The return of Jack Cork to the Saints team last season coincided with the start of our revival, it was generally agreed he was a close second in all the player of the year polls, so why has he been frozen out ?

Last season Jack Cork had every right to believe he had made the breakthrough in the Premier League, after missing the first part of the season after taking part in the Olympic games, he returned to a team rooted at the bottom of the league with only 4 points from the opening 10 games.

After his return Saints went on a four game unbeaten run which put 8 points on the board and lifted us up the table, Cork then went on to be a vital cog in the Saints side, being ever present for the rest of the season, Morgan Schneiderlin took all the plaudits in the centre of the midfield, but it was Cork who put in the hard work with a feature of his play being his ability not only to win the ball but move it on quickly, there was a feeling that although Schneiderlin fully deserved his awards as Player of the year, that Cork was a close second and some would say that without Cork, Morgan would not have been anywhere near as effective and would probably have not hit the heights he did.

The signing of Victor Wanyama was a surprise in the fact that most people would concur that the two holding midfield players were perhaps our best two performers and this area was perhaps the last area of the team we needed to look at improving, Wanyama of course has shown his worth, however the big question is just why Jack Cork has been frozen out.

It is almost as if to make sure that Wanyama has no pressure on him to justify his big fee, Cork wont be played in case he plays well and the fans question the wisdom of playing Wanyama.

Conspiracy theories abound, but they are fired by the fact that Saints don't exactly have a squad strong on depth, that being the case, why has one of the best and most effective players been frozen out so drastically.

The stark truth is he has been frozen out, he has been available for every match bar the defeat at Arsenal, yet his total playing time in the Premier league is 4 substitute appearances, three of them in the 89th minute and the last one against Hull seeing him get a massive 6 minutes on the pitch, that game perhaps spelled out to the player that he is not going to get a game, Victor Wanyama who was having a stinker(In fairness his only one of the season) was taken off just after the hour mark, but it wasn't Cork brought on but Steven Davis, if Jack Cork harboured hopes of forcing his way back into the side, this more than anything told him that it just wasn't going to happen.

It is not as if Cork himself isn't versatile, he has played for the club in various positions, both as a holding man in midfield, a more attacking player, out wide on the right, at right back and in the centre of defence, if he cant get more game time even off the bench with this variety of positions played in his locker then he is never going to.

This week with the visit of Aston Villa we will perhaps see if Jack Cork has a future at St Mary's, if Morgan Schneiderlin fails to pass muster then Cork is the obvious choice to replace him, if he doesn't get picked for this game then the stark reality is he is never going to get picked.

I really don't have the answer to this one, I can't see why a player who was such an essential part of last season's team cannot get anymore than 9 minutes football this term, I can understand why Victor Wanyama is preferred, but I cannot see why a player of Cork's ability has been ignored.

I understand this is a squad game, but this season has not seen much of our squad used to any great degree, if you want to hold together a good quality squad for a Club of Saint's standing, then you have to make sure the better players in that squad not only get a game, but can see where their chances might lie of getting in the side if they do well, sadly I just cant see a future for Jack Cork.

I haven't heard any rumours of a rift between player and manager and Cork is a good professional in the fact that he hasn't gone moaning in the press about his situation, so it is a complete mystery.

If Schneiderlin is out and Cork doesn't replace him, then I fully expect him to move on in the transfer window in January, there will be no shortage of Premier League clubs who will be interested in signing him, if he hasn't realised already, he will know it this week, that for some reason Mauricio Pochettino just wont play him seemingly under any circumstances.

Photo: Action Images

legod7 added 11:19 - Dec 3 The trouble is WE do not know what goes on at Staplewood week in week out. A team gets picked mainly on the previous week's performance and also how they do in training. Perhaps Jack Cork is not putting in the effort when he is not in the team.
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SaintNick added 11:26 - Dec 3 Perhaps not, but Jack Cork has always put in effort for this club, why should he suddenly stop now, he doesnt strike me as that sort of player
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Jesus_02 added 12:20 - Dec 3 A: Morgan and VW are first choice. Steven Davis has played very well so far, so has JWP...better than Cork? Yes Im affraid but It's a long season and he is likely to figure if he continues to train well
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SaintNick added 12:23 - Dec 3 my point is though Jesus, there have been plenty of times to give him a run out off the bench but we havent I dont think its about who has been playing better as lets be fair Cork hasnt had a chance to show them he is in form
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SaintNick50 added 13:26 - Dec 3 This is all part of our very dodgy transfer policy. I don't know why we bought Wanyama, it's not that he isn't a good player, but we didn't need him. Yes we need cover, but why not get hold of an up and coming youngster on the cheap? Having spent all the dosh the transfer committees decision has to be justified.! Luke and especially Jack changed our fortunes last season. It is a disgrace that Jack's reward is to be a fringe player. We shouldn't moan bearing in mind where we are now compared to three years ago (preparing for a home match against Brentford which we lost 0-2!) but I am. Our transfer policy has been mainly pants in respect of our big money buys apart from Lovren. Ramirez??? Osvaldo??? Mayuka (not big money)???

