I Would Like To See No New Signings Or Departures Of Note!

[Andy Durman]

So just how bad is our current squad that got us promoted. I remember alot of managers saying that we were too good for Div 1. Lets say no players of note leave. We would have a settled team. A team that knows and understands each other. A team rather than a bunch of individuals or premadona's.

 

Maybe this is the way we should go and promote from our academy. If they're not good enough then they better learn quickly. How do you know players are not good enough unless you give them a chance. Maybe they rise to the challenge and become better players?

Edited 17 June, 2011 by Andy Durman

[Matthew Le God]

On the departures front. BBC sport reporter David Ornstein on Twitter 30 minutes ago...

 

"Oxlade-Chamberlain update - I'm realiably informed Southampton have received no bids or even inquiries for the player"

 

http://twitter.com/#!/bbcsport_david

[doddisalegend]

yep I'd rather see us bring in young(ish) promising and affordable lower league talent who are thankful to be playing for saints and give everything. Than spending big money on overpriced, (often over the hill) big names who could no more care about saints than they do the fluff from their bum crack.

[Saint_clark]

We need a new CM really. I rate Hammond more than most, but he's a midtable NPC player at best.

[Verbal]

On the departures front. BBC sport reporter David Ornstein on Twitter 30 minutes ago...

 

"Oxlade-Chamberlain update - I'm realiably informed Southampton have received no bids or even inquiries for the player"

 

http://twitter.com/#!/bbcsport_david

 

Great!

 

...although I do wonder how safe facts are in the hands of a journalist who can't spell 'reliably'.

[Alanh]

Our current squad isn't bad and I believe would compete in the Championship, probably ending up around midtable subject to injuries. At the same time it has to be said that you could improve every position in the team with realistic transfers. If we are going to compete at the top end of the table this season we need to strengthen with 5 - 6 players, probably throughout the spine of the team. I'd be delighted of some of those 5 - 6 players came from the academy, but I really don't know if there is anyone ready for nPC first team action yet.

 

Good news on AOC. Hardly conclusive but much better news than the apparently stabs in the dark that the tabloids are making.

[RinNY]

If we want to challenge for another promotion, we need a few quality signings, surely that is obvious! We cannot rely on Jaidi, given his age, as our main CB partner for Fonte: maybe Martin or Seaborne could step up, but they're both unproven at this level, and if Fonte were to be injured we'd be f*cked. An experienced CB, preferably one with Prem experience, still young enough to have the speed and endurance for the long season, is absolutely required.

 

In midfield, we have some strength at CM, but another player there to provide competition for Hammond/Chaplow is highly desirable. Even more so, though, we need a winger: after Oxo and Lallana (assuming we can keep them) we are weak in this regard. Holmes is unlikely to be good enough & fit enough to play a major role, and Guly does not seem at his best in the winger role. A quality and versatile winger (one who can play on either side, ideally) is needed.

 

And let's face it, our striker options are thin. Lambert is very good, but untried at Championship level and a bit slow. And if he gets injured, what then? Barnard may or may not be available; Connolly may or may not be able to stay fit; Guly may or may not prove to be more than a bit part player, an impact sub. We need another quality striker to challenge for playing time and increase our options.

 

That's at least 4 signings I reckon we need, and that's the minimum. Anyone other than the author of this thread disagree??

[Professor]

We weren't so good in L1 that we couldn't lose to teams like Rochdale, Walsall and Tranmere. Leeds, Forest, West Ham etc., are a whole new level of challange so it really won't pay to be complacent. A major signig at CM to play alongside Morgan, with Chaplow and Hammond becoming understudies would do a lot for the confidence and demonstrate to the rest of the squad that the intentions are real. Lack of a big signing could demonstrate the opposite

[trousers]

So just how bad is our current squad that got us promoted. I remember alot of managers saying that we were too good for Div 1. Lets say no players of note leave. We would have a settled team. A team that knows and understands each other. A team rather than a bunch of individuals or premadona's.

 

Maybe this is the way we should go and promote from our academy. If they're not good enough then they better learn quickly. How do you know players are not good enough unless you give them a chance. Maybe they rise to the challenge and become better players?

 

 

I must admit I'm in two minds about this.

