How will the new look Saints fit together?

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
lamby

lamby

Needs a cold shower
Oct 3, 2011
59,398
42,546
113
64
Mitcham, Surrey
OK so the window closes and thankfully I feel we are in a stronger position than when it opened. Question is with our bigger squad what do you think our best eleven will be?


I think I'd go with


Forster

Clyne Fonte Toby Bertrand

Vic Morgan JWP

Tadic Pelle Mane


Subs Boruc Gardos Davis Cork Reed Long Jrod


Cant find room for these even on the bench. Targett Maya Gallagher Mayuka Isgrove Sims and Mcqueen.


Thoughts?
 
Firstly, fantastic business this summer, after an awful opening to the window, the club has delivered quality targets all over the field.

Interesting one is the centre back spots, Yes we lost Lovren for £20m, but replaced with Gardos and Alderweireld, along with Fonte so will ROKO go with the favoured dutch mentality of 3 centre backs. Certainly gives us more options. Bertrand and Clyne are made for that system. If we did go with it just hope we are more successful than United have been so far !

With Mane coming in we were desperate for some pace, be interesting to see how he fits in.

I am now very optimistic for the new season, it will take the new boys time to settle and for that reason alone, I would be more than happy with top 10 finish and a decent cup run (or two).

The midfield is littered with options. Interesting statement from ROKO sticking Cork on instead of Big Vic sat, was chuffed Cork was instrumental in our third goal.

We seem to have cover all over the park now, and great for Pelle to find his scoring boots.

On that note, its amazing how fans are sad to see Gaston go as felt he needed more time (he had 2 years), yet some wrote Pelle off after 2 games !

COYR
 
Would have JRod in the team, probably in place of Mane or Pelle, but apart from that, spot on
 
Potentially Targett replacing Bertrand as we move into the season, as at the Millwall game I formed the view that he is physically stronger while also competent going forward (Betrand is a bit lightweight IMO). I think we need davis or cork in the line up, given their ability to recycle the ball in tight areas and given what they give to the team in terms of energy and pressing. JWP and Vic are less mobile. I'm also not sure whether RK is planning to keep one right sided centre half and one left sided centre half in the line up, in which case the alternatives would be Gardos or Yoshida and Toby or Fonte.

Also difficult to see where Mane slots in precisely without having seen him play. I suspect it will take a few substitute apeparances before he slots into the first XI.
 
If we revert to 3 at the back , I reckon it could look like:

Forster
Toby Fonte Gardos
Clyne wanyama morgan Mane
Tadic
Pelle Long
 
I still think Boruc is no worse than Forster.

Boruc
Clyne Fonte Yoshida Bertrand
Wanyama Schneiderlin
Ward-Prowse Tadic
Rodriguez Pelle
 
Forster
Clyne Fonte Toby Bertrand
Morgan JWP Davis (Vic for the big boys)
Long/Rodriguez Pelle Tadic

Mane to provide impact. Cork to provide fresh legs. Good cover in the shape of Gardos and Yoshida too
 
I'm going to have to think about this. We have a problem we probably haven't had for about 20 years, strength in depth! Ronald is going to have his work cut out deciding on the best starting lineup for different situations: do we match Pelle against the teams with big CB's, or use speed and guile to get round and through them? Do we play 3 at the back in certain games?

I think the point is, we now, for the first time in ages, have the opportunity to play a slightly different starting 11 depending on who we are facing, without a drop in quality. Great times to be a Saints fan!
 
Forster
Clyne Fonte Toby Bertrand

Wanyama Morgan

JWP

Tadic Mané
Pellè

Boruc
Gardos
Targett
Cork
Davis
Long
Gallagher (jrod when fit)

Why are people putting Yoshida in the first XI??
Everyone slags him off, then we replace him and he is apparently quality?! Adequate backup but not a starter!
 
Forster
Clyne Alderweireld Fonte Bertrand
Schneiderlin Wanyama JWP
Rodriguez Pelle Tadic

Subs: Boruc Gardos Davis Cork Gallagher Mane Long
 
Ronald said Toby can play RB but it is not his best position (you'll have to imagine the lisp :)). However, TA can play right or left CB, so I think (depending on what Ron sees in training) that Toby will play beside Fonte. Feel sorry for the other CBs, but they will get some game time during a long hard season.
 
Sorry about that... I should know really.

I just got used to him playing at right-back for Belgium at the World Cup.

That's my excuse!
 
It depends on who and where we are playing. The team we put out against Stoke at Home probably wouldn't be the same as the one we put out against Man City Away.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back