Jonathan Peraces verdict on his Olympic selection. Jack Cork: Age: 23. Born: Carshalton, Surrey, England. Club: Southampton A former Chelsea trainee, the midfielder started every game as Southampton secured promotion back to the Premier League last season. Cork has featured at every youth level for England and has been a regular for the Under-21s, although most of his appearances have come from the bench. JP's verdict: "After a nomadic experience during the early years of his career, he has found a permanent home at Southampton and flourished there last season during their promotion campaign. His dad Alan, a former Crazy Gang striker at Wimbledon, will love the fact that his son will be at the Olympics." Hadn't realised he didn't miss a match last season. I especially like the flourisehed bit!
He definately got better as the season went on, which I suppose is one definition of flourishing. I think there's plenty more to come from this young man, though probably not at right-back.
He will be an unsung hero for years for Saints. Never doing anything spectacular or breathtaking skill wise, but is a very important cog in that midfield engine. A very good passer of the ball and an incredible athlete. If NA can get him gettin ginto the box and shooting a little more, he will be a phenominal player. There is almost a Nick Holmes ness to him.
One of our best players last season IMO and deserves his place in the Olympic team. His inclusion to the Div1 team last season was instrumental in changing us to the passing side that won promotion. Gets bullied off the ball at times but just as influential if not more than Adam or Morgan.
Its no surprise that he seems to have been player of the year at every club he's played with. Thats probably not a factual statement but you never hear anything negative bout him.
Cork is interesting. He certainly started last season well and finished it well, as ever as with all players there is a but. He is a continuity player, do Saints play well when he plays well or is it when Saints play well he plays well? Does he change games? When we have the ball he certainly keeps it moving, but how many assits? How many goals? Does he disappear when we haven't got the ball?
So many questions tigger. You are right, he is a continuity player who I think has good control and keeps possession well and from that we build attacks. Unfortunately, he doesn't appear to be a player who grabs a game by the scruff of the neck when others around him aren't performing. But no-one else in the midfield does either and there seems to be a common problem where if the team is not playing well, no-one plays well. I've long thought that we need a battling midfielder to drive us on when we are up against it and IMO neither Hammond or Chaplow fit that bill. The other questions are easier to answer. Few assists and no goals. I do think he was getting stuck into tackles more as we got towards the end of the season even though the more physical side is not part of his game.
I have noticed this aswell. Would be useful to have a Chris Marsden-esque cm who can perform and stabilise the team during scrappy performances. I do have faith that Schneiderlin is evolving into this role.
When he came off the bench to replace Hammond in one of our final home matches (I think it was the Coventry match in fact), we were a totally a diffferent team. One that wasn't really going anywhere, still very much in first gear, to one which was suddenly in fourth gear and playing pretty much our usual stuff.
Agreed. It's good to see that Pearce and the England set up have noticed! A good season and he could break into the national squad. Here's hoping!