 

Part of me agrees that we should try and win this league with our current crop of players (afterall, we were told c.18 months ago that we were building a team that could not only escape from League One but one that could compete in the Championship)

 

But the other part of me wants to push onto the next level as quickly as possible, which would mean injecting "Premier League Ready" players into the squad at this juncture rather than further down the line.

 

Difficult one.

[Avenue Saint]

If ox stays then, 3 players minimum:

 

1.Cover/replacement for jaidi

2.Partner for Morgan

3.striker with pace

[eastleighhalo]

The striker we are short of and need is a big target man to compete with Rickie.. we have plenty of other slightly different types of striker( Jonno , Barny, DC and Guly ) who all offer their own idividual strengths and are well capable of ripping most defences apart at Championship level but no one to press Rickie for his place.

[NickG]

Our current squad isn't bad and I believe would compete in the Championship, probably ending up around midtable subject to injuries. At the same time it has to be said that you could improve every position in the team with realistic transfers. If we are going to compete at the top end of the table this season we need to strengthen with 5 - 6 players, probably throughout the spine of the team. I'd be delighted of some of those 5 - 6 players came from the academy, but I really don't know if there is anyone ready for nPC first team action yet.

 

Good news on AOC. Hardly conclusive but much better news than the apparently stabs in the dark that the tabloids are making.

 

who are the realistic targets to come to a newly promoted side who are better than ;

 

Lallana LM

Ox-C RM

Morgan CM

Fonte CB

[Matthew Le God]

who are the realistic targets to come to a newly promoted side who are better than ;

 

Lallana LM

Ox-C RM

Morgan CM

Fonte CB

 

I think the fact Saints are newly promoted is irrelevant to any transfer activity this summer. Players will look at the wages offered and ambition of the club, rather than where Saints were last season.

[NickG]

ok, who is better that we could recruit to championship compared to those I named.

 

 

btw numerous other factors but a team fresh out of premiership may have more draw than one fresh out of league 1 if other factors balance out

[NickG]

I agree I dont want much change as the team will keep improving, especially that midfield.

 

But I have a feeling people's patience won't last long and we'll be back to the signings bring success thinking we've tried to get away from for so long.

 

The expectations thread was refreshing when people seemed patient, happy to progress, maybe flirt with playoffs but overall content to be back. But without even returning for training some are finding things to moan about. The same old tired, draining moans.

 

If we sign 2 or 3 good players that fit in well with our squad I'll be delighted. It should take time, it should be well thought out. Don't criticise wasted money in the past or at other clubs then bang on about how saints should have rushed all their signings or signed 5 players by now, or competed for Nolan.

 

Just for once can we maybe support the team we do have, not moan like a bunch of girls about players we don't.

 

good post

[Alanh]

who are the realistic targets to come to a newly promoted side who are better than ;

 

Lallana LM

Ox-C RM

Morgan CM

Fonte CB

 

Realistic is subjective and perhaps I should have said 'almost' every position, but for me these guys would improve the team:

 

CB - Gabbidon

CM - Reo Coker

Giles Barnes and Anthony Pilkington for wide midfield positions.

[Supersubpuckett]

We need to develop our academy players by letting them play with quality senior professionals - we need to bring in some new blood for this season, especially as it's going to be such a tough league. I agree with the view that 4/5 signings would be about right - 2 at the back, then 2 or 3 across midfield and attack.

 

We can't simply stand still and get all nostalgic about last seasons squad.

[Matthew Le God]

Realistic

 

CM - Reo Coker

 

He was playing a lot for a top half Premier League club, on an estimated £35k+ per week and wanted more from Villa which led to negotiations to breaking down. Since then he has been linked in the papers to a number of top flight European clubs. I don't think you can include him in your realistic list.

[S-Clarke]

I agree I dont want much change as the team will keep improving, especially that midfield.

 

But I have a feeling people's patience won't last long and we'll be back to the signings bring success thinking we've tried to get away from for so long.

 

The expectations thread was refreshing when people seemed patient, happy to progress, maybe flirt with playoffs but overall content to be back. But without even returning for training some are finding things to moan about. The same old tired, draining moans.

 

If we sign 2 or 3 good players that fit in well with our squad I'll be delighted. It should take time, it should be well thought out. Don't criticise wasted money in the past or at other clubs then bang on about how saints should have rushed all their signings or signed 5 players by now, or competed for Nolan.

