Saints manager Ronald Koeman has spoken of how he believes that Jordy Clasie will soon adapt to the Premier League.

It is funny that how some Saints supporters have already started to pass judgement on Jordie Clasie and been very vocal on various message boards and social media sites of how the former Feyenoord player is not up to the standards of the Premier League.

How they can already be so certain of this after only three appearances in the Premier League for Clasie, totaling just under 3 hours on the pitch is a mystery, especially as it comes on the back of a lengthy two month spell on the sidelines injured.

But that is how the minds of some Saints fans work, they judge a player far too quickly and don't take extenuating circumstances into account.

Thankfully most of our supporters are far more understanding and realise that Clasie needs a little time and patience to get used to the Premier League and also to get his full match fitness back having spent so long on the sidelines.

Certainly Ronald Koeman has faith in Clasie and is prepared to give him that time.

“He’s not the physical, most strongest player and that’s the reason I change Jordy after 70 minutes because he needs to learn and to adapt to the Premier League and we give the boy that time,”

“He showed his qualities and he will learn and adapt to the intensity of the Premier League.

“He has big qualities in his ball possession.”

What Koeman is trying to do with Clasie is offer some balance in the midfield, last season with the Schneiderlin/Wanyama partnership it was very good defensively, but often a little cumbersome in possession, perhaps one of the reasons why away from home especially in the second half of the season we were not catching teams on the break.

With Clasie he has the ability to move the ball on quickly and turn defence into attack.

Before Clasie or BC as it could be dubbed, we conceded 10 goals in 8 games, an average of 1.25 per game, in the 3 games since we have conceded 3 in 3, so defensively we have improved a little, going forward we were averaging 1.62 goals scored per game BC, and now its 1.66 in his three games played, a slight improvement that could mean two more goals a season, but those goals could be vital.

That is how Saints will be looking at it, they feel that defensively Clasie could improve the side by 9 goals and attacking by 2, that could make a big difference come the end of the season.

Of course it isn't an exact science and there are other circumstances that affect the stats and of course I have only taken the most basic view, butthis is the way football science is going.

So those who have already written off Clasie as a Premier League player should take note that with him on the pitch we are already showing improvement and when he does get fully up to speed he will improve us as a side even more.

Photo: Action Images

SonicBoom added 12:17 - Nov 3 Lots of fans were shocked when they saw him in the flesh. He really is quite small and after Morgan that is a big change. Central midfielders are not usually tiny. The smallest players tend to play wider. However with the emergence of Messi and Barcelona's midfield, teams started to think that you don't have to be 6 foot 5 and run around all day. I believe the answer is to focus on what he CAN do and not worry too much about what he can't.

3

SaintNick added 12:23 - Nov 3 Good points sonic and the fact is that in a football team you need balance and Clasie offers soething different than Wanyama and romeu for instance
3

bstokesaint added 12:38 - Nov 3 Spot on Nick. I find it disappointing that after a long list of newbies, who have needed time to settle, including Wanyama, Pelle and Mane in the current team, fans still cast premature judgement without what can be considered a fair amount of game time. There must be some interesting conversations for some when they're sat at the bar telling their non-Southampton supporting pals how upset they are that Wanyama is being targetted by Spurs and Mane by Man U, much to the bemusement of those listening in who distinctly remember the negative comments and talk of a waste of money just a few months before. If I was a player I'd want a decent run of games before being judged. Thankfully our lot are generally made of sterner stuff.

2

DPeps added 12:59 - Nov 3 Makelele was pretty small but not a bad midfielder. Xavi, Iniesta? Personally I much prefer Clasie and Wanyama as a partnership to VW and Romeu, as Clasie offers some incisive forward passing (he started the move for our first against Bournemouth).
1

A1079 added 13:08 - Nov 3 Agree with this Nick and Sonic as usual makes some good points. After getting it wrong before, I am more patient before making a judgement on a new player and he does need time to adjust and adapt. The jury remains out though at the moment but let's give the lad a chance. I would like to offer another view on consistency in RK's approach. He is right that Classie needs time and needs playing time to adapt. What of Harrison Reed though? A player that looked like he was coming through and yet he rarely even makes the bench now? Has he been given enough time at PL level to adapt and adjust? Has RK got a blind spot when it comes to our own youth and academy as it does appear to be lower down on his priorities (and I am afraid, that I did feel a sense of pride that as a club we had a reputation for bringing home grown talent through) and it is not a concern, but probably not in the too distant future RK will go, and with it, probably a portion of the first team.

-1

SaintNick added 13:14 - Nov 3 The problem is that as we get stronger as a squad and look to succeed in the league then it does stop a younger player getting in the side, in some respects no different than when we moved from League one to the championship, some of the youngsters who looked good in league one didnt get a chance in the championship. At the moment we need players who are good enough and the finished article as such rather than untried youth, sadly I think Harrison Reed may suffer from this, he needs to get out on loan and play a few games i think

1

LesVivian added 15:00 - Nov 3 Clasie, of course, does need time to get used to the Premiership. Unfortunately, he is currently being paired with Wanyama, who has got the idea that he can pass - he can't, and he needs to shift it to a proper passer such as Clasie or JWP. Wanyama's tendency to commit bookable fouls, sometimes in non-threatening areas, or phases of play, is beginning to counteract his obvious strengths - chasing and winning the ball!

0

ElSanto added 18:34 - Nov 3 Sunderland game might be a good chance to have classie and Romeu. Classier, although weak, can pass, but so can Romeu - came through the Barcelona youth system for crepes sake! These two should mean we easily open them up like an old whore's arse.
1

DPeps added 19:26 - Nov 3 Elsanto - beautifully put
0

aceofthebase added 20:09 - Nov 3 I repeat that I want Clasie to succeed but more important is that Saints succeed. We must put out our best teams and that should not be with a player that is miles off the pace. Clasies performances have been weak. He rarely tackles , he gets knocked off the ball too easy, his fellow teammates rarely pass to him. The majority of his passes were sideways or back. Quite frankly it is difficult to locate him. Others like Pelle and Mane uf they had poor starts or games we simply didn't score. If a defensive or midfield player messing up it often costs a goal. When Clasie is ready tjen play him but not before. Find him some match practise elsewhere. Sorry if this post offends the wait and see blokes here

-1

BUCK added 23:41 - Nov 3 A lot of saints fans done that with pelle. Their idiots simple as that
0

SaintBrock added 09:03 - Nov 4 I suggest Elsanto you keep your more unsavoury remarks to yourself, let's keep this chatroom decent is that too much to ask? If you like obscenity there are other Fan sites that cater for that sort of thing and no doubt would welcome such childishness with open arms.
-1

aceofthebase added 11:28 - Nov 4 I have never seen such an abuse of statistics as written in this article, come on Nick simple truths not makebelieve.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Norwich City Polls