John Boy Saint Posted 20 March, 2017 Posted 20 March, 2017 I'm not sure if it's me but he hasn't been involved in as many Hooiveld/Yoshida (of old) **** ups or has he ? Give him time............. while the baying mob try and figure out how to build the ducking stool alongside the boating lake up the Common.
kjurwi Posted 20 March, 2017 Posted 20 March, 2017 What would you think about Stephens playing defensive midfielder together with Romeu next season. VvD and Yoshida/(New defender) at the central defence.
Pass the Dutchie Posted 3 April, 2017 Posted 3 April, 2017 Stephens shines to fill Van Dijk’s boots Much of the discussion at St Mary’s after this stalemate inevitably involved Jack Wilshere, who was superb off the bench, but another Jack was again mightily impressive. Jack Stephens, a defender making just his sixth Premier League start, stood firm and calm amid Bournemouth’s late onslaught. Southampton’s academy has been quite the conveyor belt in recent years, especially developing defenders, and Stephens, who joined the club as a 17-year-old from Plymouth Argyle, has more than looked the part since being asked to fill Virgil van Dijk’s sizeable boots. His performances have prevented Martín Cáceres from making his first‑team debut. Cáceres has had to bide his time – building his match fitness with the under-23s, where Stephens began the season – as the England Under‑21 international goes from strength to strength. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/03/ten-talking-points-from-this-weekend-premier-league
Kingsland Red Posted 3 April, 2017 Posted 3 April, 2017 Stephens is exactly the type of player we would be attempting to sign - an England U21 international, composed on the ball, and with several seasons in the lower leagues behind him. No problems with him playing, he's doing a fine job and will benefit with the experience.
qwertyell Posted 3 April, 2017 Posted 3 April, 2017 https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/03/ten-talking-points-from-this-weekend-premier-league It's a bit OTT but I thought he played pretty well. It was Yoshida's mistake that led to Afobe's glaring opportunity and the poor clearances of others and flapping goalkeeper that brought about other chances. He's doing all right. I'd be plenty happy to have him as probably the fourth part of next season's four man centre back pool. It's parts one and two that are going to need filling once Virgil goes.
Shropshire Saint Posted 3 April, 2017 Posted 3 April, 2017 Very impressed with him when the ball is on the ground. However he is not strong in the air and once or twice on Saturday was bullied. Hopefully this can be sorted out on the training ground. I think that Yoshida has had a great season and has cut out many of his 'Yoshi moments' although he did make one mistake on Saturday that led to a clear chance. Having said that, it would be interesting to see Jack and Virgil together. Virgil seems much more of a communicator than Yoshida.
Dusic Posted 3 April, 2017 Posted 3 April, 2017 Majorly impressive since getting this run of games. Looks composed on the ball and a top propsect. Have been pleasantly suprised by his impact. Should only get better too.
Mowgli Posted 4 April, 2017 Posted 4 April, 2017 Stephens is exactly the type of player we would be attempting to sign - an England U21 international, composed on the ball, and with several seasons in the lower leagues behind him. No problems with him playing, he's doing a fine job and will benefit with the experience. Spot on. It's a classic example of a young player taking his chance when asked to cover for an injured player and accelerating his progress.
suewhistle Posted 4 April, 2017 Posted 4 April, 2017 Very impressed with him when the ball is on the ground. However he is not strong in the air and once or twice on Saturday was bullied. Exactly my thoughts, and never felt anxious when he was on the ball; he's definitely increased in confidence this year. But the physical side will come, I hope, as he matures. It's still the physical strikers he struggles against in the air.
Toadhall Saint Posted 4 April, 2017 Posted 4 April, 2017 Good player and given another couple of years developing will be a very good player
James Posted 4 April, 2017 Posted 4 April, 2017 The tackle in the first half where he caught up and dispossessed Afobe(?) was brilliant. As others have said, he's a classy operator with the ball on the deck but is pretty vulnerable in the air. I worry, for example, about his ability to cope with Benteke tomorrow night. He needs to bulk up a bit over the summer but with the right training we've got a very good player on our hands. Whilst Yoshi has been brilliant since VVD has been injured I think it would do Jack the world of good to play next to Virgil. Sadly, I don't think he'll get that chance. It's a difficult one come the summer as Yoshida has been excellent but clearly we do need better. I wonder whether we will only bring in one CB and will leave Jack/Maya to battle it out for the starting spot.