 

Just for once can we maybe support the team we do have, not moan like a bunch of girls about players we don't.

 

Fantastic post, make it a sticky!

[NickG]

Realistic is subjective and perhaps I should have said 'almost' every position, but for me these guys would improve the team:

 

 

Giles Barnes and Anthony Pilkington for wide midfield positions.

 

better than Lallana and Ox-C and achievable? Not sure I agree.

[SNSUN]

The team we have now would 95 per cent keep us from a relegation battle and may even end up mid-table but if that's our aim we may as well write off the season now! A centre back, centre midfielder and a striker are minimum requirements, then signing players to cover any that are sold.

[S-Clarke]

The team we have now would 95 per cent keep us from a relegation battle and may even end up mid-table but if that's our aim we may as well write off the season now! A centre back, centre midfielder and a striker are minimum requirements, then signing players to cover any that are sold.

 

Yep...this is why I don't get peoples panic, we don't have to do major surgery. We just need 3 or 4 top top quality players to improve our level, failure to get them isn't going to be a disaster, but we won't be at the top end like we'd all love us to be.

 

People moaning about ''the state of our squad'' - take a look at the skates, they look set to be down to 7 players. Now that's a serious case of rebuilding and they've only signed 1 so far.

[eelpie]

If ox stays then, 3 players minimum:

 

1.Cover/replacement for jaidi

2.Partner for Morgan

3.striker with pace

 

This

It's a no brainer.

[Andy Durman]

How does a player become recognised? When they are given a chance and take there opportunity. Just like Chamberlain this year. Maybe we already have good enough players in our squad. Maybe we just need to ask them to step up. How do we know that Hammond isn't good enough. Maybe he'll raise his game.

 

I would use myself as a good example. I went from my local village 4th team to the first team in less than a year. Throwing money isn't always the solution. Half of me would be happy to accept mid table this coming season and to continue the building of our team through the academy with the addition of maybe one or two new names (CM & CB).

 

This is why I don't think we will see that much money spent this year, but I still think we'll make the play off's by playing with a team that works and trusts each other.

[Itchen_block4]

Its impossile to run a club completely cut off from the transfer market. What we can do is take advantage of our first 11 needing not much doing to it to buy potential rather than proven to save ourselves a great deal of money. They don't have to be especially young, but players with talent who are willing to prove themselves. Not that we need it, but we could sign 5 or 6 very decent players for the same wages as Nolan at West Ham.

 

We do need transfers, but not so urgently that we should pay too much for the first one going. We have scouts at home and this Fris-Hansen guy in Europe to look for the right people.

[Golden Balls]

Just 3 key signings are needed to push on. Like someone said, we're *****ed if Fonte get injured. Same for Lallana. I'm not sure how Hammond will get on. Although I do like the pairing of Morgan and Chaplow. They seem to work well together.

 

I look at how we did against the likes of Man Utd, Bolton and Blackpool last year and feel we will be ok.

[doddisalegend]

Just 3 key signings are needed to push on. Like someone said, we're *****ed if Fonte get injured. Same for Lallana. I'm not sure how Hammond will get on. Although I do like the pairing of Morgan and Chaplow. They seem to work well together.

 

I look at how we did against the likes of Man Utd, Bolton and Blackpool last year and feel we will be ok.

 

As is any team that loses good players, that debate has been done to death,we have cover in those postions not as good as the first choice players but then the cover players would be first choice if they were better.

[toofarnorth]

If we want to challenge for another promotion, we need a few quality signings, surely that is obvious! We cannot rely on Jaidi, given his age, as our main CB partner for Fonte: maybe Martin or Seaborne could step up, but they're both unproven at this level, and if Fonte were to be injured we'd be f*cked. An experienced CB, preferably one with Prem experience, still young enough to have the speed and endurance for the long season, is absolutely required.

 

In midfield, we have some strength at CM, but another player there to provide competition for Hammond/Chaplow is highly desirable. Even more so, though, we need a winger: after Oxo and Lallana (assuming we can keep them) we are weak in this regard. Holmes is unlikely to be good enough & fit enough to play a major role, and Guly does not seem at his best in the winger role. A quality and versatile winger (one who can play on either side, ideally) is needed.

