Do things REALLY need to change very much?

[Buzzell]

Strengthen in the key areas that need strengthening with good quality, keep Morgan as captain, get rid of the dead wood and hopefully have a successful pre-season. No need to start making wholesale changes and disturbing the squad too much.

[Manwell Pablo]

You can write out all the 5 paragraph posts and argue to your blue in the face about what needs/will be done in the summer in preparation for next season, whilst it may be fun to do so there is little point. It's been made very clear what's going to happen, we're going to make a few additions and continue to evolve the side and those additions wont be big names. There will probably be one or two additions in every area of the pitch. The only big area that needs improving is at left back, and possibly the addition of decent goal scorer given that hopefully GTF will follow Waghorn out the door and Phillips will take a coaching role.

[ceredigion]

Any of our players over the age of 26 are probably not good enough to cut it it the Premier League, because if they were, they'd be there already.

 

Harsh but true I think. On the other hand, they have got us up there after a very long wait so perhaps they should be given a chance to prove the doubters wrong. And you definitely can't buy team spirit, which we seem to have right now.

 

If the ''war chest'' is to be spent, it probably won't be until the January window and will depend on where we are in the league.

[Kitchandro]

I can't be arsed to read the whole thread but I agree with Col in the OP.

 

I think the majority of our starting 11 this season should and will be regular starters next season.

 

People need to stop underestimating us, and overestimating some of the sides in the Premiership, a lot of whom are staying in the league purely because they're not as bad as 3 other teams. We're a good side and I'm convinced that with 3 or 4 summer signings we'll have a squad that will compete well in the top flight.

[Witch]

Any of our players over the age of 26 are probably not good enough to cut it it the Premier League, because if they were, they'd be there already.

 

 

 

What a monumental pile of crap. 

Really... I tried to find some better response, but this sentence is so massively stupid that I don't even know what else I could say.

[HoustonFox]

I'd be interested to read the same thread in the Southampton forum at this time in 2012...

A lot of their real promotion squad are the performers and the signings (especially Osvaldo) are not starting. This is with a different manager and really goes to show how far teamwork and bonding gets you.

James and DD are well on a par with Jack Cork, Davis and Ward-Prowse. Lallana is a different class though but came from Bournemouth and grew with the Saints. Knocky needs to refocus a bit and Mahrez is pretty much there. Lloydy is a good impact sub for his pace. His namesake Nathan was similar in the Championship I seem to remember. Dribbled ans almost ran faster than the ball. Lloyd has improved a lot this season and it's only because Mahrez has been SO GOOD that his opportunities have been limited.

Kasper = Boruc and better than Gazzaniga

For Schlupp read Shaw. Yes, Shaw is good but I think he gets extra credit for being English. He's still rough and ready and has grown I to the role. I can see Jeff doing the same given the opportunity.

CBs, I would play Wes for sure, he's been slightly off the boil (compared to the immense season he had last year) but Was is getting dodgier at the moment. Liam back to fitness could be another Curtis Davies in a year or two. Maybe not Prem ready but definitely soon.

Nuge on form and with confidence is a great player and his hustle and main man role is paying dividends. It's no coincidence this is is his best season ever. Vardy and Wood (in that order) will contribute. A fourth striker is needed. Not sure what style yet though.

We have a solid spine/nucleus and people shouldn't underestimate how much that counts. I'd take 17th or above right now with the chance for the youngsters to improve another year (like this year from last) and then start raising expectations.

As for signings, don't play FM/FIFA enough to name random people!

[Stadt]

With the current squad we'd probably go down, we would be competitive though so based on that we would need 3/4 players that'll improve the side.

Next year we need to be better than 3 teams, realistically can we be better than Burnley, the Play Offs Winner and West Brom? Definitely

We have the nucleus if a premiership side, 3/4 first team players and 3/4 back up players that are currently better than what we have in our weaker positions will keep us up.

It's really that simple.

