With a few minor knocks and a busy schedule Saints could really do with Jose Fonte against Norwich on Wednesday night, but the question is does he want to play ?

Claude Puel's position on Jose Fonte has changed a little in the past few weeks suggesting that the reason that the Saints Captain is not featuring is not the club's choice but that Fonte whilst not refusing to play does not feel able to do so at present.

In short his head is not in the right place at present.

This is of course the excuse of the modern day footballer, in times gone by players were truly professionals, they knew they were well paid and appreciated that fact and that being the case they turned out for their clubs whatever other turmoil was going on in their lives.

Can you imagine the average worker going into their bosses office and saying that the company down the road had offered to give him a big pay rise and that his head wasnt in the right place and so would need a week or two off on full pay whilst he mulled it over.

No neither can I and that perhaps shows just how precocious professional footballers are these days.

Puel's position and that of the club was that they were expecting Fonte to be able to play when required and put in a professional performance.

That stance has changed with Puel now having stated that Fonte would not be considered till the end of the transfer window if he was still at the club at the close of it.

This is suggesting that the manager does not trust Fonte to be able to give 100% to Southampton Football Club and earn his very high wages, wages that over the past 7 years have made him a very rich man.

But now Saints are in a predicament, although Fonte may not care to help the club in it's quest to reach Wembley, a strange situation for a player that seemingly wants more glory having had a taste of it in the summer, Saints need all hands to the pump with their injury predicament.

So should they name Fonte in the line up ?

The first big question is whether he actually wants to play, to the average fan it looks like he doesn't, after all surely he would want to help his team mates out. If he does not want to play then Puel would be better to leave him out.

The second question is should he be forced to play ? at the moment it seems like Saints are treating him with kid gloves, they are not forcing the situation, they are leaving the door open although you sense that they are seething. Playing him could affect team morale and that is the big risk.

So what do Saints fans think, should Jose Fonte play against Norwich City whether he wants to or not ?

Vote now and give your comments using the link to the poll below.

http://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/forum/187837/should-jose-fonte

Photo: Action Images

dirk_doone added 21:09 - Jan 17 Of course he wants to play. He wanted to play in the Europa League games as well but Les Reed wouldn't allow it because he thought it might affect the transfer fee he could get for him this month.
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the_saint added 21:18 - Jan 17 If fonte doesn't want to play then surely they should not pay his wages as nick said can you imagine if any of us went to our boss and said I want a few weeks off as my hearts not in it, just imagine what your boss would say to you
3

dirk_doone added 21:21 - Jan 17 The funny thing is that although Les is desperate to cash in on him before he gets too old, I'm not sure that he can force Fonte out, short of putting him on gardening leave, as he still has a contract.
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dixiefrog added 21:44 - Jan 17 If he were to play against Norwich and then leave then he'd be cup tied, potentially wiping many hundreds of thousands off his transfer fee. The Boss has stated his position and I don't think he will be changing his mind, therefore we'll have no sight of Jose until February, that's assuming in the meantime that he doesn't leave, which is highly likely.
1

LordDZLucan added 22:17 - Jan 17 The simple answer is 'Yes' he should play as Virgil is supposedly injured. Player power has gone too far and it's about time the balance of power shifted. Players are very well paid for what they do and without the fans they'd be living a different life.
1

AmericanSaint added 22:52 - Jan 17 Of topic for a second - I am in London and have rearranged my schedule to try and make the Norwich game tomorrow night. Any suggestions on which section to get the last of the available tickets? Also, coming on the train, is it easiest to get a taxi to the stadium? Thanks. First time coming to St. Mary's.
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amsterdamsaint added 23:19 - Jan 17 Do not play him
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whitty added 23:25 - Jan 17 Americansaint hope you can make first game at st Mary's tomorrow. Taxi should be less than a tenner or head up through the city centre it's only a swift 20 min walk. I think Kingsland is closed. Row R is about midway back in standfrom the pitch suggest Northam stand as its nearest the station!
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smiffdub added 04:21 - Jan 18 I say play him if he's needed. Cup-tying him probably won;t matter, coz honestly who is a real potential buyer at the kind of terms he would want? I don't believe Saints will find a buyer willing to give him what he wants.
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DPeps added 06:42 - Jan 18 The saying 'cutting your nose off to spite your face' is very appropriate here
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AmericanSaint added 07:13 - Jan 18 @Whitty - thank you for the info. Trying to make it happen. Hopefully nothing from work screws it up.
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REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 09:15 - Jan 18 Fonte won't play. The club need to get rid of him. I expect Pochettino will come in for him now Vertonghen's out for the rest of the season. Pair him up with Toby again.
2

SanMarco added 10:11 - Jan 18 On the point about the 'average worker' we don't tend to sign contracts that tie us down for years. One month's notice and we are gone. Also I chuckled about the 'truly professional' players of the past. Frank Worthington, Stan Bowles, Alan Hudson, Georgie Best - all good or in Best's case great players but model professionals? The answer to the question is that we should play him but we all know we wont. Reedy's idea is interesting but Levy will bid tuppence ha'penny...

1

SonicBoom added 10:12 - Jan 18 Should't play. I haven't seen anything from Fonte in the media saying he's desperate to play. Imagine if he plays poorly or gives away a penalty. Best to just ship him out asap.
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dirk_doone added 13:37 - Jan 18 I've never really understood Nick's lone 'hate campaign' against Fonte. It's been going on for years and he's used him as the scapegoat for most of our defeats in his match reports. Hate may be too strong a word but it is the word he himself used to describe anyone who didn't share his high opinion of any of his favourite players like Danny Fox, who I can't recall anyone actually hating. Perhaps Nick will realize how good a player Fonte has been for us when Les Reed finally manages to fulfill Nick's wish and sell him. Incidentally, all of the latest training photos show Fonte taking part with great enthusiasm and I'm sure he'd love to play tonight but I expect Les Reed has instructed Puel not to pick him.

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lemmsy added 13:55 - Jan 18 It's all very well saying of course he wanted to play in the europa dickdoon but cast ur mind back to the first few games of the season when many watching fans felt his mind was elsewhere. At this level 1/2 a percent makes the difference
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SaintJez added 16:41 - Jan 18 He's a saints player, if we need him, he plays. it's quite simple. and if he's desperate for a move away then he will probably realise he needs to play well as a half arsed performance won't impress potential suitors.
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