 

And let's face it, our striker options are thin. Lambert is very good, but untried at Championship level and a bit slow. And if he gets injured, what then? Barnard may or may not be available; Connolly may or may not be able to stay fit; Guly may or may not prove to be more than a bit part player, an impact sub. We need another quality striker to challenge for playing time and increase our options.

 

That's at least 4 signings I reckon we need, and that's the minimum. Anyone other than the author of this thread disagree??

 

I suppose if you are looking at the curent squad that includes Puncheon so there's your extra winger. Agree with you on the other three though. CB, CM and pacy striker.

[Saint_clark]

I suppose if you are looking at the curent squad that includes Puncheon so there's your extra winger. Agree with you on the other three though. CB, CM and pacy striker.

 

The bridges are pretty much burnt there. It will take some very impressive/hardworking performances from him to convince me at least that I want him at our club.

[Golden Balls]

As is any team that loses good players, that debate has been done to death,we have cover in those postions not as good as the first choice players but then the cover players would be first choice if they were better.

 

I wouldn't say there is good enough cover for Fonte. Jaidi is getting on, Martin & Seabourne are still raw

[Avenue Saint]

I wouldn't say there is good enough cover for Fonte. Jaidi is getting on, Martin & Seabourne are still raw

 

Martin is raw and seaborne is just ****e

[Turkish]

The bridges are pretty much burnt there. It will take some very impressive/hardworking performances from him to convince me at least that I want him at our club.

 

He doesn't have convince you though does he, he has to convince our Nige.

[Viking Saint]

Elmander or Carew could easily do a job up front at Championship level and Upson is on a free....

[saint_bert]

Elmander or Carew could easily do a job up front at Championship level and Upson is on a free....

 

You seriously think Elmander or Carew would come here?

 

What's wrong with some people?!

[Itchen_block4]

Just 3 key signings are needed to push on. Like someone said, we're *****ed if Fonte get injured. Same for Lallana. I'm not sure how Hammond will get on. Although I do like the pairing of Morgan and Chaplow. They seem to work well together.

 

I look at how we did against the likes of Man Utd, Bolton and Blackpool last year and feel we will be ok.

 

When big players get injured, we just need to work hard and find the right tactics to get around it, we did exactly that against Man U without Lallana and put on a great show. Virtually no-one has players of equal calibre to step in when injuries happen. We do need cover for positions, but they can't be Lallana's or Fonte's if cover is what they're coming for. Young players and players willing to work hard for their chance is what we need from cover. Its all we can get from players that we can't guarantee regular games to.

 

I personally think that should Chamberlain stay after July 1st, he'll stay at least until January, because no really good winger would want to risk being an understudy in the championship. We don't have a lot of cover on the wings and Adkins would want a replacement should the worst happen.

[Matthew Le God]

Elmander could easily do a job up front at Championship level and Upson is on a free.

 

Elmander signed for Galatasary in May 2011 on huge wages and Upson was playing for England at the last World Cup and was on wages of £50k+ at West Ham.

[Window Cleaner]

Elmander or Carew could easily do a job up front at Championship level and Upson is on a free....

 

Elmander,though no doubt he could do a job in the NPC, has already signed for Galatasaray.

 

Champion's League Football has immense pulling power, even if it's with a crap team in the back of beyond.

[Turkish]

You seriously think Elmander or Carew would come here?

 

What's wrong with some people?!

 

And England international Upson, along with the imminent arrival of Scott Parker would make the spine of our side stronger.

 

Some people on here are seriously mental.

Edited 18 June, 2011 by Turkish

[RinNY]

As is any team that loses good players, that debate has been done to death,we have cover in those postions not as good as the first choice players but then the cover players would be first choice if they were better.

 

 

It ain't Fonte we need cover for, it's a partner for Fonte we need! Jaidi seriously is not likely to play 46 games (or anything close) and be good enough; Martin and/or Seaborne can provide cover, sure, but we need a good, reliable CB to partner Fonte most of the time. If the thinking is that Martin can do it, then we need a cover CB in case of injury to Martin or Fonte; but either way, we need another CB.

[stanthemanfairoak]

looks like gobern`s off to huddersfeld according to bbc leeds sad loss!

