Jannik Vestergaard - Official: Signs for Leicester

[hackedoff]

He doesn't have the quickness of feet you need for the Premier League. No amount of coaching from our brilliant first team coaches is going to change that. Another 20 million + wasted because, like Carrillo, he is simply too slow for the PL. That was known before we bought him, which is a shocking indictment of our current recruitment team.

 

Rumour has it he has a plimsol line tattoo on his area.

[mrfahaji]

Looks more and more a Hughes player every game. Bought as a simple answer to an overly-simplistic question, and subsequently really not cut out for playing against an attack with any level of pace or willingness to keep the ball on the ground. Seems like a reasonably cultured passer of the ball (then again, so did Hoedt), but just agonisingly slow.

 

This is what's so strange about not playing Yoshida. Some people think Hoedt is the worst player to play for Saints in history - I don't, but neither he nor Vestergaard have any pace, so I'm surprised they are constantly picked together while Yoshida sits on the bench.

[tajjuk]

I think he's done fine, he's still adjusting to the league remember and plenty of slow defenders have done fine in the PL, for example John Terry or Per Mertesacker.

 

Maguire is not very quick and he does well. It's about positioning and playing to your strengths. He already knows he is not quick and knows how to position himself.

 

Vertonghen is not quick, does not turn that well, but is still one of the most consistent centre-backs in PL, he is protected by a DM and a hard working pressing team in front of him.

 

Also part of the managers job is to pick a system and style of play that suits the players. If you don't have quick centre-backs you make sure you protect them with a good DM and don't play too high a line, whilst also making sure the opposition struggles to play good balls in behind.

 

None of that is happening.

 

Like I said on the other thread, Cedric and Bertrand have played the last 4 odd seasons playing in a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 type systems with inside forward type players and a DM protecting the back 4 where they have a licence to bomb forward. Also in team's that generally have a lot of the ball against most similar level teams.

 

Your full backs can't play like that in a 4-4-2, they need to be more defensive, but they are not doing that and the centre-backs are being completely exposed.

 

We also have multiple centre-backs who are very comfortable playing out from the back and keeping the ball, but we are not really utilising that much.

 

According to whoscored he is statistically our 3rd best performing player behind Ings and Hojberg.

 

Also big strong and quick centre backs barely exist, there is a reason Liverpool bought VVD for £70 million, because centre-backs like him are very rare. Look at some of the top 4 still playing players like Luiz, Otamendi, or look at Man Utd you have spent like £100 million on centre backs and can't find a good one.

Edited 2 October, 2018 by tajjuk

[Nordic Saint]

I think he's done fine, he's still adjusting to the league remember and plenty of slow defenders have done fine in the PL, for example John Terry or Per Mertesacker.

 

Maguire is not very quick and he does well. It's about positioning and playing to your strengths. He already knows he is not quick and knows how to position himself.

 

Vertonghen is not quick, does not turn that well, but is still one of the most consistent centre-backs in PL, he is protected by a DM and a hard working pressing team in front of him.

 

Also part of the managers job is to pick a system and style of play that suits the players. If you don't have quick centre-backs you make sure you protect them with a good DM and don't play too high a line, whilst also making sure the opposition struggles to play good balls in behind.

 

None of that is happening.

 

Like I said on the other thread, Cedric and Bertrand have played the last 4 odd seasons playing in a 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1 type systems with inside forward type players and a DM protecting the back 4 where they have a licence to bomb forward. Also in team's that generally have a lot of the ball against most similar level teams.

 

Your full backs can't play like that in a 4-4-2, they need to be more defensive, but they are not doing that and the centre-backs are being completely exposed.

 

We also have multiple centre-backs who are very comfortable playing out from the back and keeping the ball, but we are not really utilising that much.

 

According to whoscored he is statistically our 3rd best performing player behind Ings and Hojberg.

 

Also big strong and quick centre backs barely exist, there is a reason Liverpool bought VVD for £70 million, because centre-backs like him are very rare. Look at some of the top 4 still playing players like Luiz, Otamendi, or look at Man Utd you have spent like £100 million on centre backs and can't find a good one.

