Davis is shocking at CDM. JWP isn't a DM either. Look at that lineup on Sunday and tell me how that midfield would cope against a top 6 attack? We really do need wanyama. Otherwise we would be letting him go.
Wanyama is a quality player. But at the same time, I do not think top 4 is in the cards for us this season. And we should be safe from relegation. Or at least it should not be Wanyama that makes the difference. I do believe it is necessary sometimes to make a statement-- both to the players who want away and to the clubs who seek to take advantage. So for that reason, we need to hang on to Wanyama. But other than that, I would be okay with letting Wanyama go. It is a position where we are pretty deep. And now that we are out of Europe, it could be harder to get Reed playing time, and I think Reed could be excellent.
I think it's interesting given the arrival of Romeu in all this. If as he alledges, he has been unhappy for nearly a year, and has made this known to the club, Saints will have had a watch on similar players with also the departure of SpiderMan on the horizon too. Although it was against 10 men for the majority of the game the other day, Romeu showed a great combination of VW and Spider Man. As I've said before, whilst he is an enforcer, VW was wasteful and an unknown negative quantity sometimes. Yes, he breaks up play but he was lucky last season that he had Morgan and Toby's cool heads as well as Davis when he was playing well to assist him in tidying things up. He is no rangey passer and this season, has carried on this role but without the confidence of players around him. As we have shown before, we are good at producing teams and individual players have been sold at a premium but some have come unstuck out of the team. Providing Romeu continues to develop at the rate he has in his first 4 games and with Reed in the wings, I think VW is expendable. We are totally right to drop him for his petulance and the greed of his agent and if things are to be believed with him not being right for club and country too, it will be a little while until he should be welcomed back into the fold.
For those saying we are deep at CDM, I think you've missed something. We have Romeu and Vic. Reed has hardly had a sniff so Ron isn't ready to throw him in and neither Davis or JWP are natural CDM (despite JWP playing well Sunday). Have these people really forgotten all the bemoaning from people over the last two seasons whenever Vic or Morgan weren't available. Have you forgotten how many bookings players in this position get and then suspensions. Vic and Oriol have already picked up a few bookings. There will be games when one or both Vic/Romeu will be missing so we may need two as cover. Clasie is a more forward looking player, although I'm sure e could do a job, but then you'd have two players who could do a job. Reed may be excellent in that role, but not had his chance this year. Someone described Davis as adequate cover; adequate doesn't cut it in this league. Vic may be behaving like a knob, but let's not let that cloud the fact we definitely need him this season, until we have a replacement and not one from what we already have. We've lost Morgan and losing Vic would leave us having just brought in Romeu. That's a weaker situation than last year for that position. Come on guys lets wake up here and smell the coffee. Vic can't leave without another very good DCM joining. Vic must stay. Vic will stay.
Vic undoubtedly will stay-and unless we're prepared to lose RonKo on a point of principle. All I'm saying is, that maybe VW isn't as pivotal as we thought and that the weekend showed that. Yes, without him we do lack some depth, but VVD has some experience of playing out if the back 4 in this position if needed. Romeu is picking up yellow cards like they're going out of fashion (and he deserved one Saturday) so we'll need options. Harry Reed is ready in my opinion, just needs time on the pitch. I just think that Saturday showed that as a team, our midfield dynamic has changed and with Morgan gone, that doesn't necessarily mean that it has to revolve around Vic.
One game really changes our midfield dynamic? Really Harry? It was good, but I'm sorry we can't suddenly get carried away and think every thing has changed. I rate Harry Reed, but Ron clearly has some reservation. Even with Harry considered, we still had him last year. Vic is needed in my opinion as one of those two CDM's and that only gives us Reed as direct back up. I'm saying that I think there are some rose tinted glasses on if people think that we don't need Vic right now, especially if the justification is Sunday's game. How many iimes did we moan last year when Toby was used in that role, because it does effectively weaken the defence. We all wanted Reed to play. If people think that Sunday's game shows Vic isn't as pivotal as we thought, then I disagree and think they are wrong. Over the course of a season, a player like Vic alongside a player like Romeo/Morgan is a hugely important defensive wall.
I guess I forgot to emphasise the quality of opposition on Sunday. Didn't mean it to come across as a decisive match where we have now binned off Vic due to that performance and him throwing his toys out of the pram. Some on here rave that he's pretty much our only option in midfield. I just see the situation differently as I've never been his biggest fan. Our midfield dynamic without Morgan has to change and I don't think Vic alone is good enough to do the multiple jobs that Morgan did. Why Harry Reed hasn't been given more time (especially considering games like Sunday seeming an ideal opportunity) but with apparent interest in him from Championship clubs and him still being here, it would imply he will be used in some capacity.
Reed still being here could well imply he is needed, but possibly will go on loan once the football league loan windows opens. It could also depend if we get Prat although they are different types of players, and it looks like VvD is the final one in...
Is Vilhena a CDM? That may have been the plan to sell Vic now if he came in, but that delayed 12 months - just a thought...
I've never heard anyone say he is our ONLY midfield option. Certainly a key one. Let me try and simplify my view. We have the following natural CDMs: Romeu Wanyama Reed Covered by the following playing a bit out of position: Davis JWP Clasie The above tells me how important Vic is (or a direct Vic replacement, which won't be happening this window) regardless of whether I am a fan of his or not (I am btw). The line of yours I have put in bold, underlines even more how important Vic is. We've lost Morgan, thus putting more importance on the one left from that partnership. I don't see him as doing it on his own, he didn't when Morgan was here, so why would I or anyone think he will now Morgan has gone? We have to believe that he and Romeu can offer as close to the Morgan/Vic partnership as possible. If Vic is isn't key now, then we are replacing both of one of the best CDM duos from last season's Premier League. I may not be interpreting what you are saying well, or you may not be making it clear. From what I have read it seems you don't think Vic is important (this started with me saying people need to realize we can't let him go). To me Vic or a Vic type, is massively important, unless we are seriously going to change how we play.
We know Victor's strengths (literally) and he had flaws we overlooked because he did a good job for us. We are not going to get perfect players because they would have been snapped up by others...VW is another good player that we make look very good. Perhaps Spurs have listened to Toby who says he had better protection at Southampton (and Poch knows him as well). Victor isn't as good as Morgan and Toby (who were a class above), but we'd still miss him. As said, you can't rely on the alternatives always being available. We need to hold onto him because 1) we need him and it's too late to replace him 2) he's contracted to us and it's a matter of principle 3) it is wrong how other PL clubs try to cause unrest to get our players and 4) it's Spurs.
Victor has gone to Kenya today to be with the national team. There is no transfer in the pipeline and Saints are not interesting in discussing one.
Victor could have discovered all this in private discussion and wouldn't have lost the faith of the fans. Been badly advised.
............................ oh and by the way we have loaned you out to Accrington Stanley for the rest of the season.
