I don't often post on this site and I am happy to read the opinions of other fellow Saints supporters without commenting. I was just wondering what your opinions are on where we need to improve on our squad if we survive (which is now looking very likely). Do we need a new CB if Forren can't get in the squad and we are playing well? Should we keep hold of the likes of Chaplow, Guly and Fox? Should we be looking to get players in next season who should be guaranteed first team football or should we be getting players just as back up for the first team. I hope we keep the majority of our players as our team spirit seems second to none. Our full back positions seem sorted with Clyne and Shaw and our centre backs now seem settled. There have been a few critics of Hooiveld and Yoshida but do you think we need another centre back even though Forren can't seem to get into the squad. In my personal opinion, I would like another central midfielder to compete with Morgan and Jack even though James Ward-Prowse looks like a good talent. I would also like a top quality central defender, but as our results continue to improve in the premier league do you think we would need defensive reinforcements considering we already have 4 CB's? I would just like other Saints fans opinion on who we should let go this season and who we should keep on
I was thinking about this the other day, theres no area that particularly stands out. I suppose right wing is the weakest area we have but even then Puncheon is decent and Jay does fantastically when he plays there despite being a striker.
I honestly thought lamballana made this thread. Then I saw that the person who made the thread didn't have millions of rep power.
Depends on how high Cortese wants to be come end of next season!!! If he seriously wants to be Top6 next year then we need a massive induction programme of back up players for front to midfield and a new central defense pairing. If top half then a few additions are all that is needed!!! I think we are going to be fainting after the £50m mark is breached personally!!!
New contract for Forecast then? Being serious, I'd agree with that list. If we sign upgrades I'd also listen to offers for Guly, Fonte and Hooiveld.
Anyone that is not being tied down with a long contract we can assume doesn't figure in our future... Jake has pretty much nailed it with the list above. That means that we will be looking for back ups for the fullbacks, one CB, one CM, back up wingers and back up forwards, whether any of our academy products can step up and fill a few slots remains to be seen. I think that the strongest XI and bench is good enough to finish in the top eight next season, but that depends whether they stay injury free...This summer transfer window will be interesting as it will show just how ambitious the club is.
Keep the current lot, bring in 3, attacking midfielder/ winger who can play any where in front of Cork and Morg, someone like Jermain Lens/ Adrian Lopez. A top quality CB and a versatile CM who could offer some defensive cover, a big physical player who offers something a bit different to what we have, maybe someone like Kondogbia? Then get rid of the usual suspects, maybe Guly, who surely can be over taken in the pecking order by JWP. We also have Ryan Seager, Matt Targett, Callum Chambers and Jake Sinclair playing well for youth sides and some are playing for England youth squads who could provide the back up people are suggesting we need.
Personally I would like a new CB, but surely we should get rid of another (assuming Seaborne and Martin get sold) we would still have four. MoPo obviously rates Hooiveld and Yoshida but I don't know what is going on with Forren. He cannot have been signed without the intention of being played in this critical run in but he may have been a panic buy if we assumed we would get Astori and didn't. It would seem harsh to let go of either Yoshida or Hooiveld considering how well they have improved over MoPo and I hope they stay. Both full backs are quality as are the central midfielders. I would consider the attacking front four to be one of the better in the premier league so I would not make another big name signing a top priority. I think the key to improvement is the consistency of the squad so I think that wholesale changes are unnecessary. Just get a few of the younger lads to come in from the U 21's to add cover for us. I think we should make a top quality CB a priority but I would feel sorry for any CB we would have to sell to make way for a new signing (as I think 5 would be too much)
Forren will get on fine here. He joined during the Norwegian off-season and there just hasn't been an opening for him as Yoshida and Hooiveld have been so consistent.
I would love to see us bring in no one and put complete faith in the management and players. Sign Boruc to a 2 year deal and promote some of the youngsters. We have a very good first team comprised mostly of young players so there will be enough natural improvement to see us finish at least top half. If we make some money out of selling Fox, Chaplow, De Ridder, Hammond, and Sharp than perhaps bring in a quality winger apart from that our squad is good enough for a top half finish. As good as that would be if we miss out on europe we would risk our best players leaving. So we really need to push on and secure a top 6 finish at least. For that we need to sign a better centre back, a striker as good as Rickie, 2 backup fullbacks and a quality wide player. I doubt the requisite players for those positions would break 30m so we might see improvement in different positions as well. I hope we get the players in quicker this time round but our team is good enough to beat anyone as it is so not too stressed by the summer signings.
While I agree our first XI is good, an injury crisis, similar to what Newcastle had this season could see us do, well what happened to Newcastle this season! It's a little naive and a few extra players to replace what we sell with the inclusion of more youth players as back up would do just fine. We are also assuming that no 'big teams' are going to come in with offers we simply can't afford to turn down! Or if an AOC situation arises, where the player hears speculation and forces the deal! But then, top 6, are you mad?! A long way to go yet! We will do well to have a season like Swansea, West Brom or Fulham!!
If we bring in 3 players who are better than the current starting XI and stay relatively injury free we should be challenging for top 6. I can't think of too many things that aren't in our favour. In our favour is a very good team, very good manager, great set up and brilliant backing from the don.
Agree with the list of deportees We should only go out and buy a player if he is better than the one we presently have if we are serious in getting into the European places. No "back up" payers, this is where the U21/U18s come in I would go for a goalie (if Borec doesn't sign), a top quality CB, WM, CM and a striker or two
We must keep Foxy and Guly, we will always need someone to take the blame and it deflects the criticism from others, Hoover and Rambo will perform better if we get off of their backs.
We actually have a very young team. I hope all keep their form and perhaps fine tune there evident skills as they get older. Experience has taught however that this does not always happen so there is no doubt we have to have quality back ups now. It is true that competition does keep a player on his toes. Jake's list is not far out although I believe Sharp would do a job for us. In truth though players do not improve with out games under their belt. The one position that has not been seriously mentioned is goalkeeper. If Boruc is of the opinion he is in a position of black mailing us into giving him an exceptionally high wage to get him to stay, his judgement of Cortese is sadly mistaken. Nobody doubts he is a good keeper but is he the best available? It is interesting to note they are beginning to look else where. (No, I do not have concrete evidence only reliable hearsay.) There is no doubt in my mind there will be a lot of movement out with not so much movement in. I think come July/August once again we are going to be surprised as to who goes and who comes in.
Sharp will not be back...a year long loan suggests he was not seen as part of the future and money needed to be saved. I'm a big fan of his and hope all goes well for him...he seemed hurt at what happened so doubt he wants a return.
Agree with most of the above. Would love us to stick with summer transfer policy and sign players in there early 20s who may command a relatively high transfer fee, but low wages. Will bang the Kondogbia drum with you until it becomes a proper rumour. That would be brilliant competition for Cork & Schneiderlin. Another striker and attacking midfielder. Get Boruc signed and I think that would be top 10 without the relegation flirting
Agreed. In the end, Sharp served a purpose, and he was very good at it. But, at the moment, he isn't a Premier League quality striker in my opinion, and if he wants to be, then he needs to have a go at being one with another club. Nott'm Forest, for example. I don't think he'll be back.
