Saint Charlie

We just aren't as good as the teams above us, mostly because their quality of attacking players is much better than ours because they cost more and are paid more. We are probably the best of the rest. Which is probably the ceiling for anyone like Saints.

At least no booking for Wanyama.

A few players key contributions are sparse. Luckily some others are consistently good.

Not sure about that. Draw would be a good result against a decent enough side. We haven't exactly been fluent in much of 2015 so won't go and streamroller anyone.

Good subs.

Long one of few strikers who are better without the ball than with it.

Mane has scored 5 in his last 9 PL apps apparently. Madness not to get him on assuming he doesn't have a knock.

He is a set piece specialist because he just is and practices them a lot, ok?

Not too sure why we have moved away from that. Best front three over the season has been Tadic, Pelle and Mane. Tadic has improved again of late.

How good is it to look at the bench and see decent options? Makes such a difference.

Would imagine Mane not fully fit otherwise he is the first attacker on the teamsheet. Long and Pelle troubled them at SMS. Big day for Davis.

Or rather we expect them all to reach that level at all. Rather than just being a good player. Then when they don't people are suprised or frustrated. Who was the last Academy player who was just a solid PL pro? Matt Oakley?

It was a little joke. But clearly its good for our USP as a club to have Academy players featuring, otherwise we are no different to anyone else in that regard. Interestingly, with the prospect of losing Clyne and Jay Rod and Forster out long term we could have a lot fewer British lads in the team next season than for a while. But then English players especially get so overhyped and cost too much, especially for anyone who is good enough to play for us. Imagine as with the previous summer we will try and bring one or two British players in, always good to have a British core to the squad.

True. Definitely right here, and it seems 'many' agree, including you. Your JWP thread from a while back was similar I think.

We have to have at least one academy player in each match squad, and his attacking play has potential to develop due to his good technique. He is abysmal defensively, but Wanyama and Morgan are there. If Wanyama gets banned in either of the next two games then it becomes harder to fit JWP in because he is very lightweight.

Not dismissing him. Just saying he needs to kick on to be anything like as good as people want. But without Davis and with his confidence high I would start him today. He is a good player. Nothing more (yet) and nothing less. People comparing him to Beckham and saying he will be world class etc do so with little foundation apart from the fact he is a nice lad and speaks well in his numerous interviews. He can do another one after scoring his first free kick for Saints today. If he scores some others then he can start saying he is a free kick specialist...

I would pick: Davis Clyne, Fonte, Toby, Bertrand Wanyama, Morgan, JWP Tadic, Pelle, Mane JWP to get his first league goal.

What is your opinion of him? Do you think he is a world class player in the making? Which position? Would he be treated the same if he wasn't an academy poster boy, or does that get him some leeway? Or maybe adds pressure?

Beckham was far more than goals. He took his obvious technical ability and had a massive influence on matches from open play (in addition to tangible set play outcomes) despite other flaws. If JWP gets anywhere near that level then he will have done well. Very well.

You can't include Dutch league games. He made 10 league starts for Atletico (a few at right back where he plays for Belgium because Vertonghen is seen til now as a better CB option) and has already made 18 for us and would have made more if not for injury. He is playing in his preferred position which he often didnt for club and country last year. Lets agree to disagree. IMO he is worth substantially more than £6.8m and will be sold to someone for a lot more than that. If you disagree and think he is still worth that then fair enough.

Only if he suddenly becomes another Beckham, Lampard or Gerrard. If you are predicting it then you are as guilty as anyone of over hyping the guy.

Ha, ringing endorsement for the lad. Delph is certainly a better central midfielder than JWP right now and is a lot more powerful. Don't get me wrong, he is a tidy player and will surely have a good career. I just get the feeling people (including JWP himself) are expecting him to suddenly turn into a world class central midfielder. When I watch him I see a player who can pick a pass and has lovely technique but who in a men's senior match you can't play as a deep lying playmaker as he doesn't have an ounce of ball winning ability and is far too easy to run beyond. Even Hazard won a 20-80 in JWPs favour that nearly cost us at Chelsea. Is his future in a more advanced position? Not for me unless he suddenly develops either more power, a bit of a trick to beat a man, or shows he could get 5-7 open play goals in a season. The Germany goal was nice and a good start but its not like for us he has loads of chances and takes up great offensive positions. He has probably done more interviews than any other Saints player this season, and probably more in his career than he has made appearances. Hopefully he can develop into the player that he is being hyped to be and that he is hyping himself to be. Beckham comparisons fuel the hype and add pressure.

When you see him linked with being in an England senior squad do you feel that would be earned based on performances for Saints?

Not every Academy player will reach the heights that others have, thats all. He does so many interviews, and I think it just puts more pressure on him. Absolutely brilliant season for Saints, but personally for him its been average I think and no clear improvement from last year.

He is a good player. But despite 70 odd games doesn't have a best position, is woeful defensively and doesn't contribute in attack. Good technical player but his ceiling IMO is far lower than the likes of Shaw, Chambers, AOC etc because he has some basic (mostly physical) flaws as a PL midfielder. Also, can you call yourself a free kick specialist having never scored one for your club? If his game grows to match his PR and image then great.