From what I've seen this season I would start JWP over Clasie. Clasie is OK (as is JWP) but neither is outstanding. JWP does have the added threat of his free kicks though and generally seems to have more energy and enthusiasm.
Didn't you see Clasie against Leicester? He was brilliant, apart from being too short to beat Morgan.
One game, and I wouldn't exactly say "brilliant. Besides, "One game does not a swallow make" or something like that I just get the impression right now that we all want Clasie to be the player we thought he was when we bought him (a bit like Ramirez), so we're giving him the benefit of the doubt. We'll see though. Next season he can start again with a pre-season behind him and knowing what the Premier League is all about.
Get JWP in the gym over the summer, bulk him up a bit ,sit him down and say I want more aggression and don't care how many cards you pick up ( with out being stupid) I want every tackle won. With his technical ability and passing, he could be top class. He has shown signs he can get stuck in if he wants to, he just needs to do it every match. I feel more comfortable when I see Victor and Oriols name on the team sheet as I know they will put a tackle in. Yes they will pick up yellows and the odd red, but that's fine by me. Saints have been to nice for years now, that's why I don't mind Tadic winding people up, Vic getting sent off, and it's about time we complain to the ref after fouls\challenges. Everyone does it and it's been proven to influence decisions. We need to stop being so nice and toughen up a bit.
But remember that is in the Netherlands, where I suspect JWP would be on at least 20 goals and 40 assists by now. The defending in that video is just comical, and the goalkeeping even worse. Dutch football may be producing a few talents, but they are all leaving and the standard over there is as low as I remember it ever being.
I'm not intending to be harsh on him. As I said, I think he's OK but not outstanding. My point was that from what I've seen recently, JWP seems to offer more.
I think Clasie has been fantastic at times and quite poor at others. What he brings the team, though, is a real link between defence and attack. One that links quickly, often with first time passes, as opposed to all our other DMs who link slowly, and often with a dull sideways pass. He has the potential to bring something tremendous to the team, but without necessarily ever looking all that spectacular himself.
And he's a gome grown product, who we really should be looking to develop further. He's only just begun to realise his potential, though you could probably say the same about Clasie. The dilemma for the manager, who needs results in the here and now, is which of the two is most likely to be effective against Newcastle on Saturday. The dilemma for the club may be slightly different, ie which of the two is mostly to repay our investment in their futures? Anyway, competion for places is a good thing, right? Up to Ron to manage any frustration that may engender in individuals, and try and get the best out of everyone.
And in the future, probably as a striker. I've been lusting after him since he scored at Barca, but we might have missed the boat...he'll be very expensive for an Eredivisie signing. Alternatively, I still desperately want Hakim Ziyech, who is having an unbelievable year with Twente given that they're really not very good (he has scored or assisted over 60% of their goals this year; that should not be possible). Might be cheaper though because Twente is in a terrible financial crush...they have a month to sort things out or they will not be allowed to compete at the professional level next season.
Recently as in 20 minutes v Liverpool? Not much difference to saying to Beefy that Clasie was "one game" Clasie has shown over several games that he is a good player. I just think some people think he is meant to be something different (Morgan, maybe). He has had games where he has looked lost and hasn't built (or got) the 90 minute Premier League fitness, but he has had a lot of good games. I rate JWP too, but not sure he has done as much as Clasie this season.
