Squad

[Paul Satts]

Now that i understand we have signed Staforde Palmer, the squad appears to be taking shape quite nicely.

Here's my take on the squad:-

IMO we still lack pace at the back if Bairdy goes for Wazza, Jordan, Holland, Poate as his first choice, but Robinson and Collins (not sure hes signed on yet) are speedy replacements in the fullback positions, but against Toton we showed that a ball straight down the middle causes us problems, even with the height we have down the middle. Early days for the new partnership, so unfair to judge them on one game against Totton, but it was a regular occurance last season too, so needs tightening up.

 The midfield and strikers interest me.....I believe that Ross Bottomley is going to be a key player for us this season, but im not quite sure where he fits in. He will be our only cover by the looks of it, for Jordan & Holland, and as we know he can also play upfront or in Midfield.
 I believe the favoured striking partnership will be Gilly + 1 from Slabber, Palmer, Browner, Easton, Maxwell & Ross, which is alot of strikers. Of those Ross & Browner can also operate in midfield.

 So coming into Midfield, if we assume that Bairdy will go with 2 wide men, as he usually prefers, then McAuley (when fit) & Graham will fill those spots, which leaves Rivs, Smithy, Pete & possibly Browner & Ross again. Bairdy obviously likes Rivs & Pete as a partnership, so i see those starting the season (if fit).  Which really means that Bairdy will be struggling to find a starting place for Ross, which i think is strange considering how good and how adaptable he is. I quite like the idea of Browner coming off the bench as an impact player, that way it might reduce his tendancy to get either injured or suspended, so in not starting, we might actually get more pitch time out of him across the season. But keeping Browner happy on the bench would be a challenge, as he has a very boisterous personality and when fit wants to be involved in everything. So the way its panning out, you have to agree with Bairdys comment in the interview at Totton, that if he keeps 14 players fit, then we really do have a decent side to be challenging for promotion.
The left side still worries me though!
The other thing that encourages me is that with this squad and the majority of them being midfield and strikers, it means we are going to be much more adaptable to change our style and more importantly our formation in games that we need to try something different in. Bairdy has always generally gone with a straight forward 4-4-2, but i would like to see Ross come in to make up a 5 man midfield and just go with Gilly up top on his own, that way we can have the likes of Rivs and Smithy bursting into the box to support Gilly, rather than always hanging back and being in defensive mode. We would then have teh likes of Slabber, Palmer e.t.c. to bring on of we needed goals. Last season all we could bring on was another 2 left backs!  so the squad really does look better balanced this year.  Think we might need to invest in another Centre Half though part way through the season, but cross that bridge when we come to it...


Anyone else have a view on how teh squad is shaping up?

[M.K.P]

Didnt know that Palmer had signed but that is great news. Pretty much agree with what you have said Paul. But the worry is down the sides. McAuley is looking doubtful for the start of the season and the new guy Graham doesnt seem to be as quick as Messrs Taggert and McAuley were/are. Think we do need some young blood in the back four that will play regular to give us some pace.

But generally how you have set out the squad it doesnt look too bad aslong as we stay injury free and suspension free as much as possible!

[Blakey86]

Paul im glad to see you are once again a happy man!!!

On the centre half front i for one am hoping Luke Byles has beed lined up on his return to the country!!!

As for the strickers and midfield no point having all of them if there not going to hit the back of the nett!!!

[Paul Satts]

Yeah i'm reasonably happy.
Like you, i'm also hoping for a retun of Luke Byles.
Yip goals win games, but in all honesty i dont see that being our problem. As was the case last year, it will be keeping them out that could let us down. If we keep a few more clean sheets, i think it gives us a good chance of being a top 5 club. Lots of the other teams will be saying the same though. We have a very experienced nucleus of players now, who have been playing in the division for the past few years and should know what it takes to stay around the play off spots.

[enzee199]

Unfortunately missed the Totton game so am holding comment until I get an opportunity to see the team in action, but the squad situation does look a whole lot better. From the comments made in the Echo it sounds as if Bairdy himself was in agreement with those of us who expressed concern about the depth of the squad, especially up front. Let's hope we can go for a play-off spot

[Paul Satts]

I haven't seen the Echo, but thats interesting, as i think we have more options than ever up front.
Gilly
Slabber
Palmer
Browner
Easton
Maxwell
Bottomley (the ultimate Adaptor)

I can't remember a time over recent years where we have had the luxury of 7 strikers!?

