Hasenhuttl Suggests Kevin Danso Has Moved Up The Pecking Order
Tuesday, 11th Feb 2020 10:44

Ralph Hasenhuttl has spoken about how Kevin Danso's chances of playing have increased after the departure of Maya Yoshida in the January transfer window.

One of the big mysteries of this season is why we brought in Kevin Danso on loan and then virtually ignored him in any position let alone in central defence his preferred position.

That mystery was made even more surprising given the poor form earlier in the season of all of our other central defensive options, although Danso got the odd game employed as a full back, his only true appearance in the centre came at Fulham in the League Cup/

But with Yoshida now gone Ralph Hasenhuttl has commented that Danso has stepped up in the pecking order and could get a chance to show his worth.

Hasenhuttl said:

“He’s a young player and I know he always had to play a position so far that is not his best as a right or left-back.

“He played one time [as a centre-back] in the Carabao Cup against Fulham. That’s where he is more used to playing.

“Now, maybe in the future, he will have more chances as a centre-back where he is more comfortable.”

Danso nearly left in the transfer window, but when Yoshida departed Saints felt that they couldn't risk letting him go.

But is there truly any point in playing him unless we are considering signing him permanently and in any case why would Danso want to stay having been virtually ignored all season.

If Hasenhuttl rated Danso and he sees him every day in training then he would have surely tried him earlier in the season when we were appalling, even against Huddersfield in the FA Cup Danso played at full back whilst Yoshida played in the middle, this seemed strange, we learn't nothing new about Yoshida in that game, but we could have found out whether Danso is going to have a future at St Mary's.

At the moment Danso has moved up a place in the pecking order but he is still behind Bednarek, Stephens and Vestergaard, it will take two injuries or suspensions to see him picked in the centre of the defence and that is not going to happen very often.

Photo: Action Images

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Saintaxidriver added 12:38 - Feb 11 Agreed for a change. Can't see Danso as a solution at centre back even if he is up the pecking order and any cofidence he may have had has been knocked out of him by playing him at full back where he's looked like a flamingo on an ice rink!
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underweststand added 12:56 - Feb 11

Getting a regular place in a Prem. side is a big ask - even for established players, but the likes of Danso (and Che Adams) really need a run of games to adjust to this league, but sadly we can't afford that luxury.
We all want to thinlk that new players will "hit the ground running" - (where did that phrase come from?) ...but very few do. It takes time to adjust to a new team -and especially at this level, where one mistake can cost you the game.

I only hope that Kyle Walker Peters has a good few games to start, otherwise the "less patient fans" will condemn him before he gets a chance to find his way.

If Danso is meant to be a future CB, then he must be played in that role "ometime" and nortjudged on his performances when given a role that he's unfamiliar with.

highfield49 added 17:20 - Feb 11

It would make better sense to me if he was initially given some game time in the Romeu role where he can play as a holding defender and get in the mix. The concern is of course that he loses concentration or ends up ball watching as he has done playing at full back. It's a tough league with switched on quality players who will find you out very quickly, hence the defensive struggles we've had long term. Stephens and Bednarek are getting somewhere close to what's required but neither dominate their penalty area like top quality defenders. All in all Danso has given very little evidence that he is capable of stepping up and if he can't get on the pitch ahead of Vestergaard he has a lot to prove.