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Saintstridey81 added 15:26 - Dec 3 I thought the same as you Nick when we were interested in Wanyama,we didn't need him,but after the start we have had and the performances with it,I honestly don't think we would be as high as we are if it was cork playing. He was brilliant last year,but you have to move on as a squad and MP obviously wanted them to play in a certain way,and after the start we have had,I'm not sure you can question it really.. Like someone also said above we don't see them in training every week.. In my opinion davis is a straight swap for schneiderlin and cork for wanyama,and victors form in my opinion is the reason corky aint played.. I agree its harsh,but personally looking at the results,table and performances,I think it was the right decision

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Whatsforpud added 15:51 - Dec 3 ''Wanyama of course has shown his worth''. He has more so lately, but in the first six or seven matches, people were querying why he was bought when Cork had been an automatic choice. Neither of them are exactly prolific goal scorers. Two or three goals a season is not really too much to ask, even for defensive midfielders.Davis, on the other hand, can be defensive or attacking, and can be relied on for the odd goal.

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Jesus_02 added 16:42 - Dec 3 The fact that we performed so badly without Cork was exactly the reason that we needed VW. Jacks problem is that Morgan has become more offensive than he was. Arguably JWP and Davis are more natural replacements for him. While he has been limited to a few minutes in the League, he has played in the cup (and didn’t exactly impress) Jack is a good player and I hope he stays fit and gets back to the top of his game. We will need him before the season is out.

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thegeneral added 16:48 - Dec 3 I believe Jack Cork's absence this season is one of the major reasons we are not scoring a lot of goals. He rarely sends a pass astray, rarely gets caught dwelling on the ball unlike Wanyama and turns defence into attack far better than Wanyama who can only pass the ball backwards or sideways. He has a much faster 'turn of foot' that Wanyama as well. He can't possibly feel a part of the team and must realise he is not sadly part of MP's plans, move on Jack you're far too good to sit on a bench, and i really hate having to say that.

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TeamCortese added 20:44 - Dec 3 The omission of Jack Cork puzzles me to say the least! It has echoes of Billy Sharp at the beginning of last season--only he's significantly younger and has a much brighter future. On the basis of performance very few can question the inclusion of VW and MS. On the point of team inclusion and getting the right rotation policy I have to say MP has got it totally wrong. I originally thought MP would play all three defensive midfielder with a lone striker i.e. Lallana and Rodriguez (on the wings) in-behind Lambert (or Osvaldo). It's a shame JC has been frozen out of the squad and also letting Puncheon leave on loan to Palace. Both players were integral to our starting line-up and for me it seems the club has handled the communication to the fans very poorly. Moreover when we're attacking we seriously lack width and players who can add a different dimension. By that I mean players who can beat full-backs and take other players out of the game. We're seeing that with Arsenal's inclusion of Theo Walcott and with Spurs last year. I hope Jack doesn't leave but if I were him I would. I hate to say this but I could see a lot of movement in the January transfer window if MP doesn't sort out these matters out. We haven't got that big a squad compared to our rivals so we have to be careful.

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Saintstridey81 added 20:57 - Dec 3 Personally I'd rather score less and let in less,like we have done this season.. VW and Lovren are the main reason for that.. I think its bizarre to say JC is the reason we haven't scored more goals.. I think Osvaldo is 1 of the reasons we haven't score as many as last season as he is still trying to bed in, and we clearly play a lot more tighter these days under MP,which is another reason.. Personally I prefer it,we're 7th in the league after 2 back to back defeats,I'll take that,sadly some players will suffer along the way.

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Kiwifiedpom1 added 20:59 - Dec 3 I have consistently said that Wanyama was surplus to requirements and recent events have borne this out. Wanyama does not bring to the game the strengths that Cork brings. Wanyama has a good tackling record as does Cork. But Cork is a more productive player.
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Saintstridey81 added 21:16 - Dec 3 We lack 2-3 squad players in my opinion,defo a foward/creative player for cover,same case may be said for a centre half,but I don't think we really need to be doing too much in january. I do feel bad for Cork,as he really is a good player,but I think schneiderlin and Wanyama unfortunately for Cork,have been brilliant so far.
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Saintstridey81 added 21:34 - Dec 3 Surplus to requirements? Are you mad? His and Schneiderlin's partnership have been 1 of the main reason's for our success this season,pundits all over the place have also backed this up.
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Fordy added 08:46 - Dec 4 I think simply MP plays Shneiderlin slightly ahead of Wanyama and sees the Wanyama position as being Jack Cork's position. I think Davis will start tonight but if it was the other way round and Wanyama was out then Cork would come in. I think Wanyama was bought in because in a few games last year we were bullied in midfield. Wanyama doesn't let that happen whereas it was happening with Cork despite Cork being much better on the ball.

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Saintstridey81 added 11:15 - Dec 4 Totally agree fordy 100%
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