James Bree returning to Southampton
It sounds as if James Bree will return to Southampton after the weekend as Saints manager Tonda Eckert wants to utilize him in his first team plans.
Nathan Jones said this week that conversations are ongoing, but Bree frozen out by Will Still, is under contract and if Southampton want him back then that is probably the end of that.
Local journalist Alfie House today said that Eckert values Bree’s versatility and that he has also played in every game since he joined us in August (other than the Southampton game) so he is match-ready.
Jones has said that the 28-year old has been playing with an injury which restricted his ability at set-plays but I’ve felt they have improved in recent games. Bree has played a full 90+ in six of our last seven games.
I’d really like him to stay, but looks like we have run the risk of signing a loan player, and lost. Fans need to remember this when they criticize Jones of not liking to sign them. Bree’s contract on the south coast does expire in the summer.
Harry Clarke signed this week, but has a lot less game time, and with Bree going back we are in no better position then we were previously at the back. I really hope Rob Apter can step up as we will need him.
Rob Apter step up? How can he when Jones simply won’t pick him. He doesn’t pick him for the league and against Chelsea he didn’t pick him for the cup team . Indeed a strange situation.
Good point.
It is a bit of a mystery why Rob Apter is not going any game time…
Strange one Bree. Started brilliantly, then faded away. NJ says Bree is carrying an injury and that explains it. Yet he has regularly played 90 minutes…..
If he goes back, that does at least free up another space in the squad.
Apter and Bree are two entirely different types of players. Bree is a defend er and Apter a winger. One cannot replace the other. Chicago is right, if Bree goes we will likely be weaker in defence than stronger after this window. More reinforcements needed.
If Bree returns to Southampton it may force NJ to give Apter some more gametime. The lad deserves a run in the side. Also, being an old fashioned type winger, he would be advantageous to Dykes if he is going to lead the line. One of our problems so far this season has been creating chances from open play…….I would give Knibbs more gametime too, he is wasted on the bench.
Totally agree about Apter, it could well be that Apter, similar to certain other players, who disagree &/or stand up to NJ are then left on the sidelines or are moved on, as he doesn’t accept any criticism! Plus as NJ has implied Bree has been carrying an injury which has caused issues with his set plays, if that is true, why the hell has NJ continued to let him take them then, that is poor management.
For my part and supporters around us, if he does go back, we will be glad to see Bree go, as whilst he can be quite good at dead ball situations when fully fit, his defending overall has been very poor.
I think we will miss him if he goes back. As stated above Apter and Bree are two different players. Apter is not a wing back and needs to play either in 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 set up . Bree has ability to deliver good crosses and you can see that, admittedly inconsistent in the latter part of his games but an injury has impacted. If he was defensively poor ( which he is not) then why would Southampton want him back. The defence has been pulled out of position by our weakness down the left. If you have ever played football at reasonable level you will understand that defencing is a unit act.. if one part fails if means you have cover areas that have been exposed. Anyway I guess we will see, personally I think he was a good addition to our squad, at a time when we needed strengthening down the right side. His goals won us points and the Derby goal was technically very good.