This must be the one who turns out very good for them though.... surely even they can't screw him up?
Pace, skill & Discipline - I assume you're describing Wanyamas strengths as that's the only thing that's changed
Wanyama had a lot of skill. The ability to shield the ball in tight situations is massively a skill. Don't undervalue that.
Hey, hey, hey,honk, honk Godders. Totally agree though, and he shows great skill with such clod hoppers...
It's all depressing, but still, as it stands we have a squad that should be more than capable of finishing in safety, hopefully top-half: Forster/Stekelenburg Cedric/Martina,Fonte/Yoshi,VVD/Gardos,Bertrand/Targett Tadic/JRod,Romeu/Reed,Davis/JWP,Clasie,Redmond Long/Austin Any signing on top of this could help us to push close to say. top 6, i.e. where we are now. Though if that happens, they players that do it for us will leave within 2 years. That is clearly what the players see as the Southampton Way. I think we have to start accepting that we are a selling club, who will not be challenging for top four every year. That doesn't mean though that we don't have the aspiration to be top four, or that we couldn't do so in exceptional circumstances. If we keep the club strong and continiue developing players, I suppose I'd not be too upset to consider us the English Feyenoord/ Ajax/ Atletico Madrid. And maybe we could have a cup run this year (please!)?
Do you really think adding back Waynama and Mane makes it a decent squad or did you think the same last year when we lost Clyne and Morgan? I think we are lucky, we have an identity. We know how we want to play and sign,sell and develop players to suit our own identity. Having an identity and a culture is priceless at a football club and is the catalyst of succession planning. If the FA did the same with the national team I am sure we would be more successful at international level!
On first glance there's a distinct lack of star quality in there but its not bad at all. Solid back line unchanged from last year. I'd like to see a new centre back and new right back come thourgh/in. I have hopes for Romeu in the middle - namely that he becomes a step up from Wanyama who I thought was only great as an obstacle. I'm not convinced Classie will blossom this year. He's solid enough. Without a doubt Mane is going to be missed, I dont see us replacing his threat like for like. So up front I think we are lacking in creative sparks. Our attacking could become very one-dimensional.
To be fair, I said as it stands. Of course I want more quality in there, but the price of that will be that it will leave in 2 years. Of course I'd like our quality players to stay longer, and maybe if one year we have a season like Leicester (as we have almost done a couple of times now), they will. But the mass exodusses (exodi?) have happened every season for 3 seasons now and we can't pretend it won't happen again if we're successful this year. I agree that we have an identity, and I like it. But let's be honest we have always sold our best players to teams with more money (than sense).
I agree, teams wanting our players shows that we have had a good season and the players have done well. The cost of that is that we get offers hard to turn down. Do we really want a team of players that no one wants?
I do totally agree but I'm sure if we reached the champions league we would keep our best players. Also even if Leicester keep all of their players do you see them replicating their season? At least we spend the money and invest across the team. I would say our squad is stronger now compares to a few years ago.
