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Dean Hammond


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People are being quite quick to write Mr. Hammond off since the arrival of Steven Davis, and I'm curious to know why. He signed a new contract last season through to 2015, and if we were apparently gunning for promotion straight away (but were expected to do it within two or three years, someone will correct me I'm sure), why would he have been presented with such a deal?

 

I also saw one person say that Davis is 'the captain we've always needed'. Really? I don't think Dean has done all that badly so far with his two promotions and cup competition.

 

I realise we're a Premier League club now and apparently have great ambitions, but we also want to build a squad, not take a successful component out of it, don't we?

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We need to separate captain material from prem first team material. Deano is a good captain of the team/club, seems like he is a big personality with us and does all the right things for the club.

 

It would be harsh to take his role as captain away form him, but his performances last season doesn't realistically warrant him starting ahead of Morg, Cork or our new signing of Davis. So he probably will remain a key figure head in the team, but won't be a big player within it. Davis could be the long term solution of becoming captain, but that relies on him really gelling with the team and adding/creating the character of the squad (a big thing of recent years). In the short term Deano knows he's not massive first team material but will play a role, mostly as a captain of the squad. In the long term, someone else will fill that role, if its Davis that mostly relies on him.

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Trolling? Dont be stupid.

 

He has done a great job for us, but he isnt premier.

 

He was the player that woke up the morning after our promotion, after a night of celebrating, with a minging hangover and then realised he wasn't going to be a part of it.

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Before he was third in line for a central midfield berth. Now he's fourth in line. We signed him for three years because it was felt he was Championship standard and would still have a role to play. That may not be the case anymore.

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I'm not sure I believe he wouldn't be needed next year. It wouldn't surprise me to see us play 3 in CM more next season, especially away and against the big teams as we know Nigel likes to dominate midfield. If this is the case even if he is 4th choice he will get a decent amount of game time. Also he has been fantastic for us and captained us to back to back promotions, he deserves loyalty from us not to just be shipped out without even being given a chance at this level.

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I'd be surprised to ever see Hammond in a Saints shirt again

 

I'd re-phrase that, but only slightly to "I wouldn't be particularly surprised if we never saw him in a Saints shirt again".

 

I guess he'll get a run-around in the Carling Cup or w/e or maybe the earlier rounds of the FA Cup.

 

In all seriousness, loyalty and sentiment has to go in the bin when it comes to the Premiership I'm afraid. No way is he a Premiership player.

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Football is a very well paid, but bloody hard game is it not ?

 

Players come here because we want them, they do their level best for us and they play a big part in getting this grand old club two successive promotions. The reward for all that honest endeavor ... well if Dean is reading this it's being told by mugs like me that you're no longer good enough before you've even had a chance to play at the pinnacle of the English game.

 

But the hard truth is he probably isn't the type of player who could make much of a impact in this league. They often say there's no room for sentiment in football - in this case 'they' are almost certainly right I'm afraid.

 

Sorry Dean.

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Hammond will get PL game time.

 

We have 3 CM's there will be suspensions and injuries and NA rotates the players to keep them fresh. He will get 20-30 minutes off the bench from time to time as will JWP & Chaplow WHILE they are at the club. During the course of the season we will likely see 5 or 6 players at some time get game time in CM.

 

I'm amazed that so many have already forgotten that a large part of our success has been our TEAM spirit and the Psychology approach at the club.

 

NA is not going to buy 5 or 6 PL quality CM's and destroy the team spirit in the next 4/5 weeks that took two seasons to build.

 

We will have a 25 man squad and around 15 of those should be PL first team quality THIS season 'til January at least).

 

He won't be the best, BUT he won't let us down either.

 

(of course you COULD choose to sell him and then you can have Guly as your cover in CM off the bench & in case of an injury crisis)

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Hammond is ok as back up. Not sure Davis lit up the premier league last time he was In it and it is difficult to judge how good he is now as the Scottish prem is a very poor standard.

 

Villa young player of the year and player of the year indicate he'll be ok. Shame he made the mistake of following Lawrie Sanchez to Fulham.

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I think there's space for Deano still. Davis would appear to be ahead of him straight off but we will still need 4 central midfielders IMO; if Cork & Morgan were both unavailable we need proper back up and Deano would need to step up. If he kept his place when the others were back due to good form, so be it. No need to get rid. 4 decent centre mids for two starting berths - game on!

 

Also, for some away games, I reckon we'll go for 3 in the middle to keep things tight & Deano's battling qualities may be better suited in this situation alongside 2 of the other 3?

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Squad player, but will be 4th or 5th choice pretty soon. He hss not been first pick in the starting 11 for a while now. Sentiment is for losing teams surely. We need more substitutes and we need cover but that's where his role will be limited to. As for the contract, among other things, it stops players walking way for nothing who otherwise would command a reasonable fee

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Once the reality of playing Premier teams weekly with no margin of error where results are concerned, I expect quite a few players to fall by the wayside. Given Cortese's ruthless ambition and pursuit of success I would be surprised if many of the present promotion squad feature regularly twelve months from now. One of the big problems these players and the club have is the pay they would have to give up to transfer down a league. I think we may see quite a few going out on loan.

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He captained this team to 3 trophies in 3 seasons, personally I'd be a bit miffed if he was just pushed out of the door. One of the players who quite clearly deserves an opportunity, not a week-in week-out opportunity, but I sill think he'll play in some capacity next year.

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Hammond has been a great servant and could well become a victim of our quick rise through the leagues. There is the risk of by keeping him that we restrict the chances for the youngsters coming through the ranks. That said I still think he could play a role of backup CM, he's a wise old head and does alright when just playing as a sitting midfielder, which we're going to need against the better sides in the division.

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Dean Hammond's Southampton career officially ended last night.

