Tag Archives: Dan Seaborne

January Transfer Window: Should we bolt it shut?

Posted on by georgeweahscousin
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Paul Smith

Stephen Crainey   Danny Higginbotham  Calum Davenport   Olivier Bernard

Ryan Smith   David Prutton  Nigel Quashie  Lee Molyneux

Jonathan Forte  Dany N’Guessan

The bad, the very bad, and the ugly.

Not a great team is it? What do they have in common? They are all master strokes by Saints in the fabled January transfer window. I challenge any club to come up with a worse lineup from January signings than that?

If you look at our entire signing history since the January window came about, it is ridiculously unimpressive.

2002/03

Danny Higgenbotham, David Prutton.

2003/04

Paul Smith, Stephen Crainey.

2004/05

Nigel Quashie, Jamie Redknapp, Olivier Bernard, Calum Davenport.

Hands up if you are a competent left back?

Hands up if you are a competent left back?

2005/06

Bartosz Bialkowski, Alexander Ostlund, Jim Brennan.

2008/09

Lee Molyneux, Ryan Smith.

2009/10

Jose Fonte, John Otsemobor, Dan Seaborne, Lee Barnard

2010/11

Jonathan Forte, Richard Chaplow, Dany N’Guessan

2011/12

Tadanari Lee, Billy Sharp

There are some clear exceptions, Jose Fonte, Dan Seaborne, Lee Barnard, Richard Chaplow and Billy Sharp have all made big contributions, and Tadanari Lee hasn’t had much of a chance to show us what he’s got, but when John Otsemobor isn’t making that eleven it shows just how poor it is.

January is the time when managers might panic buy, and looking at some of those names (Anyone seen a worse professional defender than Calum Davenport?) that must have been the case.

Undoubtedly we will strengthen again this season (though Nigel Adkins has surprised a few by saying there won’t be another keeper coming in), but let’s hope they are more the calibre of the last few seasons than the early 00′s!

More Jose Fonte’s, less Olivier Bernard’s please.

The players brought in in the summer look to have been pretty solid so far, so let’s hope the transfer policy continues in the same vein over the next 30 days. You can make or break your season with the acquisitions you make in this window. More quality needs to come in, but not at the expense of the team spirit and unity. Not an easy job.

No doubt we are in for some of the usual bonkers rumours, but we should remember to be patient.

p.s. If this hasn’t depressed you enough, have a butchers at the players that have LEFT us in January transfer windows….. Chris Marsden, Antti Niemi, James Beattie, Theo Walcott…

Chris

As featured on NewsNow: Southampton FC news

Get Well Soon Dan Seaborne.

Posted on by georgeweahscousin
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It was with much sadness that I read the news yesterday about Dan Seaborne being assaulted outside a Southampton nightclub. With his condition now being considered “stable” by the medical staff at the Wessex Neurological Unit, signs are good that Dan is going to be ok.

Get Well Soon Dan.

Dan has been a fully committed professional since joining the club from Exeter City in 2010 and georgeweahscousin.com would like to wish him a speedy recovery.

I want to be in that number….

Chris

Is Dan Seaborne Single?

Posted on by georgeweahscousin
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That seems to be the question on many a googler’s lips, and one of many weird and wonderful search terms that lead people to this site.

Unfortunately for them, they will of course leave disappointed, I have no idea whether Seaborne is single or not, and this isn’t a lonely hearts site. What I do know, is that he maybe a centre half about to find himself in an incredibly unlucky position.

Signed from Exeter City in January 2010, he has largely played second fiddle to Radhi Jaidi as the man to partner Jose Fonte, and was often criticised for being less than cultured a player when he did deputise last season.

The start of this season though, has seen Seaborne given a run in the side alongside Fonte, starting all but the opening game so far. In fairness, his performances have come with mixed reviews, but what does seem clear is that they are much improved. Strong in the air, and pulling off some last ditch saving tackles, Seaborne has proved a few people wrong in the early stages of the campaign and has been part of a fantastic and record breaking start for the club, so it now seems a little unfair that everybody seems certain that the club needs to invest in a new defender.

