Likely line-ups for 2005

Saints are overstocked with quality goalkeepers, being able to boast two Premiership quality keepers in Niemi and Smith.

However, with both keepers proving injury prone and a high number of games to be played in the Championship, both keepers should see plenty of action. It seems Niemi’s price tag is putting suitors off which is good news for Saints, unless Strachan’s Celtic make their move. If he stays, former player of the season Niemi should continue to provide excellent service in the Championship and remains first choice.

Keeper: Niemi

Saints have managed to acquire a record number of right backs, and even then played midfielders Telfer and Delap there for much of last season, yet have no recognised left back.

In a sense left back is easy. Step forward centre half, Danny Higginbotham. If he gets injured, then Saints have few options, with the untried youth team left back Kyle Critchell available and the promising Martin Cranie, who is better suited to centre half or right back. Surely an area to strengthen if Harry can get in one more free signing by offloading the likes of want-away Nilsson.

As for right back, where do you start? Dodd has moved on to Brighton, but that still leaves Telfer, Delap, Nilsson, Cranie, Kenton and Baird. Indeed youth team right back Craig Richards has just signed professional forms.

Surely Northern Ireland international Chris Baird is long overdue a run in the side. At 23 with considerable Championship experience, the time has come to play him or sell him. However, expect him to be jostling with Martin Cranie for the right back berth as the season progresses, unless Cranie can secure one of the centre back spots.

Left-back: Higginbotham
Right-back: Baird

Saints’ Achilles heel from last season, as a series of defenders suffered terrible dips in form, despite defence being one of Saints’ previous strengths. You can blame the absence of the dominant Michael Svensson, but Swedish international Jakobsson alternated from promising to poor and the often woeful Claus Lundekvam must be regretting the ice-skating boot sponsorship deal.

Saints have just signed the pacey and aggressive Darren Powell and he must be a shoe-in for one of the centre back slots. While we are waiting for the return of Michael Svensson, that leaves Lundekvam, Jakobssen, Mills and, that man again, Cranie, fighting it out for the final centre half spot. Next to Powell and in the slower Championship Jakobssen should be able to more than hold his own in his second season of English football. Mills has proved he can play in this division and should be pushing him hard for a place as the season progresses.

Centre-halves: Powell and Jakobssen

Saints lacked genuine width and pace on the flanks for much of last season. However, over the course of last season, David Prutton showed great passion and finally some of the class he has promised and should see off all comers for the right midfield slot.

Fabrice Fernandes has some convincing to do of Harry, but is perhaps Saints' only genuine playmaker and provided he can stand up to the aggression of the Championship, he should be tried particularly in some of the home games. With the longer grass on Championship pitches, he should also be able to weave some beautiful crop circles.

Left-midfield, like left-back, is another area of concern. We do have a genuine left-winger in Neil McCann who may prove a decent player in the Championship. Beyond him are the out-of-position, such as Nigel Quashie, Fernandes, and the untried yet promising youth team duo Nathan Dyer and Theo Walcott.

With a competitive midfield alongside him, Fabrice has the chance to make left-midfield his own. Prutton and Fabrice have played left and right midfield, so will be able to switch flanks during games as we try and unlock no doubt stubborn Championship defences.

Left-midfield: Fernandes
Right-midfield: Prutton

Saints look strong in the centre of the park, with both aggression, class and experience in varying forms. Nigel Quashie deserves to be made captain for the season ahead and his will to win, skill and aggression make him a certainty for one of the midfield slots.

The second slot is a battle between Dennis Wise, Matt Oakley, Paul Telfer and forgotten man, Yoann Folly. Dennis Wise’s experience of the Championship will be invaluable, but as the season progresses expect fit again Matt Oakley’s class to get the nod. The flexibility of an Oakley-Quashie partnership should be too good for most Championship sides and there is always Dennis to shake things up.

Centre-midfield: Quashie, Oakley

Provided Peter Crouch remains, Saints are looking strong up front even after the departure of Kevin Phillips and his sour grapes. Harry Rednapp knows how to play to Peter Crouch’s strengths and his combination of height and skill will frighten the life out of Championship defenders as it did against Premiership defenders.

Saints fans will be hoping that after a succession of injuries and false dawns, Marian Pahars will be back to his best. His pace, skill and coolness in front of goal could prove invaluable and a winning combination with Crouch.

Saints possess good backup with livewire Brett Ormerod and the promising Dexter Blackstock, Leon Best and Kenwyne Jones available. Expect one of them to go out on loan for yet more experience.

Strikers: Crouch, Pahars

Subs: Smith, Telfer, Cranie, Blackstock, Ormerod

Line-ups are of course of subject of great debate among Saints fans and the chances are that your starting eleven is not the same as this one.

Email us here with the differences in your line-up and why and we’ll publish the best on the site.