EPL Report Cards: Southampton F.C.
Southampton F.C. have been a nice surprise package in the Barclays Premier League since coming back to the top-flight in 2012. After finishing 14th in their return season, the Saints have gotten better each season, finishing eighth, seventh, and most recently sixth last season.
With their previous two managers leaving for more-prolific managerial positions, Claude Puel was named the new boss before this season. The former Lille, Lyon, and Nice boss has Saints sitting 10th currently in the E.P.L. this season and also had them in Europa League qualifying earlier this fall.
In past seasons, Southampton were known as a “selling club”, letting some prime talent leave rather than try and keep them for the future. Players like Gareth Bale, Adam Lallana, Graziano Pelle, Victor Wanyama, and Sadio Mane all featured for Saints in the past but have moved on. A three-match losing streak over the holiday period saw Saints slip in the standings, Puel is hoping a strong start to 2017 can help keep his side in the top-half.
Best Player: Charlie Austin
The former QPR and Burnley striker was a late acquisition last season under Ronald Koeman and has tallied nine goals in all competitions this campaign. Despite being hurt right now, Austin is an experienced forward in the Premier League and brings hard work and aggressiveness to the table. He is a strong aerial threat and gives Puel another option at forward. At 27 years old, he still has a good amount to offer in his career and if he can stay healthy he could help Southampton finish in the top six or seven.
Surprise Player: Dusan Tadic
The 28 year-old Serbian international was a prime factor in Southampton’s strong finish a season ago. This season, he hasn’t seemed to put the numbers up that he is capable of. Seven goals and 13 assists a season ago has dropped to one goal and three assists in all comps this season. I feel he is a prime attacker and brings a fiery competitive nature to the table. However, his over-aggression can get the best of him from time to time which is his weakness. Paired with Nathan Redmond, these two can be a dangerous pair of wingers in the Premier League, but Tadic needs to get back to his form from a season ago.
Best Result of 2016/17: 3–1 win at Bournemouth.
In their first South Coast Derby of the season, Southampton fought back after going 1–0 down. A strike from wing-back Ryan Bertrand leveled Southampton at the Vitality before the Saints stole the second half. A brace from striker Jay Rodriguez gave Southampton an impressive 3–1 win over their rivals, but also showed that they had another valuable option at forward. Rodriguez, who has had injury problems in the past, proved that he is back with a bang. This however was Southampton’s last league win, losing three straight since.
Player Needs to Be Replaced during Transfer Window: Shane Long.
The Republic of Ireland striker has only netted once this season after 12 goals in all comps a season ago. At 29, he still has a little to offer but his scoring rate has dropped consistently. Falling behind Charlie Austin in the pecking order, saw his appearances drop and I feel Saints could find a striker better than him. He needs game time and frankly with Austin coming back soon, and Rodriguez second in line, there is no room for him at the moment. Selling Long before the close of the Transfer Window could give Saints a nice profit to find someone else, or bolster another position.
Second Half Outlook: Stronger defensive prowess, consistent scoring.
I feel that if Saints want to make a run at a Europa League spot then they need to get some clean sheets. Fraser Forster is a good goalkeeper and Virgil van Dijk is a talented defender. Getting some 1–0’s would be good for the standings and their goal differential. Also, consistent scoring would also be a benefit to a strong second half. One week Southampton looks very good, then the next they have a bad result or look uninterested. They have loads of young talent at their disposal and they have the ability to surprise some top-tier sides.
Five of their next six league matches are against sides in the bottom half of the table. Two of those five are against sides in the relegation zone (Swansea and Sunderland). Also, they have a F.A. Cup replay vs. Norwich City and a second leg EFL Cup semifinal match at Liverpool to deal with. The middle of March gets tough with Manchester United and Tottenham back-to-back before the international break. April also sees Saints host Manchester City on the 15th before traveling to Chelsea a weekend later.
Predicted Finish: 7th.
As of right now, Southampton sit 15 points behind sixth-place Manchester United. Despite a crash and burn by Jose Mourinho’s side I can’t see Southampton catching them. Southampton would need 39 points from their final 18 matches to level their output from a season ago. I feel that they are better than Everton, West Brom, and Bournemouth, who all currently sit ahead of them. They need some positive results in January and February to start moving up the table. With the likes of Burnley, Leicester, and Swansea all upcoming in league-play, it is a favorable run of games that Southampton could all win.
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