Midfield: transfer window verdict

Out – Wise, Quashie, Folly (loan), (Delap)
In – Potter, Chaplow, Wright

Earlier in the season, central midfield was an area where Saints were particularly dominant. A motivated Quashie was head and shoulders above the rest of the division and allowed Wise and Oakley to get on with their passing games. A clearly frustrated Quashie had to go for the club’s long term interests, but for all the potential of Potter, Chaplow, both his and Wise’s leadership is difficult to replace.

With Oakley out of sorts of late, Saints need the return of the all-action Prutton, although they will need him to show more consistency to really stamp his mark on the team as his did against Palace. Of the new signings Chaplow looks like he is the real deal.

Out – Griffit, McCann, Walcott, (Delap)
In – None

Saints do have talent at wide midfield, but a lack of consistency, with the likes of Belmadi, Kosowski, Surman and Dyer blowing hot and cold. While McCann showed improved form this season, it is really the electric talent of Theo Walcott that Saints desperately miss, both up front and at wide midfield.
 
While Potter and Chaplow can play wide midfield Saints do lack genuine width on both flanks and this will be an area Burley will be looking to address in the summer.

Verdict: Weaker

Click on the links below to read the On the Cross verdict on:

- Introduction to the transfer window
- Defence
- Strikers and overall verdict