I may be out on a limb here, and am more than happy to be shot down by more knowledgable people... But here goes anyway... At the end of jan, we bought both sharp and lee, both of which had various settling in times. It just seems to me that sharp has changed the way we play, and this might be one of a few reasons for our slightly patchy form of late (as well as all the pressure,etc) I think the RM position should be filled by lee swapping with lala. This isn't meant as a verdict against any other players, just how I see him fitting best. Rickie seems to have been playing much deeper recently, feeding sharp, whereas before, rickie was the one being fed by others. Bottom line, I trust both Nicola and Nigel to do what's right in terms of recruitment....
We need someone like Scott Sinclair I reckon. If his brother Jake is anything like him, we're sorted.
Will Lee be ready for preseason? If Sharp has a good preseason and starts well, it will be difficult for Lee to displace him, because whatever NA says he tends not to fiddle with the team. At the beginning of this season, Adkins used the fewest number of players in the Championship. Competition for places is what keeps players on their toes.
As I've said numerous time before, next season I'd like us to mainly go 4-2-3-1. Rickie up front on his won, being supplied by two top wingers and Lallana's creativity, with Morgan starting the moves off. The likes of Sharp (as much as I love the guy) and Lee, I would have have more on the bench than in the starting XI - although of course, I'd want them to be given the chances to prove me wrong.
According to a Celtic fan on JA606, there are still rumours of us buying Gary Hooper in the summer. If he were to be bought, I don't think there is any way that he will come here as a benchwarmer. I think that Sharp is just starting to get a good understanding with Lambert and I see Chung as being a good impact sub for the Premier League.
I'm not sure I like the idea of Lambert on his own. He's so good with people running ahead of him. Besides, when it comes to poaching goals, Sharp imo is better than him.
Yes, just look at that superb pass that Lambert put Sharp through with, when he was tripped in the penalty area. Lambert has the vision of a midfielder to play the sort of passes Sharp thrives on.
Oh, without any question. As I was banging on and on about before we signed Sharp, the guy knows how to get on the scoresheet. Rarely are his goals spectatular, but he gets in the right positions time and time again. But against PL defenders, I do wonder how many opportunities Sharp would get to poach goals. And if he's not getting service (either because of lack of quality on our part, and good defending on the opposition's part), then he doesn't add a whole lot to the team. Certainly nowhere near what Rickie adds. Yes sticking with 4-4-2 (either flat or diamond) will be fine against some teams, but I do fear playing Lallana out wide against quite a few PL teams. I can see teams really exploiting our left flank if he's still playing LM. Thus play him in a free role, off of the one main striker.
I think Morgan is extremely creative, and starts off moves before picking the ball up again. Remember his pass vs Ipswich at home and the lifted pass away? No way can you say Morgan is not creative.
As i said on the Guly Thread New keeper New Rb Hooiveld New Cb Fox Cork Spider Lallana Guly New winger Lambert That would give us the defensive cover we need, as Lallana is weak getting back.
I don't think Sharp has peaked yet. He is a goal poacher who plays well off Rickie. He wasn't Adkins-fit when he came and that has been worked on...imagine what he could be after a good preseason. Lambert says himself how much being at Southampton has helped him. My real worry is lack of pace, although admittedly a footballing brain can help a bit. Lee is fast, but others are only medium fast.
I think you have a point, so no flaming from me. It's possible that although Saints can score more goals, they are a more cohesive football team without him. That's what a bench is for, and Billy Sharp gives Saints a different option, as does Tadanari Lee. Let's face it, in a very settled side like the one that's been playing for the last two seasons, the new players are still getting their feet under the table.
As I've said, I'd rather we signed a new winger for each flank, and have Lallana in the position that you have Guly, just behind Lambert (although Guly would absolutely still be in my matchday squad). But that aside, I think I complertely agree with you here. I would really, really love to give Davis a season in the PL with us, but my head does tell me that we should probably be looking elsewhere. Pray, pray, pray that he proves me wrong though. I want to see Kelvin pulling off blinders in the PL for us.
Super Kelv deserves his chance for a shot at the Premier League, IMO he is better than what he was when he first joined us and he has been picked for the last 3 divisional teams by his fellow pros. A good keeper is a good keeper in any league he plays in, but I agree we may need to sign a good back up to eventually replace him
Agree on the Davis bit, he deserves a go. But i just have this feeling we will buy a up and coming keeper that Adkins will want to bed in.
Pace can be overated. We are the top scorers in the Championship without it. Are style has been to build up slowly and come forward as a team and get players into the box.
I don't think it's under-rated in the PL though. Obviously you don't need to set yourself up like a side like Spurs - Bale on one wing, Lennon on the other, and we'll just counter-attack you at every opportunity. That is far from a neccessity to succeed in the PL. However I think pace is needed to defend. It's not just that the likes of Valencia, Walcott, Bale, Lennon, Sturridge etc all have pace to brun for the top clubs, but you've even got the likes of Hoillet, Moses, Pennant, Agbonlahor, Dyer etc at the other end of the table. Slow defenders can get roasted up there. Also, further up the field, I think having pace in your offensive players can help to nulify the attacking instincts of full-backs. If you've got pace as a winger, the guy who is marking you is less likely to go bursting up field and leave you unmarked, in fear of a counter-attack. But if that defender can comfortably out run you, then letting you have a head start wont be the end of the world for them. Keeping the full-backs pinned back also gives you extra space in the midfield, as well as restricting what offensive damage they could do.
