Article in the Echo mentions players out of contract at end of season...none who are important to our team except Punch and Reeves. They imply that Puncheon wants a new contract here...I'm not so sure myself. He had a period of time in the wilderness when he was priced out of any move he might have wanted. He is now doing well and has a free transfer at the end of the season. He could get himself a very nice deal if he keeps his form up. That may be what he decided when he met Cortese...knuckle down, do well and move on. I'm not criticising him for this...it could be a golden opportunity at an important stage of his career. Do you think he wants a deal here?
If he knows what's good for him then I think he'll stay. He could go somewhere like, I dunno, Everton or Fulham, but will still only be a bench warmer... I would also say the bottom of the table is very mix and match. There is no out and out relegation candidates. It could be anyone so it would be difficult to choose a club when one season they could be high flyers, the next season relegated...!
He seems very popular with the rest of the squad and certainly looks happy. I'd be surprised if he wants away.
The way he's playing at the moment, I'm guessing we'll sign him up quite soon. And then just watch his form drop off More important to get Reeves signed up though. I'll lend him a pen if he needs one.
Jason's current performance is very much down to how he and Nathaniel work so well together and he will know that. A move would be a very risky thing forhim. He seems happy, he is playing football and at last the crowd like him so he will probably stay. However it will probably depend on how greedy his agent is and whether some of his arrogance and opinion of his own self importance have been tempered of late. Personally I hope he stay and keeps up the standard he has achieved.
And also, although he says how honourable Cortese is, could he harbour some resentment about what happened before (he's human after all). Not nice to be booed by your own fans and to be refused a move by a club who won't play you. Depends if he accepts some blame himself...and none of us are good at that.
For me Puncheon looks great against the weakers teams but i dont think he's a superstar that can take on the better defenders. Cant imagine there's any space for him in many teams above our level and his best option would be to stay with Saints.
Everyone wins if he carries on making himself essential to us whether he wants to stay here or move on. He could be in a good bargaining position with us...wouldn't mind being a fly on the wall for those negotiations. Don't remember the context, but recently Adkins listed the things Saints do well...one of them was 'educating agents.' I found that enlightening...there was a rumour that Gaston's agent took a cut in his money to help push the deal through and recently we were listed as the lowest payer of agents fees. It was also reported in a newspaper article criticising Cortese that agents found him impossible to deal with (that's a compliment in my book!).
I'd argue that Richardson could do a job if he was fit, so him along with Reeves (great prospect) and Puncheon should get new deals The rest are deadwood, sorry Chappers!
P.s. Have to add, as I am a fair person, that there are good agents who help develop their clients career. On the continent, you can find yourself dealing with people who don't even have a contract with a player...a few shysters out there.
In the ManU game, Adkins was guilty of overthinking....acceptable in a newbie. Saw they were tired and thought fresh legs would do it...wrong! Now he's at the opposite end of the spectrum and tries to avoid any substitutions.
Yeah I agree he like that left back who was too little you know he had a French sounding name and went on to play for England and then there was that other bloke who showed no promise you know he played for Sunderland and then had a spell with us. I think it is a little too soon to know with our Ben.
Doubt that we would want Reeves to go out of contract even if we are not 100% sure...wouldn't make good business sense.
I'm sure both will stay. Jury's out on whether Puncheon can maintain his form when he's not playing for his livelihood though.
I'm definitely unsure that left-back is Reeves position. It's obviously too soon to judge after a ten minute cameo, but he looked a bit lost after Shaw came off at Norwich.
To be honest, I don't see what others see in Reeves. I personally consider him surplus to requirements but that's just my opinion. I wouldn't be disappointed or surprised if Reeved wasn't offered a new contract.
