It's an interesting point this actually. Obviously the signing Messi is completely hypothetical, but in all honestly, were it to happen tomorrow, who we would we drop? As much as we joke, it's plainly obvious that he would walk into our starting XI. But I can't actually pick someone to drop. Chaplow and Guly are both on great form right now - the best since they've been here - and Lallana and Lambert are both obviously massive, massive players for us. You can't start with 12 players, so someone would have to make way. But I just cannot pick who. God I love Saints at the moment!
I know who I'd drop, but I'm certainly not going to be the one to mention it. It would be like committing treason.
Doesn't this open up a wider debate about the possibility of a major signing in the January window? I mean, just say we did sign Sharp/Jutkiewicz/Maynard/Rodriguez as cover for Rickie Lambert, we aren't going to drop him so they can play are we?
I can completely see where you're coming from. But the examples that you give could easily be incorporated into our rotation system. The likes of Morgan, Connolly and De Ridder are all good enough to start, but have to have more than their fair share of time on the bench. As great as the likes of Sharp and Maynard etc are, I don't think the football world would ever go "wow" if they saw that those guys are often left on our bench. (Obviously with Messi, it would be "wow" if he wasn't starting every week). I absoloutely think we need to sign another top striker, but that is to strengthen our squad and our options, rather than the first XI itself.
Chaplow and Chamberlain are two very different players. With the hefty sell on clause we have, Chamberlain coming back here is more likely than a move away unless the fee is truely ridiculous so it's not a completely stupid question. I believe the sell-on is 40%, so they would need to sell him for £25m just to get their £15m outlay back.
Chamberlain. No competition on that score.. Chaplow has been fantastic this season but will never in the same class as the Oxo-kid; the lad has done so well for the under 21's and for the Gunners; he has a great future in football. From the original Romsey_Saint!