They always use an old photo....

Ammer Jemal, Kasper Gorkss, and Liam Fontaine have been the names touted to come in at St. Mary’s, but I am not 100% sure we need them. In Seaborne and Aaron Martin we have two young centre halves chomping at the bit, and in a season opening that has seen just one unlucky defeat so far, haven’t really put a foot wrong.

I know that we should be constantly looking at improving the squad and perhaps Seaborne in particular may be a victim of the way we want to play possession football, with every man needing to be comfortable on the ball, but this is still England, and still the Championship and someone of Seaborne’s build, strength and ability will no doubt come in handy against particular sides. Personally I have always been a fan of having two centre halves of differing styles, one continental type, the other old fashioned English bruiser!

Whatever happens in the next twenty four hours, and whether a new defender is brought in or not, hopefully Dan Seaborne has a GSOH and WLTM the challenge head on…

Chris

And What You Give Is What You Get…

Posted on by georgeweahscousin
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It is an unusual position for a Saints fan to be looking down on the rest of the league after the opening two games. Notoriously slow starters, it is the first time Saints have won their opening two games for twenty three years.

But should we be surprised? Nigel Adkins’ tireless enthusiasm for the job, our relentless end to last season and the additions of some quality players in the transfer window screams of a professional and assured approach to the new campaign. On top of that Adkins focus on fitness, somewhere we seriously failed at the start of last season has clearly paid off, as our lean first team squad look sharp and hungry.

There will be a lot of talk about “momentum” and it definitely plays a part. Steve Grant pointed out on twitter today that Saints have dropped just four points from the last available fifty one, which is phenomenal form. Couple this with the fact that our promoted chums Brighton are keeping up so far, also winning both their games.

What we have at St. Mary’s though, that I believe to be the most important part is a “team” in the truest sense of the word. While Leicester spend big, buying lots of new players, Adkins approach has been to keep the core of last seasons successful side and add to it gradually. Jack Cork has come straight in, and his quality is clear for all to see, while the other new boys Steve de Ridder and Danny Fox look like they will have to be patient to break into what is, a so far this season, an excelling group. The loss of Alex Chamberlain to Arsenal, in the least shocking transfer move of the summer (although perhaps gazumped by Mr. Fabregas and Barca today) hasn’t had any negative effect whatsoever yet, and with de Ridder looking like a shrewd bit of business, there is a fair chance it won’t at all.

Jack Cork - Settling into his second St. Mary's spell.

There is much talk of new Strikers and Centre halves that don’t look like dying down anytime soon, but with the assured performances of Aaron Martin against Leeds, and Dan Seaborne at Barnsley, coupled with the resurgence of David Connolly up front, I am not sure we are “desperate” for players in any position.

While we can enjoy our 100% start, it is natural as a Saints fan to look for the catch. We simply aren’t used to a good start, and I for one have already scanned the fixture list for the first “back to earth with a bump” outing, and actually tomorrow night’s trip to Portman Road could be it. They are my outside tip for promotion and it will no doubt be a tough place to go. Paul Jewell is no mug at this level, and the acquisitions of Lee Bowyer and Michael Chopra make them an exciting looking team.

The opening two game winning side of 1988, did go on and win their third match to, so we aren’t incapable, but if we are looking for omens, Chris Nicholl’s class of 1988/89, Neil Ruddock, Barry Horne and co finished up 13th in Division One, and I would like to think we are aiming slightly higher than that. In better news, that season, of our current opponents, only Forest, Derby, Coventry and Millwall finished above us.

1988/89:-

West Ham United (h) 4-0

Queens Park Rangers (a) 0-1

Luton Town (h) 2-1

2011/12

Leeds United (h) 3-1

Barnsley (a) 0-1

Ipswich Town (a) ?

Whatever happens, we have already sent a message to the Championship old guard, that we haven’t come here to make up the numbers, and our destination is up.

If I never ever see you . Again….

Chris