 

Thanks Deano and your efforts will not be forgotten, especially that goal at SMS v Leeds which lit the blue touch paper on another promotion season.

 

One of the more unsung heroes of the last three years. But there is no room for sentiment...

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Dean Hammond's Southampton career officially ended last night.

 

Thanks Deano and your efforts will not be forgotten, especially that goal at SMS v Leeds which lit the blue touch paper on another promotion season.

 

One of the more unsung heroes of the last three years. But there is no room for sentiment...

 

What a load of tripe "officially ended last night" Neil/Nicola I can see how you might have got confused ;-) I would say its far more likely that he will have a bit part role probably playing in the cups and starting from the bench. Seeing as none of us has any clue about what formation we will play next year who knows if we'll play 2 CM's or 3 in which case Dean may well get more game time than any of us have predicted.

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Cork and Morgan are much better, not too sure what Davis could bring but with Buttner coming also and he has been playing in the left midfield for his club last season that would also push Lallana in a more central role so Hammond could be just a reserve for most of the season unless 2 of those CM's become injured. He could get a look in if we played a 433/451 formation like spain do but we just don't know til the season starts but for now going on the system we had last year i can't see Hammond getting in. We still need to offload some players and bring some in.

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I think there is still a place for deano. And to be fair, I want their to be. He has given his all so far and is definitely that bit of steel that we need in midfield for the tougher fixtures. We aren't going to go to every team this season and try to outplay them. Not a chance. Hi arsenal, please just stand their and let us samba around you ^_^ When it comes to those fixtures I can see us going for a 5man midfield and Hammod will be in the thick of it. Tracking men down, making vital challenges and shouting encouragement to the lads. He may not have the technical ability of morgan but neither does chaplow, and their is definitely a lot of chappers bumming love ins that happen on this forum.

 

I love the team we are building and I trust the players and Nigel. They of last seasons key players will form a part of next years squad that is for sure!

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I was worried his lack of pace would leave him exposed in the Championship, but he had a great season and not once did I ever feel the side was weaker because he came in to replace either CM. He must have been good as a could not rate Morgan higher. Once again I'm worried about his lack of pace as we make another huge step up, but I certainly won't write him off. He's been terrific. Excellent footballer. Decent touch, real battler and works his socks off. Very underestimated.

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Hypothetically, and I hate to say it of course but it is a possibility, if we got relegated next season (and perhaps the thought was in the back of the management's mind when they offered Hammond that contract), we have to ask ourselves who we would lose. Morgan and Cork would potentially be sought after, and so Hammond would once again be needed. Add to that he's be a relatively useful squad player this season anyway (IMO, certainly in the cups) and I feel he still has a future this season.

 

This isn't a pessimistic post per se, just a "what if". If our signings continue in the same vein, we'll easily be safe. (Adkins will sell Hammond now and this will all be a moot point. You wait.)

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I was worried his lack of pace would leave him exposed in the Championship, but he had a great season and not once did I ever feel the side was weaker because he came in to replace either CM. He must have been good as a could not rate Morgan higher. Once again I'm worried about his lack of pace as we make another huge step up, but I certainly won't write him off. He's been terrific. Excellent footballer. Decent touch, real battler and works his socks off. Very underestimated.

 

Ditto......thank you.

 

Until Nigel decides otherwise there is a place for Deano in the squad/team.....

 

We will see:rolleyes:

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Hammond is ok as back up. Not sure Davis lit up the premier league last time he was In it and it is difficult to judge how good he is now as the Scottish prem is a very poor standard.

Being voted Villa fans' player of the season when he was there might suggest that he won't be out of his depth

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But not Premier League standard.

 

Well the only way we will know that for sure is when he plays. If NA thinks that he can do a job as a squad player then I would be inclined to believe him until the evidence proves otherwise.

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Don't think Hammond is Prem standard, infact I'd say he was a fairly average Championship midfielder. He is a battler, but that's not enough in the Premier League. His passing is limited and he is pretty slow. We have Cork, Morgan, Davis who are all decent CM players. Lallana and Chaplow can play there if needed. If Buttner signs, he appartenly started off there for Ajax. JWP may break through this year... basically we have plenty of cover without Hammond. If he stays his appearances will be extremely limited. Chaplow was 4th choice CM last year, how many games did he get in that position.

 

Edit: Oops, meant midfielder.

Edited by Lighthouse
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Don't think Hammond is Prem standard, infact I'd say he was a fairly average Championship striker. He is a battler, but that's not enough in the Premier League. His passing is limited and he is pretty slow. We have Cork, Morgan, Davis who are all decent CM players. Lallana and Chaplow can play there if needed. If Buttner signs, he appartenly started off there for Ajax. JWP may break through this year... basically we have plenty of cover without Hammond. If he stays his appearances will be extremely limited. Chaplow was 4th choice CM last year, how many games did he get in that position.

 

Good job we chose to play him in midfield then... :-)

 

I trust Hammond in the central midfield spot more than I do Chaplow. Chaplow doesn't have the same discipline. I think both have a place in the squad, but who knows who'll still be here come September 1st...

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If players like Fox of Norwich and Shaun Derry can do a job in the PL then Hammond can for sure.
This is very true. There are some shocking players doing a job in the Premier League, as you've just pointed out. If they can do it Hammond certainly can as he's not a bad player. Decent back up, not saying he should start, but he won't be sold either. Plus if we are to go down we'll need him in the Championship the season after next. Won't be going anywhere.
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Just wonder how many people saying there is no room for sentiment/loyalty in football would be crying about a lack of loyalty/sentiment if Lambert or Lallana decided to leave us for another club tommorrow?

 

Having said that I would say it's pretty clear Dean was the weakesst of our CM last season....

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