 

He's slow and unathletic. He'll never make the grade in the Premier League. Thank God he's not playing tonight. Yoshida and Bednarek are much better than Vestergaard and Hoedt.

[Cabbage_Face]

Rubbish signing, get Marlon

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I remember getting infracted for this [emoji1303][emoji23]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Patrick Bateman]

I don't think Vestergaard is awful, I think he needs a MUCH better pairing.

[Saint86]

Yoshi simply should be the first choice CB. He makes the rest better.

[wild-saint]

I thought Vestergarrd and hoedt had their best game tonight, absolutely awesome.

[Heisenberg]

Yoshi simply should be the first choice CB. He makes the rest better.

 

His pass back last minute was classic Yoshi though.

 

If we are genuinely relying on Yoshi to turnaround this decline we are truly ****ed IMHO

[Nordic Saint]

His pass back last minute was classic Yoshi though.

 

If we are genuinely relying on Yoshi to turnaround this decline we are truly ****ed IMHO

 

He's better than anyone else we've got and our results when he plays are better than when he doesn't. Of course, he's not as good as Fonte and van Dijk but those days are gone. If Hughes sticks with Yoshida and Bednarek v Chelsea, we could get a draw; if he plays Vestergaard and Hoedt, we'll lose easily.

[skintsaint]

His pass back last minute was classic Yoshi though.

 

If we are genuinely relying on Yoshi to turnaround this decline we are truly ****ed IMHO

 

Was shocking. Its why he doesnt play the important games.

[egg]

He's shocking, especially for the price we paid. When we signed him I highlighted his lack of pace, that he was slow on the turn and that a partnership of him and Hoedt would be a car crash. I hadn't appreciated that he couldn't jump though and his partnership with Hoedt is at least as bad as it was obvious it would be.

 

That all said I think he'd be better with the right partner as the even worse Hoedt shows up his weaknesses. I'd like to see him alongside Yoshida in a back 4, or the middle of a 3 with Yoshida one side and either Bednarek or Stephens the other. That Hoedt is playing ahead of the infinity betyer Yoshida mystifies me - has to be politics involved there.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

He needs to step his game up. Our zonal marking at corners is an absolute disaster area because he is too slow to move to the danger spot when it is in his zone. Doesn't move his feet fast enough and just sort of leans. Not good enough.

[Pilchards]

He needs to step his game up. Our zonal marking at corners is an absolute disaster area because he is too slow to move to the danger spot when it is in his zone. Doesn't move his feet fast enough and just sort of leans. Not good enough.

 

Very slow indeed.

Against Wolves he was roasted 3 times in 5 minutes and each time he brought the player down.

Never even got booked for it which surprised everyone.

[eelpie]

I don't think Vestergaard is awful, I think he needs a MUCH better pairing.

Perhaps all our defenders aren't awful and they all need better pairing.

[Super_Uwe]

Needs time to settle but you would hope eventually he will turn it around. When Michael Svensson joined he didn't seem all that great to begin with in 02/03, but once established with Claus he was one of the first players on the team sheet. That may just sound like mindless positive thinking for the sake of it, but we should always remember the pace of the Premier League is brutal and it will take time.

 

Sadly this summer's recruits aren't going to get much time to settle because our recruitment has been so poor the last few years, we're desperate for players to come in and hit the ground running. Ings has sort of managed to do that, the others really haven't got going yet.

[saint1977]

Was shocking. Its why he doesnt play the important games.

 

He's made those mistakes when he hasn't been a regular though e.g. Man U home under Koeman. When he was playing week-in, week-out, they were less frequent. He is capable of a loss of concentration certainly, but would help Vestergaard out with his recovery pace.

[Dusic]

Yet another **** show if Vestergaard isn't considered better than the dross we had last year.

[Crab Lungs]

Hughes making a point about recruitment in recent weeks.

[Batman]

Hughes making a point about recruitment in recent weeks.

