EVERYONE connected with Saints is in full agreement that Caspar Jander delivered his best performance yet in Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Man City.
The German midfielder was undaunted on his Wembley debut against one of the best teams in the land, and won the ball back with jaw-dropping regularity.
That it was Jander who pinched the ball high and wide to set up Finn Azaz’s opening goal will have come as no surprise to anyone who has been watching him closely.
When he arrived on the south coast, Jander showed a knack for winning and keeping the ball, and that ability has only grown in recent weeks.
Head coach Tonda Eckert feels the 23 year old is “peaking” at the right time for Saints, and it’s tough to argue with the boss’s assessment.
“At this stage of the season, he’s only getting better and better. I think that speaks for him,” the 33 year old said at Wembley.
“Obviously, it’s not always easy when you play your first season in England with the amount of games and the amount of minutes that you cover.
“It’s good that he’s peaking at this very moment of the season because it’ll be very important for us for the next run of games.”
Jander’s performances over the festive period, when he seemed fatigued without his usual winter break, were not a true reflection of the midfielder’s talent.
Against Man City, stats show that Jander recovered the ball 14 times and won 10 duels, although it felt even more frequent when watching the game.
His moments included winning the ball back high, stopping Man City counterattacks, and regaining possession to set Saints away on the break.
“I think the two midfielders were exceptional – Caspar and [Cam] Braggy, and then Shea [Charles] when he came on,” said goalscorer Azaz.
“The energy was top. I thought Caspar was amazing. We were so cohesive. We know exactly what’s expected of us. Wherever we are, we implement that game plan.”
Jander’s midfield partner Bragg added: “I loved playing with him. Sometimes, I think people don’t appreciate how good he is against the ball.
“I thought he was fantastic, and all the boys were brilliant today. He’s got a unique skill. Playing against him and Flynn [Downes] must be hell.”
Rumours of transfer interest have been swirling around Jander for some months, and this was the sort of performance that will catch even more eyes.
Promotion to the Premier League brings many incentives, and one of those is keeping Jander on the south coast. Saints cannot lose a player this good.
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