Some Southampton fans are desperate to see the club get rid of central Jannik Vestergaard in the ongoing January transfer window because he isn’t good enough.
The Saints have seen their form improve considerably after their 9-0 loss to Leicester. They are currently on a four-game unbeaten run and that streak has seen the club beat both Tottenham and Chelsea, beating the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
Since the loss to the Foxes, Southampton have lost just four games, winning six of them and drawing two outings in the Premier League.
Southampton fans: Is Vestergaard's time up at St. Mary's?
He's not good enough
Can still do a job
But one man they’re frustrated about is towering defender Jannik Vestergaard. They’re making it clear that he isn’t good enough and can leave the club after SaintsNews&Views relayed a quote of his on Twitter (as reported by The Mirror).
Vestergaard on Southampton future:
“I will keep working hard in training with the aim of getting back into the team. This is football, and things change quickly. I will fight to get my place back.”
Does he have a future left at the club?#Saintsfc pic.twitter.com/wYh0DWnuaT
— SaintsNews&Views (@SaintsfcViews) January 7, 2020
I respect his determination. But man, you gotta show that you’ve improved when you’re on the pitch. I only remember one game where you fantastic, vs United. You can’t say you’ll “work hard” and put in calamitous displays week in week out. #SaintsFC
— Mark Perez (@bookMark280712) January 8, 2020
He needs to be more assertive. Height is one thing but he needs to use it to dominate his opponent.
— FMLogos (@FMLogos_rocheyb) January 7, 2020
After the 0-9 Ralph said he now knows who he can trust and who he can’t. No coincidence that Vestergaard and Yoshida haven’t been anywhere near the 1st team since. Can’t see his future here unless he ups his game and starts being more dominant in both boxes
— Terry (@Bennett2Terry) January 8, 2020
He has zero pace and doesnt read the game. Id let him go personally. Rather have Yoshida as back up and buy another.
— Stuart Hack (@HackStuart) January 8, 2020
Dives in too often, positional understanding of the game is poor and makes the same mistakes time and time again. A move away best for all parties.
— Jacob Tanswell (@J_Tanswell) January 8, 2020
No. He was awful against a poor Huddersfield. Time to get rid. Just not good enough imo
— Matt Rickett (@DJRodnee) January 8, 2020
The 27-year-old Danish defender was involved in the club’s loss to the Foxes, but a poor performance saw him get taken off in the second half. He couldn’t win a single tackle in the game and got dribbled past once. The former Werder Bremen man had a passing percentage of only 53% and could play only eight passes.
So far this season, the defender has made 12 appearances in all competitions under Ralph Hasenhuttl. His last appearance for the club came in the club’s 2-1 loss to Everton and hasn’t been a part of their winning run in recent weeks.
Last season, Vestergaard wasn’t exactly a regular in the club’s first-team either. He made 26 appearances in all competitions for the side, with only 23 coming in the Premier League.
Vestergaard joined Southampton from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2018 for a fee of £18million.
What do we think?
It is unfair to say that Vestergaard is poor in the air. He has won three aerial duels per game this season – the second-highest at the club this season behind Shane Long. He has also made the second-highest number of clearances for the side this season – 5.5, only behind defensive partner Jan Bednarek (via Whoscored).
It shows that he isn’t as bad a player as fans might be making him out to be. If he doesn’t start regularly, he can be a good option from the bench.