Whats the deal with this guy? Been at the club for about 6 weeks and cant get into the 18 ??? 4 million seems an expensive outlay for a player who cant get fit. Thoughts?
First of all when we brought him he was on a winter break so wasn't even match fit. Then you look at how our team play now with the high pressuring he will need to be 'Saints' fit before he is given a chance. Plus Yoshida and Hooiveld have played well so far so he will have to wait.
Can only agree. I like Hooiveld, although I'm well aware of his limitations, but he was unlucky on Sunday. As soon as Fox came on, Newcastle concentrated on attacking the left side of defence, which became the much weaker CB/FB pairing once Shaw went off.
Not so sure they targeted that side... For a start the own goal came down our right. Not convinced the winger "picked" Fox out with the cross. I get your gist though.
Oddly, I thought Hoover had his best couple of games in the last two. Then I looks at the squawka stats and they had him as our third best player on Sunday and our second best against Man C. Their ratings are based purely on the game data with no human intervention so are pretty impartial. I wouldn't be in any hurry to replace him. His performance in the air has been simply outstanding. Vin
To me Hooiveld looked indecisive a few times against Newcastle, mainly when he had to turn and run back towards his own goal. From what I've seen this season I think he's fine as fourth choice centre back - he can come in and play okay for a game or two here and there - but I simply don't think he's good enough to be first choice. I would expect Fonte and probably Forren to come in before too long. Fonte is better than Hooiveld and we've spent £4m on Forren so if he's not better than what we already have then something has gone very, very wrong.
I think we all know from Yoshida that even good defenders take some time to get acquainted with a new system/teammates/etc. Central defence is tactically one of the most crucial positions on the pitch so you don't want to rush people in if you can help it. Having said that, maybe he's just not as good as everyone thinks. Only time will tell.
Perhaps we are wrong to make the assumption that because we pay good money for a player that he will go straight into the squad. He has to prove he is better than the player already in the team and that player has to have a fall off in form. Just because some of the First Team players were cheap and have come up with us, doesn't mean that they aren't the best in that position. Although I agree that Forren (probably not our first target) is a bit more of a mystery than most as he couldn't even get in when Fonte is absent. As for other purchases: Mayuka is out of favour but may get chances as sub, Yoshida is looking good, Gaston is quality already, Tadanari suffered from injury but obviously isn't considered good enough, and JRod, Davis and Clyne are good purchases. So we have had more successes than failures and must expect that not everyone works out.
MP- "Forren is a CB for the future". Didn't mention how far in the future though. T-Lee is due back in June, official site stated that he will be back ahead of pre-season. I would presume he will be given another chance next season, unless a generous offer is made.
Am not sure why people are surprised by Forren exclusion......When he first came he was not match fit and even now I would be surprised if he was given a start. More likely to come on for the last 20 minutes or so maybe. Am expecting Fonte to be fit in the not too distant future so am not sure when or where Forren will get a game.
That would be a shame, from the little I saw of him he impressed me. Would like to see him given a chance in pre-season, then first few matches in prem. Ship him off if he does not produce. I'm going off topic here, I know.
Yes, I don't think it is neccessarily anything against Forren that he was left out vs Newcastle. I think it's more to do with the three CBs who were selected. That said, I do continue to have my doubts about Hoovield and, to a lesser extent, Yoshida away from home. No problems with them at all at home recently. Yoshida vs Everton and Hoovield vs Man City in particular stand out. But I can't say the same about away games, when the opposition I guess are attacking us more. Now ok granted I haven't been to an away this season since Liverpool, so I'm only going on radio commentary and TV highlights, but Hooiveld was at fault for Utd's first goal, Yoshida was at fault for Wigan's first goal, and Hooiveld came across as having had dodgy games against Newcastle and Chelsea. I'm sure those that have been to those away games though, have a better judgement however.
