Perish the thought, but how would NA change the way Saints play if we had to do without Rickie due to injury or suspension ?. He is the only position I don`t see obvious cover for. Much of our play is based on his presence in the middle. I don`t see Guly filling his role, and not sure how Connolly and Barney would work together. Any thoughts ?
Connolly &Barnard has been tried before - wasn't really effective so I would imagine Guly and changing our style of play with De Ridder down the right
Yeh bit of a concern but i think we'd adapt if it happened,touch wood lambert has a good injury record with not having many niggly injuries,it's just if he gets a bad one that i think would put him out.There is 3 players who i think we'd maybe not be at our best if they were injured and that is Fonte,Lallana and Lambert,if we keep these 3 fit for the season we should be up there come may,in my opinion.
Barney and Connolly are untested together, at this level, although I suspect they'd come through fine. We touched on this topic the other day, while referring to Charlie Wayman, who was injured for Saints run-in to promotion to the top league in 1949-50. Saints didn't have anyone, as backup in the reserves, of similar calibre as Wayman, which was understandable, because he was exceptional. And it's the same with Rickie. How do you keep that player happily playing for the 2nd eleven until Lambert either loses all form, or is injured, and manage to fend off rival clubs who will inevitably want this quality stand-in..? The truth is, you can't. We'll cope.
I would personally move Lallana into the middle, alongside or just behind Connolly, and bring either De Ridder or Holmes onto the wing. Would restrict us going forward slightly, but would shore up the left flank defensively. But fingers crossed it doesn't come to that. Don't want to be losing Rickie!
Do Prado could do a job up beside Barnard or Connolly I think. He's really tall and puts himself about well.
Good question. I know Barney is well liked amongst the faithful, but I don't think he's half the player Rickie is. Saints mix up the play pretty well these days and RL is integral in most of it. He doesn't win everything in the air it's true but he gets his fair share, and when he gets the chance to get the ball down, his control and distribution are excellent. He does take a lot of knocks (and fouls) without much complaint and he needed treatment just after the equaliser yesterday, thankfully he was soon on his feet. So in answer to your question, unless we get a similar backup player I don't think we could play in the same way we do now. That's not to say we would become ineffective, it's just the focus of our attacks would have to change.
Do you think a five-man midfield would create enough to justify having one striker? Lallana and De Ridder or Guly as the wide men, Chaplow, Cork and Schneiderlin in the centre? Can see that working.
we tried that once and ended up losing horribly to carlisle, at least performance wise if i can remember
Schneiderlin says he got the chance to score because their defender went onto Ricky. Having a danger man like Lambert for the opposition to concentrate can let other players in. I have to admit my blood ran cold when I read the title: Life without Ricky!
James Beattie at the Silverlake this afternoon mingling with the crowd, looks like he is at a loose end at the moment?
I think Barnard could play that role very well. When Lambert and Barnard play together, Lambert seems to be the one dropping off and linking up anyway.