[josefc]

Cant really class Browner as a striker and easton/maxwell well their only names to make squad look bigger reserves at most.certainly not the most proliffic off strikers

[Paul Satts]

Not sure i agree with the Browner comment, as he has been used as a striker in 99% of the games he has played over the last 2 seasons. I hear what you are saying about Easton & Maxwell, but facts are they are registered to play in the BSS, as opposed to just being non registered reserve players. I think if Bairdy goes 4-4-2, then Gilly & Palmer will be a good  partnership as they both have different playing qualities and make different runs and more importantly, both get goals!....

[josefc]

Browner was brought here to play in midfield from dorchester which is by far his best possition.agree he seems to play up front"make shift forward" but 9 goals in 4 seasons even with his injuries says it all to me paul.

[Paul Satts]

He's certainly our Emile Heskey on the goals front.....But he plays with passion and a scowl on his face & the fans love him for that. He played 45 mins against Totton in midfield, but i prefer him upfront where he can make a nuisance of himself.....I think if he played in midfield he'd get booked every game, instead of every other game....

[josefc]

Don't get me wrong i love browner"not literally" but i'd give him the free roll just in front of midfield which is where he moreless plays anyway

[Blakey86]

Jose the free role you a talking about browner playing in IMO suits a more creative player if we were going to play that sort of formation the man who should get that role should be Rivs!

[Paul Satts]

Yes i'm with you on that Mark, that it needs to be a creative player playing behind a front 2, but i wouldnt go for Rivs. It has to be someone who sees the gaps to play the short defence splitting balls into. Peter Beardsley & Kenny Dalglish were both genius exponants of playing in that role and seeing those passes. I dont think England has come up with that type of player since Beardsley, maybe Teddy Sheringham. Mehmet Oliz (or whatever his name is, does it for Germany).
As for Eastleigh, i dont think we have a player on the books who can do that. That's why i think Bairdy goes with a flat 4-4-2. He plays the team in the style that he played in himself. From what i remember of Bairdy, he was a "ramrod" centre forward who would run through brick walls to win a ball, and thats why he loves Browner playing upfront, because he plays in the same style, al la Baird......

[MichaelEFC]

I love Browner too; but he is never a striker in a million years.

[Paul Satts]

So would you play him in midfield and if so, who's place would he take, if we assume we go 4-4-2 and that Rivs & Pete start the season in the middle.
Or do you see the shape/formation of the team differently?

[MichaelEFC]

Well it's Gilly and A.N. Other, and who that other is is the $64,000,000 Dollar question. I'm guessing Bairdy is thinking of Slabber as one possible option, Palmer as perhaps another. I imagine he'll try all the combinations in pre season and start with one and be prepared to change if it doesn't work. The trouble with playing Browner as a striker is 1) He is not a very good striker and 2) We've lost a guy (Browner) who is brilliant at battling for the ball in the middle, and getting both the ball and himself up front to the strikers. There are some serious questions marks against this squad, but we have who we have and we have to get behind them and look forward to being pleasantly surprised.

[Paul Satts]

 When i first started coming along i remember seeing Jamie (i didnt know who he was at the time) hobbling around on crutches for weeks on end. I dont think i've ever seen him play a full 90 minutes in midfield, so i cant really comment on that. Was it Doswell who brought him to the club from Dorchester for the famous 5 figure sum!....and did he always play him in that midfield role?
Then did Bairdy convert him to a Striker role immediately once he became manager?
I think Borwner & Forbes was always a good partnership when they were both fit, as Forbsy would stride around with ease winning everything in the air & sticking the ball in the net and Browner would do all the hard work in unsettling defenders. If we dont play Browner upfront, i feel we lose that, as Gilly, Palmer & Slabber (from what i hear) are not really the rammrod style of Centre Forwards.
I'm going for Gilly & Palmer to start the season if we play a 4-4-2 and use Browner as an impact player, but i think Bairdy will go with Gilly & Browner.

[RendelFC]

I think Mr. Brown cost us £5,000 - I'm sure it wasn't a 5 figure fee.

[enzee199]

Fingers crossed he has a good injury-free season. I'm always impressed by what I see when he's on the pitch.

[supersaint]

Great to see Staffors Palmer signed, should have some goals to come!!
Squad looks great...... Fingers crossed!!!!!