Lee Barnard!?

[pork pie]

Who are these "poxy wing backs" to whom you refer?

Sorry, it is not so much the who, as the what. I prefer traditional full backs if in a four at the back.

The two we have, are great going forward. Bruno worried me defensively, but that would not be why Guy acquired him. Bridge was ok defensively in his younger days, we need to see how he is now when he gets match fit.

I am not in favour of wing backs, unless in a five. They rarely defend, and playing them without three CHs invariably leaves you exposed at the back when they go forward.

It takes special quality players (e.g. John Terry and Ashley Cole) to make it work properly. If we had two outstanding CHs then I would be a little less anti. But we don't (that is not a dig, just realistic), and our wing-backs provide them with insufficient cover.

As our two are almost certainly amongst our highest paid players, and we do not appear to be able to afford at least one decent striker, they appear to be a waste of money.

 

[beakyburn]

Tell you what, add Beckford, Murray, Zamora, Barnard and Heskey to the squad and SURELY that would sort out our goalscoring problems...

Lets get Heskey on a free and pay him for goals scored. That way we get the target man you all want and it will cost us...........bugger all.

 

[StillHateBellotti]

Lets get Heskey on a free and pay him for goals scored. That way we get the target man you all want and it will cost us...........bugger all.

Brilliant.......

 

[albionalex]

We can do better than Lee Barnard.

 

[Sam-]

We can do better than Lee Barnard.

Who exactly?

Beckford . . on a long term contract at Leicester paying more than we do.
Heskey . . be serious.
Owen . . As above
Murray. . . Possible but highly unlikely.

I think Barnard is the best available in our price range. Our best bet is to look at teams who have been promoted to premiership but still have quality championship players who they are willing to sell.

 

[JBizzle]

Sorry, it is not so much the who, as the what. I prefer traditional full backs if in a four at the back.

The two we have, are great going forward. Bruno worried me defensively, but that would not be why Guy acquired him. Bridge was ok defensively in his younger days, we need to see how he is now when he gets match fit.

I am not in favour of wing backs, unless in a five. They rarely defend, and playing them without three CHs invariably leaves you exposed at the back when they go forward.

It takes special quality players (e.g. John Terry and Ashley Cole) to make it work properly. If we had two outstanding CHs then I would be a little less anti. But we don't (that is not a dig, just realistic), and our wing-backs provide them with insufficient cover.

As our two are almost certainly amongst our highest paid players, and we do not appear to be able to afford at least one decent striker, they appear to be a waste of money.

I do agree IF our wingers don't cover back. When Bruno/Calderon bomb forward from the right, Buckley and Bridcutt drop in or back to cover. The same with the left where Barnes drops back when overlapped. Its not perfect but its the same in most teams, the DM drops in and the winger holds position while the "wing-back" overlaps.

I agree though you do need quality in versatility to get it right though.

 

[albionalex]

Who exactly?

Beckford . . on a long term contract at Leicester paying more than we do.
Heskey . . be serious.
Owen . . As above
Murray. . . Possible but highly unlikely.

I think Barnard is the best available in our price range. Our best bet is to look at teams who have been promoted to premiership but still have quality championship players who they are willing to sell.

Rumoured names are irrelevant. The fact is that there are better players than Lee Barnard in our price range. It might just mean that Gus really wants Barnard or our scouting network hasn't found anyone to Poyet's liking.

 

[Frutos]

We can do better than Lee Barnard.

Go on then, who?

 

[pork pie]

I do agree IF our wingers don't cover back. When Bruno/Calderon bomb forward from the right, Buckley and Bridcutt drop in or back to cover. The same with the left where Barnes drops back when overlapped. Its not perfect but its the same in most teams, the DM drops in and the winger holds position while the "wing-back" overlaps.

I agree though you do need quality in versatility to get it right though.

I do understand the theory. But the reality is that you end up with attacking players being asked to cover in defense, instead of skilled defenders. Both roles end up compromised.

 

[Waynflete]

Not to mention Greg Bobkin.

Yeah, what's going on with the Greg signing? Stevenage digging their heels in? I wouldn't be surprised because Bobkin is EPIC!

 

[albionalex]

Go on then, who?

Unfortunately I don't know our budget and haven't been paid to scout various players from different leagues.

 

[pornomagboy]

We only got 45mins to sign him so he can play tomorrow

 

[ChazzyBHA]

Can Lee keep up?

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Yeah, what's going on with the Greg signing? Stevenage digging their heels in? I wouldn't be surprised because Bobkin is EPIC!

I can see the deal going right down to the wire. It'll be a nerve wrecking transfer deadline day for Albion fans!

 

[severnside gull]

We only got 45mins to sign him so he can play tomorrow

Or until 5pm for a loan?

 

[dwayne]

Got a text from current saints 1st teamer via my brother

"not sure tbh mate"

Doesn't really give anything away !!

 

[severnside gull]

We only got 45mins to sign him so he can play tomorrow

Or until 5pm for a loan?

 

[LamieRobertson]

I think some of you need to wake up with your expectations ! he wouldn't be my 1st choice but he's s proven goalscorer who has never really had a chance above league one,he's 28 and would probably be realistic in what we can afford which many of the people mentioned before aren't.just because we have made a few big named signings doesn't mean every signing needs to be that way we are still growing as a club and bringing barnard in on loan would give us a chance to have a look at him....if it works great there's talk of 500k being what saints are looking for if it doesn't hopefully we might have someone else lined up but what was apparent on Tuesday is we need a goalscorer because as much as I like ash and as hard as he works he generally needs a decent amount of chances a goal and isn't a out an out finisher.
Yes I know he scored 0 in 9 last season but 8 off those games were off the bench,he got 9 mins against us at st Mary's and that was the case in most of those appearances last season.just because cms hasnt yet bridged the gap doesn't mean everyone will so if he's the man lets give him a chance and support and see what happens

Totally agree re the expectations bit ..problem is that peeps are being fed these silly rumours about Beckford et al ..personally I take with a large dose of salt any player talk ..but there's always tht little bit of u that thinks it just might b true ..then along comes a 'lesser' name and there's some disappointment ..reality check needed for sure

 

[Albumen]

Lee Barnard
Sounds like something you find in a french farm.

 

[greyseagull]

Lets get Heskey on a free and pay him for goals scored. That way we get the target man you all want and it will cost us...........bugger all.