub. Very young, very raw, only ever going to get better. Yes, we were quoted silly money, but that doesn't take account of his value to us, nor any subsequent profit, or the delay and expanse of finding a suitable replacement. And you can discount the money spent on Dickson (££ ??) from the asking price when you consider we already had Harding/Mills/AL to play left side..... IMHO obviously.

[MarkSFC]

At the close of the window I was frustrated that Pardew hadn't brought in "the lambert replacement" striker that he went on about, a centre midfielder and a speedy right winger.

 

Bignall addressed the striker issue in terms of a body but hasn't in terms of impact and goals. This is the only area I think is seriously important to address in January. Although it's two months away now and I'm sure Lambert will come good, we can't take the risk. Investing in a quality striker now will guarentee promotion IMO and it should be someone who can or does play in the Championship. Danny Graham was mentioned to me today and would fit the bill nicely.

 

When we go up, I think the squad is still preety good but I would think we would need a CB and a CM of quality. Other than that the squad is pretty good.

[Lighthouse]

I think Bignall, Guly, Chaplow and AOC have plugged the gaps I was concerned with at the start of the season. If anything I'd like another creative type central midfielder, but that's really about it. We have 2 quality players covering each possition right now.

[Saint_clark]

Not convinced by Bignall. Perhaps get someone in permanently in january.

Also another winger would be good, preferably someone who could play left and right.

[NickG]

At the close of the window I was frustrated that Pardew hadn't brought in "the lambert replacement" striker that he went on about, a centre midfielder and a speedy right winger.

 

Bignall addressed the striker issue in terms of a body but hasn't in terms of impact and goals. This is the only area I think is seriously important to address in January. Although it's two months away now and I'm sure Lambert will come good, we can't take the risk. Investing in a quality striker now will guarentee promotion IMO and it should be someone who can or does play in the Championship. Danny Graham was mentioned to me today and would fit the bill nicely.

 

When we go up, I think the squad is still preety good but I would think we would need a CB and a CM of quality. Other than that the squad is pretty good.

 

when Jaidi is your 4th choice CB in league 1 I would say we have plenty of strength in depth there!

[Professor]

Is there much wrong with our squad? during the transfer window some posters were moaning that ur squad was not strong enough and needed several signings - saying it was weaker than last year.

 

I felt we needed a combatative CM, another forward, and impact/speedy sub winger. Thought that impact sub could be Ox-C. All of those have now been addressed.

I am happy with the squad. Do you think its short of strength anywhere?

 

Well Nick, by calling people 'moaners' who pointed out the need to strengthen, you seem to be throwing stones from your glass house. The squad did need strengthening and it has been, although you still say in a later post that it needs a better player as first choice in MF.

 

Happy? Yes, we all are because of recent results, except at Huddersfield, but Adkins is saying the team are not playing well enough, so he's less than happy. Alex is doing really well, but is having to be overused at his age because he's too good not to have on the pitch for as long as his body will allow. Chaplow is looking good, but maybe you don't see him as good enough to be your MF general. The cover for Connolly is Bignall, but he's also the cover for the out-of-form Lambert. Bignall is very young to cover for two such experienced strikers and unless one or both of them come back fit and in form, there may be need to look elsewhere. We do have Goble, but he's less experienced than Bignall. And then there is Puncheon, still not having the impact of Antonio last year.

 

So is the squad good enough? Honest answer is, I don't know. The team is as good as its last game and after we have played Peterborough and Brighton, lets see how we feel then. If we get the results against them that we got against Tranmere and the Daggers I think we'll all be very happy, but a forward for extra cover and a first choice CMF wouldn't do any harm. Need to let one or two go as well though.

[NickG]

needed strengthening - not several wholesale recruiting.

[Saint Fan CaM]

I think the striker situation is a real dilemna for NA. Clearly Lambert and Barnie are the top two and then there's Bignall and Connolly. Plus there's Guly (who I think we'll sign in January) who can go up front too. I think NA will let Connolly move on and Bignall will go back unless he's surplus at his parent club and we buy him.

