Puncheon

[supersonic]

A positive post - Punch has pleasantly surprise me this season, he's stepped up and COULD be a crucial part in the rest of our season. Seeing as a year ago it looked like he'd played his last game for us.

Been a better performer than Lallana this year (who has struggled)

[maysie]

Been surprised by his turnaround, but disagree on the Lallana bit. TBH I don't think we need to worry too much about our forward players...

[supersonic]

In the games they have both played, Punch has been the better player. United and Villa stick out. Would have been MoTM v Villa if not for Ramirez

[Colinjb]

The thing with Puncheon, he has always considered himself to be a premier league player, part of the problem was that he felt the club was beneath him in League 1/The Championship.

Now we are up there, he is where he wants to be. No need to leave/throw a strop, just get on with it. Finally he can just get his head down and work without any other rubbish to go with it.

Having said that, when does his contract expire?

[Fitzhugh Fella]

He rarely has an end product (Stevenage beside)

[forever a red and white]

Punch has done okay, always annoying to see him subbed before Guly. Lallana has got plenty of assists this season and now his first goal on top of that, while playing in a deeper position than Puncheon...

[S-Clarke]

He rarely has an end product (Stevenage beside)

That would be my main criticism of him, ok and that's a pretty big one for a winger! But he's more effective in terms of opening up play than SDR for example, who is as effective as a chocolate teapot if we're honest.

Personally, In the long run, we could do with an upgrade to Puncheon.

[sfc4prem]

He's really turned it around. Ok, he's never going to be as good as Lallana, but he's a useful player indeed - on his day, that is.

[Saint Garrett]

He's better than he was, still poor at tracking back and lacks end product, wouldn't say he's been anything special though. I'd be tempted to start Guly sat on the right.

[GAS]

Hasn't impressed me ever. Flatters to deceive in most areas. Reminds me of how a 12yr old plays.

[Dig Dig]

He rarely has an end product (Stevenage beside)

Cross for Lambert vs. Utd, Goal against Villa.... He does create and make chances for himself. Just doesnt do it over 90 minutes enough

[Dig Dig]

A positive post - Punch has pleasantly surprise me this season, he's stepped up and COULD be a crucial part in the rest of our season. Seeing as a year ago it looked like he'd played his last game for us.

Been a better performer than Lallana this year (who has struggled)

Lallana hasn't struggled. Been singled at as our best performer against Utd and City, called up for England, class goal at the weekend, top assists for us. What more do people expect?

[Colinjb]

Cross for Lambert vs. Utd, Goal against Villa.... He does create and make chances for himself. Just doesnt do it over 90 minutes enough

Well, it's tricky to when you are substituted consistently on the hour.

[Dig Dig]

Well, it's tricky to when you are substituted consistently on the hour.

He's usually blowing by then (not in a gay way)

[Colinjb]

He's usually blowing by then (not in a gay way)

And thank heavens for that!

He was still contributing well v Man Utd by that point, it was madness to take him off then. But this is a conversation for some other repeated threads I feel.

[hamster]

IMHO he's always been a prem quality player. I have said this before, he needs taming. If (and I hope not) Nigel ever leaves, I'd like to see us bring in a disciplinarian to handle the egotistical type of player that we will attract at the top level.

[Graffito]

In the position he plays there's a big responsibility to create for the team. He's done ok this season but never does enough IMO. He's hampered by the fact that he has insufficient pace to go on the outside. This is a problem Lallana has also but Lallana is much the more creative player. Defensively Puncheon doesn't do enough either but he's not alone there.

[pingwing]

He's still rubbish, after we sort the dodgy back line he is next in the firing line.

He has surprised me in that his attitude has improved so he is at least positive when he plays, after he "came back" to the team in the champ he was dreadful. Now he seems able to run about and put some effort in but he has really had some shockers this year. Most games any defender that has just stood their ground and challenged for the ball without going to ground has won it off him with minimal effort and Punch lacks the skill to beat people out side of pure pace. Fulham and West Ham were the worst cases of this where he only ran to the CB's from out wide (no intention of a cross), everyone could see it unfolding and every CB just stood their ground to him tripping over and wasting possession.