[david in sweden]

On the departures front. BBC sport reporter David Ornstein on Twitter 30 minutes ago...

 

"Oxlade-Chamberlain update - I'm realiably informed Southampton have received no bids or even inquiries for the player"

 

http://twitter.com/#!/bbcsport_david

 

 

well come July1st. we'll hear .SOMETHING, I'm sure.

But SOMEONE is very wrong and all these "reliable sources " and ITK rumours are just a bunch of media shi*e.

[Windmill Arm 2]

So just how bad is our current squad that got us promoted. I remember alot of managers saying that we were too good for Div 1. Lets say no players of note leave. We would have a settled team. A team that knows and understands each other. A team rather than a bunch of individuals or premadona's.

 

Maybe this is the way we should go and promote from our academy. If they're not good enough then they better learn quickly. How do you know players are not good enough unless you give them a chance. Maybe they rise to the challenge and become better players?

So glad you're not in charge, this is a ridiculous idea IMHO.

[patred44]

thought we learned our lesson in the Lowe period... neglect improving the squad and just making do, only leads to one thing... stagnation and ultimately relegation..

[david in sweden]

thought we learned our lesson in the Lowe period... neglect improving the squad and just making do, only leads to one thing... stagnation and ultimately relegation..

 

Agreed...Academy, or reserves or U21 , whatever you want you call it . If a player is so good he can force his way into the first team

(Bridge, Surman, Walcott, Bale AOC ) ..then the youth programme has achieved it's aim. Those who don't make it ..with us..and there have been quite a few of late, move on to other sides and make some sort of a career.

 

You can't expect every good 18 year old to automatically move up when their Academy time is over..nor can we hold on to them all until they're 21/22... before deciding what to do. Someone has to make a judgement call (as with Oscar Gobern).

I hope (for his sake) he has a good career ahead of him but that he doesn't play against us so often.

 

 

 

.

[Charlie Wayman]

So just how bad is our current squad that got us promoted. I remember alot of managers saying that we were too good for Div 1. Lets say no players of note leave. We would have a settled team. A team that knows and understands each other. A team rather than a bunch of individuals or premadona's.

 

Maybe this is the way we should go and promote from our academy. If they're not good enough then they better learn quickly. How do you know players are not good enough unless you give them a chance. Maybe they rise to the challenge and become better players?

 

With everyone fit and a full squad to pick from we should be pretty good as you say but as you saw last season when Oxo, Lallana and Schneidelin and other key players went missing through injury we often fell apart and looked decidedly second rate. So one or two real quality reinforcements are needed to strengthen the squad in depth to cover these times and also to put REAL pressure on the key players. We need one or two who could seriously give Lallana and Co a run for their money so they don't get complacent as well.

[Gordon Mockles]

We need a new CM really. I rate Hammond more than most, but he's a midtable NPC player at best.

 

I don't understand the love affair with Hammond. He's not a good tackler and not really defensive but doesn't get forward and rarely gets goals which sort of nullifies his use. He has the touch of a rapist, often gives the ball away, doesn't have pace and is quite feisty and always poses a red card risk.

 

I've seen Hammond have 'some' decent games but I have noticed many more times where his perfomances and constant giving away of posession has exposed our team and made him the weak link. Our midfield has been the main cause of concern for me for quite some time despite our league finish. We should not have thrown games like Tranmere, Rochdale, Brentford, etc. One major change which would galvanise our squad would be replacing Hammond or pushing him to squad status. Chaplow coming in helped this but once Morgan got injured, same old habits came out again. Ambrose would be great. Or, someone in the Quashie or Carlton Palmer role. I don't see Hammond (like Claus) as a natural leader unlike the fore-mentioned names. We need another leader, another midfield general - like Marsden, Carlton, Jimmy Case, etc. Or, even a bulldozer player that breaks up the play like Viafara and Palmer did (doing the ugly stuff) with a more cultured passer of the balll (like Morgan or Safri) playing off them. That would make such a difference, especially with players like Oxo, Guly, Lallana, Lambert or a similar new transfer that can both create/score off these middle men.

[hughieslastminutegoal]

He doesn't have convince you though does he, he has to convince our Nige.

 

So people might as well have no opinion of their own on here, and just repeat whatever Nige (and NC) say.