Recruitment policy

[pass the football]

I think he will be ok as back up but that's about it, We need a better defensive partner for Fonte. If we can bring in two Cb's it would bring in much more competition for places. As Fonte and Yoshida have no one to contend with.

Bit harsh on Hooiveld. He had a bad few games but he's still a useful player.

Jury's still out on Yoshida for me.

 

[I Sorry I Ruined The Party]

Not really important anymore whether Fonte, Yoshida, or Hooieveld are "Premier League players" or who needs to be replaced. At this point in the season, it no longer matters. We have who we have and our defense is what it is. You could have four individual marginal premier league level players in defense, but as a unit add up to a less than premier league level defense.

Just make whatever the best move is to improve the weaker areas of the team. For Saints, I think that definitely means bringing in a CB. But find the best CB possible and worry about who gets replaced later. It might be that whoever we get is left-footed or right-footed or plays a certain way and that means that Hooiveld is a better pairing than Fonte. Or maybe Yoshida will improve. We just know we need some more depth and competition for places and perhaps some additional improvement.

 

[Beef]

Bit harsh on Hooiveld. He had a bad few games but he's still a useful player.

Jury's still out on Yoshida for me.

Jos is to slow in reaction time, not saying he is thick but his brain isn't fast enough for the Prem. Agree about Yoshida but from what I have seen is he panics far too much.

 

[Qwerty]

Not really important anymore whether Fonte, Yoshida, or Hooieveld are "Premier League players" or who needs to be replaced. At this point in the season, it no longer matters. We have who we have and our defense is what it is. You could have four individual marginal premier league level players in defense, but as a unit add up to a less than premier league level defense.

Just make whatever the best move is to improve the weaker areas of the team. For Saints, I think that definitely means bringing in a CB. But find the best CB possible and worry about who gets replaced later. It might be that whoever we get is left-footed or right-footed or plays a certain way and that means that Hooiveld is a better pairing than Fonte. Or maybe Yoshida will improve. We just know we need some more depth and competition for places and perhaps some additional improvement.

Good point there and Nigel really does do this "team" stuff well. I like Yoshida and Fonte, and Hooiveld is a useful squad player, but we have three centre backs and we need four. No doubt Nige has a list of targets in his office somewhere.