Absolutely, we have to remember how ridiculously young these guys, that is, Chambers, Shaw, and JWP actually are. They may not even have finished growing, let alone reached anything like their full potential. The same will be true of the other academy players who will break through next, probably Reed and Gallagher.
I like James and admire his talents, but I can see he is a player at risk of being sold in the next year or two. We will be in the market for players a class above some we have...the next year or two could be important for him to step up even more.
Youngsters should not play week-in week-out. Wenger and Martinez both know this. I think we are over relying on Shaw and Ward-Prowse. Both of them have dipped in form. They will both be very good in two or three seasons time, but we musn't burn them out. regarding form though, even Bale had a couple of iffy seasons at Spurs. Likewise Walcott and apparently now it would seem Oxlade-Chamberlain. FFS I even recall a number of posters on this very site saying that Lallana couldn't cut it anymore on several occassions. Lose faith in youngsters too soon and you will regret it.
I agree in part with your review of his current ability. As for the England u21s he is best suited to central midfield role as he has a decent range of passing and helps tick play along, but he is currently 5th choice in that role for Saints, so fair play to him for taking on a wide midfield role where the team is not so plentiful. His role is kind of like Chris Marsden covering other players and allowing them to bomb on. Clyne gets the plaudits for his goal and performance but he wouldn't have such a free reign without JWP doing the donkey work. I think that in a couple of years time he will be in our central midfield, but he may need to play alongside a Wanyama type player to help with the physical battle.
Or it might be his knackered knee ligaments that are affecting his form, or even his opportunities to play
I honestly haven't seen a dip in form from JWP. I guess he hasn't played as well lately, but that's pretty much true of the entire team. He's been out some due to illness, and because Davis has been one of our best players. abbitspectrum must be GMI's brother. It seems rather obvious to most of us that we are playing worse because we are missing Wanyama. But rather than admit that he was wrong about Wanyama, he just points the blame at the other player he dislikes. And disappears when things are going well.
I'd be very surprised if we sold him in a "year or two" as he'd be 20/21 and still developing. He might not even peak until he's 27 or 28. Long career for him at Saints. If he doesn't progress as hoped, he would be like having a Phil Neville type servant that United had; always do a job for you.
Silly, isn't it? I actually love to be wrong, because you learn something from it. It's a pleasure to be able to say "yep, was wrong about that", particularly about football. I'm one of those that's really beginning to doubt Rickie at the moment, but by God I'd love him to boot the proverbial ball right back in my face on it. It'll be the greatest pleasure to say, "nope, was totally wrong". I don't really understand why some people find that so difficult. It's just embarrassing beating the same drum despite all and every evidence to the contrary. Stubbornness is nobody's favourite character trait.
This is very true, I though the was superb for England U21s in central midfield, but I think they tend to play a very attacking game against poor sides and he doesn't have too much defensive work to do, and perhaps the CMs aren't important to their style as they are to ours. Your point about Clyne is interesting, and a solid player behind him does allow him to attack more, but I just worry that Clyne can sometimes neglect his defensive duties because Ward-Prowse covers so well, and this means that Clyne isn't fulfilling his main purpose, and Ward-Prowse is stuck out of position.
As good as JWP is, he can't get in our side at the moment. Wait until he's first name on the team sheet and then there's a chance he'll leave - he is a skate, after all!
Kind of. He'll only go if he outgrows the team, and with our strength at CM, he isn't a first team regular at the moment.
Nor can I. He's 19, with his whole career in front of him. There's plenty of room for improvement in the player and he'll get the room and time to do it. He's an example of the culture at Saints. JWP is the absolute last of the youngsters I'd expect to see tempted away. Tell me this. Who was the last player to leave Saints who actually wanted to leave and Saints wanted to keep..? OXO. That was League One.
