Team Focus: Saints Squad Short of Goals or Just a Prolific Striker?

With a record of 8 defeats in 10 competitive outings, one would be forgiven for assuming the top-flight team in question was Aston Villa. However, the mired Villans have actually only lost 5 of their last 10 matches under the tutelage of Remi Garde, three fewer than a Southampton side in a worrying tailspin.

Of the four points Saints have picked up in that time (from 8 league matches) one came against the league’s aforementioned bottom club at St. Mary’s, with the other three somewhat remarkably courtesy of a 4-0 demolition of league leaders Arsenal. That Boxing Day clash aside, this has been a dire run from Ronald Koeman’s men, somewhat disguised by the shock victory.

It’s little surprise that the manager, who so often possessed a content grin on the sidelines last season, has cut a far more frustrated figure of late. Indeed, January proves to be a testing month for the club, who are expected to field offers for more of their prized assets once more, with limited resources seemingly put in place to strengthen.

Southampton have had to cope with the departures of a number of key players in recent years, but the replacements signed in the summer have been far less effective than the campaign previous. That said, Virgil Van Dijk and Cedric Soares have been two of Saints’ bright sparks this season, but further forward the likes of Oriol Romeu, Jordy Clasie and Juanmi have flattered to deceive at times.

The latter is yet to start a league game this season, restricted to 10 substitute appearances, while Romeu and Clasie have started just 7 matches apiece as Southampton have struggled to compensate for the loss of Morgan Schneiderlin. Maarten Stekelenburg, meanwhile, has had a somewhat disappointing stint in goal in the absence of the injured Fraser Forster, whose imminent return is a significant boost.

However it’s in attack where Koeman has been most disappointed, with no Saints player having scored in 4 of their last 5 league matches. While that has largely coincided with a spell on the sidelines for Graziano Pelle - the Italian’s first at the club - a lack of goals from elsewhere appears to be a problem the manager is keen to resolve but admits might not be possible this month. 'First of all you need more players scoring goals’, Koeman claims. 'It's not always about one player and it's difficult at this stage of the season to bring in one player who will change everything around.'

The Dutchman has a point in a sense, though Saints have had as many as 9 different goalscorers in the league this season. The important fact, of course, is that Pelle is top of their scoring charts with a modest 6. Instead, then, it doesn’t really appear to be a lack of goals throughout the squad hindering Southampton but the absence of a player capable of scoring 15-20 in a season.

The Italian is a real weapon but his goal return has been a little underwhelming after a sensational start to life in England. Meanwhile, though Shane Long is an able deputy he has never scored double figures in a Premier League campaign and Jay Rodriguez’s injury-dogged career has been a substantial blow. In truth then, while Koeman’s claim that it is ‘not always about one player’ when it comes to finding a route to goal, a prolific marksman is still lacking.

Pelle looks set to make his return this week and boy do Saints need him to replicate the form that saw him become an instant hit on the south coast. When at their best, with Mane, Tadic and the front man in full flow - see the 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge in October - Southampton are a joy to behold. However, they seem to suffer more from a dip in morale more than most if this season is anything to go by. It’s been a patchy campaign at best. One win in six to start the campaign was eased by 14 points from a possible 18 in the following six matches, before their most recent run of 4 points from 24.

Meanwhile, though Koeman seems more concerned with his side’s attacking troubles they’ve had problems at the back too. After 20 matches last season Southampton had the best defensive record, conceding only 15 goals, and had kept the most clean sheets, with 9. This season those figures are at 24 and 6 respectively.

However, with Forster to come in for the disappointing Stekelenburg - the only Premier League goalkeeper to make 5 or more appearances and produce fewer than two saves per game (1.8) - perhaps the manager has reason to be confident in the fact that their defensive issues can be resolved from within the squad.

The point remains as to whether that’s the case for the dip in goals this season (26 down from 34 at this stage last, and the answer is arguably less positive. While the returning Forster and Pelle should see Saints’ fortunes improve at both ends then, Koeman may be best served seeking a prolific goalscorer rather than looking for goals from elsewhere in the team, and that is unlikely to happen until the summer. If Southampton are to avoid being left behind in the chasing pack for European places in the seasons to come it may prove to be a crucial.

BUABOOK TRADE TIP

Pelle is back from injury and could be in contention to face Watford tonight. However, having spent a spell on the sidelines it’s worth holding fire to Buabook’s match market to see if he starts. With 15 of his 18 league goals since moving to Southampton having come at home it may be worth buying shares in the Italian if he is in the line-up, sticking to a reserved price of around £0.20 per share.

You can trade the values of a number of Southampton players with Buabook, the first player trading exchange based on detailed statistics