A lot of it will depend on who we are playing, Wanyama will certainly play a lot of games this season, but against certain teams he will probably be on the bench as we seemed a lot more fluid without him in the side. It certainly feels good to have options to alter the side for different occasions without weakening the side, and to have a plan B,C and D in the locker instead of Pochettinos "if plan A dont work we are f*****", like the Spuds showed on Sunday. Forster Clyne, Toby, Fonte, Bertrand Schneiderlin, Wanyama Davis Tadic, J Rod Pelle Boruc Yoshida or Gardos Targett Cork Ward Prowse Long Mane Doesnt leave a lot of room for the youngster like Targett, Reed, Gallagher, but they will get opportunities during the season to impress due to injuries/suspensions, African nations etc. A bit sad we have let Gaston go out on loan, but Koeman obviously rates Mane more, so hopefully he can shine, and become a regular
Who would win? Boruc Clyne Fonte Yoshida Targett Cork Schneiderlin Reed Rodriguez Gallagher Tadic Forster McCarthy Alder Gardos Bertrand Wanyama Davis JWP Mane Pelle Long
Looking at those two teams I realised for the first time in years I'm not sure what would be my first choice , that in its self tells me we are by far a stronger squad than last year and I think could possible be a better first eleven too , time will tell but happy days ahead me thinks , plus arrived in Mauritius last night for hols and woke up to transfer news , what a great start for this break
I agree, definitely a much better squad, not so sure on the better starting 11. Our main thing going for us last season was it was a group of players who had played together for a long time, the main nucleus, this has changed and the heart has gone, however that is where Morgan is so vital. Morgan is the glue in there more so than ever now, along with Fonte As people say though, its never an 11 that are successful, its the squad, some would argue having a weaker 11 but better squad is a better place to be, as we will need to use everyone at some stage anyway, and pick up more points in those games when the "first choice 11" aren't always available. I am just pinching myself at the amount of quality we have brought in, I think getting Tadic and Fraser in was huge, it got the ball rolling. Others then followed. COYR
Well, to quote a happy clapper I met once, a man with a really big grin from a bespectacled face and a "how to have a positive influence on people" book under his arm.... IT IS NOT ABOUT THE ELEVEN I am surprised that so many are trying to pick a team. As a few have pointed out, we now have the opportunity to mix it up depending on how we are playing, who is in form, what formation suits us best against the next opposition and countless other formulae that Ron may use. It's a good position for us to be in and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.
I think this is the first time as a saints fan that I am struggling to pick my favourite 11 and we do have some genuine strength in depth. Gardos is supposed to be excellent, alderwiereld is also very good and fonte has barely put a foot wrong. Our first choice full backs are well suited to 532, but that would meaning dropping jwp, Steven Davis, cork or similar, Jrod is yet to come back and I am really not too sure how we will set up. Maybe Ron will do the unthinkable and pick a squad for specific opponents!
I did post a month ago that just maybe RK was happier having money to spend on players he wanted rather than inherit someone else's team ala moyes and United judging by squad now plus never saw him down from the word go I think maybe he's a happy bunny and let's face it he could hardly have come in and made sweeping changes
I think that's exactly what he'll do. For games against the top teams 5-3-2 will work an awful lot better for us with Clyne and Bertrand on the wings than it does for Man U, even with Blind on one side. At the back we could play Vic between two of Fonte, Gardos and Alderweireld, or play all 3 CB's. For home games against weaker opposition we can play our normal 4-2-3-1 without the ball and 4-3-3 in possession. The tactics will change as the game progresses helped by having a greater degree of options on the bench than we've had for a long time.
I think with the strength in depth that this squad possess, we will have real competition on the training paddock. The squad doesn't have a natural eleven (unlike last season) which makes for everyone feeling they have a shot at the first team if they work hard to deserve it. RK seems the type of coach that will not fall into the trap of having "favourites", and will develop a culture of continuous improvement on and off the pitch. This is going to be a great season to watch the Saints grow and grow.
A lot of the talk when Koeman was appointed was how we would sign a few Dutch players, and we have been linked with at least 5 or 6. Now the only Dutchman on the books has been shipped out on loan. Strange how things turn out.
