I want to vote more than once. New number 1, CB partner for Fonte, Prominent RB, CM partner for Spiderman who can go forward and get goals and isn't as slow as Crab-Hammond, One more goalscorer.
I should have put the multiple answers on but it can be seen as the primary place we need to improve.
Picking just one position is very, very difficult. But ultimately, we are where we are because we have converted enough of our chances...
He may be our best player but we cant rely on an injured player (Holmes) as back up. Even though he is quality. Lallana does need competition to push him to the limit.
but i think we should strengthen other areas first, possibly another defender as jaidi is getting a bit old these days, and also a quality partner for spider in cm
The problem is that you don't really know till you get injuries. I want a whole second team as good as the first, but how to keep them happy. We definately need creative players, so if funds are limited, it should be spent midfield. 0r a creative left back, a la Bale.
We definitely need to strengthen wide mid field as back ups to Lallana and Chamberlain Not sure whether Forte and N'guessin are good enough as it is early days. Stephens looks OK in mid field. So may be we have the main people in place. We need another man made mountain to replace Jaidi and unfortunately I think this will be Connolly's last season too.
It is interesting with so much Davis slagging that goes on, that no-one has (yet) voted for a new goalkeeper. Is Davis maybe not as bad as people make out, or are people quite content to just have Bart take over the gloves?
That to be honest is a hard one Brendy......We haven't seen much of Bart at all since last season. Trouble is we have to accept that he is in the same sort of form he was then. Davis has got his critics and quite rightly so in my book. However in any one season a goalkeeper will make errors that will cost you a game. That Same goalkeeper will make you/save you points in other games. On balance I would say he is on the better side, that despite some of the bad games and his vulnerability to his near post. He will need to be on top of his game today though.
Kelvin does leave me cold with fear at times and then he produces a moment of pure class. For me he is too inconsistent and needs to be moved aside. Maybe he could be kept on as a coach spare keeper though I wouldn't mind if we just let him go. I think we will have Aaron Martin pushing for a place next season as will two or three other of our youngsters. I would like to think that Radhi could get another season as a semi regular first teamer. He can more than cope with some of the stronger more physical players that we shall meet. Would be good to know that the loss of Fonte through injury could also be covered as Aaron is a right footed player in preference. Centre midfield is still a position where we need someone with a burst of pace and good tackling capability. Add to that passing over short and long distances with the foresight to see a through ball for a striker to run onto a ball to blast home and I would be ecstatic. Oscar Gobern may be able to improve enough to claim a place but to date he hasn't been able to stake one.
Have to disagree think Kelvin is good to keep for the next season. Great keeper. Has made mistakes but hasn't every player. Yeah think you are right Jaidi looks like he does have another season in him as a semi first teamer. Have a feeling Seaborne will be the one playing alongside Fonte next season not martin, with a very fit Jaidi doing his part as the man mountain like he has this year. Seaborne is being consistently chosen & brought on in games Jaidi is struggling with at the moment or defensive strength at LB. Being groomed for next season. Rovers the example last week. He has a lot to offer, he is naturally left footed, can cover LB & LCB. He gives options of pushing Jaidi across to cover Fonte, should he become injured as Jaidi is naturally right footed. Seaborne & Jaidi offer different strengths & can be mixed & matched perfectly to compliment Fonte. This seems Adkins preferred options as Martin not been on the bench lately. Unless he is injured ? but not seen anything much of him this season. Would of thought if he was going to be in the frame he would be featuring at least on the bench. With Jaidi showing his form as either LCB or RCB, Fonte RCB & Seaborne LCB or LB we have a good variety of experience & quality to fill these positions. Feel sorry for Martin as he is getting older & not an academy player. Midfield we will always be looking for more. Another lallana, Chambo, or all our injured players fit please. I think we are well set for next year as the team is continually proving it's not just about the 11 its about the strength & depth coming off the bench. Which we are looking pretty well set up. Additions will always be welcome but they have to be better or at least as good as what we have. Looks promising.
If we go up then I would like Jaidi to remain. His experience amongst the squad and around the trainint ground could be vital, and if anything were to happen to our first choice defenders, then he would be around to deputise. However if we remain in this league, then I would (with sadness) like us to let him go. I think keeping him would be a waste of an opportunity to give some proper experience to Seaborne and Martin.
He has been great again this season hasn't he. Both him & Seaborne have battled for the shirt both doing well when they have covered for each other. Jaidi starting the season when Seaborne was injured, then keeping his place from performing well. Then Seaborne getting back in the team & keeping his place. Then Jaidi stepping up again after Seaborne's groin or ankle strain but this time keeping his place & the team going on a great run. Great to see we have 2 really good CB's that can play on the left side. One naturally left footed player with pace & age on his side & one older solid experienced defender who is a man mountain. Best header of the ball in the league. Must be nice for Adkins to have a choice with 2 experienced CB's battling for the shirt both doing well when called upon. Really hopeful we do go up & hope we keep Jaidi as I feel he still has a lot to offer the team. Think this makes Martin cover for Fonte rather than a partner CB. Jaidi also looks such a great character, always playing up to the camera when he has the chance. Looks like a well seasoned pro to have around the place. Can't see him going anywhere. Hope not anyway he has so much to offer the club.
I have to agree with you mate. I think Jaidi should stay & will feature again as a solid CB for next season. I like Seaborne as well as a different option to the big man. I think if Jaidi hadn't of turned into Superman again Seaborne would of featured alot more. Isn't it great to have 2 good CB's battling every week for the shirt knowing if you take your foot off the gas the other will be right back in again. Good healthy competition.
If we get promoted then I think we will need to make at least 5 top signings. When you reach the Championship you have to effectively start to build a Premiership quality squad. It would be possible for us to push for promotion with the squad that we have, as Norwich, Leeds and Millwall have shown this season. The problem that any of those teams will find, if they do go up is that because of the gap in class between the Championship and the Premier league, I would say around 75% of there respective squads will not be good enough. Leaving them with a huge task to just be competitive or a massive overhaul of there squads, with limited time them to gel. If we could bring in 5 premiership quality signings for next season (if money is available) and gradually get them blended into what is already a very good side. If we do manage to get ourselves promoted (and that is a big ask) we will be in a strong posistion in terms of consolodation in the Premiership. We would only need to maybe bring in an additional 4 or 5 signings, of an improved quality rather than needing an entire new side. Out of our current squad I don't feel there are to many who would be 1st team players in the Premiership if we were to get there. Lallana, Chamberlain, Fonte, Lambert and Possibley Schneiderlin.
Great idea but surely money is the factor. On paper sounds great but in theory in today's hard times, fact is it is too much to ask. Look at the price the teams are asking for proven league 1 or championship players in the last transfer window and that was in what people were saying was a surpressed market.. Our own chambo an example. We have the great bones of a great team with a mixture of older experienced heads with youngsters proving there worth. The age of alot of our players are mid 20's & with games & team gelling we are improving all the time. Agree add a mix of a few great signings & we will be flying. The old saying" Fail to prepare is a sure way of preparing to fail" is an old saying my boss used to say to me & he was always proved right. Much to my disgust. Agree fully with you the more prep we do for next season the least of a jump the prem will be. There is also the small fact that we need to get in the champ first.
