This week St Bangkok gives us his opinions on the Saints business in the transfer window

Perhaps a real debating article this one as at the end you will see one option of many strong first team line ups. To be honest I did not give this line up a lot of thought, I just banged it out, but it just goes to show the strength now of this squad as I have had no room for De Ridder, Cork, Guly, Barney, Hammond and new boy Lee. Perm any combination you fancy, come on and give it a go.

OK, so no marquee signing, which to be honest I think we all knew. But in Lee, Sharp and a clearly rejuvenated Puncheon, we have three first class additions on the goal scoring front, surely enough extra pace, dimension and fire power now to score us out of this league?

I have seen many comments that perhaps we missed a trick by making a good CB addition to the squad, and perhaps yes this is true. But in saying that with Martin coming better with every game, Fonte looking to be back well on the road to his best and Jos perhaps to join in soon (maybe even the return of Danny Seabourne lurks around the corner) I think we should have enough.

And as I said on the forum, often in this game the best form of defence is the offence and with our midfield coming back to its best, with Punch back on the bus and the added dimension of pace I think we will be taking a lot of the pressure off the back four by pushing most side back for 90 minutes. That said I am sure we will still leak the odd silly goal here and there but that is why we are in the NPC and not the PL, as we are not quite the finished article yet.

Going into this window I think most of us truly had eyes fixated on adding firepower, what with the suspension to Rickie and the huge loss that obviously was. We have also heard many a cry on this site all season long about the lack of a plan B, another dimension and or pace. Well, in Lee and Punch we have the pace and bag of tricks and at last in Billy Sharp we have a true predator who can feed off Rickie, something we all know DC can do, but not often enough due to age and injuries.

All in all, when ones views a likely strongest line up and bench option, we are clearly going to be trying to score our way to wins, so there will be few dull moments between now and May. Options upfront now include Rickie, Barney, Guly, Lee, Sharp with a few others who can play there besides. This is pretty awesome in my opinion and clearly has some goals in it.

So what would out strongest line up be? Well, how do you fancy a bit of this:

Davis – Fraser – Fonte – Jos – Fox – Punch – Chaplow – Morgan – Lallana – Rickie – Billy………

OK, we can all tinker with that quite a bit, but that works for me. The future is very bright for the last 18 games with the assurance of some very entertaining encounters.

Photo: Action Images

Del_Bianco added 11:07 - Feb 2 i dont see how anyone can leave Cork out, been an excellent signing and a good footballer. No spectaular and doesn't run around screaming but a great player and along with Lambert & Lallana would be the first name on my team sheet.
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Zambucco added 11:21 - Feb 2 It would probably be my team selection too, it would also give us a fantastic bench! Cork is good but he does need to sceam a bit more, he's accomplished, but needs to grow in stature, which he will do, but not enoguh to make my team sheet. My biggest problem is with the defence, although they all give great performances individually, for me there is no cohesion, they do not play as a unit. There are times at set pices they're stood looking at each other. aiting for instructions, and that's where a lot of the goals against have come from, indecision. Someone needs to step up to the plate and take command, a real captain of men! Who I do not know, my leaning would be towards Jos or Chappers. My final thought of the transfer window is, we could have signed a keeper. Kelvin is great and yes has weaknesses, but when we're back in the Prem we will need a towering keeper (metaphorically speaking) After all they are the backbone of the defence, playing in front of a great keeper fills you with confidence and lifts your game (I do speak from experience) I have never been 100% sure of Kelvin or Bart. Historically Saints best seasons have coincided with great goalkeepers Shilton & Niemi Final thought, we are still the best team in the division and with these latest signings and re-signings (Punch!) and with the team spirit making a comeback, plus the expectation of the best supporters, we will still win this division.

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st_bangkok added 11:46 - Feb 2 As i say, the line up is one perm, there re countless choices. I thought long and hard also Cork could easily be in there and to be honest for me does more per game really that Spiderman in a lot of respects. Tat is the few games i catch here on TV or streams. I still do believe that the back four problem will only be fully fixed when we get a more commanding keeper, as good as Kelv is in other departments.

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Stephen added 11:58 - Feb 2 Cork has his fizz bottled up. He doesn't know where goal is, unless there is the easy pass to the wings will pass it back, and can't shoot. I would really like someone to tell me about his strengths. I can't see him playing much when Chaplow returns.
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SaintEtienne added 12:27 - Feb 2 Agree it's going to be tricky picking our best 11/16 when all fit. You say no marquee signing. Is not Sharp a marquee signing? Seeing that excluding our very own SRL the 5 most wanted/hyped/talked about forwards in the division where Rodriguez (Burnley) Jutkiewicz (Coventry) Maynard (Bristol) Sordell (Watford) and last and by no means least Sharp. Apart from Rodrigues all have been snapped up. Sends out the right message for me.

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bstokesaint added 06:39 - Feb 3 Very strong starting XI, although like Bianco I struggle to think of a midfield without Cork. He's a footballers' footballer. If you play the game you learn to appreciate the tireless running that a player like Cork puts in for you. It gives you a lift when a team mate puts in a shift as he does every week. He could score more goals but he's a class act and will only improve. IMO he's the best of the defensive midfielders we have. Agree with the rest of the team.

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