doddisalegend Posted 5 April, 2017 Posted 5 April, 2017 Well that's either proof that stats can be fiddled to prove anything or proof that football fans just see what they want to see despite the facts.....
saint si Posted 5 April, 2017 Posted 5 April, 2017 Doesn't that just prove that our defence is busier? It doesn't show anything about percentage successful vs percentage unsuccessful for example. Our defence being busier is itself a cause for concern...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 5 April, 2017 Author Posted 5 April, 2017 Another step tonight, more education against one of the very best in the air & he did ok. Of course some chimps on here would rather a foreign Carlos kick a ball played. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Mowgli Posted 6 April, 2017 Posted 6 April, 2017 I counted 7 attempted clearances in the first half yesterday. 5 successful clearances and 3 of those in an aerial duel. The 2 unsuccessful clearances weren't pretty but not catastrophic and on one he recovered the ball quickly.
saint1977 Posted 6 April, 2017 Posted 6 April, 2017 Another step tonight, more education against one of the very best in the air & he did ok. Of course some chimps on here would rather a foreign Carlos kick a ball played. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Or alternatively Carlos Kickaball/Jack play DMC with Romeu suspended given Clasie is out of favour and S Davis probably injured. Just saying.
charliemiller Posted 6 April, 2017 Posted 6 April, 2017 Jack Stephens is looking the part more so with every game ....lets not forget his age but the way he moves forward into space when he gets on the ball and distributes gives us an addition dimension going forward , VVD also does this , i wonder if he has been watching and learning from VVD . Also good to note that the club rate Alfie Jones as a greater prospect than stephens and a potential future club captain , there may come a day when we have two academy graduates as first choice CB
Dr. Kucho Posted 6 April, 2017 Posted 6 April, 2017 Glad to see Stephens doing well, Yoshida has improved too. Would like to see Stephens play next to VVD. The question now is, which PL top club will Stephens be linked to first in the rags? My money's on Arsenal.
Ewell Posted 6 April, 2017 Posted 6 April, 2017 way he moves forward into space when he gets on the ball and distributes gives us an addition dimension going forward , VVD also does this , i wonder if he has been watching and learning from VVD . From what I have seen of him in academy and on loan games he has always had good ability on the ball, its one of the strongest parts of his game.
angelman Posted 6 April, 2017 Posted 6 April, 2017 Not wanting to go into revisionism, but on curent form, I do not think that Fonte would be displacing either Stephens or Yoshida.
The Cat Posted 6 April, 2017 Posted 6 April, 2017 Not only is he gaining vital experience while not looking out of place, he's also getting the opportunity to form a CB partnership with Yoshida. I particularly like the fact Jack bagged an assist for Yoshida's goal last night.
Winnersaint Posted 6 April, 2017 Posted 6 April, 2017 Keep VVD for a season and bingo, a natural successor.
austsaint Posted 6 April, 2017 Posted 6 April, 2017 Not wanting to go into revisionism, but on curent form, I do not think that Fonte would be displacing either Stephens or Yoshida. Quite agree. Stephen's reminds me a bit of Chambers - athletic, good on the ball, picks a pass well; room for improvement aerially. Maybe not as quick as Chambers, but there are similarities.
Appy Posted 7 April, 2017 Posted 7 April, 2017 Not wanting to go into revisionism, but on curent form, I do not think that Fonte would be displacing either Stephens or Yoshida. Fonte wouldn't displace me with his recent performances.
Lord Duckhunter Posted 29 April, 2017 Author Posted 29 April, 2017 Obviously Maguire is the hipsters favourite, the English centre half we should be signing. But I watched them both closely today and jack was far far superior. Defended well but his distribution was much better . We've got a good little player there . Imo
Saints foreva Posted 29 April, 2017 Posted 29 April, 2017 Jack Stephens should be our 3rd choice next season with two new CB signings, **** Yoshida off.
saint1977 Posted 29 April, 2017 Posted 29 April, 2017 Obviously Maguire is the hipsters favourite, the English centre half we should be signing. But I watched them both closely today and jack was far far superior. Defended well but his distribution was much better . We've got a good little player there . Imo Don't agree with a lot of your posts but do on this. Jack and JWP are going to be the major positives of CP's time in charge. What I suspect we don't agree on is that time should end shortly..
beatlesaint Posted 29 April, 2017 Posted 29 April, 2017 Jack Stephens should be our 3rd choice next season with two new CB signings, **** Yoshida off. you have very low expectations for next season then.
