S-Clarke Posted 21 September, 2013 Share Posted 21 September, 2013 Seeing as these threads are the theme at the mo, how about one for Fonte? He's been with us all the way and was often declared as not being up to this level. Well, for me, he now looks like a completley astute premiership centre back. It helps when you have someone of the class of Lovren next to you, but Fonte looks at home in the PL now and that's another great story to our ever-growing list in recent years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 21 September, 2013 Share Posted 21 September, 2013 I can only agree with the OP. Before the start of the season I'd have thought that Maya Yoshida (another fine player) was most likely to partner Lovern at the heart of our defence. But Fonte has the place now and will take some shifting judging by our transformed defensive record this season. It may be slightly unfair however to single out any one player, because the entire back line and keeper are playing like the type of rock solid defensive unit this club hasn't had for a very long time. You build teams from the back of course - so it only remains for our forward players to start to convert more of the chances we continue to make and we'll take some stopping methinks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNSUN Posted 21 September, 2013 Share Posted 21 September, 2013 He's definitely a Lundekvam-type player that plays better alongside a dominant centre back. I always though he improved playing next to Jos when Jos joined in the Championship, and despite being out of favour to a Yoshida-Jos centre back pairing at the end of last season, he's started this season strongly alongside Lovren, who's been outstanding. Long may it continue. He always looks like he could nick a goal at a set piece, as he showed against Sunderland. I do get the impression that he's capable of making a mistake, but so far we've not been subjected to that this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceandfriendly Posted 21 September, 2013 Share Posted 21 September, 2013 Has been excellent so far this season alongside Lovren. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmacian_saint Posted 21 September, 2013 Share Posted 21 September, 2013 Fonte has been our most consistent CB since Svensson and Lundekvam were around (watch out for Lovren if becomes the main stay we can see him becoming). Last year when we started getting results in October-December, Fonte was also delivering great performances only for an injury to stop him. He has also been the most constantly underrated player of our squad since his arrival. Great to see him do well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hypochondriac Posted 21 September, 2013 Share Posted 21 September, 2013 Been my favourite player for a few seasons now. I didn't agree with the detractors on here, he wasn't able to play well with Jos but he always had the quality. Great player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 21 September, 2013 Share Posted 21 September, 2013 I remember a while back when people were slagging off Fonte and saying Hoolivled was better that I was wrong, Fonte was struggling and Hoolvield was brilliant,our best defender. Central defence is all about partnerships, Lovern and Fonte make a great pair and just like Svenson and Lundekvam you play Lundekvam with an Inferior partner he doesn't look as good either. Fonte is a decent centre half and Lovern is a class act, its interesting Yoshida can't even make the bench this season, as a pair they work together so well. Another one whose been there since moreorless the start and great to see him thriving in the premier league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheaf Saint Posted 21 September, 2013 Share Posted 21 September, 2013 He seems so much more confident this season alongside Lovren. Our defense has been immense so far with three clean sheets in five games (I know - I had to re-read that myself!) and he has been a core part of that. Long may it continue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted 22 September, 2013 Share Posted 22 September, 2013 I know everyone is raving about Lovren yesterday, and fair play he did score the winning goal, and is a great buy, but I thought Fonte was better yesterday, certainly for what he is paid to do, i.e. defend. Lovren was fortunate that a penalty was not given against him, even though it probably was a correct decision, and Fonte's headed clearance off the line late on was superb. Certainly seems to have matured this season alongside Lovren and with the coaching of MP. Comments based on the extended Sky highlights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 22 September, 2013 Share Posted 22 September, 2013 continues like this, surely recognition will come from portugal. who are their CBs at the mo and are they any good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted 22 September, 2013 Author Share Posted 22 September, 2013 continues like this, surely recognition will come from portugal. who are their CBs at the mo and are they any good? Bruno Alves and Pepe are their first choice CB's. Backup is currently Luis Neto and Ricardo Costa of Valencia (we were actually linked with him in the summer) Nelson and Henrique are also probably ahead of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farawaysaint Posted 22 September, 2013 Share Posted 22 September, 2013 continues like this, surely recognition will come from portugal. who are their CBs at the mo and are they any good? Real Madrid: Fábio Coentrã, Pepe Valencia: Costa Fenerbache: Alves Zenit St Petersburg: Neto They have one of the best back lines in the world there is not a chance Fonte will breakthrough sadly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted 22 September, 2013 Share Posted 22 September, 2013 Real Madrid: Fábio Coentrã, Pepe Valencia: Costa Fenerbache: Alves Zenit St Petersburg: Neto They have one of the best back lines in the world there is not a chance Fonte will breakthrough sadly. ah. i see lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubai_phil Posted 22 September, 2013 Share Posted 22 September, 2013 A bunch of non-Saints supporting mates of mine down here believe Jose is priceless at the moment. They all have him in their Fantasy League teams and have been cleaning up points left right & centre. Must admit, I never expected him to start this season, let alone look as good as he has done. He is also looking composed on the ball and has started to break into the oppo box from open play - something he did very early on yesterday against Liverpool - quite a shock to see him trying to get on the end of a through ball to the right side... And for me the icing on the cake was the wonderful slow motion dive to get a free kick towards the end against WHU which JWP whipped in & we could/should have scored from - pure class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmacian_saint Posted 22 September, 2013 Share Posted 22 September, 2013 Real Madrid: Fábio Coentrã, Pepe Valencia: Costa Fenerbache: Alves Zenit St Petersburg: Neto They have one of the best back lines in the world there is not a chance Fonte will breakthrough sadly. It's a tough one really, I could see him challenging Ricardo Costa but not the other ones who on the plus side already have a lot of successful game time together. Plus Fonte does not really have a reputation in the Portuguese game. He was under contract at Benfica but was never even part of their squad, being loaned out to Primeira Liga average teams for the entire duration of his contract before being bought by Palace. He started his career at Sporting Lisbon but never played in the first team squad. He was an under-21 international but in a rather dull generation where most of its world class promise was promoted to the A team via the fast lane. There just isn't a gap for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eelpie Posted 23 September, 2013 Share Posted 23 September, 2013 SFC has been praised for producing promising young players, but of equal note is the improvement in quality of our older footballers. Fonte is one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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