 

To bring in another striker means letting 1-2 of the current lot go. Trouble is, with Lambert and Barnie as 1st choice what quality striker is going to come here to sit on the bench? It's going to be another Bignall type of player - unproven and looking to get more playing time under his belt. Maybe we buy Bignall, but I don't think he's the answer.

[MarkSFC]

when Jaidi is your 4th choice CB in league 1 I would say we have plenty of strength in depth there!

 

We have now certainly, but in the Championship next year I'm totally unconvinced by Seaborne and Jaidi is not getting any quicker!!

[The Kraken]

Said all through the summer that we needed a CM to challenge Morgan and Hammond, a RM to replace Antonio, and a striker to allow cover for Lambert. Also, this was based on Connolly actually being fit, which he perhaps isn't.

 

We've plugged the CM gap with Chaplow. Oxo has stepped up to the plate and can maybe be regarded as a replacement for Antonio, though its early days and he is still young so needs to be developed with care. Guly has come in but I don't really see him as a genuine striker, but it'll be very difficult for us to shoehorn him into his preferred number 10 role.

 

So we're still a striker short, though with Lambert and Barnard we have a brilliant starting two, just a lack of cover and different options. If Connolly doesn't feature soon I wouldn't be surprised to see him have hos contract paid up, he just hasn't been able to stay clear of injury.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

another CM as well as Chaplow?

 

Is there any mileage in suggesting our ability to win games has increased while MS was away with the French, or on the bench?

Oh, how could you suggest such a thing, Hughie.

[Ian the Red]

We do need to strengthen. Once the league is won we have the Championship to considered, so we need to build the squad taking into account next season as well. We only have real pace in AOC; JP is out of sorts so we need more pace in midfield and certainly a striker with pace as well. Plus, as other have said, will Seaborn and Jaidi make the grade in the championship next season? So a quick striker, midfield/winger with pace plus a decent CD.

[thesaint sfc]

I think we could do with a young'en on loan from one of the big clubs till the end of the season - a winger or something like that to add a bit of pace to the side. Other than that I don't think there's much we could improve.

[saint1977]

I think Chaplow has resolved the CM issue, there is no question Hammond has upped his game significantly since Chaplow arrived so it's like having 2 new signings as Hammond gets nearer to the player we first signed. We are still short of a pacy winger/forward leaving a reliance on Ox-C so if Bignall hasn't cut it for Adkins then we need to get another in before Jan. The main area though is a back-up striker - Connolly I think will be paid up soon as I can't ever see him being fit and there have been rumours from his previous clubs that he's not the easiest to manage when he's not in the side. I'd love to see Le Fondre from Rotherham if the family were happy to invest as I think with Adkins track record of developing strikers they'd get a great return on their investment. Still, Adkins likes a forward player so I'm sure he's got a shortlist in mind.

[Tony F]

I think Chaplow has resolved the CM issue, there is no question Hammond has upped his game significantly since Chaplow arrived so it's like having 2 new signings as Hammond gets nearer to the player we first signed. We are still short of a pacy winger/forward leaving a reliance on Ox-C so if Bignall hasn't cut it for Adkins then we need to get another in before Jan. The main area though is a back-up striker - Connolly I think will be paid up soon as I can't ever see him being fit and there have been rumours from his previous clubs that he's not the easiest to manage when he's not in the side. I'd love to see Le Fondre from Rotherham if the family were happy to invest as I think with Adkins track record of developing strikers they'd get a great return on their investment. Still, Adkins likes a forward player so I'm sure he's got a shortlist in mind.

 

The bit in bold seems to fit well with leftback's comment this morning about "Connolly issues".....?

[Chez]

We need a striker or even two. One now on an Emergency loan and another permanent in January. How about Antonio German on loan now?

[The9]

Personally I would have paid Reading what they wanted for Antonio, he has been (or could have been) the 'missing link' in this squad.

