Saints Squad - 2015-16

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- Doing The Lambert Walk

- Doing The Lambert Walk

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2011
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GK: Maarten Stekelenburg, Fraser Forster, Kelvin Davis, Paulo Gazzaniga.

DEF: Cédric Soares, Cuco Martina, José Fonte, Virgil van Dijk, Maya Yoshida, Steven Caulker, Florin Gardoș, Matt Targett, Ryan Bertrand.

MID: Jordy Clasie, Oriol Romeu, Victor Wanyama, Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse, Harrison Reed, Gastón Ramírez.

ATT: Graziano Pellè, Jay Rodriguez, Sadio Mané, Dušan Tadić, Shane Long, Juanmi.



Thoughts...?

My only real concern is if Maarten gets injured, or if Cédric/Ryan are out for any real period of time.


DTLW
 
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In terms of depth, fullback/keeper are definitely the areas where we'll be cringing every time they take a knock. A creative attacking player in the center of the park though is what I think we'll miss the most...someone that would allow Clasie to operate from the deeper positions he seems to prefer, and allow Tadic/Mane to gallivant about in wide areas.
 
- Doing The Lambert Walk said:
GK: Maarten Stekelenburg, Fraser Forster, Kelvin Davis, Paulo Gazzaniga.

DEF: Cédric Soares, Cuco Martina, José Fonte, Virgil van Dijk, Maya Yoshida, Steven Caulker, Florin Gardoș, Matt Targett, Ryan Bertrand.

MID: Jordy Clasie, Oriol Romeu, Victor Wanyama, Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse, Harrison Reed, Gastón Ramírez.

ATT: Graziano Pellè, Jay Rodriguez, Sadio Mané, Dušan Tadić, Shane Long, Juanmi.



Thoughts...?

My only real concern is if Maarten gets injured, or if Cédric/Ryan are out for any real period of time.


DTLW
Click to expand...

Good, deep squad; if Victor comes back in the right frame of mind we'll be on for a good season with that lot.

I genuinely didn't have a problem with Gazza in goal at the end of last season. He made one duff kick that led indirectly to a goal against (I think) Leicester but that was it. He definitely had his confidence back to a large degree. I'd obviously prefer if he didn't have to play as Stek looks perfectly solid but it wouldn't deeply worry me.

Vin
 
I'm pretty happy. As said GK is a worry if Steks gets injured, but what can we do when our main keeper is injured....very hard to get a good keeper to join a mid-table club when they may not get much game time. Spare top GKs are only willing to sit on the bench at the Chelseas of this world. The players that left are very good and you can't replace them exactly....have to sign good players and adjust your style to suit them to a certain extent.
 
Onionman said:
Good, deep squad; if Victor comes back in the right frame of mind we'll be on for a good season with that lot.

I genuinely didn't have a problem with Gazza in goal at the end of last season. He made one duff kick that led indirectly to a goal against (I think) Leicester but that was it. He definitely had his confidence back to a large degree. I'd obviously prefer if he didn't have to play as Stek looks perfectly solid but it wouldn't deeply worry me.

Vin
Click to expand...

I'd agree with that, but why isn't he on the bench?

Looks stronger than last season in general.
If VVD is as good as Toby, Soares is as good as Nat and a combination of Central midfielders can replace Morg, then it must be stronger.
More options for Ron, that should keep him busy.

Other observations:
DTLW's use of accents, cedillas and howsyourfathers is impeccable, but then he is a journo
Schad, I like the idea of Sadio & Dusan gallivanting, I hope Ron picks this up in Training, this could be our new secret weapon <whistle>
 
Strongest team.
Stek;
Cédric Fonte V.Dijk Bertrand;
Romeu Wanyama;
Mane Clasie Tadic;
Pelle

B team
Gazza;
Martina Caulker Yoshida Targett;
JWP Reed;
Juanmi Davis Rodriguez;
Long.

That is pretty decent depth tbh. Looking forward to a good season ahead.
 