Saint_clark Posted 29 April, 2017 Posted 29 April, 2017 The one player who played well today, he's got better with every single game.
John Boy Saint Posted 29 April, 2017 Posted 29 April, 2017 Jack Stephens should be our 3rd choice next season with two new CB signings, **** Yoshida off. More fertiliser for my roses.
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 30 April, 2017 Posted 30 April, 2017 The one player who played well today, he's got better with every single game. This
Give it to Ron Posted 30 April, 2017 Posted 30 April, 2017 Wrong Romeu was outstanding too without him there would have been nothing in our midfield at all defensively. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
Minsk Posted 30 April, 2017 Posted 30 April, 2017 Jack was easily our best player yesterday. I wonder how many will still insist he is dropped for Caceres against Liverpool at Anfield (especially given how well Jack played there in the semi-final too)........
SuperSAINT Posted 30 April, 2017 Posted 30 April, 2017 Wrong Romeu was outstanding too without him there would have been nothing in our midfield at all defensively. This. The reason why we need a defensive midfield specialist alongside him next season.
Whitey Grandad Posted 30 April, 2017 Posted 30 April, 2017 Jack was easily our best player yesterday. I wonder how many will still insist he is dropped for Caceres against Liverpool at Anfield (especially given how well Jack played there in the semi-final too)........ I'd like to see Caceres alongside Stephens to give him the benefit of his experience.
Lord Duckhunter Posted 17 May, 2017 Author Posted 17 May, 2017 I thought he was fantastic tonight. He just gets better and better, was far superior than Smalling. His touch and distribution was first class and he's even started to step into midfield and knock some nice passes about. If he plays regularly next season & continues to develop, he'll be a wanted man next season. Claude was right giving him a run in the side
John Boy Saint Posted 17 May, 2017 Posted 17 May, 2017 I thought he was fantastic tonight. He just gets better and better, was far superior than Smalling. His touch and distribution was first class and he's even started to step into midfield and knock some nice passes about. If he plays regularly next season & continues to develop, he'll be a wanted man next season. Claude was right giving him a run in the side Only a complete tool would argue with that..... spot on.
ALWAYS_SFC Posted 18 May, 2017 Posted 18 May, 2017 He is gong to be a very good player and will really benefit from playing with VVD next season
Heisenberg Posted 18 May, 2017 Posted 18 May, 2017 Lets hope les doesnt do anything stupid this summer. Chambers Mk II
James Posted 18 May, 2017 Posted 18 May, 2017 Looks excellent - so nice to see how he's progressed from being subbed on v Leicester. Is better than Yoshida now IMO.
angelman Posted 18 May, 2017 Posted 18 May, 2017 Was our best player last night. Liked the VVD-like forward runs, although he seems less sure of himself and was looking to pass too soon, when frankly, he should just have pushed on regardless.
a1ex2001 Posted 18 May, 2017 Posted 18 May, 2017 Lets hope les doesnt do anything stupid this summer. Chambers Mk II Chambers wanted to go and looking where he is now we got an excellent deal I don't think Arsenal would get there money back if they tried to flog him this summer!
SuperSAINT Posted 18 May, 2017 Posted 18 May, 2017 He has been excellent, he's better than Yoshida. Possibly... But Yoshida deserves great credit for helping him through games, IMO.
saintwbu Posted 18 May, 2017 Posted 18 May, 2017 If he could Cruyff turn in his own penalty area and then moan at his own fans then City would be trying to sign him for £50mil. He was absolutely superb last night. Also loved him getting in Tadic's face in the first half after he tried to have a go at everyone. For a youngster who's only played a handful of games to take on the responsibility of telling a senior player to pull his ****ing finger out shows great strength of character. Have noticed before he's definitely got a bit of spike, often seems to be having verbals with opposition striker's.
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