Article: Who is good enough for the Prem? | Football Southampton

If we were to get promoted, who is good enough and where would we need to improve?

Good Enough for Starters: Kelvin Davis, Frazer Richardson, Jose Fonte, Morgan Schneiderlin, Rickie Lambert, Jack Cork, Billy Sharp, Tadanari Lee, Adam Lallana, Jos Hooiveld, Jason Puncheon

Good Backup: Dan Harding, Guly do Prado, Dean Hammond, Aaron Martin, Richard Chaplow, Ben Reeves, Steve De Ridder, Danny Fox

Won't be Good Enough or will go in the summer: Danny Butterfield, Radhi Jaidi, Lee Barnard (too far down the pecking order unfortunately), Bart Bialkowski, David Connolly, Lee Holmes, Dan Seaborne, Ryan Dickson, Tommy Forecast, Ryan Doble, Johnathon Forte, Harlee Dean

Youngsters with potential to be good enough: James Ward-Prowse, Luke Shaw, Jack Stephens, Sam Hoskins, Jordan Turnbull, Calum Chambers, Jake Sinclair

Edit: Updated List on Page 3

 

How can you say Fox isn't good enough, Yet richardson is?

 

Cos I think Richardson is a better all round player than Fox

 

unfortunately I'm not sure Kelvin would be good enough. Fox is definitely good enough to be a regular starter. Other than that I agree with the rest.

 

Kelvin Davis? Oh dear don't get me wrong, he's been a great servant to the club and is a great shot stopper but he ain't Good enough for the prem.

 

Davis no, Richardson maybe. Would even say Fonte is a maybe, his form hasn't been good this year. Yes he has a injury but he hasn't proved himself this season yet that is.

 

The obvious Premier League class players are probably - Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox, Schneiderlin, Cork, Lallana, Puncheon and Lambert.
I'm sure most players like Hammond and Richardson will do a decent job due to their great determination. I wouldn't rule out Barnard just yet either, I think he's a quality player but just needs a run of games.

 

Fonte, Hooiveld, Lallana, Cork, Lambert and Sharp are definites for me

Fox, Richardson, Hammond, Puncheon, Schneiderlin, Lee and Guly I think can all do a good job too

 

Don't agree with a lot of this but puncheon really?! He's had two pops the first he played every now and then for a side that got relagated, and he couldn't even get into a dreadful qpr side.

 

Hammond is good enough. Good leader. He goes unnoticed but is still one of our hardest workers at the club.

Based on Fonte's performance last night I would say no.

 

Ah ha! Nice to meet someone else who respects him, seem to be very few saints fans who believe in him these days

 

Fonte has been struggling with injuries almost since the beginning of the season. Definitely Prem quality if he got a run in the team without injuries.

 

there are a few of us!

As for Prem ability. I really wouldn't like to guess. Hopefully we'll get to see in about 7 months time. If you pushed me I'd say Lambert and Lallana can do a job for us and the rest would be maybe's. A have a feeling Morgan may come through and shine in that league, but it is so difficult to say.

 

My views are based on having 2 decent players in each position:-

New 1st choice (poss Lee Camp) plus keep Kelv as back up (Sell Bart)

Right Back - Fraser, plus buy Nathan Clyne (let Butterfield go)
Centre Back - Jose, Jos, Martin plus a new buy
Left Back - Danny & Dan (stay as it is)

Right Midfield - Jason & Chaplow (De Ridder not sure?)
Centre Midfield - Cork, Morgan, Hammond plus new buy (maybe Trotter from Millwall after last night!)
Left Midfield - Lallana plus buy Kris Commons from Celtic

Strikers - Lambert, Sharp, Lee plus buy Hooper from Celtic (No Guly, Barnard or Connolly for me in the Prem)

 

Need to buy 4 or 5 new players if we go up.

 

Bart and Kelvin will be gone if we go up.

 

No they won't.

 

Oh yes they will

 

I would expect Kelvin to stick around as a backup if we go up. Bart needs a full season or two playing every night at a lower level...he could have a good career ahead of him, but it'll probably be with another team.


There's really no one beyond Lallana who I'd be convinced could start and play well at that level...not that we need 10 more starting-quality players, but the people who've performed well in the Championship might not be the ones who are at their best in the Prem. Cork and Schneiderlin are big question marks in that regard; both could actually benefit from the fact that players are generally afforded more time on the ball and the pitches are immaculate year-round, but they could also be exposed a bit in defense. Conversely, a player like Chaplow looks good in the tackle-friendly Championship, but could be a card machine at the next level.

Cork, Schneiderlin, Lambert, Lee, Sharp, Hooiveld, Fonte, Fox and Puncheon are the group that I'd expect to find 4-5 capable starters from, but which ones it'd be I'm not sure.

 

I have no doubt that Schneiderlin could compete in the prem,Cork could perform aswell.