Well Cortese did say don't get to attached to the players/ managers of Saints. So I do feel there will be a large overhaul of the squad.
In terms of subs and reserves you're probably correct. But i'd put money on the first 11 being very similair on the opening day next year, depending if we're still a Premier league club.
We already have good players who will become top Premier League players in the future (as long as we keep hold of them!) Cork, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Shaw, Clyne, Ramirez... No point in blocking their path with additions when we already have quality and potential in the side.
Yes our first XI is good and has potential, but if we are seriously trying to become a top 8 side then everywhere on the pitch could be improved. Of course this isn't going to happen in one transfer window, but I really think that we will be busy this summer and a fair few will arrive and leave, with quite a lot of the current first team becoming the back ups.
I was thinking Rodriguez too, especially after his performance yesterday. I guess you could add JWP too.
Quite a few? Shaw, Clyne, Lambert, Lallana, Cork, Schneiderlin, Puncheon, Ramirez, One-Goal. None of those would become or settle for being a back up. We will do very little in the transfer window.
Yep but I see him more as a back up at the moment, if you look away from our first team and look at our bench and the rest of the squad no way are they Prem players. I could see at least 8 players go easily.
Not only has been great on t he field, but he also seems to be an influential person to the younger players, Chamberlain has stated that Puncheon was a big help at Saints & Shaw tweeted a picture of him and Puncheon calling him "Uncle". Definitely worth keeping around.
Luke on Twitter answered a question of "who has been the biggest help to you at the club?" by saying Punch, so yeah even if we do sign an improvement out wide I'd want him kept around.
It's crazy how I've managed to go from despising Punch to adoring him. I don't think he could replicate his current form at any other club, and I bet he knows that. He'll be here for a while yet.
It is clear that Punch is enjoying his football here (at long last). he has definitely been the surprise package of the season.
As I say I think if we are to become a top 8 side then we can improve on the majority you have mentioned there. Those 9 I think would fit into a team pushing for Europes squad. Squad is much more important for the sides competing on 4 fronts because of the number of games, so when you say they won't be happy to be back ups, that won't really be the case as everyone would get a lot of game time. Anyway we aren't safe from relegation yet and we're talking about the possibility of getting into Europe I stand by what I say though, if we do stay up think we will see at least 6/7 new arrivals in the summer with proabably more leaving.
Haven't you heard that a convert is always the most ardent of supporter..? I agree with you too. Puncheon always flattered to deceive. Not consciously perhaps, but he couldn't get more than a game or two elsewhere, and he couldn't really settle before he came to Saints, being inconsistent while with us in League One. He said a year back that he'd matured and he most certainly has. Even so, he's not lost his humour. Commentator Jonathan Pearce said he'd get a censure for his goal celebration, but I don't think so. He pointed to the crowd and then made his gesture. In a way, he was actually bonding with them and that's so much better than how it used to be.
Anyone coming in must complement the core of our team. Can't do major surgery without losing team unity.
But that is the problem. You cannot fit all those players in one starting XI. Four defenders and a GK leaves 6 open spots. Lambert, Cork, Schneiderllin, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Lallana, and Puncheon make seven. And that's without Mayuka or JWP who are younger with seemingly more potential. That's IF NC/Saints don't bring in a single offensive player. And we have to be realistic. Saints are a mid-table side at best right now, and that is not the goal. I like Puncheon. I think he has proven to be a solid premier league player, but "solid" probably isn't good enough. If you want to improve the team the smart way to do it is to let players go at the end of their contracts and replace them with academy players or a transfer. Why tie yourself down to a three or four year contract for a player when your goal is to have better and/or younger players before the end of that time frame? If Puncheon were willing to sign for a year or two and wouldn't raise a fuss being on the bench if someone better comes along then I would b all for it. But we already know he doesn't take not starting that well. And with his play he has earned a starting spot and a long-term contract so he wouldn't sign anyway. You said it yourself-- there's no reason for him to settle for being a backup. Thus, he is not the greatest fit for Saints. Everyone was crying out for a winger in the transfer window, so I assume most people view that need as still there. It makes no sense given NC's goals to sign a player if he isn't better than what we already have or can produce from the academy pipeline. Which would just make it even more difficult to find a place for Puncheon.
Puncheon is worth another contract...he's been important to us. Whether he wants another one here is the question. I got the idea he was seeing his contract out, but the right way by playing his best. He may have changed his mind if he has undergone the Cortese hypnotism technique. Mauricio may, of course, be planning major changes...the summer could be interesting. He expresses happiness with the present team, but he had little choice. We don't know yet if he is a smiling assassin.
I think the need for a new winger was due to having little options out wide and due to our lack of goals. I think we could have done with a winger with pace to come off the bench and to make an impact.
Can't believe so many people are saying we won't do much in the transfer window and don't bring players in and risk losing squad unity. We got promoted and brought how many in? 4 or 5 or 6? A good manager will bring in people and his job is to make sure the unity stays. We've just sacked a manager because the Chairman wanted "continual improvement" and this aim at improvement will continue. We will definately bring more in, maybe three or four as the current team is good enough to survive but not good enough to compete for Europe. This is where the chairman wants us to aim and so it is where we will aim. The only way we won't bring in more players is if Pochettino believes three or four of the unused youngsters are ready for the first team match day squad.
