Next weekend we begin our season on what we hope will be another season where we move further towards the top. Having viewed many posts about who we need and what positions I am left now, wondering just who is going to become our leading player this season. From the old guard we have the likes of Kelvin who I am slightly concerned about after his previous Premier league experience. Jose who has a habit of making mistakes but could be a good league standard CB. Jos who did well for us and could be a big boon with his heading ability and no nonsense defending. Danny Fox who concerns me at left back. Frazer who may find himself on the bench a lot this season. In midfield we have Jack Cork who did well for us last season. Though I fear he may prove to be a bit lightweight. Morgan who I am hoping to see do well this. Dan H who I just do not rate as a Premier league standard destructive midfield player. Richard who again I have serious doubts over especially with concerns over his injury record. Adam Lallana who I have often thought of as a future Saints star. Jason who has shown all too frequently that he has mind problems. Up front we have the likes of Rickie Lambert who we are all banking on for a regular supply of goals. Billy Sharp who could be a regular this season. Chung Lee who looked highly promising in his short stint last season. Guly D-P who could surprise a few clubs this season. Off the youngsters we have James Ward-Prowse who has looked like a really hot prospect at times. Jack Stevens who is looked upon with high hopes at the back. Luke Shaw is another who we have high hopes for but may need to toughen up a bit. Of the newcomers Jay Rod has looked slightly lost at times pre-season but that may change with a goal. Steve Davis who looks steady in midfield and could become a regular starter. Paul Gazaniga who has looked composed in the limited time that he has had. Then we come to Nathaniel Clyne who I am pleased to say has impressed in pre-season. I have omitted some who I feel will either leave or become fringe players. Who do we think are going to become our biggest stars this season. Any players brought in before the end of the month may change our minds but right now I have to admit that I am leaning towards RB Nathaniel Clyne and striker Billy Sharp being my early suggestions.
Adam Lallana Morgan Schneiderlin (our biggest star imo) Nathaniel Clyne James Ward-Prowse Steve Davis Billy Sharp
Agree. I found it amazing that people didn´t make a bigger deal of this signing. Well, some people hadn´t even heard of him! He´s currently on a different level from the players that we have got and will surely be our captain soon. I wish we could sign more players like him as we do not have enough experience in our squad, especially in defence.
Morgan and Adkins will finish the season being linked to much bigger clubs than us. Hopefully though, unlike Allen and Rodgers at Swansea, they'll both still be here come the start of next season.
This is always a possibility especially if he is a quality centre back. We still have time for Nicola and Nigel to spring a big surprise for us.
That will only be shown when we are madly cheering on the team whilst in the middle of a poor game/run.
I would like to think that it would be players like Lallana and Schneiderlin who would shine because that would mean we were playing with our usual flair, but I suspect it will solid performances from the defence that we will notice. Clyne looks like being a great buy, as does Steve Davis. SKD is old enough not to get down from a few goals and will have enough practice this season to pull off some great saves. Adkins is good at making a team play better than individual players and at getting the best from each player...he will need these attributes this season. We are not better than the top six sides, but playing as a team we will be better than many teams. Those are the points we need.
Hell of a lot of sense spoken there Fran. Team spirit can be such a valuable asset when things get tough.
I think that Schneiderlin, Lallana and Guly are all players who should relish the greater technical challenge that is the premier league, although I can see both Lallana and Guly being a bit lacking in pace (taht now seems to be an essential component for every premier league player). If we are to have any chance of staying up I also think that Lambert and Rodriguez will need to get somewhere near double figures in terms of goals, and Fonte and Hoiveld will need to be the unsung heroes at the back.
If we have few players with natural pace, we have to make up for it with speed of thought from the player providing an outlet for the ball and from the ballplayer making a quick and accurate pass.
