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Puncheon: I've grasped chance with both hands (From Daily Echo)
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Puncheon: I've grasped chance with both hands
4:00pm Monday 10th December 2012 in Saints News
By Gordon Simpson, Senior Sports Reporter
Jason Puncheon
IF there was any lingering doubt that Jason Puncheon’s Saints redemption was complete then it was well and truly dispelled on Saturday.
In one of the club’s most important games of the season, the winger produced a match-winning performance to lead his side to a 1-0 victory over Reading and lift them out of the Premier League relegation zone.
It was another virtuoso display from Puncheon, following on from his heroics in the 3-1 win at QPR a few weeks ago – a result that really ignited Saints’ season.
The transformation that the 26- year-old’s career has undergone in the last 12 months is remarkable.
Frozen out of the first-team reckoning for most of Nigel Adkins’ reign as manager, he settled his well-publicised differences with the club’s hierarchy in January and has emerged as an integral part of the side.
“It’s all about growing and maturing as an adult and a player, and I’m doing that now,” said Puncheon.
“The gaffer has given me a platform and given me a chance and I’ve grasped it with two hands.”
Puncheon lost his place in the team to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain shortly after Adkins’ appointment as manager in late 2010.
A succession of loan spells followed, with Puncheon even left out of the club’s 2011 pre-season tour, before he eventually returned to the fold earlier this year.
Although he was little more than an extra in the cast that secured back-toback promotions, the midfielder is now playing a starring role.
When asked how he had matured, Puncheon said: “It’s all a mental mind state. It was difficult for me to come back last year.
“As much as I was loaned out, I was coming back to a team that was winning week in, week out. The club were second in the Championship when I came (back) and were in the top two all season.
“It’s hard to come back in and hit the ground running the way the boys were. I knew coming back having a good pre-season would be the start for me and that’s what I needed.”
The catalyst for the turnaround in Puncheon’s career came last January when, frustrated at his lack of involvement, he launched into a rant on Twitter about chairman Nicola Cortese.
Puncheon accused Cortese of forcing him to train with the youth team, referring to him as “nicolina”, and stated that he would see out his contract playing for the reserves before leaving on a free.
That prompted the chairman to summon his player for a meeting, after which Puncheon apologised and was granted a clean slate.
“I wasn’t nervous about it,” said Puncheon of being hauled in for talks, adding that there “weren’t any choice words” from either party.
“We had a meeting, we spoke. The next day I was at training. That was the most important thing, for me to be settled and start playing again.”
While their relationship at one stage appeared to be in a state of disrepair, Puncheon insists he has changed his view of Cortese.
“People make out Nicola to be a stern, stubborn character but what he is is a man of his word,” said Puncheon. “You have to always give credit to that. He has a good driving force behind himself.
“When I joined I remember the day I signed he said this football club will be in the Premier League in five years time – it happened in three years.
“Me and him had clear-the-air talks and as far as I’m concerned that’s all history. I’m just pleased to get the chance and keep producing.
Comments(35)
Rocket 1
says...
4:10pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Buddy SFC
says...
4:15pm Mon 10 Dec 12
SaintBen
says...
4:22pm Mon 10 Dec 12
The boy has done brilliantly for the latter stages of last season and taken the Premier League by storm - My Player of the season to date - KEEP IT UP!!
Come on you Reds!!
mustard
says...
4:23pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Rocket 1 wrote:that's this season at Wet Spam.....
Surely the Echo have got a more recent photo of Punch.That is so last year!!!
MGRA
says...
4:25pm Mon 10 Dec 12
mack chinnon
says...
5:05pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Baddesley Bill
says...
5:12pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Can't wait to see Guly do the same! COYR
right back in the bar
says...
5:13pm Mon 10 Dec 12
SFCSaint
says...
5:25pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Velleity
says...
5:27pm Mon 10 Dec 12
He's shown himself to be deeply ambitious so I reckon he's a real possibility to go. Hate to say it but that's how I see it.
I also wonder how much of his drastic recent improvement is in the knowledge that he can start to talk to other teams come January...
Cynical? Moi?
Rob The Saint NOT in NZ
says...
