After all, didn't we have Oakley, Marsden (FG), Delap, Tessem, Svensson and the mighty Draper (sorry, remembering a Leicester match). ?
Yet it's become clear that although we have the players, each has only some of the skills that we really need. We don't have the complete article.
Matt Oakley is probably the best passer of the ball in midfield and we clearly miss his ability not just to break up the opponent's attack, but to supply our forwards. Unfortunately, Matty rarely seems capable of grabbing a game by the scruff of it's designer Premiership replica shirt and getting it going in Saints direction. Which is why he's now warming a bench.
Chris Marsden (FG) has a superb engine, will undoubtedly get told off for wearing out the turf by the groundsman and puts himself about. He's been a godsend on the left flank, where he should provide Bridgey with all the cover he could want when he gets forward (which he should do more often). So no Footy Genius in the centre.
Anders is the best creative midfielder we have at the club and I'm waiting for the day when he sets up a cards table in the middle while he waits for his team-mates to get into space or play off him. He must be getting really frustrated by now. Strachan doesn't differentiate between attacking and defensive midfielders so Anders quite often is the one to be subbed. I wonder what he would have done with a fit Le Tiss.
Jo still has delusions of being a striker. Unfortunately Gordon has believed him so expect more late appearances as a sub when we need a headed goal from a corner and not much else. Jo's versatility has worked against him as he can play everywhere except in goal and probably could have given Jonah a run there too. I think he's best on the right side of the central midfield pair, but lacks the necessary defensive qualities to get in the side.
Speaking of versatility, there's Rory Delap. Rory played everywhere down the right for an injury ravaged Derby. He was even their top scorer before he joined the Saints. While his all round game is excellent he's not as creative as Anders, nor as good at getting things going as Oakley. But his other qualities and on the pitch attitude give him the nod.
So we would be more creative with Anders and Oakley, but we couldn't control a game. The same applies with Delap and Anders. We have no one to create from deep. A Marsden and Anders pairing is better, but oh no! our opponents have just nipped past on the left flank. Tough isn't it ?
You can see where Gordon's coming from, even if you don't necessarily understand a word he says.
I worry that the lack of a real cutting edge is down to Strachan's managerial technique and coaching. I think he doesn't use Svensson to the best effect, expecting him to be another run of the mill midfielder. I understand his approach, but as I've said we don't have an all round midfielder, so why not play to the strengths we do have?
More than anyone, Saints are used to carrying attacking flair while other players fill in to compensate defensively. I'd like to see Svensson used far more in linking plays up, becoming in effect our playmaker. Now, while we shouldn't become dependant on it to the exclusion of all else, it has to be better than the desperate thumps up to Beattie I keep seeing. Oakley, Marsden and Telfer have all good defensive capabilities so I've no doubt they could act as cover from a more dynamic approach.
We have strength in defence to handle Williams dismissal. A midfield of Marsden, Oakley, Svensson (as playmaker, please) and Telfer looks good especially when you have the pace of a Fernandes to use as a more attacking option. Delap too, while not in my first eleven can do an excellent job in a number of positions as can the underrated Jo Tessem.