Jack Cork gave great service to the club and it was a shame that he left in the January transfer window.

Jack Cork was one of those players that you never fully appreciate till they are gone and the question has to be asked whether we might just have sneaked a few more points had he not gone to Swansea City in the January transfer window, perhaps it was more than co incidence that as the season Swansea came through like a train and at one stage looked like catching us.

In our great start jack Cork played a full part and our success was built on the alternative option he offered to Wanyama, the Sunderland home game can perhaps be the best example of that, when we were dominating teams Cork had the ability to move the ball on far quicker than either Morgan Schneiderlin or Wanyama and that gave us options both home and away.

He only started 5 games plus another 7 as sub before his move, however after being injured at Arsenal he was out for six weeks, missing 7 Premier League games and the cup defeat at Sheffield United.

But Jack Cork having had more than most had the raw end of the stick under Mauricio Pochettino the previous season had had enough of being a bit part player and wanted to be in a team where he would be a regular, he has certainly got that at Swansea where he has been an ever present in the starting line up.

Sadly when you are a side in Saints position at present it is hard to hold on to players, not just the top ones, but also the core players from the squad as Jack was.

Jack Cork inspired Swansea in the final half of the season, if he had stayed at St Mary's I just have the feeling that the options he had offered us might have been the difference between a couple of defeats being turned into draws and a couple of draws being turned into wins and that might have made this season just a little bit better.

Photo: Action Images

schatfield added 09:40 - Jun 8 Swansea fans love the guy and he controls the midfield. Sad he left.
1

perazi added 09:55 - Jun 8 Pleased for Jack Cork that he has found a Club like Swansea where he will get first team Football on a regular basis. Always hard for him to make a regular mark with the likes of Vic and Morgan holding down defensive midfield roles and Steven Davis often preferred a little farther forward. I believe that the continuing faith in JWP as a midfielder of sorts didn't help Cork's case either. When next season starts Ward-Prowse will have racked up 80 or so appearances in his fourth season at nearly age 21. He still has a lot to prove before the hype surrounding him is justified, and in the end, the faith shown in JWP contributed to Cork's exit.

1

mesquita added 10:23 - Jun 8 A good move for Jack but a bad one for the Saints both short and long term. Immediately after he was sold we had shortages in midfield through injuries and suspensions and Jack is just the type of player who would have been indispensible in sustaining league and Europa ambitions. I wish him well but regret his leaving.
1

GeordieSaint added 15:11 - Jun 8 For me he is as good as Schneiderlin. Gutted to see him leave but can understand why he went. From the club's point of view they did offer him a new deal so did what they could.
0

SaintNick50 added 22:42 - Jun 8 Our biggest mistake this year letting him go, should have used him more often, and should have offered him a better deal to stay.
0

welhamdowed added 15:43 - Jun 11 I, like previous saints managers, never rated him as highly as some saints fans but to be fair on his day he was decent for us. Clearly he wanted 1st team footy and Saints couldn't offer him that. Swansea is a good fit for him, I don't see him as a top 4 player, but in and around this clubs in the top 10 a good fit.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Rochdale Polls