Hi I hear from many posts that alot of Saints fans think that we have the best squad in this division - I think those people are deluded, and that we had more strength in depth last season with real impact players able to come on during a came and turn a match. Yes, we have some excellent players, who if fit would be in the team week in week out and we know who they are. However, in recent weeks the bench has looked very weak with very few genuine impact players of note unlike last season. This season we have Forte who hasn't played many times but looks better than N'Guessan, which to be honest isn't saying much. I think outside of our key 13 or 14 players I think we have a weak squad, and are going to be seriously effected by injuries or suspensions in the exciting months ahead. For this reason I don't think we will make automatic as I think Peterborough will.
Yes we do have the best sqaud on paper in the league thats a fact! Not arrogance or anything else, but fact. Any player in our starting 11 would start in pretty much every other squad! In response to you saying we had better depth last year and impact... please back this up. I dont see how. Outside of our starting 11 we have the likes of BART SEABOURNE MARTIN RICHARDSON DICKSON NGUESSAN FORTE SHNIEDERLIN GULY GOBERN I dont think we are deluded. We are a bigger club dropping from the above league, with great resources and finances. We are a better team now than last year in my opinion. By no mean deluded. Injuries do have an impact, but you cant blame these factors on us having a weaker squad than before. Thats just football. We cant sign 30 quality players for these events. We should get promoted keep the faith come on! Its in our hands!
Not trying to stir things but.................if Lallana got injured for the rest of the season, i think you would struggle to go up... I think Lambert, Champerlain, Lallana, would get in most sides but that is it..........
No you are entitled to your opinion. Kelvin is one of the best keepers in the league Fonte and Jaidi would walk into any team Harding and Butterfield have been excellent and very value talent Hammond and Chaplow again would get in many squads Oxo and lallana - Need i say more Lambert and Barnard - Again, in the top 3 or 4 in the league Lallana is a huge loss when out, but as i said initially, on paper we have the best squad. In reality, as a team we do lack something!
Our squad last year would have got us promoted without that -10. I think starting behind put a lot of pressure on us. Although impossible to know, I reckon we'd have had 15 points more if we started level. This year we had a bad start. Our form since NA arrived would have got us the title and even now we are only a few points behind automatic with games in hand. That indicates to me that we have one of the strongest, if not the strongest, team in the league. We have to maintain our momentum as there are other teams hitting form. I too fear Peterborough.
We do have one of the best squads on paper, but as it has often been said, we don't play on paper, that in itself guarantees nothing.
I do despair sometimes. If we had the best squad in the League we'd be top of it by now. Talk about looking at things with red sash coloured glasses. Jaidi does a job, that's it.Doubtful whether many other top 6 sides would want him. Harding is an average League 1 full back. The Lambert of this season is not that good, he'll need replacing if we go up.Barney is a good solid pro, but not a patch on CMS. And why all this talk about Bart, he's average at best. Kelvin Fonte Lallana AC I wouldn't swap them for anyone else in the league. Guly has potential as do Martin, Seabourne and Dickson. Richardson, Hammond , Chaplow and Butterfield are good pros. Our squad is a good League 1 one, however Leicester ran away with this League, we are far far from that.
So why when Lallana was injured in Jan/Feb did we suffer so much. We were doing very well up until his injury against Oldham then we had a wobble. If we have the best squad why does one absence effect us so badly. I know Guly has been injured but the last few games our cupboard has been bare of quality impact players. I don't think N'Guessan will turn many games? If Lambert or Barnard are injured we will suffer trying to score goals!
The question isnt any link to leicester or leeds or norwich for that matter. Whats with all the negativity. Win our games in hand and we sit 2nd! Brighton have stormed this and credit to them. Doesnt mean our 'squad' is weaker than theirs. We do have the strongest squad in the league i am adamant of that. I said on its only paper and i know we dont play on paper :S I think if you ask other teams they would agree. Yes some of our squad are league 1 level, but the question was do we have the best squad in this league. Looking at out best 15 players...... most would get in every other squad. Not many teams could boast that. Very few players in this league would get into our squad lets be honest! Im not saying man for man we have the best individuals possible, thats crazy.... but in terms of when fully fit, our quality, depth and skill is in my opinion the best this league has to offer and it should be. Does that warrant promotion.... No! COYRs!
Look at our bench tomorrow, No centre midfielder, no replacement for Lambert or Barny.I still think we'll go up, but our squad is on a par with 3 or 4 others in this league, and behind Brighton's.
Whether we have the best squad is open to question. The fact that we have one of the best teams is self-evident from our league position and goal difference. What is also without question is that we do have a few players capable of moments of magic which turn games. Can't wait for tomorrow. COYS!
Like i said.... Having a fully fit squad..... we have the best squad in MY OPINION If any team lost 2 or 3 key players of course it has an impact.... but these things happen. We still have the best squad! Cheer up.... come on! Be optomistic. Our team is full of quality, why deny that
I dont think you have the best squad......the biggest squad maybe...i think you possibly on paper would consist of the most starting 11, and that is it....... If a CM gets injured you have no one, or if one of the front two..... I would have to say Lallana, Chamberlain and maybe fonte that would be it....
Okay Your points are all valid but i still think Chaplow, Hammong, Shniederlin, Harding, Davis, Barnard would get in most squads. We have cover for every position but have been unlucky with injuries and suspensions. Kelv/Bart Richardson/Butterfiel Fonte/Martin Jaidi/Seabourne Harding/Dickson Oxo/NGuessan Hammond/Shniederlin Chaplow/Gobern Lallana/Forte Lambert/Guly Barnard/? Okay, not every replacement is of top quality but there is cover. Like any team injuries make a huge difference. Either starting 11 we played, i would be confident of a result against most teams. Anyway, if you disagree then fair enough. I think its between us and possibly Huddersfield for best squad. Although Brighton are walking it, i still feel they have done well to escape injuries etc. All 3 of us have good squads, i just think ours pips it. And the money we have spent it should do! COYRs
He would start in your squad tbh.... sorry! He isnt a full season player, but imo he has been a rock for us!
hahaha i know, he so would be playing every week if i had to see him face to face... I think with Saints Lallana is the difference, he has been injured twice this season and your form without him proves how big a player he is.... I think the different between you going up or not in the top 2 is if he stays fit...
I think bpl is right lala is the player we need the most. However Barnard is playing well and Ricky is always a worry to teams. Just look at his game at B'mouth
Okay lets look at the starting line ups from our 'DERBY' clash Jalal / Davis Cooper / Butterfiel Pearce / Jaidi Smith / Harding Wiggins / Fonte Hollands / Hammond Robinson / Chaplow Feeney / Chamberlain Dalla Valle / Lambert Ings / Barnard Pugh / Lallana Um.... Any would i swap! No chance! And you say our squad is cack! Come on! Kettle black!?
