I know we have discussed him before but it really looks like he's now turned a corner. Has knuckled down in training and arguably has been our best player pre-season. If he get's back to the form he showed when we first signed him I think he can be a real force this season. Wait for howls of derision.
Lets wait and see. Easy to say that whilst he is playing and playing well in pre-season. What if he gets benched or has a drop in form? Does he then ramp it up a level and work harder? Too early to say for sure.
I don't like him, personally I think he should've never played for the club again. But I agree, he has really knuckled down...
I think we all agree that technically he is a good player. No idea why he was so terrible against Leeds that time. It's a wait and see job really. If he's sharp at the beginning of the season, then I can see him being part of the fluid attacking four. If he is a bit of an ego, then maybe the Prem will sort him out or find him out. All the fall out stuff is in the past for me. No point in anymore vitriol. Good luck to him, his attitude seems spot on now.
Yep I think I can agree....Puncheon did contribute with a couple of decent games towards the end of last season. Pre season seems to have been good for him too.......so maybe he will make the grade and do the work that we know he is capable of. All the players want to be in that 25 man squad....so in theory should give their all if they want to be included. It's what they do after they have got in that needs to be judged perhaps........So the jury is still out for me.........
If you ever need an argument for the fickleness of football fans, Jason Puncheon is it. A man who hasn't done anything of note for us in two years - hasn't done anything of note for us at all save 10-12 good (but not incredible) games in League One - is now suddenly a Premier League quality player who should be starting for us. Jesus wept.
I can see that. It's not likely he'll get in our side no matter what some fans convince themselves because we have better which is exactly why Puncheon hasn't been part of our plans. He's not bad by any stretch but we have better and are trying to sign better.
To be fair, its mostly hopes, ifs and maybes, based on what he can seem to do, whether it be in League one for Saints, or snippets with Millwall and Blackpool.
I am more than happy with him. Tough to knock off and looks for the pass, good runner and has 5 goals a season in him which every midfielder should be looking to achieve, eh Corky.
'A few good games' in league one might not suggest he's prem class, but 3 goals (including one against Chelsea) in 11 appearances for Blackpool gives an indication that when he's up for it, he potentially could be. If Adkins & cortese are willing to give him another shot, then let's hope he takes it
While I'm probably not as adamant about this, as Dan is above, I too think that Puncheon hasn't really quite done enough to be a Premier League player. Whilst he has done a lot recently to make sure he fits in with the system, he hasn't shone much since Lge One, and then it was mostly during his first stint, with Pardew, when largely taking over from Antonio. Last season, he looked off the pace every time he appeared, and although he pinged the odd high quality ball across field, he wasn't anywhere near the pacy winger role that he was originally brought in to fill. I hope he proves his worth in the end, and finds a regular position, but I fear Saints might be leaving him behind in quality and commitment.
I agree Dan aka Mr Nice/ Phil Mitchell, Puncheon isn't good enough for me. A few good pre-season games doesn't make him prem class. I still want a RM brought and hopefully Puncheon leaves.
He's had a decent pre-season, and if he has impressed he deserves a chance I don't see why people say he has a bad attitude? Never seen it from him
I'm with you SF4L. He deserves a chance to show what he can do. If Nigel thinks he's worth his place who are we to argue!
The guy clearly had to eat a mountain of humble pie to get back into favour. Young men can be dickheads (come on it's almost obligatory) and become grown men when they recognise that they've behaved like a prat and face up to the consequences of their stupidity. He's done that. Whether he is good enough for us, I don't really know. But I think we'd be mad not to give him a chance to prove himself. If he has genuinely grown a pair he's going to be dying to show us what he can do