6:06pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Velleity wrote:I see where you are coming from, but my hope is that now we are in the Prem & he is a first team regular that his wander **** may have faded?
Doesn't Punchy's contract come up at the end of this season? Must be true, I read it on here.
He's shown himself to be deeply ambitious so I reckon he's a real possibility to go. Hate to say it but that's how I see it.
I also wonder how much of his drastic recent improvement is in the knowledge that he can start to talk to other teams come January...
Cynical? Moi?
Mind you I am always a glass-half-full person so may be looking at the situation too optimistically.
In the meantime I will just carry on enjoying the season!
COYR!
Rob The Saint NOT in NZ
says...
6:10pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Rob The Saint NOT in NZ
says...
6:13pm Mon 10 Dec 12
I'll shut up now......
Maine Lobster
says...
6:41pm Mon 10 Dec 12
I was not a fan when he had allowed his discontent to show and would have gladly seen the back of him, but I now have to eat those words and give him the credit he deserves.
City Saint
says...
7:26pm Mon 10 Dec 12
SaintBen wrote:I was just saying on Saturday that Jason is also my player of the season so far.
It wouldn't surprise me if Roy Hodgson was having a sneaky look at our Jase....??? ;-) The boy has done brilliantly for the latter stages of last season and taken the Premier League by storm - My Player of the season to date - KEEP IT UP!! Come on you Reds!!
A great role model to others who are out of favour, too.
Thornhill Saint
says...
7:38pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Not exactly Saints legend material, but hey, he has been here long enough despite his best efforts, and should it continue he might just make that status by sheer coincidence.
I like the way he at least shows respect to the team, the manager and the chairman and comaraderie with his teammates. He is unashamedly conditional in his loyaly but he is honest. Most importantly he has spiced up is wheatabix, and is on fire!! Long may the resurgence of the Punch continue as long as we will have each other!
GX Saint
says...
8:17pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Velleity wrote:Hmm, good point. But we'll still have had one good season out of him (keeping us up) which is one more than most of us would have predicted this time last year.
Doesn't Punchy's contract come up at the end of this season? Must be true, I read it on here. He's shown himself to be deeply ambitious so I reckon he's a real possibility to go. Hate to say it but that's how I see it. I also wonder how much of his drastic recent improvement is in the knowledge that he can start to talk to other teams come January... Cynical? Moi?
I would hope NC is manouvring behind the scenes - Punch appears to do best when he believes he's wanted and NC seems to have got his trust. So maybe he'll be working on an extension with a get out option if we did get relegated.
But to be honest, there are so many worse sides in the Premier than us and over the course of 38 games, we should rise high enough to stay up comfortably. 14th or 15th I reckon.
NC has played a blinder with JP and he probably hasn't had the recognition for it on here. I would be surprised if he hasn't worked out the next move too.
Confucious
says...
8:19pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Thornhill Saint wrote:Sometimes achievement needs to be measured not so much by how far someone gets but how far they had to travel to get there.
Listening to his interview he is still unashamedly Puncheon centric. "i am playing the premiersh so that is alright etc".
Not exactly Saints legend material, but hey, he has been here long enough despite his best efforts, and should it continue he might just make that status by sheer coincidence.
I like the way he at least shows respect to the team, the manager and the chairman and comaraderie with his teammates. He is unashamedly conditional in his loyaly but he is honest. Most importantly he has spiced up is wheatabix, and is on fire!! Long may the resurgence of the Punch continue as long as we will have each other!
Punch has spent plenty of time in the lower leagues, a lot on the periphery of squads and indeed quite a lot frozen ouit all together. He seems to have sorted himself out and is emerging as a major player in the Prem. Credit due.
Rickie's made it too after a very long journey, as indeed has Nigel - from lower league physio to Prem manager.
I think that says a lot about our club right now and the spirit of the people in it.
GX Saint
says...
8:24pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Confucious wrote:Agree. And I won't now stoop to making the Maya, Tad and Gaston long journeys gag.
