So I have gone and dug up my reddit post on this - i struggled to log into this site for a while and it seemingly didn’t let me reactivate my account https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/1...-ralph-hasenhuttl-wants-a-much-smaller-squad/ I was hoping to have a discussion about Ralph’s apparent plan to work with a core squad of 18-20 people plus youth players next year. The chatter is that he wants : - players to put aside ego - be able to do a certain number of sprints So with regards to an 18-20 man core squad the benefits would be that rather than following a recent years Wenger Arsenal approach where every player is on a broadly similar wage (and a high one as well) it opens room for some genuine top quality players (if they want to come) on a higher wage than the rest of the squad) with this offset by - a smaller squad - players on youth / developing player contracts (to bring the average down) It was been noted for a while that we lack genuine quality (since Mane). Someone like Palace have a stand out player like Zaha who is probably on at least 50% more wages than their next highest player. Not far of an MLS style Designated Player system. So a shift to an 18-20 man squad would take some fairly drastic changes. What I am interested in, in terms of opinions with regards to this model: 1. Who needs to / will stay 2. Who (still) needs to go 3. What roles definitely need filling 4. What players that are currently being used or could be don’t count towards the 25 next season 5. What do people think some of our academy players who have crossed the age threshold do or do not count towards this 18-20 squad threshold ? Players like Sims, Reed, Jones, Barnes and Gallagher? Do we think this strategy is firmly 18-20 who must be registered or slight leeway for academy graduates who have aged but can act as back up and are on lower contracts ? Obviously none of the above considers what happens if a big bid comes in for someone who is in category 1 (such as Hojbjerg) My thoughts for category 1: 1. Gunn, Valery, Bertrand, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Hojbjerg, Ward Prowse, Redmond, Ings, Obafemi So that is only 10 I can think are in that bucket. Vestergaard is debatable but he was a recent big outlay. I am not sure if Obafemi has to be registered. If not he can be removed for the purposes of this thought exercise 2. - Everyone currently out on loan (except maybe Boufal) - Austin - Long - Forster - Rose - If there are takers Lemina might leave to raise funds - he has been injured to know whether he will fit in 3. - Another Redmond like player who can also play as main Striker (versatility is key with a small squad) This seems to be Adams? - Probably a new right back - Anew central defender (if one of two move on - perhaps it is Yoshida’s time) 4. Will Obafemi and Valery need registering next season? Those seem highest on the list Vokins and Slattery may make it? 5. The above was a genuine question about how those players may be viewed with regards to the 20 man squad. Would there be an extra 5-7 slots? Or if you don’t make the 18-20 and are over age is that it and you will be moved on Very long post here that I mostly wrote a while ago and am trying to paste using my phone
https://southamptonfc.com/first-team Look at the current pictures, how many will still be there in August?
Welcome Greg btw, good start to your Saints Not606 contribution. I'll add some more thoughts on the squad when I get more time.
Valery and Obafemi will still be under 21. I think the rule is 21 or under on the 1st January 2019. Sims and Alfie Jones will be counting as senior players now, which may effect how we use or indeed don’t use them. You also asked about when the squad has to be named. The 25 don’t have to be named till after the window slams shut
Sims is still a big question mark for me. He seems to come in from out of the blue and make a big impact in a game as either a sub or a first-time-for-a-while starter, but then that’s it. I’m not sure what to make of that. Same Happened this year with I think Spuds game where he cane on and changed it, but then was nothing the next game and pulled off at half time or just after. He either must be given proper time in succession to establish himself or moved on.
What I was trying to get at when asking about Goiginger on the other thread is that I am not sure there is space for him and Armstrong Equally if we switch to 4-2-2-2 is Armstrong really right for either of the middle sets of 2? Apparently Armstrong was second choice when we couldn’t land Maddison . But they seem different players in style (not just quality) I would feel he fits more into category 2 than 1 but we would struggle to shift him as I imagine he has a 4 year contract and healthy uplift on his Celtic wages I know it is only one flash in an ultimately meaningless game but the way he dawdled on the ball against Bournemouth and allowed them to set up a counter goal is pretty poor stuff. It is only really forgivable if he was more like Mane and a real chance of being a threat at the other end of the pitch - which hasn’t really happened
Can't see us selling him now....there are other candidates before it gets to him. He will be on the list of players that can sit on the bench and may get some game time...unless there is more there than apparent and he can step up.
Which really isn’t what we want if the idea is for 18-20 registered players. But i wonder if Goiginger is the same but just more suited to the system Ralph wants Armstrong seems victim of poor recruitment and the lack of a plan In the past the idea was all the saints teams had a system they played and we recruited to that (4-3-3). That changed with Puel and lots of recent signings have almost been a case of a player who looks to have potential but with no consideration of how they will be used / fit into the team. Moi and Armstrong seem to fit that Anyone can boot up a game of football manager and see players that are either : - affordable and with higher current ability stars than your current squad - have very high potential ability stars But if they don’t play in positions you will be using it is generally a waste of time * The difference with recruiting to Ralph’s style is that fast and dynamic players are useful in most systems Which makes you wonder how we ended up with almost no pace in the side
Which is why it seems like this 18-20 person core squad of “registered” players doesn’t seem possible in just one window. Not that it ever really was Hopefully if the endeavour is there it gives Ralph some incentive to stay and build to this. And of course if we really are aiming for this we need to already be looking at managers who have this approach and style. We and the board should be well aware from past experience that if we perform how we hope then Ralph could well be off. There already seem to be Arsenal fans clamouring for him after their Europa performance . Hopefully the board has this all in mind this time
We are definitely in a clear out/rebuild stage which will last at least a couple of years. We aren't rich enough to divest ourselves of unwanted players on contracts all at the same time...there are obvious candidates and others that fall into the make do and mend group.