Young, fit, pacey, direct, made goals, scored goals, used as a starter, or as an impact sub. Very young, very raw, only ever going to get better. Yes, we were quoted silly money, but that doesn't take account of his value to us, nor any subsequent profit, or the delay and expanse of finding a suitable replacement. And you can discount the money spent on Dickson (££ ??) from the asking price when you consider we already had Harding/Mills/AL to play left side..... IMHO obviously.

 

If it wasn't for Ox-Cham being better, that would have been a bit of an oversight.

[The9]

The bit in bold seems to fit well with leftback's comment this morning about "Connolly issues".....?

 

FFS, player not in team unhappy about it un-shock. In tomorrow's startling insight, there's a rumour next season's kit might be red and white.

[Smirking_Saint]

Personally I would have paid Reading what they wanted for Antonio, he has been (or could have been) the 'missing link' in this squad.

Young, fit, pacey, direct, made goals, scored goals, used as a starter, or as an impact sub. Very young, very raw, only ever going to get better. Yes, we were quoted silly money, but that doesn't take account of his value to us, nor any subsequent profit, or the delay and expanse of finding a suitable replacement. And you can discount the money spent on Dickson (££ ??) from the asking price when you consider we already had Harding/Mills/AL to play left side..... IMHO obviously.

 

If only we had a young and upcoming player 2 years (and more ?) younger than Antonio but already showing he has a footballing brain, can effectively cross a ball but also has direction and attacking ambition in his game...........oh

 

TBF Ox has effectively plugged the Antonio gap, was free and is ours, he looks another excellent prospect so far provided he stays clear of injury. Saying we should have paid over the odds for him is nonsense, he simply isn't worth any more than 500k IMO, any more and there are far better players out there.

 

Its always been a strange occurance that a missing player seemingly is elevated to godlike status.

[MarkSFC]

Antinios an interesting topic because in the summer I would have loved to see him back here. Now however as he can't really get in the Reading side I don't think he's good enough for us. Sure he could do a job right now if he's on form but next season in the championship, IF we signed a rightwinger we could do better than him. Actually as others state, we already gave better! Had we signed Antonio in the summer, then maybe just maybe we would have had a better start but that's gone, we move on!

 

Alex Ox is most definitely the future!

[up and away]

We've got more than enough to go up as Champions. Even without Bignall we will be ok IMO.

 

There's just not the evidence to back that up at present, although I would expect a top 2 position. Away to Huddersfield and Notts County still showed we have issues. When we go away to the top teams and show them football, then we can look far more optimistically.

 

Whatever the good and bad of Morgan, the midfield has the habit of disappearing at times with him in it, without really adding to the goals column. Ricky is trudging around the pitch and playing a slightly different style, either by plan or necessity. Either way it does not look like we can rely on his goals from open play or free kicks that we saw last season.

 

The main problem I could glean from the Huddersfield and Notts County games, was that our midfield got over run. Now unless Adkins goes to a 5 man midfield or some formulae that solves that problem, I can't see why the problems will stop. The difference I see with Adkins over Pardew is that I believe we will get the results from the teams we are expected to beat. Not completely sure about the other top teams because we have just not demonstrated that aspect as yet.

 

What we have got is the strongest squad in this league by far and unless others are very lucky with form and injuries, that will equate to points. We can all moan about certain players, but virtually most other teams would love to have the likes of Puncheon, Harding etc in their side. I believe we made the right choice in Adkins, but we are not there yet.

[Lighthouse]

We need a striker or even two. One now on an Emergency loan and another permanent in January. How about Antonio German on loan now?

 

We have 6 strikers on the books (if you include Lallana). Just how much of an emergency is this?

[Charlie Wayman]

Think the defence is very strong in depth - as it was at the start of the season.

 

Midfield - would be nice to add a central figure of chapmionship level to be first name on team sheet but can't complain

 

CM - Hammond, Morgan, Chaplow, Wooton - plenty.