[shailen]

No

 

We have proved this season that with consistency in terms of hardly any transfer activity, that we have functioned better as a team and I believe we already have the quality for a mid table finish next season if we strengthen in 1/2 areas. In fact going up and buying a whole new squad hardly ever works, look at QPR and Cardiff. We have got some real quality in this team and with a few additions could become a bit of a force in the premier league. The way we dominated the league this season, reminds me a bit of Newcastle few years back and they stayed up comfortably in the last few seasons. Really have the same ambitions for us. Exciting times!

[leicesterisme]

Laughable. We would go down with a record low points with our current squad

Your a proper Premier League fan boy!

The standard of the bottom half of the Premier League is mostly shit, I genuinley believe we would just about stay up with the squad we have now with no new additions.

[Fox Ulike]

Your a proper Premier League fan boy!

The standard of the bottom half of the Premier League is mostly shit, I genuinley believe we would just about stay up with the squad we have now with no new additions.

I agree.

I think we should buy a centre half and a striker in the Summer, but for anything else wait until January to see exactly where we need strengthening.

[Ric Flair]

One thing is for sure, if we don't get better at defending and attacking set pieces and crosses in to the box then we will make life very difficult for ourselves next season. It's been an appalling problem of ours ever since Pearson returned, which is very surprising given he was a defender himself. We won't have the luxury of being able to steam roll teams like we have this season and if we're gifting teams a goal a game through a harmless set piece then the danger of their quality also ripping us apart from open play will really put pressure on our team. I am sure Nigel will be looking at this though, even if when questioned recently about our inability to defend set pieces he was dismissive of it being a problem.

[Babylon]

I agree.

I think we should buy a centre half and a striker in the Summer, but for anything else wait until January to see exactly where we need strengthening.

We can already see where we need strengthening more than just a CB and a Striker.

 

Midfield is short in quality CM's after James and Drinkwater.

We only have three wingers, one is very slow, the other very quick but getting old and has nothing but pace.

If we are playing with a withdrawn striker, we only have Nuge and GTF to play that role (presuming a wide man isn't given the chance).

Left back is a massive glaring problem.

[Fox Ulike]

We can already see where we need strengthening more than just a CB and a Striker.

 

Midfield is short in quality CM's after James and Drinkwater.

We only have three wingers, one is very slow, the other very quick but getting old and has nothing but pace.

If we are playing with a withdrawn striker, we only have Nuge and GTF to play that role (presuming a wide man isn't given the chance).

Left back is a massive glaring problem.

CM is our strongest area why would we need another? King is good enough as back up to James/drinky. Knockaert can play there too (as probably can Mahrez). Nugent has also been playing effectively as an attacking midfielder for much of the season... That's 6 players for 2 or 3 positions. Plus a new striker who ideally can play the withdrawn striker/attackingmidfielder role.

Left back we have a quality player in Schlupp and decent back up in Konch. Why would we sign someone else at left back just to watch Schlupp then leave due to lack of game time?

Winger ok you might be right. Another might be needed. But remember Shlupp can play winger too. So that's 4 players for 2 positions if you include Dyer.

It's quality not quantity we should be aiming for with new signings.

[Big_Nige]

I think the answer is somewhere between yes and no. Let’s not forget that Pearson has been building a squad to take into the premiership, not a team to get us out of the championship. We need strengthening in key area's to compliment what we already have. Keep the promotion winning squad together, and cast off the dead wood who haven't featured.

 

The squad we have excites me, I'm really looking forward to seeing Mahrez, Drinky, Vardy etc. up against the 'big boys' of the premiership. In my eyes our players are good enough, but I watch Leicester City a heck of a lot more than Norwich, West Brom and Villa.

[Babylon]

CM is our strongest area why would we need another? King is good enough as back up to James/drinky. Knockaert can play there too (as probably can Mahrez). Nugent has also been playing effectively as an attacking midfielder for much of the season... That's 6 players for 2 or 3 positions. Plus a new striker who ideally can play the withdrawn striker/attackingmidfielder role.

 

Sorry, are you actually saying three players never to have even played in central midfield for us are options to play in central midfield. King has barely been good enough for this league let alone the league above. I would not want him or Hammond to be 3rd choice in the premier league.

