[Albion] Jan Paul van Hecke

[GT49er]

No I’m saying that we are now at the kind of level where we are just as likely to sign a very good player as we are to promote from within and we’ve shown very little interest in playing either Roberts or Clarke during their Albion careers. As before I’d be delighted if either of them stepped up next year, but given Roberts gets no minutes and Clarke can’t get into a struggling WBA I’m not sure we see them as the answer to an obvious gap in the squad.

While I agree that it looks as if the Championship might be Clarke's level, I could see him possibly coming back for a season to cover for Roberts going out on a much need loan. Clarke has been arguably West Brom's best defender this season - the fans were puzzled why VI started dropping him, and now Bruce doesn't seem to want to play him at all. Now they are a struggling Championship team - they were a top six promotion chasing Championship side earlier on, when Clarke was playing LCB week-in week-out.
Clarke has good experience - I don't think he'd let us down.

 

[southstandandy]

I thought Clarke only had one more season left on his contract? If so he may nned to be sold in the summer, unless he really is in GP's plans for next year.

 

[Baldseagull]

I thought Clarke only had one more season left on his contract? If so he may nned to be sold in the summer, unless he really is in GP's plans for next year.

He has only one more year of contract, I think GP will want to have a look at him in pre season before a decision is made, I reckon he is 50/50 to start the season with us, and see how it goes.

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I’m not sure Ostigard and Clarke are in our plans. We’ve had long enough to look at them. Suspect Clarke doesn’t quite have enough and Ostigard is perhaps a bit too physical and rash. Be delighted to be proved wrong. Clearly Van Hecke has a heck of a chance next year. Roberts still needs a decent spell on loan as he’s clearly deemed far from first team ready atm. Compared to Ferguson, say, who seems to be being fast tracked into the side.
I suspect our number one priority signing will be a left footed, pacy, ball playing and carrying CB. Pretty much the holy grail in football.
I’d imagine next year our first choice would be Veltman/Van Hecke, Dunk, Webster, with a new CB competing for the LCB role.

Ps congrats to Van Hecke.

Clearly Jan Paul has Van Hecke of a chance next year.

It was staring you right in the face.

 

[Stat Brother]

[tweet]1499881161039958019[/tweet]

 

[schmunk]

[tweet]1499881161039958019[/tweet]

Along with the wonderfully-named Brian Brobbey.


And, of course, playing in front of BKS.*


* or EBTBDBKS?

 

[Guinness Boy]

Along with the wonderfully-named Brian Brobbey.


And, of course, playing in front of BKS.*


* or EBTBDBKS?

Never mind that, Q Timber and Zirkzee should get together and release a hip hop album pronto.

Maybe DJ Strollaround could produce it?

 

[Bakero]

Van Hecke's uncle apparently managed Southampton for a brief period following Pearson's resignation in 2008. Jan Poortvliet is the name. Nope, me neither.

And there endeth Monday night's JP trivia.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Message sent to De Zerbi.



Don’t drop me again.

 

[Mustafa II]

What a defender this lad is turning out to be.

Absolute quality.

Dunk mk II.

 

[Questions]

Best game yet

 

[smillie's garden]

Brilliant. His calmness after picking up harsh yellow was awesome - I was expecting Webster at some point.

 

[Machiavelli]

Yes, he starts in the big games now. Really good defensively today, when on an early booking and up against Rashford. His passing and carrying the ball to make space is coming on so well.

 

[Wozza]

Forced Rashford to take the ball off the pitch before their 'goal'. Fine work indeed.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

He's a bit good isn't he?

I wonder if we will ever see Igor?

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Brilliant game. Dunk mark 2.

 

[Questions]

I’ve been waiting for that performance from him. He will keep on learning and improving if he has the right people around him. As will Billy Gilmour and Esikso , then there is Fergie, Adingra, …Have I missed anyone ? Probably have

 

[WhingForPresident]

He is f***ing fantastic.

 

[Farehamseagull]

Yep, his best game yet, brilliant. Becoming a fine defender and a huge asset for us. A real bonus.

 

[Pavilionaire]

He got better as the match went on. I think he is fully up to speed with De Zerbi ball which is crucial because Dunk will need to be rested at some stage.