433 with Vic playing deep behind a more attacking Morgan and Tadic. Forster Clyne Toby Fonte Bertrand Wanyama Schneiderlin Tadic Long Pelle Mane
Alderweireld gave the impression he would be playing (part of the reason he has come here) Fonte is captain and has had a good start to the season so I would expect him to still be in the side. Tough on Yoshida and Tricky to see when Gardos will now get an opportunity without an injury or suspension. I don't think our squad has more depth in terms of numbers, but the squad seems more varied and overall better quality. I think Midfield and how that balances with attack is where the options are exciting. We played 4-1-4-1 at Liverpool as Koeman recognised that our player strengths at that time were in midfield. With the arrival of Long & Mane we have better options up top and a bit more pace. I believe with this squad you can select almost any formation and have the right type of player in the right position(even three at the back is viable). The big criticism of Pochettino was no plan b. If we're to improve our league position we need alternative plans and for the squad to be capable of executing them. I'm quietly confident Koeman has the tools to do this.
Some have stated they don't think the squad as a whole is as good as the team we finished with in May. They well may be right but would have to agree we do have better quality of depth surely. Doesn't it depend though on how the new guys hit the ground? Tadic is in most fans view probably the best to show his worth up to now. Where as Pelle has made a slower start but may be getting there. Long to be fair hasn't had too much game time so may be too early to judge. Taider clearly didn't make the grade. The new left back is another that is showing his metal early so over all to date not too bad. All we need now I'm guessing is for one or both of the new guys to hit the ground running and for the continued progress of the other newbies, then we (in my view) certainly will not be far off last years quality. I would expect actually to be better off quality wise by about the end of October/November when all the newbies should have bedded in. I have that feeling in my water again.......we just may be pleasantly surprised at our standing within the league come the end of the season. Then of course the challenge will be how many of our new stars will we be able to hang on to? So lets just enjoy our next few months............
Probably slightly more accurate to say "players from Dutch football" and in this case, we have signed three (if you include Toby as being from Dutch football)
In fact Toby said that one of the draws for him was that Southampton played in the Dutch way under Koeman.
The squad has been announced how many do you know? SAINTS SQUAD LIST Alderweireld, Toby Albertine *Bertrand, Ryan Boruc, Artur *Clyne, Nathaniel Edwin *Cork, Jack Frank Porteous *Davis, Kelvin Geoffery *Davis, Steven Fonte, Jose Miguel *Forster, Fraser Gerard Gardos, Florin Gazzaniga, Paulo Dino *Long, Shane Patrick Mane, Sadio Mayuka, Emmanuel Pelle, Graziano *Rodriguez, Jay Enriqus *Schneiderlin, Morgan Tadic, Dusan Wanyama, Victor Yoshida, Maya *denotes home grown Under-21 players (contract and scholars) Bakary, Mohamed Richard Barnes, Marcus Thomas Britt, William David Clinton, Kyle Cook, Oliver David Paul Cropper, Cody Joseph Deasy, Colm Debayo, Joshua Akinkunmi Demkiv, Daniel Steven Flannigan, Jake Gallagher, Samuel James Gape, Dominic Edward Hallett, Jake Hesketh, Jake Alexander Irvine, Mark Joshua Isgrove, Lloyd Jeffrey Isted, Harvey James Duke Johns, Christopher Patrick Adam Jones, Alfie Kayembe, Carel Lea, Joseph William Little, Armani Mason, Niall Aadya McCarthy, Jason Sean McQueen, Samuel James Mells, George John Mugabi, Bevis Kristofer Kizito Olomola, Olufela Reed, Harrison James Regis, Christopher Rowe, Omar Reiss Seager, Ryan Paul Sims, Joshua Samuel Sinclair, Jake Tony Stephens, Jack Targett, Matthew Robert Turnbull, Jordan Robert Ward-Prowse, James Michael Edward Wilkin, Stuart John Willard, Harley Bryn Wood, William Nicholas http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/11452001.Saints_submit_squad_list/?ref=mac
I would say our first 11 and our squad in general is stronger than last season. Like for like we seem to have replaced outgoing players with players of equal or better ability. I would say Shaw is a better defender but Berty is more dangerous in the final third.