Wide - Lallana, Puncheon, Ox-C, Holmes, Dickson, Bignall,

Forward - Lambert, Barnard, Guly, Connolly, Bignall

 

The 4th/5th choice forwards aren't great (in not proven or injury prone) but Ox-C and Lallana can also move up there and do.

 

Would be happy if there were no more transfer windows.

 

It's not just a question of good enough to go up, it's also about building a squad capable of challenging next year in the Championship, like Norwich this year. Only three or four of our current squad are even remotely good enough to get through to the Prem. We must build for that possibility an dit will mean new faces in January and June, otherwise all the shebango crrap about ambition and visions goes out the brick house window

[NickG]

think if we go up there will be a full review of our squad.

 

At the moment, and next window, its more if a gem is available.

[Dalek2003]

Looks like Connoly is a spent force, so yes we are desperate for at least one good striker. Need to make a move in January.

[Dellman]

Has Holmes left us? Or is he injured (again) I thought this was tio be his season

[Chez]

We have 6 strikers on the books (if you include Lallana). Just how much of an emergency is this?

 

I don't, besides we have Lambert, Guly, Barnard and Doble. Connelly is injured.

[sandwichsaint]

If it wasn't for Ox-Cham being better, that would have been a bit of an oversight.

 

 

Well done for knocking that open goal in. When was the two-players-for-every-position mantra withdrawn? I have nothing against young AOC; I have only seen bits and pieces and he certainly looks 'OK' but I haven't seen anything yet for some posters to be putting him in the same sentence as Walcott and Bale. Perhaps he will be that good, who knows? Don't think many people on here during the close season thought we had another Bale/Walcott on out hands?

 

Love the fact that almost everyone on here wants more 'pace' in the team (the one thing you can't coach) yet at the end of the season we release our two quickest players, both of whom were decent. And some of 'the fans' say 'no problrm, we can do better', really?

 

Reminds me of those that wanted Nathan Dyer out, only to see him move up a league and have a really good season in the league above.

 

Of course we all move on, Antonio has gone, we have a great new manager and in terms of 'hitting the bottom' we are now in our best position since relegation from the Prem. The only way is up and I trust NA to buy the players we need, I don't think he will buy too many (he doesn't need very many), but I do think he will at least consider RL's position in Jan if there is no obvious improvement - he bred CFs for fun at Scunny- and he will surely be tempted to roll his big-money dice and shuffle his pack unless he can coax some form from Rickie in the next 10 games? Not necessarily what I would do but what I think NA might do, flame away!

[The9]

Well done for knocking that open goal in. When was the two-players-for-every-position mantra withdrawn? I have nothing against young AOC; I have only seen bits and pieces and he certainly looks 'OK' but I haven't seen anything yet for some posters to be putting him in the same sentence as Walcott and Bale. Perhaps he will be that good, who knows? Don't think many people on here during the close season thought we had another Bale/Walcott on out hands?

 

Love the fact that almost everyone on here wants more 'pace' in the team (the one thing you can't coach) yet at the end of the season we release our two quickest players, both of whom were decent. And some of 'the fans' say 'no problrm, we can do better', really?

 

Reminds me of those that wanted Nathan Dyer out, only to see him move up a league and have a really good season in the league above.

 

Of course we all move on, Antonio has gone, we have a great new manager and in terms of 'hitting the bottom' we are now in our best position since relegation from the Prem. The only way is up and I trust NA to buy the players we need, I don't think he will buy too many (he doesn't need very many), but I do think he will at least consider RL's position in Jan if there is no obvious improvement - he bred CFs for fun at Scunny- and he will surely be tempted to roll his big-money dice and shuffle his pack unless he can coax some form from Rickie in the next 10 games? Not necessarily what I would do but what I think NA might do, flame away!

 

Yeah, but Nathan Dyer *is* cack, but you can't defend pace. God only knows how Swansea are in the top 3 anyway (though I'll be completely behind them on Sunday). Puncheon is our other player at right midfield, plenty good enough for this division. Just as Ox-Cham was obviously a possible at the end of last year, Doble has shown he has potential up front or as an attacking midfielder...