Kevin Pieterson dropped from England's test team in the interest of team harmony. Interviews with cricketers trying to be polite include comments like 'he struggles to be in the team environment', 'he is interested in the mark that he makes on cricket' and 'speaks his mind which could be refreshing but isn't.' We keep hearing from the Saints dressing room that team unity is high and this has been a major factor in our recent success. As well as being suited to our style of play, I think this has been an influence on players we have signed or hope to sign. I realise that not all big names would be disruptive, but how important do you think team spirit is and would you risk disruption to get a big name in, bearing in mind that we need a CENTRE BACK.
Hi Fran. I agree team spirit has been vital. It's clear we need more signings particularly in defence but Nigel is trying to get players in that will fit our current style and culture. No need for any panic buying yet in my view!
I'm pretty sure we will see some-one coming in this week. Just seen Nigels interview on OS, he was unusually open about us wanting Phillips and hinting at others.
I said it was unlikely that we would sign a big name player because it could disrupt squad harmony; and I got slated for it...
My guess is that we'll have a CB in before the Man City game, but that we'll be starting Hooiveld and Fonte for the opener. I'm fine with that, really; our transfer strategy cannot be based upon trying to wring a point out of an early-season game where we'll have little chance of getting anything, no matter our lineup.
I said right after last season finished that we wouldn't sign older players just because they had PL experience. We had shown no signs of doing it in the previous 3 years, so couldn't see why we would change. Cortese has a dream that there would be a Southampton way of playing and players would come through the academy playing that way. Adkins has recently said that he now has to get the first team to play the way that is familiar to the academy lads. The difficulty (great though it is) is that we got promoted faster than was thought. I thought we would be buying good experienced foreign players, but that hasn't happened (apart from attempt to sign Buttner). As time passes though, we need a decent CB (or two) and now might be the time to bend the rules a bit. We are still trying to sign players...perhaps we can widen the parameters a bit.
Hi Fran. Thought I might return to the fray after seeing us opened up like a tin of sardines at the weekend. I just have nightmares about the opener at City. You make a very good point, and the KP story is one of those "no player is bigger etc" stories. But the team spirit will evaporate in the face of a few heavy defeats. We need a nasty spitting Rottweiler to support our elegant youngsters. JWP is looking an excellent prospect; Morgan will shine in the Prem given time; Lambert will still score; the new signings are, imo, excellent. But if we start October with virtually nothing on the board players will start losing faith in each other. Sorry, folks, to mark my return in such a negative style. I still think NA and NC have the status of demi-gods; I have loved the journey and happily accept that we'll probably lose more than we're used to this year. But then there is also a bit of me that says that the team shocked me last year when I was expecting consolidation, and maybe they can do it again.
Chicken and egg.. does winning improve team spirit or team spirit improve your chances of winning.. Its both and certainly the Gestalt of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts has applied to Saints over the past 12 months. However, I remember playing in a darts team in the early seventies where we 'won' the wooden spoon because we were rubbish at darts. We were however the only team to run lap of honour around the guildhall at presentation night.. Great team spirit, not much talent = struggle.. We've got a left back who gets skinned by anyone with pace, we've got a centre back who looks like a series of accidents waiting to happen and little pace in the side which many feel should come from right midfield. Teams that can't defend struggle.. Not long to put it right.
Maybe I'm just being overly optimistic but I still think that we will do well this season. Yes we could do with a couple more additions but basically this side will definitely score goals and IMO can beat any-one outside the top 6. If we do that particularly at home and then win three or four away we will be better than safe.
We are also guilty of thinking that none of the old guard will step up and improve during the season. There's always the first time that a player is exposed to the PL. They are all on a learning curve and hopefully most will gain from it. Remember how Lambert responded in the Championship. I think Lallana is a player who will get better in the PL as he has been able to drift in the Championship. Time for him to be the player he could always be.
I'm fairly certain our midfield and attack will do OK. We may even be surprised by Jos and Jose. Still need back ups though.
I definitely think that people are panicking too soon. Watching us last season we were better than a lot of premier league teams from what I saw. That hasn't changed. I think our tough opening has sewn the seeds of doubt amongst the fans, I also think the standard of the premier league is the highest it has ever been. (In terms of there are no real whipping boys.) However, I think we have the quality to turn many teams over, and perform well. Now that the Olympics is over, I'm buzzing!