Against Man United he was good, Evra couldn't be bothered to track back against him and both cb's made Jos look quick. That was probably his best performance of the season. Against Villa he was one of many good players, though the equaliser was from Lallana doing what we usually should do and playing around Punch.

Overall though he is no way a premier league player and won't be first choice right wing for us next season pretty much what ever happens. I fully expect to see him sold at christmas as part exchange for Ince/Phillips or someone else bought in, as for me his game is just too limited and really lacks passing/crossing that we need from the right.

His hit against Stevenage was excellent though, one of the highlights of that game.

[Dig Dig]

And thank heavens for that!

He was still contributing well v Man Utd by that point, it was madness to take him off then. But this is a conversation for some other repeated threads I feel.

I feel the tide had turned by the time Adkins made the subs. Had he not Adkins would be blamed for not changing it anyway, the writing was on the wall from about 55 mins. You're right though, been done to death so I'll have to have the last word on the matter ; )

[adriansfc]

Think puncheon is dire to be honest and no surprise at all team spirit has declined since his return. Absolutely **** of a footballer.

[Dibden Purlieu Saint]

Think puncheon is dire to be honest and no surprise at all team spirit has declined since his return. Absolutely **** of a footballer.

That is utter ****, team spirit has declined due to losing 7 matches this season, not because of Puncheon.

If you hear hooves think horses, not zebras.

[Saint Fan CaM]

Puncheon is OK. However, I think with a run of games Maluka could be a better choice.

[Supersubpuckett]

Punch is crap, flatters to deceive - his passing is some of the worst in the team and we all know his attitude is awful.

[Thedelldays]

Punch is crap, flatters to deceive - his passing is some of the worst in the team and we all know his attitude is awful.

clearly not true this season is it

[Saint86]

In the games they have both played, Punch has been the better player. United and Villa stick out. Would have been MoTM v Villa if not for Ramirez

Puncheon was directly responsible for Villa's goal. Him and clyne dicking around at right back, sloppily gave the ball away, villa scored from immediate cross. Nowhere near man of the match for me... However, he has done well this season and should not be worried about in general. Neither should lallana, for example great goal against wet spam, great assist for lambert against villa to get us back in the game. Never stops running and tracks back loads with some crucial tackles and blocks.

People need to accept that we are not good enough at the back, this season will be a challenge and scrap. Relish it, get behind the team, and remember what it used to be like being the underdogs and getting surprise wins like that vs Man Utd (6-3, 3-1, 1-0, 2-1). That is the level we are at at the moment, a relegation dog fight team.

As fans we need to get behind the whole team, the manager and the club and relish opportunities to get wins. To many fans have gotten used to dickign league 1 and league 2 teams and forgotten what it means to be a saints fan imho.

[Thedelldays]

puncheon was not directly responsbile for villas goal....why make crap up..?

[Guan 2.0]

He seems pretty positive here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...el-Adkins.html

Adkins the right man to lead Saints' fight for Premier League survival, says Puncheon

Of course, there’s always going to be speculation when you’ve started the season a little slowly but this is a manager who has guided the club back to the Premier League and he’s focused on the job he needs to do,’ said Puncheon.‘The players feel the same and we all support him. We’ve got to get on with the games, work hard and start picking up the points.’

As is barney: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20094671

[Dig Dig]

He seems pretty positive here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...el-Adkins.html

Adkins the right man to lead Saints' fight for Premier League survival, says Puncheon

Of course, there’s always going to be speculation when you’ve started the season a little slowly but this is a manager who has guided the club back to the Premier League and he’s focused on the job he needs to do,’ said Puncheon.‘The players feel the same and we all support him. We’ve got to get on with the games, work hard and start picking up the points.’

As is barney: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20094671

Clear evidence that Adkins has lost the dressing room. And what a bad egg Puncheon clearly is.

[ottery st mary]

Puncheon is a very good footballer and his remarks are of support for the manager.

Some of the posters comment without watching Saints or football...

that much is quite clear on this subject and many other subjects relating to the mighty Saints..

Too many hockey players and Pompey idiots on this forum..

[tajjuk]

Been a better performer than Lallana this year (who has struggled)

i do hope that was tongue in cheek.

