Although I do not think that Jack Stephens should be the captain of Southampton or for that matter a first choice starter in the team, I respect what he has done for the club and he now finds himself in a position that is not of his making.

I can understand why Jack Stephens responded as he did in his sending off against Manchester United, he has never shown this type of behaviour before, on or off the field, but I think this was pure frustration, not just about the red card or losing the game, but at the situation that he finds himself in.

For most of his time he has been a good squad player at St Mary's, at times he has been first choice in the team, but mostly a stalwart of the squad who played around half the games in most seasons, that is borne out by his stats, in 7 1/2 seasons since he made his first team debut in the Premier League he has started just 130 games plus 19 as sub, around, around 2/3 of them in his first 3 1/2 seasons.

In the last 3 seasons before Russell Martin arrived at the club he played just 31 games in the Premier League for Saints and had spent the previous season on loan at Bournemouth where he was against a bit part player for most of his time there.

But when Russell Martin arrived he singled out Jack for praise and put him on a pedestal, he made him out to be the star player, the key man, even when he was out injured and we were building our unbeaten run, Martin never missed an opportunity to praise him and say just how much he was looking forward to his return.

When he did return, you felt that there was something strange happening, he was shoe horned into a winning side, when he should not have been and we saw star players either shuffled out of their usual position or dropped to accommodate him.

This in turn created a situation where the fans could see what was happening and knew that what was happening was wrong, it was favouritism that was not merited and if the fans could see it you can be sure that the rest of the Saints squad did as well.

That in itself can create issues in a squad and tension.

But none of this was Jack's fault, it was not of his making, while we were winning games it was seen as just strange, but now we are losing them, it has suddenly started to become cited as one of the issues behind that.

Sections of the fanbase never took to Russell Martin and his style of football and Jack Stephens being his favourite was seen as being part of the problem and not the solution.

As I have said none of this was of Jack's making, he knows his limitations, I am sure he would be content doing what he has always done, be a part of the squad, someone who can come in and do a job, but in reality is never going to give you 38 consistent games a season, there is nothing wrong with that, all squads have them and football clubs need that sort of player, yes it would be nice to have 24 players all worth £50 million and pushing for a first team place, but unless you at Manchester City or Chelsea it isn't happening.

So I think Jack Stephen's behaviour, is born out of the frustration that Russell Martin has created for him, turning him into the focus of his squad and putting him on a pedestal, I am sure that Jack Stephens is not comfortable in this, he knows that when the manager is sacked, he will go down with the ship.

He is no longer just another loyal squad player, most fans have now stopped respecting him as a squad player and the longest serving player at the club, but now see him as Russell Martin's lap dog.

But I think it now goes a lot deeper than just the fans, I think that with a lot of new players coming into the squad, they see the situation a lot clearer than those that were already here when it started to happen at the start of last season, the bulk of the squad then were his mated and players he had played with him over the years, but now the new arrivals can see favouritism when it is happening.

So although some might find it strange that I am now asking for respect for Jack Stephens after I have made it quite clear in the past that I think that if he is first choice in our team we are in trouble.

But that does not mean that I do not respect him for what he has done for the club and what he could continue to do for the club as a respected squad member.

But I think all of that has been destroyed by the way that Russell Martin has used Jack for his own ends and that when the manager leaves, Jack Stephens will find it hard to remain at the club unless the fans see the situation for what it is.

Jack Stephens deserves respect for being a Southampton player for near on 14 years and being a vital squad player, when Russell Martin leaves he should be allowed to return to his former role instead of the "Captain Jack" personal invented for him by Russell Martin.

Photo: Action Images

Number_58 added 09:18 - Oct 2 You've been banging on for years that he's only here because no-one else wants him!
2

mgprobert added 09:32 - Oct 2 I saw Jack's first game for Saints reserves when he arrived at the club. Let's just say it wasn't an outstanding performance, in my opinion. In my eyes he has been a liability, but I'm not a football manager and plenty of them have seen things in Jack that I haven't. They may know more about football than me. Being positive, there's no doubting his whole-hearted approach and at times he appears calm on the ball. After games like the Bournemouth one, you can understand why a manager would rather have a fighter in the team than, lets say, a more technically gifted one... its a balance. Ideally you'd have a team of brilliantly gifted players who give everything in every game, but that's for very high spending owners only. Russ is trying to play Pep football with Championship players - he's trying to adapt, but its not easy is it?! I wish Jack well, I admire his spirit, and hope he proves people wrong

2

City_boy added 09:56 - Oct 2 Not sure I do understand why Stephens reacted the way he did, as you suggest. it was an awful tackle that got him sent off, and then he compounded this with a foul mouth rant at the ref. What did he expect. As for deriving respect for his length of service. Yes, he has been here a long time and there is not another club in this division where he would have got the contracts and salary that Saints have paid him. Even when he has been loaned out over the years, he has ended up mainly being a bench warmer and none of those clubs ever followed up with an offer to buy him. I agree he is a useful squad player, but that is it. He is definitely one of Martin's favourites and I agree the rest of the squad will see this, especially when he is 'shoe horned' into positions that are not are not suitable at the expense of others.

5

JoeEgg added 09:58 - Oct 2 The fact that Martin made Jack Captain in the first place was extraordinary - insane. The fact that Martin's Captain ignored this responsibility and rightly earned himself a five match suspension is also extraordinary. The common denominated in these and other extraordinary decisions happening at our Club right now is Martin the manager - way out of his depth. Stephens is not good enough for the Premier League. But neither are Smallbone and Adam Armstrong - presumably along with Stephens soon to be shoehorned back into the side. I sympathise with Martin only in respect of the blunders and disappointment created by Sports Republic. Our best hope is to try and make the most of what we have by adopting different tactics and selctions, and employing a new manager who might just have the experience to give us half a chance of survival!

2

Bowlercow added 12:09 - Oct 2 The only person responsible for Jack's suspension is Jack himself Referees have become lenient with foul language but when it becomes personal they take action His language has always been iffy anyway so he has now got his dues RM should use this behaviour to strip him of the captaincy in favour of Flynn
7

Colburn added 12:34 - Oct 2 Another article to bring out the brainless Jack haters, I suppose it gives you all something to moan about again.. 14 years service and this is the level of idiocy it produces! Beginning to realise that most Saints fans are ungrateful morons who take their anger out on individuals who spill blood for the cause. I’m not surprised he made the error of abusing the ref when this site and the dumb haters have been chipping at him constantly for a year. Unbelievable behaviour from disloyal s***weasals.

-9

highfield49 added 12:56 - Oct 2 You're entitled to your opinion Colburn, my view is that Jack Stephens doesn't have the ability to play football at the top level.
6

AgrellaSFC added 13:15 - Oct 2 Always thought Stephens was a donkey. His reaction comes as no surprise as I'm always watching him get lucky with off the ball incidents. Absolute hot head who should never speak to the ref (directly) in that way. Colburn; does 14 years of Tories make them good also? He was loaned to Bournemouth's bench and that's saying something.
4

barry_sanchez added 21:20 - Oct 3 Jack Stephens = Danny Fox No where near the required standard and Martin putting faith in him merely shows what he doesn't know about football. Bednarek is also not the required standard, other than that that 1st XI isn't too bad and shouldn't be doing as badly as it is and that again is down to the manager. Sack him, not the required standard, bring in Moyes or Potter or frankly Brian Potter but he can't stay, his vanity and ego will send us down before we have a chance to stay up, we need a chance and so do the players at least.

0

Blogs 32 bloggers

Crystal Palace Polls