 

 

Left back we have a quality player in Schlupp and decent back up in Konch. Why would we sign someone else at left back just to watch Schlupp then leave due to lack of game time?

Quality? He has done alright, but is very short of experience in that position and gets caught out a lot even in this division. If you want to be going into the premier league with a striker as first choice left back then we could be in trouble.

 

 

Winger ok you might be right. Another might be needed. But remember Shlupp can play winger too. So that's 4 players for 2 positions if you include Dyer.

You say it's quality and not quantity and then seem happy to stick with players playing in unfamiliar positions.

 

 

[leicesterseddon]

CM is our strongest area why would we need another? King is good enough as back up to James/drinky. Knockaert can play there too (as probably can Mahrez). Nugent has also been playing effectively as an attacking midfielder for much of the season... That's 6 players for 2 or 3 positions. Plus a new striker who ideally can play the withdrawn striker/attackingmidfielder role.

Left back we have a quality player in Schlupp and decent back up in Konch. Why would we sign someone else at left back just to watch Schlupp then leave due to lack of game time?

Winger ok you might be right. Another might be needed. But remember Shlupp can play winger too. So that's 4 players for 2 positions if you include Dyer.

It's quality not quantity we should be aiming for with new signings.

 

No he isn't. If either Drinkwater or James got injured in the early stages of the season we'd be stuffed with just him as cover. King would be nothing more than a passenger in the PL. 

 

I'd be looking more to sell King than put him in as back-up to be honest. I'm prepared to admit though that I've always been a critic of King, and that others will disagree. 

 

Overall, I think the majority of the first-team would be OK. I slightly worry about Mahrez and Knockaert (give the ball away too often and stay on the ball too long) and Kasper (doesn't come for the ball as often as he should, doesn't deal too well with crosses). Both can improve on this over the summer though. The general picture is pretty positive I think. 

[Fox Ulike]

Sorry, are you actually saying three players never to have even played in central midfield for us are options to play in central midfield. King has barely been good enough for this league let alone the league above. I would not want him or Hammond to be 3rd choice in the premier league.

 

 

Quality? He has done alright, but is very short of experience in that position and gets caught out a lot even in this division. If you want to be going into the premier league with a striker as first choice left back then we could be in trouble.

 

 

You say it's quality and not quantity and then seem happy to stick with players playing in unfamiliar positions.

So are you actually saying that you want to spend a significant chunk of our transfer kitty replacing a player (King/Hammond) who isn't even a regular first choice INSTEAD of replacing our 34 year old centre back? Or are you planning on dropping Drinkwater or James for a newbie?

We need to strenghthen in the areas where our first choice players are weak before we spend money on our reserves. Unless you want an expensive new signing sat on the bench, tweeting his disgruntlement?

[Fox Ulike]

No he isn't. If either Drinkwater or James got injured in the early stages of the season we'd be stuffed with just him as cover. King would be nothing more than a passenger in the PL. 

 

I'd be looking more to sell King than put him in as back-up to be honest. I'm prepared to admit though that I've always been a critic of King, and that others will disagree. 

 

Overall, I think the majority of the first-team would be OK. I slightly worry about Mahrez and Knockaert (give the ball away too often and stay on the ball too long) and Kasper (doesn't come for the ball as often as he should, doesn't deal too well with crosses). Both can improve on this over the summer though. The general picture is pretty positive I think.

I think King will surprise a few people next season. I'm bookmarking this thread in advance of the Mother of all "I told you so!" Posts this timenext year.

[JonnyBoy]

get a new spine in for the team, probably sign 4 new players that's it. 

[Babylon]

So are you actually saying that you want to spend a significant chunk of our transfer kitty replacing a player (King/Hammond) who isn't even a regular first choice INSTEAD of replacing our 34 year old centre back? Or are you planning on dropping Drinkwater or James for a newbie?

We need to strenghthen in the areas where our first choice players are weak before we spend money on our reserves. Unless you want an expensive new signing sat on the bench, tweeting his disgruntlement?

