After the first season of these players coming together how have they found life in St Helens, lets review the performances of The Saints.
The First Team
Goalkeeper:
Sebastian Saja - During a flurry of bids and last minute running around looking for someone to keep the sticks safe for the season, I came across Saja in Argentina playing for San Lorenzo, no need for a work permit as he holds a Spanish passport. I rashly stuck £7.25 million in a desperate attempt to get a keeper and thankfully I don’t regret a single penny of it. He was amazing between the sticks this season, strong and reliable everything you need in a keeper, Sebastian even made it onto the Best EPL Team of the year bench. At 29 he is hitting the peak years so I think that this guy will be good to hold this position until Edwards or somebody else wants to come in and take the gloves.
Defenders
Jeremy Mathieu - The young left back was pretty decent in his début season, he was moved around all over the shop to where he was needed and provided consistent result each time. He was decent down the wings and linked up well with the midfield and even venturing to help out the attack as requested. I have no complaints really, consistency was just key for a player who I am sure will grow and grow as the seasons go on.
Jay DeMerit - An American from Watford, who I really didn’t expect much from, Jay was brought in as a cheap player who looked decent enough to start, but when I got the chance I would be looking for his replacement. He was named as the club captain his wealth of experience over the other members of the team meant he was a popular choice amongst the rest of the players with good influencial skills. Jay infact impressed and was very solid at the centre back position and will be first choice for the next season and will wear the St Helens captains armband with pride. He was more or less ever present \for us last season he was another consistent player great at cutting out crosses and keeping players at bay.
Gonzalo Pineda - Pineda made his mark this season in the centre of the park, I would have rather had him on the left but due to the lack of players and the option of Mathieu I could afford him next to DeMerit. He didn’t play as well as I expected him to do so, although still solid and I think with time he will become an important part of the team as the seasons go on. He has already started getting some interest from teams across the Premiership and it will be a struggle to keep hold of the Mexian international next season.
Darjio Srna - Another ever present figure in our defence last season again because there was no one else to contest, Srna looks good but he does need a little more time to settle down and join up with the midfield a little better which I think he failed to do so this season. But he will have to keep a look over his shoulder come the new season as I look to bring in new players to compete with his new positon. But Srna has already stated that he wants to move to a bigger club and if I can find a decent replacement for him he will surely be shown the door.
Midfielders
Renato Augusto - The Brazilian playmaker would rather see himself behind the strikers, finding himself on goal and attacking defenders, but due to requirements over the season he spent most of his time playing on the left hand side. He didn’t do too badly their but I think that Renato is a little to young to expect anything big from just yet, he filled a hole and when Leto came in to relieve him from some pressure and let him go in the middle he had some decent games. I am expecting more from him in the coming season as hopefully the time of the field has made him a better player.
Arouca - Winner of the young player of the year, Another Brazilian but this one has a little more experience under his belt making him an ideal member to put in the centre of midfield and play most of the balls through. He did it expertly, scoring a few goals but mostly creating them, feeding through balls into Love, Stancu and Arshavin on a regular basis to keep them tallied up with goals. He is only 22 so still has many games in front of him, but the £6 million rated player is attracting alot of attention and it will be a fight to keep hold of the player who will surely want to go on to bigger things.
Andrey Arshavin - The Russian wizard just loves to play football, happy to play on the right hand side and most games he did but when called upon would move to striker to not only supply goals but to fire them in as well. You could tell what his motivations were as when he played on the right although he did well and caused problems for the opposition on numerous occasions, when he was put into the forward positions he made up for it by scoring 2 or 3 each time.
Forwards
Vagner Love - Fans player of the year The fans Love to Love, and he Love’s to score. 21 goals in this campigan his pace and deadly shooting proves lethal infront of goal and he has be an important part of the push for the top half of the league. With such good form I am sure that he will be attracting attentions himself, that has been the only problem to over achiveing is that now everyone wants my players. But Love seems settled at the club and pretty happy to stay on for next season and if he can repeat what he did this season we will be happy to keep him.
Bogdan Stancu - Having never bought this player before and hearing so many rumours about this Romanian striker who arrived at £2.5 million he was a great partner to Love and scoring 13 goals himself. Only 21 now he should be becoming more prolfic as the seasons go on. That is what I just love about this side is the amount of potential their is behind it, if I am able to keep these set of players together for a good few years I believe they could become one of the best teams in Europe, but that will be easier said then done.
Best of the Rest
Defender Simon Kjaer was forced into the limelight of first team action early on in the season due to their not being anyone else. He found it difficult at first to adjust to the pressure put upon his young shoulders, I quickly moved the side around so that he would have less pressure on him to perform which seemed to have great affect as he in the post season his attributes are increasing nicely and I think he could soon be a permanent fixture in the middle. Simon did do well enough in the 27 games he did play to earn himself a call up to the Danish first team and win his first cap. Loan signing Sebastian Leto as well gave the team that much needed balance down the left, someone natural to the position made a big difference if you believe what form says.