As reviews go, this will hardly be a dull recollection of a failing team’s shoddy efforts; nor will it outline just how consistently wonderful a side has been. Southampton’s noble trials and tribulations this season so far has unfolded as a surprising, eyebrow-raising and wholly wowing collage of intense football. However, in recent weeks, we’ve witnessed Saints go from an incredible second place spot to a depressingly lower plot on the Premier League table; this little summary is what I would call the peaks, troughs and one almighty nosedive for the unlikely south coast club to captivate a nation.
Premier League End of 2014 Review: Southampton
Saints have become the club not to shy away from getting fully stuck into whoever poses a challenge. Initially, an unfair, yet sort-of-reasonable loss against Liverpool saw fans throw faces into palms at the beginning of the season. However, ever since, they’ve been actively putting fears to bed about the team being nothing without Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw, and so on. Of course, those frightening whispers were not unfounded, but the shiny new Saints structure has worked as a well-oiled machine, mostly.
Be it defender, midfielder or striker, players have become heavily involved in each game, hurling themselves into opposing boxes in the hope of earning Ronald Koeman and teammates a glorious goal. This vigour has been displayed earnestly throughout the competition, between Victor Wanyama, Morgan Schneiderlin, Sadio Mané, Dušan Tadić, Nathaniel Clyne and Graziano Pellè, to name the brightest stars. The devoted Italian attacker, Pellè, has perhaps been the most prevalent example of such; his eagerness and willpower to score has been particularly noteworthy, not least as he recognises it is his job within the team to snatch the points. Professionalism is clearly something Saints have demonstrated bucket-loads of.
For four-week spats on end, Saints have enjoyed the exclusivity of winning their matches; their triumphs were huge, and fans and other clubs applauded them royally. However, since the draw against Aston Villa, Saints have endured the same four-week trot, but this time with nail-biting losses. Not for lack of trying, though. The unfortunate turn of events for Saints has caused an upsetting landslide down to fifth place, with 26 points, matching Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal. The red and white stripes are floundering; looking dishevelled, dilapidated, wearing the same downtrodden expression held by those Saints players who faced relegation on so many occasions.
As previously mentioned, Saints’ bids of late have been poor. I feel their effort should not go unnoticed, and that the mid-week fixtures should be accounted for. However, if these players require almost a full week’s respite and additional training hours, then they ought to have come with a receipt; this sort of fatigue is certainly understandable, but it should not be the justification behind four terrible defeats consecutively.
With no disrespect to the teams that have deservedly whooped my home team lately, Saints have in fact outperformed Arsenal, Manchester United and Burnley on many occasions throughout the season. The same cannot be uttered for Manchester City, who have been heavily reliant upon talisman, Sergio Agüero, for good reason; their encouraging playmaking has been inspiring, and they have built themselves up to a staggering position following a shaky start.
The Italian and the Serbian have been missing their usual pizzazz recently, whilst fluky, yet fortunate goals from defenders have not been present either; it’s hardly shocking, therefore, that Saints have plummeted back to St. Mary’s soil, after experiencing the fun of the top four ranks.
For Ronald Koeman, I should imagine it’s largely been a joy to coach Saints. He is a particularly humble man, who understands that football has become a business, but remains a sport. This is crucial; his tactics have slightly shuffled game-by-game, playing only the most formidable, alert members of the squad, whilst still recognising that Saints always offer chances to the more youthful additions. In this sense, James Ward-Prowse has certainly benefited.
Koeman’s resilience has asserted confidence among his men; knowing that your boss is not fazed by a draw or a loss is so important, in order to move past a dodgy score and improve. He has clearly spotted that Tadić and Pellè clicked from the very beginning, whilst acknowledging that Senegalese Mané assimilates seamlessly upfront as well.
Not only does Koeman enforce a strict, but successful structure further up the field, he also possesses the best line of defence in the league. Dependent upon the sturdy mitts of Fraser Forster, and the tenacity of Ryan Bertrand and Toby Alderweireld to help mop up any potential danger, Saints have held a wealth of strength.
Ronald Koeman has slotted into the fold excellently at the club, and made much more of an impact than his predecessor, Mauricio Pochettino.
As already touched upon, Saints have had a massive cohort of credible new signings. Tadić and Pellè, along with bursts of absolute genius from Mané, have possibly offered the most to the club since the summer. These three have overtly displayed that the hotshots of last season haven’t been too sorely yearned for at all. For speed up the middle, Tadić is available, seeking somebody ahead of him to launch the ball into an area conducive for goal-scoring. Pellè is usually the man on the receiving end, forcing himself into space, readying the team for a ball in the back of the net. This has flowed naturally into Koeman’s tactics and aims, strengthening the team, giving them an edge.
Other class has come from Bertrand, who has been unswerving in the majority of cases, so much so, that he has desired a permanent position within the team. Meanwhile, in the mouth of the goal, Forster has made saves left, right and centre, and has been one of the most fantastic transfers possible. If Saints fail anywhere in their box, Fraser Forster is typically able to reach out and quell any threats. This knack, however, has been questionable lately.
Saints have hit something of a snag currently; Koeman’s tactics and methods have remained mostly identical, yet their performance has been much less interesting. Are they lacking somebody dazzling and reliable in a defensive midfielder’s position? I’m not suggesting somebody with a hefty price tag attached, or alternatively a title just to name-drop; a true veteran in the field, who can support Tadić and assist Pellè in his run forth into the box.
As long as Ronald Koeman keeps his best assets on the field close, Saints can keep fighting as of January. Flashing a little sterling at a watertight signing as 2015 dawns would be ideal, and would solidify the already tough team.
Fingers, toes and anything else crossed that Saints can regain their amazing form from the beginning of the season.
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