Twist or stick? Steve De Ridder is keen to get his future sorted out after being left out of the Southampton squad on Boxing Day.The Saints attacker was 'disappointed' after being dropped by manager Nigel Adkins for the clash against Fulham please log in to view this image at Craven Cottage - just days after making his Premier League debut in the home defeat to Sunderland. please log in to view this image De Ridder, 25, signed for the South Coast club on a three-year deal from Dutch outfit De Graafschap please log in to view this image last summer. However, with firm interest from Holland, Belgium and some Championship sides, De Ridder is hopeful of having talks with the club's hierarchy over his future in the next few days. He told Belgian magazine Sporza: "I was extremely pleased that I could make my debut, but I wasn't unhappy with my performance so I was very disappointed I was not there on Wednesday against Fulham. I have received good feedback as well, which is strange. "I believe that I am still on a good path and I have proven that I can deliver something others don't have. "I was surprised with my non-selection and will ask for an explanation from the coach. "Of course I am thinking about my future. I am really aware that at a certain point I really have to start playing. "There is interest from The Netherlands, Belgium and top sides from the Championship in England."
Bloody hell there's interest in him! We may actually achieve a minor miracle and get more for him than what we bought him for! We've got to take advantage of the interest in him, before everyone realises he's ****.
Like him as a person as he seems a nice bloke, but unfortunately see him as having very limited opportunities with us, so if we can sell him for anything we should take it rather than having him wind out his contract and then go for nothing. Wish him the best though.
I think he is at a dead end at Saints. Too many players in front of him, and Cortese still has big ambitions so even players who are good enough now (eg. Puncheon) may be forced out by summer purchases if Saints stay up. But I also don't think he is nearly as crap as people make out. He's fast and can be dangerous, but is prone to errant crosses so his work often comes to nothing. That pretty much describes 90% of wingers, especially 25 and under. A move to a Championship side would be good for both him and Saints. I think he could be pretty good there, and if given a chance at regular games might eventually make his way back to the Premier League. I wouldn't be too upset at anything De Ridder said if I were Saints. Probably needs a few words of caution as far as talking to Adkins before talking to the press but I don't think he criticized the team or the manager, and it's only natural that he'd be upset by being dropped and would want to get his future sorted out. He's not saying anything that Saints don't know, or that they don't agree with.
Keep him. He's right, he did ok when he came on vs Sunderland, and he gives us options. Although others are ahead of him, we may need the whole squad before the season's out..
I like De Ridder ... unlucky to be dropped from the squad against Fulham Can't blame him if he wants to move to play, never begrudge a player that
Adkins clearly likes a pace option on the bench, and I'm for that. Generally this season, that option has been Mayuka. But with Mayuka in the starting XI vs Sunderland, De Ridder became our pace option on the bench. Mayuka then didn't perform, so returned to bench, so once again there was no requirement to include De Ridder. Unlike Fox, Hooiveld, Sharp, Richardson, and one or two others, De Ridder is one back up player who I'm not bothered about us keeping just in case we do go back down. Unlike those I've named, I didn't think De Ridder was much cop last season. Barnard, Butterfield, Forte and Seaborne can all be moved on asap as well.
I would put him on a par with Punch, but at least he wants to take players on. Punch has played well enough to keep his place but if we land a good wide man then his time is up as well
Well I've assuming he's not thinking straight as Puncheon has been our player of the season so far and De Ridder has been a reserve.
Yep, for me I prefer Steevie as he is actually a threat and when he looks up, he has a good delivery. Punch runs round in circles trying to get the ball on his left foot, defenders have sussed him out now- push him out onto right foot and he is about as dangerous as 6 week old golden retriever. If we get a good winger in Jan then as I said, both will struggle get onto the bench, as I believe JRod and Mayuka would make more impact as subs and offer more flexability
