Should Saints' Next Port of Call be to Invest in Another Striker?
As day turns to night, another summer of discontent grips Southampton. For the third year running, the squad is being gutted and - for the second time in that period - the manager has departed for pastures new. While the mass exodus arguably isn’t as high profile as the previous two summers, the departures of Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle and Victor Wanyama will undoubtedly affect the south coast giants. Not only that, but Ronald Koeman’s decision to jump ship to Everton after achieving a sixth-placed finish, the highest in the club’s history in the Premier League, can be expected to have an adverse effect on the team as a whole.
In his place comes Claude Puel, who while hardly a stranger to the rigours of football management, is to make his managerial bow in English football at home to Watford next month after a 17-year spell in France. While by no means a baptism of fire - the Frenchman will face off against fellow Premier League debutant Walter Mazzarri - it’s still a tough ask to improve upon the good work carried out by Mauricio Pochettino and Koeman.
However, if Puel’s Nice side were anything to go by last term, Saints fans are in for a world of excitement. Les Aiglons secured a hugely respectable fourth-place finish in a PSG-dominated Ligue 1 last season, netting the third most goals (58) in the process. Of course, the 54-year-old was able to call on the excellent Hatem Ben Arfa in the final third, with the Frenchman netting more league goals (17) than any other Nice player, but getting the best out of the forward has proven too difficult for a number of managers. In turn the French outfit were one of the more aesthetically pleasing teams to watch in France’s top tier last year.
Moreover, Saints’ recent history of managerial appointments means fans should be excited by what is to come from Puel. However, unless sufficient strengthening is carried out between now and the end of August, the south coast side could struggle to maintain the standards set under Koeman. Mane and Pelle’s respective exits to Liverpool and Shandong Luneng Taishan leave Saints somewhat short of offensive options. Granted, the arrival of Nathan Redmond will help ease the burden of Mane’s departure, but the youngster’s inconsistency could affect his initial impact.
Six goals and three assists for a relegated Norwich side last season was a commendable return for the 22-year-old, but a vast majority of those came in the opening nine games of the campaign. That isn’t to say Mane is the beacon of consistency, however. He too has a habit of going missing for substantial chunks of the season. Indeed, the Senagal star went on a 21-game run where he netted just one goal, that incidentally coming in a 6-1 Capital One Cup defeat to new employers Liverpool.
Nevertheless, Saints have lost their joint-top goalscorer in Mane (11) this summer, though it’s worth noting that six of those came in his final five Premier League appearances of the season. That figure was level with Pelle, with the duo between them netting 37.3% (22) of the club’s 59 league goals last term. It’s not to say Puel is completely devoid of attacking options, of course. Shane Long recently penned a new four-year deal, with the 29-year-old netting 10 league goals for Saints last campaign. Indeed, of the 14 league goals he was directly involved in, 10 came in 2016, with Long’s upturn in form contributing to Saints impressive end to the campaign.
Charlie Austin and Jay Rodriguez are also viable options for Puel, provided the pair can remain free of injury, but their respective spells on the sidelines mean they will need time to get back up to speed ahead of the Premier League’s return. With the influx of money from the sales of Mane, Pelle and Wanyama the Saints manager has the funds at his disposal to add to the squad this summer and despite being able to call on three out and out strikers, it would perhaps be in the club’s best interest to further strengthen in attack.
A frontman of similar style to Pelle would be a boost to Puel, but having largely deployed a system to accommodate two quick strikers to hang off the shoulder of the last defender for Nice last season, the Saints boss may opt for a similar route to goal, at least as a secondary option. Given the success of the 4-2-3-1 formation and familiarly of the system, however, Puel will be tempted to opt for an ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mantra, at least initially.
In which case, Long would be once more tasked with leading the attack, as he did so effectively at the tailend of last season. He fulfills the role of the tireless striker and one more than capable of making runs in behind the opposition defence to stretch play Should that be the case, then Rodriguez and Austin are astute deputies, with the former’s versatility across the frontline also a bonus. However, the duo’s respective fitness concerns are a worry for Puel and should the pair again succumb to lengthy injuries, then Saints are lightweight in the final third.
Puel is fortunate in that the defence has remain untapped, which is a boost given Saints have lost Dejan Lovren and Toby Alderweireld - two star centre-backs - in the last two summers. With the core in place, he has a solid foundation from which to build upon. The problem area, though, comes in the final third. If Saints are to increase their chances of gatecrashing the European places once more, then it may be in Puel’s best interests to invest the funds risen from the sales of Mane, Pelle and Wanyama in another frontman this summer.
Do Southampton need to invest in a new striker before the transfer window closes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
We need to bolster the striker contingent...of that there is no doubt. I get the feeling that we will raid Lique 1 as that is the competition that Claude Puel knows best. However, Saints' scouting network is very good. Perhaps the best in the EPL? They have managed to unearth a large number of castoffs and unknowns in the past few years. I am confident that a good, value-for-money, signing is in the works.
@Saintsfaninoz If you keep on with the 4231, I actually think signing more strikers would upset the balance of the team. Austin and Long should cover for that position fantastically, especially if Austin can bring back what he did for QPR a couple of years ago. If I was Puel I think the immediate need are replacements for Mane and Wanyama, who have been some of your best players over the last few years. Especially since Mane was the main real source of pace within the squad.
@Saintsfaninoz I'm very surprised Saints didn't go for Jansen who would have been a good fit for them. And he would have got to play more and bigger role there. But I wouldn't be too concerned for Saints, after recent exoduses and manager changes they still have managed to improve their game. But it could be hard to retain the sixth spot though, as there are many other teams building their squads too.