Kevin Danso is reported to be about to leave the club by mutual consent after a lack of First Team opportunities in the position he was signed to play in.

The news that Kevin Danso is set to terminate his season long loan deal early should come as no surprise, the strange thing is why we signed him in the first place but never played him in his two natural positions of either central defender or as a holding midfielder.

When Ralph Hasenhuttl picked him it was always as a full back or winger and although he did not look completely out of place, it was clear that this was not his natural position.

Given Saints problems in the centre of defence it confusing as to why he did not get a decent chance to show his worth as he came with a good reputation and could have been the answer.

Ralph Hasenhuttl is a man though with whom your face fits or it doesn't and Danso like Hoedt will leave without getting what either player would see as a fair chance to impress the manager.

In many respects his departure will not be a loss to Saints as he has played so little Premier League football and he has never complained publicly just got on with the job, but he clearly would not be happy with the situation and it seems there will be no shortage of club who would be willing to take him on loan for the rest of the season.

Good luck to Kevin Danso, I wish him well his face just didn't seem to fit with Ralph.

Photo: Action Images

DorsetIan added 22:01 - Jan 30 Not quite the same as Hoedt, who had played plenty of games even though not under Ralph (there are videos). Because we were so desperate when he joined, Danso was puffed up beyond all reasonable expectation - an inexperienced 20 year old from an obscure German club being the man to solve all our defensive frailties. Yes, he's been played our of position but he hasn't exactly set the world alight when he has played. Ralph had clearly seen enough not to pick him very often, so it's no massive surprise if it's the end for him at Saints. We can now watch him go on to become one of the best central defenders in the world somewhere else!

2

ChristchurchSaint added 22:17 - Jan 30 Maybe I’m just being cynical (and a little curious), but the other thing that we never know is how players “fit in”. If a player has a bit of attitude, or doesn’t like to toe the line, does this create an atmosphere which the other players don’t handle well. We have heard in the past of players and how well they fit in, maybe Danso just wasn’t a good team player. The most disappointing thing was that we were led to believe at the beginning of the season, that Danso was the answer to all of our defensive problems, which we still have, or had until the last few games, and only an injury or loss of form away from returning.

2

redandwhitedee added 22:46 - Jan 30 He did look out of place.
-1

DorsetIan added 23:21 - Jan 30 In response to Chrishchurch Saint, with his limited CV, he would have had to have one hell of an ego to come to the club with an attitude problem. But maybe he did...
0

amsterdamsaint added 00:35 - Jan 31 Hoedt. Not even League 1 standard. Vesterguard the same.
1

highfield49 added 07:37 - Jan 31 In the absence of any evidence to back up the suggestion I can only presume that Danso's training ground performance made it clear to the coaching staff that he wouldn't cut it in a central defensive role. Just possibly his short appearances as a right back were an attempt to get him to play in a different position but he wasn't able to make the change? Anyhow, as you say Nick, good luck to him elsewhere and the same to Slattery who also appears to be on his way out on loan. Over the years I recall many managers saying that certain players had a "good character" and the ability to adapt and work hard is often more important than outright skill and talent.

4

SaintPaulVW added 08:58 - Jan 31 Probably for the best if it's not worked out. There is no point sitting on the bench at his stage of career. Clearly RH just doesn't want to play him at CB for some reason. Is he the VVD/TA/JF replacement that got away from us....unlikely.... but only time will tell. If he leaves presume someone else can come in or Cedric doesn't leave. One out One in is here.
2

underweststand added 10:50 - Jan 31 Danso never played in the one place that we ought him for, but a developing footballer must learn to make-do. He looked uneasy at RB and no better on the left side, CB is a pivotal position and it looks as though we've found a good combination (at last) with Stephens and Bednarek. However, with "rumours" telling us that Vestergaard has one foot out the door, our only cover is Maya Yoshida - and we do need "someone else" as even our U23 CB's are out on loan at present.. I hope we does well, and if he succeeds and get transferred for a big fee "someone " on here will chirp up with " I told you so "...but in all honesty it's better he moves on and at least we didn't pay £12 million for him last summer.

0

Saint4Life247 added 11:20 - Jan 31 Anyone else feel thoroughly fed up during this transfer window? 2 defenders out and 1 in. Rumours all over regarding our key players wanted by others. Just seen Bowen is off to WH. He has been on the radar for a while and I think he could have been great for us. Armstrong is injured for 3 weeks and has been crucial for us recently. Unlikely to see anyone coming in to help cover him.... sigh!!

3

Blogs 31 bloggers

Tottenham Hotspur Polls