da roleta： This article is part of Football FanCast’s Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers…
da 888： Southampton legend Terry Paine has been speaking to The Daily Echo about Moussa Djenepo, and the 80-year-old has managed to slip a sly dig at Ralph Hasenhuttl into his comments.
Paine’s playing career for the Saints spanned across a whopping 17 years after he broke into the first-team, and also earned 19 caps for England during his incredible career which also saw him become a World Cup winner.
The Southampton legend has shared his views on one of the Saints’ most exciting players in Djenepo, who has scored two goals for the club since his £15m summer move from Standard Liege.
What did he say?
Paine told The Daily Echo: “I’d like to see the young Djenepo play on Saturday and get a sustained run, free of injury. He’s given glimpses of hope and if he can get a run in the side and settle down in the side he might just be the difference.
“He’s only 21 and only come in this season and got the injury so hasn’t really had a chance to establish himself.
“If he can adapt to the Premier League he’ll be big asset. But he needs to play in his right position to benefit the team.”
Sly dig at Hasenhuttl is fair, and isn’t a one-off issue
The final sentence from Paine’s comments make for interesting reading.
The 80-year-old has basically aimed a subtle dig at Hasenhuttl for his use of Djenepo, perhaps in reference to the fact that the former RB Leipzig boss deployed his £15m attacker at left wing-back against Sheffield United earlier in the campaign, as well as in the second half against Everton before the international break.
Incidentally, that wasn’t the only instance in which the Austrian forced a square peg into a round hole.
Hasenhuttl also put Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg at left-back for the trip to Manchester City, which was strange seeing as the Dane is a centre-midfielder.
Furthermore, Hasenhuttl played Stuart Armstrong – who is also a midfielder – at right wing-back last time out against Everton, and was made to pay for his decision as Richarlison’s winning goal came from the Brazilian running in from the left unchallenged.
The Southampton boss simply has to start using his players in their natural positions.