Our strength is also our weakness. Nigel likes Saints to play attractive football, so seeks to sign those kind of players, although skill doesn't preclude grit. As someone said, it has kept us 1st or 2nd all season, so we'll just have to accept that some times we'll be muscled out of game.
Pretty footie is great, but you need a ball winner. Alan Ball wasn't big and Nobby Stiles was half-blind, but they won World Cup medals along side the elegant Martin Peters and arguably England's greatest ever midfield player Sir Bobby. Their job was to get the ball back if we lost it and give it to one of the players who could pass it 40 yards. Simple. ain't it? I am a big fan of Morgan and Jack Cork but they need the ball winners with them. Chaplow floats my boat on this one.
I pretty much agree with most comments here. I would prefer Chaplow to partner Cork or Schneiderlin in Centre Mid. Schneiderlin and Cork whilst totally different players pretty much do the same passing role so there is no contrast in play. When Chaplow plays on the right, he also sometimes tucks in a little to give us more steel which evidently gave us a stronger spine and meant we conceded fewer goals, whilst also having great attacking threat at the same time. I actually think Chaplow reminds me a little of Stephen Gerrard with his energy, strength in tackle and support to the front men.
I'd prefer Chaplow and Schneiderlin CM. Has Falque look any good when he played? He would be better than De Ridder on the right.
