I was thinking about this on the way home from the game last night ( was sat in with the home fans, unfortunately). Id had some concerns about our squad strength, but gardos and targett were excellent, so I'd have no concerns there. And of course we have Rodriguez and Gallagher to return yet. So only a couple of things left for me: Sadio mane - showed some good flashes, but went to ground much too easily and gave it away too much. I'm not knocking him, he has potential, but it may take him some time to adjust. Right back: clyne is excellent but we lack cover here. Can aldereirweld really play RB (if fit). Otherwise how does he get a rest as we go deep into the cup competitions?..... Back up keeper: Forster has been top notch so far. Any of our other options look much more of a risk. Schneiderlin/pelle burnout. A bit like clyne, no obvious replacements for rotation given how much we rely on both. January transfer window. Nuff said. I think we need to still be in the carling cup and in with a shout of improving our league position from last year to keep the big cheque books at bay. And final point, nothing to do with the above. A shout for Shane long. Not the most eye catching player in many games, and clearly needs.a goal, but works SO hard for the team, doesn't moan and I think he does bring something different to our forward options. Let's hope he breaks his duck against QPR. Have I missed anything? Being a Saints fan I need SOMETHING to worry about amongst all these wins and plaudits!
Was just about to post that its all positive atm for me. No worries at present. McCarthy is back up if Toby cant play there. Think Toby will struggle to dislodge Gardos so he might have to. Mane and Long give us options up front with the addition of Sam and Jrod when fit. Alss remember that there are several academy players who cant get into the squad. Mcqueen Sims etc. Its all GOOD!
Katharina, for asset-stripping the club, because she doesn't care and just wants her inheritance. Ralph, for being a puppet for her asset-stripping and destruction of the club, with little interest. Les, because he failed at managing Charlton for nine games several years ago and is obviously the devil incarnate and not a football executive with a strong backing in the game and good knowledge, who would be capable of appointing a renowned manager and backing him by rebuilding the side into a more competitive and stronger squad. That's what you're supposed to worry about, apparently.
I'm getting worried about the state of my liver because of my habit of drinking heavily every time Saints win.
Yeah, I'd be carping if I said there were things to worry about. Short of a disaster happening, or major injuries occurring to every player, I can't see a problem. As a fan it's my job to enjoy, and I leave mythical issues on the distant horizon to those more qualified than I. My confidence, in the club as a whole, is higher than at any moment I've been a fan. And for those who still don't know, I've been following Saints since 1966.
I've got a yoghurt in the fridge near it's best by date © WGS Apart from that not really worried at all.
so glad someone said that! FFS, it's the morning after, let's not let the bed-wetters take over just yet please
With our squad last year, if we had lost two of our first-choice CB's, one of our first choice CM's, a back-up winger and a back-up striker, not to mention our leading goalscorer still being out, we would have been lucky to get away with a tonking at last night's game. This is the main difference for me this season: we were too thinly spread for a lot of last season and it has been addressed by a concerted effort between Les Reed's scouting team and Koeman's knowledge of European players, as well as the latter's pulling power. I also have to mention the obvious difference in training methods between last season and this: one of the reasons Poch couldn't field stronger sides in the cups last year, apart from having such a thin squad, was that training was too intense for them too manage two games a week, or in some cases, one whole game a week. Koeman seems to spend more time on skills training and less on intensive fitness sessions, and this allows us to keep going longer during matches, as well as turning out a much stronger team, albeit with a few changes, for the cup games. I apologise for posting things I was worried about last season rather than this, but they serve to make the point that despite the worrying times we all went through in the early part of the summer, we really don't have too much to worry about now at all.
I'm worried about the quality of the new strip. Also someone said the sizing was strange, so I'm not sure if the "Yoshida 3" shirt I just ordered in a size L is going to fit me. Especially as I ate curry two days in a row.
If we want to stay there we can't afford to lose to the likes of QPR........however our very league position adds its own pressure. 'arry and QPR are not certs to lose away. The lads will still have to be on the ball to win that's for sure. The mid week game is going have its toll so no easy win.
Mane had a better debut than Pelle so not sure we should worry. Give the guy a chance, he's just the sort of player we need, a goal scoring wide player and I'm glad we went for him and not Redmond. Alderweireld plays regularly for Belgium at RB as Kompany / Vermaelen are CB's and he's pretty effective and you won't get a better cover for RB at ANY club. I'm sure they'll sort a back up keeper out in the January window with Kelvin 38 now. But it's not an issue as we have a great solution with Artur playing regularly down the road with us being able to recall him if Fraser's injured. Schneiderlin is exceptional, but to have Jack as cover is good, and many would argue that Jack was the better player in a number of games last year. Jay & Shane can cover Pelle, with Mane also able to play there. Much stronger than last year as we were down to an ageing Rickie & Sam Gallagher in the main. I think we're covered pretty well atm and it's difficult to see where we could improve. Many of the cover players are as good as the first 11 as Matt Targett, Gardos & Jack have proved. Really good when you consider a team like Man U can't event get a decent first choice back four together let alone cover despite spending countless millions! The only thing I would be concerned about is RK has a reputation for not staying at any club very long and one of the big clubs will be sniffing around if we continue playing really well. Certainly if Poch attracted interest then RK definitely will. But let's enjoy it while it lasts!!!
