Since Saints return to the Premiership in 2012 we have had some cracking players and a couple of good managers in that time. Using any players that have played for Saints in the Prem between 2012 and 2023 and a manager from the same period what would be your best team? As there are 9 named subs you can also have 9 subs on the bench if you want. I am still thinking at the moment it's tougher than I thought.
Manager - Mauricio Pochetino. Boruc; Tino, Fonte, VvD, Shaw; Romeu; Schniderlin, Lallana; Mane, Lambert, Rodriguez. Forster, KWP, Alderwireld, Bertrand, Lavia, JWP, Tadic, Alcaraz, Ings I really struggled here., especially with Tadic and Ings.. But what the players did for our squad this is how I'd personally see us line up. Special mention for Wanyama who I'm so 50/50 over him and Lavia.
Boruc Clyne Alderweireld VVD Bertrand Schneiderlin Wanyama Mane Lallana J-Rod Ings Forster KWP Fonte Lovren Davis Lavia Tadic Lambert Gaston
Forster KWP Van Dijk Fonte Bertrand Ward-Prowse Romeu Steven Davis Mane Ings Lallana Manager: Poch EDIT: Changed Clyne for KWP
My personal favourite team. Forster; Clyne VVD Toby Bertrand Schneiderlin JWP Mane Tadic Lallana Lambert K.Davis, Shaw, Fonte, S.Davis, Wanyama, Pelle, Rodriguez, Ings, Long Managed by Koeman.
Here's an alternative for best team (most obscure?) Gunn Pied Forren Caulker Fox Taider Juanmi Orsic Mayuka Elia Djuricic
Manager - Koeman. Nobody rocked a blazer and chinos combo like Ron Super Kelv KWP, Fonte, Van Snake, Shaw Romeu, Tadic, Steven Davis Mane, Pelle, Gabbiadini
I never thought we would ever get a worse manager than Pellegrino but with Nathan Jones Saints achieved it.
Manager: Poch (Koeman had more success but Poch definitely the better manager) Forster KWP VVD Toby Bertrand Morgan JWP Tadic Lallana Mane Pelle Subs: K Davis, Shaw, Fonte, Clyne, Wanyama, J Rod, S Davis, Lambert, Ings Very close call between Pelle and Rickie for striker but Pelle and Tadic had such a great understanding so Pelle just edges it.
Pushing it a bit, for me. That conversation in my head would go: “What about Jack Cork?” “No, there’s about five midfielders that would get in ahead of him”.
Still going strong at Burnley. If they really are determined to buy Tella, then we should bring Corky home as part of the deal.
No loan players, that's why Toby is out. Sorry Marv couldn't be bothered with subs. Boruc KWP Fonte Virgil Bertrand Mane Morgan Oriol Lallana Ings Lambert Manager Big Ron............Poch was probably a better manager but wasn't here long enough. No Big Vic, Pelle or Dusan .......................................................................................................................................... The either notorious or useless XI or both. Playing 5 at the back for added uselessness. Gunn.....................could have been Gazzaniga but he didn't let in 9 Lovren Vesty Hoedt..........Lovren didn't actually play badly for us but he was a dick. Vesty was well, Vesty. Wesley was a legend in his own mind. Cuco Clasie Aribo Fox.........Cuco scored one of the best goals ever but the rest of the time was useless. Clasie and Aribo just useless. Danny Fox is a bit unfair but he was just out of his depth in the PL. Carillo Adarma............Needs no explaination really just worse than useless and Carillo was our record signing . Honorable mention for Osvaldo, notorious but was actually a good player. Manager Jones not even going to dignify him with a comment. Quite some team but overall, probably better than this season's.