 

He was saying it was brilliant during the summer

[shurlock]

Yet another **** show if Vestergaard isn't considered better than the dross we had last year.

 

If Harry Maguire couldn’t dislodge it, how is Vestergaard expected to?

[Turkish]

Hughes making a point about recruitment in recent weeks.

 

Our recruitment has been perfect. When we had success we unashamedly positioned ourselves a a show case club. We bring talented players in, they perform for a couple of years, get a big move, we double/treble our money and we go and again. It worked, it's brilliant. But of course our mong fan base didn't like it, whinging and bleating that we sell our best players, whinging and moaning that some of Europes biggest clubs wanted our players because they'd been brilliant for us. So now web got a sod of players we won't be selling isn't that exactly what everyone wanted? People should stop moaning and be over the moon that we won't be selling anyone, its what they wanted.

[Nordic Saint]

He's slow and unathletic. He'll never make the grade in the Premier League. Thank God he's not playing tonight. Yoshida and Bednarek are much better than Vestergaard and Hoedt.

 

For those who still say that he can be coached to be a good Premier League player, he can't: he simply doesn't have the basic physical attributes required. We should try to sell him in January because if we keep him here longer and people see more of him, we'll struggle to even find anybody prepared to take him on loan. Jack Stephens and Bednarek are the best of the bunch we've currently got and Christoph Klarer is a good prospect for the future but to have any hope of staying up we need a new central defender as soon as possible.

[Cabbage_Face]

Rubbish signing, get Marlon

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Called it.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[skintsaint]

Aside from the ****ing **** backpass he was a hell of a lot better than Bednarek (which isn't saying much). JV generally dealt with Cardiffs aerials assaults ok.

[whelk]

Why do we spend £10 to £20m on sh1te CBs. Can get them a lot cheaper than that

[Sheaf Saint]

Aside from the ****ing **** backpass he was a hell of a lot better than Bednarek (which isn't saying much). JV generally dealt with Cardiffs aerials assaults ok.

 

Really? From what I saw, Bednarek was much more calm and composed, with only one dodgy moment where he lost possession in a dangerous area.

 

JV might have won a few headers, but aside from that he was an accident waiting to happen for the entire match. He got dispossessed numerous times, and it was obvious that Cardiff were targetting him as a weak link.

[danjosaint]

Which is why we shouldve bought Pontuss Jansson instead

[woodsaint]

Aside from the ****ing **** backpass he was a hell of a lot better than Bednarek (which isn't saying much). JV generally dealt with Cardiffs aerials assaults ok.

 

Would like to think so being 7 foot 25 or whatever he is

[benjii]

Aside from the ****ing **** backpass he was a hell of a lot better than Bednarek (which isn't saying much). JV generally dealt with Cardiffs aerials assaults ok.

 

Eh?

 

Bednarek was pretty solid and didn't really make any mistakes. He also had to cover Valery getting beaten repeatedly in the first half.

 

 

Basically, what Bexy said above.

[SaintMB]

Valery > Bednerak > Targett > Vestergaard.

 

That's how I saw the first half defensive showing. Some really bad decision making by all of them though and we were lucky not to be 3 down by half time.

[Dark Munster]

Eh?

 

Bednarek was pretty solid and didn't really make any mistakes. He also had to cover Valery getting beaten repeatedly in the first half.

 

 

Basically, what Bexy said above.

Yes, Bednarek wasn't bad at all, especially as he was rusty. Vestergaard was worse than bad, making numerous appalling mistakes, which we were lucky to "only" get punished once for.

 

Called it.

You got an infraction for saying it too often, I'm guessing. But yes, you were right about him.

[Saint Albert]

Eh?

 

Bednarek was pretty solid and didn't really make any mistakes. He also had to cover Valery getting beaten repeatedly in the first half.

 

 

Basically, what Bexy said above.

 

I thought that Bednarek was the least ****ty of a ****ty collection of Saints defenders on Saturday. They all dropped clangars at some point against Cardiff. I’d certainly like to see Bednarek get a run of starts. Can’t for the life of me think who’s good enough to start in the other CB position. Stephens perhaps?