Who said I didn't want a CB, I was adding players to your exceptionally short list.

 

If you are talking about starters then we need a minimum of a CB, a Left Back and a Striker. 

 

For the whole squad the likes of GTF, Phillips, Hammond, Logan need replacing as a minimum.

 

I listed elsewhere I think we need a GK, CB, CB/LB, CM, LM, ST

[The Pigeonator]

Although its amazing tgat we are in the premier league I think the team might need to be overhauled... There's quite a few players in the squad who are effectively deadweight in the premier league, regardless of their experience and their talent, and I think there are a lot of exceptional replacements for them. FIRSTLY

GOALKEEPER- we all know conrad logan isn't the greatest, certainly in the championship, in the unlikely case Kasper gets injured, we are well and truly f****d and we definately need a better back up keeper

DEFENCE- We need fullbacks.... Konchesky isn't upto scratch in this team, he's lost his place ti a striker for crying out loud, I don't think the full backs need changing, RDT and Schlupp have it all potentially, again cover needed for them. No point mentioning Bakayogo, the lad's so terrible.

Centre backs- I personally think Wasyll will cope better than morgan in the PL, wes is a bit clumsy at times and is slow on the ball, moore can easily cope with the step up, he's a great player, but apart from them 3 we don't have much choice- st ledger is rather injury prone and so is whitbread would be better of staying in the championship in order to prolong both careers so again need changes here.

MIDFIELD- Wingers first- both mahrez and knockaert will flourish, all though both are still a bit immature and will make silly decisions in doing skills when not necessary. I think Lloydy deserves to finish his career at leicester considering what he's done for us but he most likely will be a bit part player next season, Gallagher needs to be shipped out too.

Central midfielders- i genuinely think we don't need to change anything here apart from get rid of hammond and purchase a defensive midfielder with a bit more pace and strength, who can COMFORTABLY sit in front of the back four and put in a good shift in which they make good last ditch tackles and fill in at the back for the full backs who have made runs into the other half

STRIKERS- Vardy will definately tear up the PL after how much he's grown as a player this season, and I may cheekily add if he keeps up his unmatched work rate he WILL get an england call up. Wood will also be able to hold his own in the PL. Phillips should take up a coaching role and help aid the next generation, and aid our FFP. GTF is my favourite player, but he won't be able to knock in many goals next season, and we need a 20+ striker for next season, which is wear david nugent comes in. I PERSONALLY, am not a big fan of nuge, in comparison to vardy (I'm sure you'll agree on some points) his work ethic is very poor, unlike Vardy he doesn't chase down the ball, he slows down as he gets nearer, Vardy is shorter than him and still gets more headers than nuge, He'll most likely stay because of goals, but I think we should sign another striker to replace him, which I admit is a gamble considering how good he is at scoring penalties. Lastly I think vardy amd wood would make a better partnership than nuge and vardy in the PL. This is simply because they compliment each others style of play-wood is tall, strong, quick on his feet, and can easily knock the ball on into the path of the vardy, who loves running onto balls and there we have 2 strikers, one whos agile and quick on their feet, and another who is big and strong who will be a constant danger from any set piece.

[Fox Ulike]

Who said I didn't want a CB, I was adding players to your exceptionally short list.

 

If you are talking about starters then we need a minimum of a CB, a Left Back and a Striker. 

 

For the whole squad the likes of GTF, Phillips, Hammond, Logan need replacing as a minimum.

 

I listed elsewhere I think we need a GK, CB, CB/LB, CM, LM, ST

Sounds a bit like what Sven did.

If you cast your mind back, my original post suggested an initial two (revised to three) players initially, and then to reinforce in January. I mean, who knows if Schlupp will be a good left back next season? No point therefore spending ££££ms to replace one of our best young prospects before giving him the chance to make the step up. It's like Chelsea replacing Sturridge with £50m Torres. Good idea that was.

I really don't think we need to be so fearful of Hull, Palace, Burnley, Stoke, Norwich and WBA next season that we start panic buying a load of new players. Chill and be confident in the team we have built over the last two years.

