SW11_Saint

Again, I’m it going to regurgitate… The post above summarises my key points. Jack is a Championship player, we’re in the Championship. He’s adequate at that level, and not being forced to play tippy-happy. Personally I’d have him as a squad player, rather than a starter, but sounds like Still ma ly have other ideas. We’ll have to see. Looking forward to your question at the next Fans Forum already…

Lots I agree with here. You’re absolutely right - SR couldn’t have made more of a Horlicks of their two PL seasons if they had tried. Desperate. I’d argue few players, let alone our ramshackle cohort of Championship journeymen, could apply Martin’s ‘total (walking) football’ philosophy or Juric’s ‘whatever TF that was’ approach in the PL with any degree of success. Jack’s communicative abilities don’t appears to be the main issue in this for me though (19/38 games and played as a bizarre MF libero often by RM let’s not forget). He certainly didn’t cover himself in glory, but nor did anyone else bar Matty, Rambo (and occasionally Dibling & KWP). That Jack is ‘poster boy’ (literally) is absolutely a sad indictment, but that’s again on SR, not him. Re. the captaincy, spot on… if not Jack then who? Rambo the only other candidate but he’ll be off (and I’m not a big fan of goalie captains). I’d actually give it to THB is he stays… encourage him to step up a bit.

If you read my comments, and there are plenty, other than heart/fight etc. (which I also acknowledge wasn’t apparent in every game last season either), I have not particularly ‘bigged him up’ in terms of his abilities - he has limitations, we all know that. What I have consistently said is: (1) That I think he is a useful SQUAD player to have around, given he’s experience and his clear leadership role within the group. The players appear to like and respect him, he has an air of authority, and I think he’s a decent role model for our young CBs coming through. I’d prefer a back 3 (if WS goes that way) of THB (if he stays) + Wood + one of Ronnie/Quarshie. Having Jack around / on the bench wouldn’t worry me in the slightest though. Talking of THB* I wonder if there will be the same level of mass hysteria if he stays/signs again, given he was regularly godawful last season and played 34/38 games to Jack’s 19(2)/38 (therefore you could reasonably argue he has greater claim to being “one of the reasons our defence is so shite.”)? [*For the record I like THB too, and don’t bear a grudge - I think last season just did no one in our squad any favours]. (2) My main gripe however is the total and utter lack of respect from some fans towards Jack. Nasty, spiteful, personal stuff. Even if you think a player isn’t great, at least be somewhat civil/analytical about it (this is a general point btw - not aimed at you!). Added to this, this is someone who has been at the club since he was 16, and despite often being a mere squad player (regardless of perceived ability) has always given his all, and clearly gives a shit about the club, the fans, and the City (ref again his post-match Wembley interview), it just compounds the insult for me. Whatever your feelings on him as a player, he deserves more than that. I guess it sadly just the world we live in now though *sigh* I’m sure one of the brave keyboard warriors (again, not aimed at you!), will happily want to stand up at the next Fans Forum, look Jack squarely in the eye, and tell him how “fucking shit” he is and how he should have “done one” this season…😉

What are the other ‘shit decisions’?

Clearly you didn’t bother really reading, just extrapolated what you needed to fit your perspective. Nice one.

See my 25 other posts!

It was daft, and I was pissed off too. I challenge that SM keyboard warriors are truly representative of the fanbase though. They’re just more vocal/‘outraged’.

Season ticket holders since about 1979. And I’m not remotely ‘happy clappy’ I can assure you. But our leadership has changed, no? Spors the main man now, reporting into Parsons & Solak, rather than Rasmus/Kraft. Think we have to give him and Still the benefit of the doubt imho.

Yes, reasonable point.

Won’t keep counter-arguing - but not sure it has massively pissed off that big a chunk of the fanbase off (though clearly many on here!). It may turn out to be the wrong decision ultimately, but I don’t see it as that BIG a decision. Given the other emerging defensive cover we have. If we’d offered Sulenana another three years I’d be marching on SMS with a pitchfork &🔥lighted torch! Based on nothing other than his interviews this far, I see Still as much more of a pragmatist than an ideologue (a la RM). If he isn’t performing, or other combinations are better I think he’ll go with that. We’ll see I guess.

With respect you’re missing the ‘alchemy’ that make clubs/squads work/tick. It’s not simply as binary as “how many games have they played?”. Character matters. The ability to communicate matters. Connectivity with the ethos of the club often matters. Franny wasn’t one of our greatest players in terms of skill, but work ethic, commitment, professionalism kept him at the club under several managers. A role model and a senior voice. I also remember Chris Perry joining in the twilight of his career. Never like his at Wimbledon or Spurs, but his presence and experience brought a new dimension. I’m confident management have thought all this through.

Language Lee…😉 [it was an 80s sitcom reference but you are likely younger than me]. Yes, we’d all be proud to pull on the shirt, but we’re not professional player, he is. I agree he’s not good enough for where we’re going, but I’d argue he is good enough for where we are. We’re not owners, executives or managers either, and just have to trust that Parsons/Spors/Still etc have enough nous to have weighed things up and done this for a reason. Those reasons (I suspect) may not purely be just down to his ability or based on him starting every game. Two years would have been optimal imho - but it is what it is. I’m glad that he’s sticking around.

Language Timothy… Yes, I’m serious. We can all cherry pick games that ‘prove the rule’… and I’ve said elsewhere Jack is more than capable of having nightmare games and making howling errors. I won’t retread old ground but my main point was always (a) he’s a useful guy to have in the squad as we go through this next transition, and an experienced voice to help the talent coming through at CB, (b) I’m dismayed at the level of fury, ire, disrespect channelled toward a player for whom pulling on the 🔴&⚪️ shirt actually means something.

A lot of people seem to have an inside track on his contract negotiation…

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🎯

Disagree (clearly!). If/when Bednarek & THB depart, it will be useful to have Jack & Wood around the squad for experience.

It’s not so much about players ‘okay in the Championship’ - they’re all (bar the obvious 3) Championship standard players, including Jack. More about leadership/galvanising when things aren’t going well. Who else does that? (Only Rambo and he’ll be off). That is of value, and I disagree it’s ‘barmy’ to retain someone who has a dressing room influence. I don’t see an extension for Jack as mutually exclusive from signing players either. They assess things in the round.

A calculation I’m sure they’ve considered.. value v ‘risk’. He’s not in the PL this year, I agree his days there are likely over.

We’ll sell him I suspect… probably to Plymouth.

He isn’t good enough for the PL and won’t play there if we get there I suspect. it doesn’t remotely smack of ‘no ambition’ - who were you expecting them to sign? Per other posts it makes sense to keep him in the squad. Just don’t get the hysteria…

Zero risk, zero pressure. It was a no brainer imho.

Will depend what Still wants to do. Bednarek is off, but I suspect Still may take a ‘horses for courses’ approach to selection. I’d love to see Edwards come through, but he’ll want some experience in the mix too.

He’s probably smart enough to ask people at the club I suspect, and form an opinion based partially on other facets that will benefit the team.

We get it wrong more than we get it right most of the time. But I just don’t see this as a surprise (he was kit launch model!) or a massive gamble. I think it’s a. Eminently sensible move, and said as soon as the season ended that I would do the same. Everyone can have opinions, but the disrespect for him on here, given who he is and how he feels about the club is what irks and depresses me. If we’d offered Sulemana a 3 year deal I’d be apoplectic, but not Jack.