Thornhill Saint wrote: Listening to his interview he is still unashamedly Puncheon centric. "i am playing the premiersh so that is alright etc". Not exactly Saints legend material, but hey, he has been here long enough despite his best efforts, and should it continue he might just make that status by sheer coincidence. I like the way he at least shows respect to the team, the manager and the chairman and comaraderie with his teammates. He is unashamedly conditional in his loyaly but he is honest. Most importantly he has spiced up is wheatabix, and is on fire!! Long may the resurgence of the Punch continue as long as we will have each other!Sometimes achievement needs to be measured not so much by how far someone gets but how far they had to travel to get there. Punch has spent plenty of time in the lower leagues, a lot on the periphery of squads and indeed quite a lot frozen ouit all together. He seems to have sorted himself out and is emerging as a major player in the Prem. Credit due. Rickie's made it too after a very long journey, as indeed has Nigel - from lower league physio to Prem manager. I think that says a lot about our club right now and the spirit of the people in it.
Optimist
says...
8:32pm Mon 10 Dec 12
He looked good at Blackpool, he barely got a game with QPR.
Right now, he does look like a mature Premiership attacking mid, week in week out he is consistently excellent, good on him, proved me wrong as well as most Saints fans & long may it continue.
Merry Christmas Jason Puncheon :)
WECOMING4U
says...
8:51pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Seedhouse the Unrepentant
says...
9:01pm Mon 10 Dec 12
I always did rate JP - apart from shooting, that's the massive difference. It went wrong when he was booed.
We do need a new rival. It would be very undignified for a club of Premiership status to be singing songs about a Conference South club.
saintkenny
says...
9:14pm Mon 10 Dec 12
Seedhouse the Unrepentant wrote:1 1
Fulham 1 Newcastle 0 HT. We need a draw there. They're both on 15 points before tonight. 13th place looks like a sensible target for us, get there and defend it.
I always did rate JP - apart from shooting, that's the massive difference. It went wrong when he was booed.
We do need a new rival. It would be very undignified for a club of Premiership status to be singing songs about a Conference South club.
saintkenny
says...
9:21pm Mon 10 Dec 12
saints fan #1
says...
9:28pm Mon 10 Dec 12
.....i wanna be the first in! whats in store?
http://www.facebook.
com/photo.php?fbid=1
0150569333283732&set
=o.120413791332569&t
ype=1&relevant_count
=1
reply"like"if understand my joke`s about the **** little club from down the sea
What is the similarity between Portsmouth Football Club and an Essex Girl?........
They are both dead certs to go down.
1 out of five pompey fans say they have a problem with incest in their families.
The other 4 don't consider it a problem...
What do Pompey and a worn out old bra have in common ?.......
No cups and very little support.
answer my question; options are given. (for answer put your chosen option as 1,2,3,4... and reply)
Where will Pompey finish next season?
Out of business, filthy skates(1)
24th(2)
Who Gives a Sh8t!?(3)
Administration courts(4)
Who r pompey ?(5)
Inside their sisters aaanuss(6)
Sixteen years ago, my mate told me about "a nice stadium in Portsmouth called Fratton Park".
To this day I have searched every single corner of Portsmouth and have still only found one stadium called Fratton Park!
Two jews go to the pompey ticket office and ask for season tickets. The woman asks, "are you circumcised" the jews reply, "of course" the woman says, "im sorry, you have to be a complete knob to be a pompey fan!"
A Pompey fan was walking down the street so I gave him a triangle, well it was the only way he'd find out what it was like to have 3 points!!! :D
I'm wondering if I actually need to make jokes about Pompey since they're laughable enough without my input at the moment!
Tirau Dan
says...
9:30pm Mon 10 Dec 12
SaintinCanada
says...
12:37am Tue 11 Dec 12
"WELL SAID THAT MAN"
batesieboy
says...
3:47am Tue 11 Dec 12
GX Saint wrote:There are only "so many worse sides" when they have been beaten, and three of them are left below us after the 38 games. The Bookies have moved us up one place to a predicted 3rd from bottom, but still relegated. We need to prove them wrong, not just think it!! COYS
Velleity wrote:Hmm, good point. But we'll still have had one good season out of him (keeping us up) which is one more than most of us would have predicted this time last year.
