What does NA do about Jason Puncheon ???

[alpine_saint]

If he gets a squad number, he must be back on the bus in NAs eyes.

 

Anyone got an idea when the squad numbers are confirmed ?

[VectisSaint]

Personally I think there's too much risk of him throwing a paddy, but the fact he went abroad with the squad rather than stayed behind with Barnard, Forte etc. makes it obvious that he's in Adkins plans for this season.

In the case of Punch, I suspect he is on the fringe of NA's plans. In other words unless someone better comes along and assuming he gave a decent account of himself in France (which he appears to have done) NA will persevere with him, or may at least use him as a makeweight in a transfer. But if an opportunity to bring someone better were to arise Punch would find himself out of the squad. Different situation to Barnard, Forte & Dickson who will not figure under any circumstances, whose positions are already adequately covered in the squad and who will be set down from the bus as soon as a suitable alternative bus route is identified.

[VectisSaint]

If he gets a squad number, he must be back on the bus in NAs eyes.

 

Anyone got an idea when the squad numbers are confirmed ?

I think it may be this week, but would not really mean much until the end of the transfer window. Although squad numbers have to be confirmed, the squad itself does not have to be named until 1st week in September, so changes are allowed during that time. If Punch is alloacted a number all that we will know is that that number will either be with Punch or will be unused for rest of season (may be until end December, not sure). What may be interesting is if Punch is given a low number (1-18), rather than 42 or something high, now that might give us a clue.

[Dig Dig]

Amazingly everyone is entitled to their own opinions and are entitled to express them.

 

It is laughable that people are willing to run to this mess of a players defence because 1 in 20 of his performances are just about championship standard that suddenly he's got a chance to actually be a decent prem player.

 

His problems appear to come form attitude, it's been half a year since he's been allowed back into the first team properly and has made very few appearances. Genuinely think this is down to him just not being good enough opposed to some magical attitude change. His performances when he was given a chance in the season just were not good enough to justify a starting place (or quite often a spot on the bench) so I don't see why he should be seen as some sort of magical answer just because he's got his wish and is contracted to a prem club.

 

Might well be back up to the first team squad over the year (as he was last year) but I don't see a future at the club for him and it's a bit pointless wasting our time.

 

Amazingly, people are allowed to express their opinion towards your opinion.

 

You seem to know a lot about his percieved attitudes problems, where exactly do they stem from? If he was as bad as people make out, he wouldn't be allowed anyway near the first 11 and he seems to be getting his head down since his return last year. The main problem he faced was fitness and re-integrating himself into a successful side...it was never going to happen overnight.

 

If you don't like him as a player then fair enough, but I think too many people are jumping on the attitude band wagon. He's shown with his time with us and on loan that he still has the potential to be a good player at this level. His problems started when our boo boys decidided to turn their attention towards him because of him missing a few 1-1's. He's a clearly a confidence player and performs best when he is made to feel wanted, not something the club has done very well over the last two seasons.

[Saintandy666]

Puncheon is apparently happy now and definitely wants to stay. All he is motivated by is premiership football and now he sees a chance of that.