Doesn't track back often enough, sometimes not at all, not much pace, always comes inside and has a tendancy to run into people when trying to dribble round them. A squad player at best and would like to see Mayuka given a run instead of Puncheon, as he's both footed and a lot quicker.

[david in sweden]

A positive post - Punch has pleasantly surprise me this season, he's stepped up and COULD be a crucial part in the rest of our season. Seeing as a year ago it looked like he'd played his last game for us. Been a better performer than Lallana this year (who has struggled)

tbh ....when he was shooting off his mouth and doing everything possible to self-destruct last season, Cortese made a sensible decision...JP apologised, and it does seem to be working out a bit better alround.

Puncheon provides the sort of midfield agression we need without getting yellow-carded every other game (the one fault I find with Schneiderlins game).

Apart from his forceful runs, JP can at least cross a ball, and although his passing is sometimes a bit wayward, he is VERY difficult to dispossess... and holds the ball up very well.

A totally different player and one we've not seen before (since he's been in Saints colours ).

[eelpie]

Hasn't impressed me ever. Flatters to deceive in most areas. Reminds me of how a 12yr old plays.

And when do you reach school leaving age??

[laughba]

I'd rather have Tadanari Lee start if I'm honest.

[pingwing]

Wip about for a taxi to get rid of him to Brentford?? (about his level and it is in keeping with his cosmopolitan image)

[Mowgli]

Wip about for a taxi to get rid of him to Brentford?? (about his level and it is in keeping with his cosmopolitan image)

Unbelievable comment after today. Ran his socks off

[doggface]

Wasn't great today. Held onto the. Ball too long and sloppy passing, mayuka did much better

[pingwing]

Unbelievable comment after today. Ran his socks off

And managed a performance where he ran and gave the ball away at every opportunity....

No premier league play can get away with a performance like that "because he ran his socks off"

[supersonic]

I'd rather have Tadanari Lee start if I'm honest.

You'd rather have a striker play on the wing than a winger....

[kenneth_kenobi]

Must have watched a different game to me - he was very average, and as soon as Mayuka came on we looked a different side, because he actually went and got the ball, then did something with it!!

[Restark19]

I'd rather have Tadanari Lee start if I'm honest.

why does everyone seem to rate Lee so highly, from what i've seen of him he doesn't have what it takes to make it in this league. sure many would disagree but I'd much rather have Sharp tbh.
This is only based on what I've seen though and I'd be happy to be proved wrong

[max_saints]

have a bad feeling NA will stick with punch in the starting line up while using mayuka as an 'impact sub' when we are 8-0 down. he was raving about how excellent mayuka was in his impact sub role

[CB Saint]

Puncheon's last few games gone something like this...

Get ball
run with ball
cut inside
run into traffic
lose ball

[dubai_phil]

Puncheon's last few games gone something like this...

Get ball
run with ball
cut inside
run into traffic
lose ball

Totally agree with that.

But he runs around a lot so a lot of people like him. How he keeps Mayuka out the starting line up.....

[Our Claus]

Puncheon's last few games gone something like this...

Get ball
run with ball
cut inside
run into traffic
lose ball

Puncheon is Fabrice Fernandes but with less end product.

[ottery st mary]

A positive post - Punch has pleasantly surprise me this season, he's stepped up and COULD be a crucial part in the rest of our season. Seeing as a year ago it looked like he'd played his last game for us.

Been a better performer than Lallana this year (who has struggled)

You are so right supersonic.....

He has always had the talent and this season a definite team player.

NA has shown utmost faith in a very talented player....Confidence now and more to come..

[Matty's Caddy]

MoM for me today

[Avenue Saint]

Showed his quality today, AGAIN.

MoM

[ART]

Puncheon is Fabrice Fernandes but with less end product.

Have seen the similarities to Fabrice myself. In fact in today's game a number of players seem to have been playing high speed crop circles, the one thing that is going to take us up the league.

Great comments from david from sweden who obviously was watching the same match as myself.

[Halo Stickman]

Showed his quality today, AGAIN.

MoM

Agree.

I’ve been amazed at some of the criticism he’s received this season

[Turkish]

Can i just confirm this is the same chap a lot of this forum thought Antonio was better than?