[woodsaint]

The difference a week makes. Was nervy early on but grew into the game as it went on. Thought in the second half he was very good, read the game well. Special mention for Bednarek too. Lets hope they can grow in confidence. Still need another quality CB in january however

[Pass the Dutchie]

Interview in The Guardian:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/11/jannik-vestergaard-interview-southampton-hasenhuttl-staying-up-going-down

[woodsaint]

After another very good performance its worth digging this out. Hopefully people will realise that alot of players take time to adapt to a new league and Jannik is starting to find his feet. Ralph has helped too no doubt

[stknowle]

After that Cardiff **** up I really began to think we had Hoedt Plus on our hands but he's improved immeasurably over the last few games. Seems particularly suited to the 3 CB formation where his obvious lack of pace doesn't get exposed so much.

[Harry_SFC]

He's a perfectly capable centre back when he's playing alongside 2 others as his lack of pace isn't as exposed as much. Seems like he's starting to cut the silly mistakes out now. He's actually very good at bringing the ball out as well - would like us to sign another CB and have Stephens and Yoshida as cover.

[Cabbage_Face]

Boys coming good, hats off.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Unbelievable Jeff]

Boys coming good, hats off.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Not a surprise when you have a manager who can coach a defence though is it...

[tajjuk]

People were (unsurprising on here) far too quick to write him off, he needed time to adjust to the league AND very importantly the team now has a proper set up and looks like an actual team not a bunch of individuals so we are now not exposing our centre-backs to basically defend on their own at times.

 

It was very clear he had the attributes to be a good defender, and he was well rated in the Bundesliga, playing for a good team, but not every new player to the premier league adjusts straight away.

 

You can see from the interview he knew he wasn't play well and obviously confidence is a big thing for all players and ralph has given him that. If we can find another centre back to compliment him and Bednerak then I think we will have a very solid back 3 or back two with 3 good centre-backs competing.

[SuperSAINT]

I suppose it's like any player. Find a system that emphasises & highlights strength's rather than weaknesses.

[SaintAndy14]

Shows how quick people are to judge when his name repeatedly came up in the worst Saints CBs of all time thread a month or so ago!

 

Well done JV.

[John Boy Saint]

Thought he was immense today - seemed like him and Bednarek were playing a game of oneupmanship against each other.

[Manuel]

Thought he was immense today - seemed like him and Bednarek were playing a game of oneupmanship against each other.

Yeah, improving quickly which bodes very well for the future.

 

A couple of impressive runs forward with the ball today too, and playing with 3 CB we should be able to compensate for his slowness to get back.

 

Better all over the pitch.

[suewhistle]

A couple of impressive runs forward with the ball today too, and playing with 3 CB we should be able to compensate for his slowness to get back.

 

Yeah, he got caught offside! :-) But the willingness to attack and be confident you'd be covered by your colleagues is a sight for sore eyes.

[St Chalet]

Will be interesting to see whether we go 4 at the back based on his and Bednerak’s performances.

[benjii]

Will be interesting to see whether we go 4 at the back based on his and Bednerak’s performances.

 

Whenever Vestergaard plays in a back 4 for us he looks nervous and guff though.

[Dark Munster]

Did very well today, as did all 3 CBs. Major factor is Romeu back to his awesome best in front of them, which itself is due to again having a good manager (which we haven't had for 1.5 seasons).

[WALK DMC]

In the 36 premier league games that Saints have played this season, we have won 9. Vestergaard has played 23 matches. When he hasn't played (13 games) we have only won once (Brighton away). While his limitations are clear (lack of pace, turning speed), we really miss his physical presence and height when he isn't there; all our other centre halves are not the most physically strong individuals (Yosh & Bed are almost slender ....) and certainly towards the end of games when opponents have a tendency go more direct, we miss his ability to head clear and block shots.

 

Due to his limitations he probably isn't suited to a back 4, but if we are to bring in a new centre half we need to make sure that they are physically strong and dominant as I don't believe any of our existing pairing will work either.