We use the impetus and confidence of our young squad to carry us through the first half of the season, and then reinforce in January when we can see which players have struggled. Bingo.

[Babylon]

Sounds a bit like what Sven did.

It sounds like what Pearson did this season and most seasons he's been here or anywhere else. Do people forget we signed Was, Hammond, GTF, Bakayoko, Mahrez, Phillips, Miquel... 7 players, 5 at the start of the season and 2 in January, some who start and some who are squad players. And that's in a league when you can pretty much get loans all year round, we can't do that next year.

 

They all took someones place in the squad and we still kept on winning and kept a good squad mentality. It's about buying the right sort of people, which is the exact opposite of what Sven did.

 

 

If you cast your mind back, my original post suggested an initial two (revised to three) players initially, and then to reinforce in January. I mean, who knows if Schlupp will be a good left back next season? No point therefore spending ££££ms to replace one of our best young prospects before giving him the chance to make the step up. It's like Chelsea replacing Sturridge with £50m Torres. Good idea that was.

I'm less confident in Konchesky than I am Schlupp, the bloke is in rapid decline and Schlupp is a striker starting to learn his trade. There are question marks about both players available in that position, more so than pretty much any other. I don't believe you can start a premier league campaign like that.  Schlupps potential is one of the reasons ideally (as stated already) I would like someone adept at CB and LB, so that if Schlupp turns out to be amazing, the other player can cover two positions.

 

 

I really don't think we need to be so fearful of Hull, Palace, Burnley, Stoke, Norwich and WBA next season that we start panic buying a load of new players. Chill and be confident in the team we have built over the last two years.

 

Who says you panic buy, you buy what you need. Phillips and GTF are not good enough end of story. Hammond has been relatively poor, Konch is going down hill, We can't go into a season with Logan as cover for Kasper, we are weak at CB and in the air, We only have three wingers.

 

I'm confident in the core of the squad, not the whole squad.

[shade]

i look at the premier league and laugh derisorily at teams like west brom, norwich, cardiff, sunderland, fulham, west ham, swansea and crystal palace, whilst thinking to myself, top bottom half finish should be easy enough.

[Fox Ulike]

It sounds like what Pearson did this season and most seasons he's been here or anywhere else. Do people forget we signed Was, Hammond, GTF, Bakayoko, Mahrez, Phillips, Miquel... 7 players, 5 at the start of the season and 2 in January, some who start and some who are squad players. And that's in a league when you can pretty much get loans all year round, we can't do that next year.

 

They all took someones place in the squad and we still kept on winning and kept a good squad mentality. It's about buying the right sort of people, which is the exact opposite of what Sven did.

I'm less confident in Konchesky than I am Schlupp, the bloke is in rapid decline and Schlupp is a striker starting to learn his trade. There are question marks about both players available in that position, more so than pretty much any other. I don't believe you can start a premier league campaign like that.  Schlupps potential is one of the reasons ideally (as stated already) I would like someone adept at CB and LB, so that if Schlupp turns out to be amazing, the other player can cover two positions.

Who says you panic buy, you buy what you need. Phillips and GTF are not good enough end of story. Hammond has been relatively poor, Konch is going down hill, We can't go into a season with Logan as cover for Kasper, we are weak at CB and in the air, We only have three wingers.

 

I'm confident in the core of the squad, not the whole squad.

If Shclupp turns out to be amazing then we've wasted millions on a new left back we don't need. But if your new fella can also play CB then do we sell Liam Moore? Neither option fills me with joy. This is how we lost Fryatt and Hobbs, by buying players who were no better than those we had already, hence the Sven jibe.

Anyhoo my main beef is with this new CM of yours. To get anyone significantly better than King will cost a decent wedge of cash. Settle him into the squad just to sit him on the bench cos you don't rate King. That makes no sense to me. And then you've got another Neill Danns mardy arse on your hands. Craig Gardner cost Sunderland £6m. Worth it?

Give King a chance.