Doesn't Punchy's contract come up at the end of this season? Must be true, I read it on here. He's shown himself to be deeply ambitious so I reckon he's a real possibility to go. Hate to say it but that's how I see it. I also wonder how much of his drastic recent improvement is in the knowledge that he can start to talk to other teams come January... Cynical? Moi?
I would hope NC is manouvring behind the scenes - Punch appears to do best when he believes he's wanted and NC seems to have got his trust. So maybe he'll be working on an extension with a get out option if we did get relegated.
But to be honest, there are so many worse sides in the Premier than us and over the course of 38 games, we should rise high enough to stay up comfortably. 14th or 15th I reckon.
NC has played a blinder with JP and he probably hasn't had the recognition for it on here. I would be surprised if he hasn't worked out the next move too.
GX Saint
says...
8:29am Tue 11 Dec 12
batesieboy wrote:OK then let me name 4 of them. Villa, QPR, Newcastle, Reading. Soon to add Sunderland. That will be 5 that are worse than us and that we have beaten. I'd take 15th now.
GX Saint wrote:There are only "so many worse sides" when they have been beaten, and three of them are left below us after the 38 games. The Bookies have moved us up one place to a predicted 3rd from bottom, but still relegated. We need to prove them wrong, not just think it!! COYSVelleity wrote: Doesn't Punchy's contract come up at the end of this season? Must be true, I read it on here. He's shown himself to be deeply ambitious so I reckon he's a real possibility to go. Hate to say it but that's how I see it. I also wonder how much of his drastic recent improvement is in the knowledge that he can start to talk to other teams come January... Cynical? Moi?Hmm, good point. But we'll still have had one good season out of him (keeping us up) which is one more than most of us would have predicted this time last year. I would hope NC is manouvring behind the scenes - Punch appears to do best when he believes he's wanted and NC seems to have got his trust. So maybe he'll be working on an extension with a get out option if we did get relegated. But to be honest, there are so many worse sides in the Premier than us and over the course of 38 games, we should rise high enough to stay up comfortably. 14th or 15th I reckon. NC has played a blinder with JP and he probably hasn't had the recognition for it on here. I would be surprised if he hasn't worked out the next move too.
Little Hitler
says...
8:49am Tue 11 Dec 12
GX Saint
says...
9:02am Tue 11 Dec 12
Little Hitler wrote:Yes, good point. I think we are better than Wigan too, though we haven't past the 'beating them' test yet having flunked our first attempt.
"Worse than us" is so negative. How about 'not as good as us' ;-)
Alicesdad
says...
9:25am Tue 11 Dec 12
I think its time to move on from regurgitating all the bad history on him though. He has moved on from the twitter incident and so has Nicola. So should we.
I am a little worried about the position of those players who are not getting pitch time and may want to move on...e.g Lee, Mayuka, .. and those in our squad who are now prime targets for so called bigger clubs.
January will not just be about players coming in ... there will be various departures too, some to balance the books and maybe others where they are looking to be at a club where the get in the team.
Nigel and Nicola will show their mettle in January I am sure. We need to keep a strong squad with good depth.
Interesting times ...
saintmac
says...
11:02am Tue 11 Dec 12
I have said this before - Saints need a
couple of older players - a goalie and
a defender - to bring their experience
and help our young,talented team to
realise their full potential. Mistakes are
being made because we are lacking in
experience and the Club must
buy in Jan otherwise we will struggle to
avoid relegation.
A class goalkeeper would certainly
help Paulo who I think is a great
prospect for the future.
Stafford Saint
says...
4:00pm Tue 11 Dec 12
Is he limited to talking to foreign clubs from January (like McManaman?) or is that only 'signing' from January?
Puncheon has been good recently. However he still needs to look up for passes more. The highlights (at 41mins) shows a moment he failed to lay it off for Lambert in the corner of the box, but he did at least win a corner with going it alone. Also, ideally he will be reliably good from now on. If not we have a wasted space on the pitch and manager has to spot it then deal with it - that can take time, think of all the other times we have seen a player get 5 game more than they deserved to turn it around.
Ron Manager says...
4:04pm Mon 10 Dec 12