Saints trigger extension clause for Jack Stephens

Better get back Jack do it again.

 

Well deserved.

 

Fantastic.

 

I still expect at least one of Bednarek or ABK to go, but wonder where Stephens ranks among our many CBs. I know Martin loves him, but I can't see him getting much game time this year unless they both go. We have 6 CBs and you can supposedly add Taylor into the mix if we play a 3.

THB, Bednarek, ABK, Stephens, Edwards, Wood, Taylor?

 

Id be very surprised if our preferred starting 3 isn’t Bednarek, THB and Stephens

ABK is probably the best on the books but I expect him to be off, if he stays I’d have him in over Stephens but I don’t think Martin would and if he starts I’d guess it would be for Bednarek

 

Meh.

 

Wheels spinning round and round !

 

The Cornish Maldini has a chance to emulate his namesake in longevity, great to see.

Great to see Jack, it will be a bit longer until you find you’re back in Vegas with a handle in your hand.

 

The wheels on the bus go round and round.

 

This just aligns with us not wanting anyone to run down their final year this year. Ultimately if we stay up we will need to upgrade or one of our existing young players would have improved and stepped ahead of him. If we go down then we will need him next season in the championship as Bedarek and likely THB will go

So this all makes sense

 

We have offered Bednarek a new contract and he is in negotiations with the club.

It has been very quiet on the ABK front though.

 

Very happy for Jack to be a starting CB for us, while Edwards gets up to speed.

 

Loads of PL experience and a group leader, it's a no brainer really. Aye aye Captain Jack.

 

Stephens will most likely start to begin with but his spot in the team will be taken by Edwards sooner rather than later IMO.

 

I think he is number 1 CB in Martin’s eyes. His leadership seems to be something Martin really likes

 

Could he do a job at DM? Got to be better than random CM filling in, when Downes is out.

 

I don’t think so. This has been asked/suggested by saints fans on the various forums every year since he has been here. I don’t think it’s really been tried and presumably for a reason. I think there was a game last season where he came on in DM when Downes went off and it was a catastrophe. But maybe he just came on and didn’t go into that position

 

He's not quick enough in thought or action to play DM. He can't play in tight spaces when being harassed by opposition players. A problem that Charles has too so far and presumably why Martin doesn't trust him and chooses Smallbone to play at DM ahead of him despite Charles being far superior defensively to Smallbone.