Also we got far more good games out of Cuco than I was expecting for the money we paid. I personally count him as a good buy.
Redmond scored 7 goals in the PL last season for us, was younger then Mane was when he came to us. He's more then good enough for a Top 8 side in the PL, which is what we are. I hope he can kick on again next season and emulate Mane's success with us. Cedric is showing already, from last Summers Euro's and throughout the season, that he is a better RB then Clyne is, if not at least on level terms. Every club in the world gets things wrong, and we have. But to have 4 consecutive Top 8 PL finishes doesn't happen by accident.
He's hardly improved our first team. I didn't get to any matches last season due to working out of the country until last month. He still can't cross, but he has improved defensively. Clyne was better for us, IMO. Oh wow he scored more goals!!! He plays with his head down and he has done since he got in the Birmingham side. He's running out of time and excuses, he needs to improve or he shouldn't be anywhere near our starting 11 if we want to progress.
Every club (even top 4 ones) make mistakes...it's just that we don't notice when their players who arrived with a fanfare ride off into the sunset a couple of years later. We have had 2 promotions and several successful years in the EPL without any risk of relegation and only one outside the top ten. I can't see that as a failure whichever way I look at it. Last season was disappointing as we are used to exciting football and we were lucky to finish 8th with that number of points, but I don't see one disappointing season as a sign of bad things to come. Looking forward to this season.
Redmond has faults, but he is young and full of potential. In a dull season he at least looked like he could make something happen.
Cedric certainly improved last season but as of yet he has never shown himself to better as good or better then Clyne. As for Redmond - considering it was his first season with us and we were very poor overall going forward, he actually had a good year. Of course he needs to get his head up more and improve his finishing. But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be anywhere near our starting 11. I am predicting another good season for him this year and it will be interesting to see what he can do in a team that plays fluid football and creates more opportunities. Oh and agree with you about Clasie
Cedric for me was my player of the season,very offensive and got back to defend as well,really positive and positioning was first class. We will miss him when he leaves,a very good sign of a great player is the teams whom wish to sign them,we will regret the day he leaves. Saints really do need to get this summer sorted with their incomings as they have bought some wronguns recently
If we were adamant that Bertrand would stay - as we seem to be with VVD and Cedric - then Les would have included him in his quote.
How many years does Cedric have on his contract? Because we need to get a decent fee for him next summer.
When reed says we have a strong squad it makes no sense to me without context. For example compared to league two every team in the prem has a strong squad. If reeds aspiration is to finish above 17th then I agree with him we have a strong squad. I presume we want European football which means finishing higher than i guess eighth. Based on all that I don't believe we have a strong squad yet.
We need to amend our wage structure to stop our talented players having their heads turned. We pay mid table wages and that's where we'll stay unless the Chinese can improve it. On the flip side, paying higher wages would mean buying proven prem players that can push us up the league,that's not always our style either. We like an educated guess and hopefully a big profit.
Remember we don't have Europe this season so if our squad is not larger that should not matter. We just need someone who can chip in with some goals and it seems we have a young centre back too. I think we could do with one more holding midfielder but a few good quality signings is what we need.