Jos Hooiveld

Yep. I'm all for trying to develop JWP into a better player. But you can get found out as a team very quickly in the Premier League. If you played Schniederlin and JWP/Davis together none of them would sit in like Cork. We found that out earlier in the season! And at this level you almost always are going to get beaten if one of the CDM's isn't almost permanently defence-minded either sitting in front of the back 4 or slotting into the defence when a defender goes forward.

 

Schneiderlin could play the cork role if instructed to do so I reckon.

 

I was going to say 'Well Cork missed the first part of the season and we coped without him'. But, we didn't cope without him. 8/10 of our first Premiership games were losses weren't they? I think Davis and JWP mainly tried to fill Cork's position, but clearly to no avail. Obviously we cannot solely blame the Cork injury for our poor form, but I'm sure there was some correlation. An old, experienced CDM, to spend a few years here to finish his career I think is who we need, someone who understands they won't start every match. Someone similar to Clarence Seedorf perhaps?

 

Well RickieRickie, no need for a paddy. I would like us to sign a better CB than the four we have. Why? Because we have a fairly leaky defence and is like to improve it so that come next April 1st, we are along way from four points above the drop. Our team is where it is for a reason. If we don't try to improve personnel, we will stay where we are and in life that usually doesn't happen; you sink.

 

Ok, apologies

 

Bleedin hell mate, he's 18. You are one picky person today. JWP has a huge future and I can't believe you are criticising an 18 year old.

 

So why can't we sign one of those and a CB? When did the toys have to come out the pram because someone said we should sign a CB. Why can't we sign a CB, DCM, a winger and another striker?

 

What a bizarre statement to make. I hadn't realised that our CB's are Champions League quality. Or a you one of the few Saints fans out there who still doesn't get Cortese's ambition?

Of course we could do with cover CM cover. Losing Morgan or Cork instantly makes us weaker. But if we want to continue progressing, then there are many positions we could do with strengthening. And Centre Bank and Wingers are the two which stand out to me the most. And as Cortese wil no doubt want us to keep on pushing on, then I am expecting these areas to be dealt with over the summer.

Jos, Fonte, Yoshida, Puncheon have all had good games this season - many good games in some cases. But they're not top 6 or top 8 players. I can't see any of them playing regularly for a Swansea, let alone an Everton or a Liverpool.

You make signings for one of two reasons in my book. To stregthen your first XI, or to strengthen your squad. Signing a new CB would (hopefully) fall into the former category for me, whilst signing your cover for CM would fall into the latter category.

 

Cb,rb,cm,winger and sign Boruc.

 

And rb

 

We could. We could sign another player all positions. Sometimes an over-load of good players for one position can cause unrest though. Some people think we need a CB the most. There's a difference.

 

I actually rate our CB's. I think they are good enough for this level so I'd sign back up at CDM first. Obviously you are always looking to improve but I like to improve the weakest points first.

 

I think a CB would improve our starting XI on any given game the most.

But over the course of a season we will for sure need more midfielders. I've noticed one of MP's strategies appears to be that when pressing if the ball is not won the next best thing is to have a foul given as it slows up play. Not saying we play dirty, just that this leads to aggressive play and we are going to get lots of yellows.

 

There's being able to cope and actually being a good player that can get us where Cortese wants us. All 3 of our cb's can cope with the Prem, but if we are going to improve we will need a new cb . Yes I understand your point but atm cb is our weakest position in our first team.

 

Would say rb is the same.

 

3? I think we have four, Jos, Jose, Yosh and Veg?

 

We do need another CM/DCM but in terms of quality, our CB area needs improving more than midfield. I'm not talking about numbers, but quality. Our midfield have over run some if the best midfields in the league. Our defence haven't really coped too well consistently against many defences. Our goals against shows this. So for me, a CB who is at least another level or more above what we have, is my priority. Then a CM.

 

Don't count Forren as he hasn't played in the first team, so we can't judge him.

 

Well he cost over 4 million so he counts.

 

That is a bit short sighted, if there are any injuries we may well need him, he looked capable enough in the U21s and is one for the future.