Interview with Wesley in the Sunday Times today - sounds like he’s getting pissed off with being on the bench. “This situation is not what I want, so it’s difficult for me. I left a really big club in Italy where I could have signed a big contract and I was a starter...I have to man up and show everyone what I can do. I have to choose my words, but i’m very, very frustrated”. The article then goes on to say that the obvious solution is to play three at the back with two advanced wing backs... “I played really well against Crystal Palace, and against Manchester United we played a really good game as a team. Then some choices have been made”. “I’m happy here and i’m ready to play. I will be waiting but it cannot take too long. If I lose my place in the national team because i’m not playing for my club, that’s really important”.
Also says his relationship with Virgil is ‘normal’. “It’s not like we’re friends or anything”. I kinda get his irritation because he’s done absolutely nothing wrong. Tough one for the manager...
I completely understand his frustration. I was at Palace and he was quite simply brilliant. Really looked a player and can't understand why he's been dropped. One of the more baffling decisions of the season so far for sure.
And here lies the problem with having a good squad rather than team. Good players don't want to sit on the bench at clubs like Saints, if we had Europa then it might be OK as there is more rotation due to number of games, but this season it is going to be hard to keep people happy. When we signed Hoedt I assumed that Yoshida was not getting a new contract and this was his replacement. With Yoshida signing a new deal and playing well it is tough as it is not a position where you really want to rotate much as it is important to have a solid partnership there. The obvious option would be to move VVD on in January, or longest next summer and see if Hoedt is ok with that.
It is a tough one, and I think he is a great player who I hope will be part of our backbone for years. Trouble is, its a strong position for us at moment. Don't like him airing his views in public like this. Stephens can feel even more hard done by, done a brilliant filling in job last year and we are slowing down his progress now, but as I understand it, has kept his head down and is ready when we need him.
Know what you mean, but reading the piece it feels like there was an angle they were chasing, and the quotes used are to bolster that. Still, no doubting he’s frustrated.
I think he'll be in soon enough. Who'd have thunk you would be reading the Sunday Times LTL. Thought they only had the Observer down that way.
What would be your solution? Drop one of VVD/Yoshida for him? Playing 3 at the back is another option but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. One (or 2 if Stephens starts getting annoyed) of our CBs are going to be unhappy as they are all probably good enough to be starting for a team like Saints, we just have too many.
I go for the i newspaper Monday-Thursday, Guardian on Friday (the Music section is excellent), don’t normally get a paper Saturday then ST Sunday.
I’d personally go three at the back. Or possibly drop Maya (ugh). Most likely though, he’s going to have to bide his time until Virgil possibly buggers off in Jan.
Yeah, agree we never really see the context the article and can understand his frustration. He is a great player who I believe we are very lucky to have in our squad. Hope MP 2 can find an answer. He doesn't seem to rotate as much as Puel but will he be bold enough to try a change of formation. We have the players to do it.
As said, would normally want the CB partnership set with no changing around. Stephens did well and might feel deflated, but he knows he's a junior....perhaps needs to go on loan. Hoedt is totally different and expected to play...he really deserves to play more than Virgil, but has got caught up in that saga.
Agreed. Hard on Yoshi, but as I've said elsewhere, there's no room for sentiment. It's the managers job to try and keep the whole squad motivated, but he can only start with 11. VvD and Wesley picks itself really.