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SaintsFan86 said:
Strongest team.
Stek;
Cédric Fonte V.Dijk Bertrand;
Romeu Wanyama;
Mane Clasie Tadic;
Pelle

B team
Gazza;
Martina Caulker Yoshida Targett;
JWP Reed;
Juanmi Davis Rodriguez;
Long.

That is pretty decent depth tbh. Looking forward to a good season ahead.
Click to expand...

But its Kelv always on the bench.
Sorry I'm getting repetitive but anyone know why it isn't Gazza on the bench?
 
- Doing The Lambert Walk said:
GK: Maarten Stekelenburg, Fraser Forster, Kelvin Davis, Paulo Gazzaniga.

(out: no-one) Net gain = one

DEF: Cédric Soares, Cuco Martina, José Fonte, Virgil van Dijk, Maya Yoshida, Steven Caulker, Florin Gardoș, Matt Targett, Ryan Bertrand.

(out: Toby Aldewiereld, Nathaniel Clyne) Net gain = + two

MID: Jordy Clasie, Oriol Romeu, Victor Wanyama, Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse, Harrison Reed, Gastón Ramírez.

(out: Morgan Schneiderlin) Net Gain = + two

ATT: Graziano Pellè, Jay Rodriguez, Sadio Mané, Dušan Tadić, Shane Long, Juanmi.

(out: No-one) Net Gain = + two


Thoughts...?

My only real concern is if Maarten gets injured, or if Cédric/Ryan are out for any real period of time.


DTLW
Click to expand...

That looks good for me as overall net gain is + six players. I've included Jayrod and Gaston as we didn't have them last time and I didn't include Dani exiting because we didn't have him either or bother we Mayuka. We wanted the squad deeper and it is . The only questions for me are will VvD fill Toby's boots and can we make up with midfield combinations to not miss Morgan too much (don't think anyone will fill his boots).

The only other miss will be Forster depending on how long he is out.

Overall I would say that the Board have done a good job, despite the little hint of a meltdown that came along. We don't know how good the new boys will work out, but then who does (ask Liverpool, Spurs, Chelsea and Man Utd). If we did the same next season, then the squad would grow again and hopefully strengthen.

Well done Les.
 
shoot_spiderman said:
But its Kelv always on the bench.
Sorry I'm getting repetitive but anyone know why it isn't Gazza on the bench?
Click to expand...

Not sure. Maybe because if needed to come on as a sub, Kelvin would be calmer. That is a pretty daunting situation. If Stekkers was unavailable, I wonder if Gazza would start.
 
With Clasie injured I don't think we will send Reed out on loan, but it's likely to be another season without much football.

The depth of the squad has definitely improved. Last season we had about 15-16 recognised first team squad players and now it's about 22 and two players in each position.
The GAP between first choice and second choice is greater in some areas of the pitch but that's true of nearly every team.

As for what this squad can achieve? I think top 10 is certainly possible and top 7 is far from out the question with a fair wind
 
I think he was on the bench for the first couple of games Definitely against Everton.

EDIT: And Newcastle

Vin
 
Now we are out of Europe, that's a more than capable squad. Some real quality in there and no doubt opportunity for academy players to make cameos.

Really happy, at least for the next 11 days until we don't beat west brom then I will go into meltdown!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Too early to say really. There's no question the quantity of players has increased and it seems our second XI this season will be stronger than last season's. The question we can't really answer yet is where we stand in terms of first team quality. Romeu looks a good addition and I don't think Cedric is quite at Clyne's level but I don't think anyone can really offer any opinion on Clasie or VVD yet. Junami is another minor mystery.
 
I would have liked a creative/attacking midfielder to be added to that list, however it could be Juanmi if he lives up to potential. However he has not had much of a sniff so far and been on the bench for every game.

Worries are if Cedric gets injured - I think Targett is starting to perform better now and could easily fill in for Bertrand without too much worry - and if Pelle gets injured or loses form. Last season I think we really suffered during Pelle's goal drought and could have finished even higher than we did if we'd had bought in January. Hopefully Jay Rod can play a part.
 
It is an average to good squad, but you do wonder where the goals will come from in midfield elsewise we are probably relying on Pelle, Rodriguez and Mane, possibly Tadic.

Ramirez was not loaned out then?
 
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