By Nick Mabey.
Half way through the season and how are we doing? Yes I know there is one more game before the actual half way mark but Christmas excess means my final article for this year is – in the words of Elvis – now or never.
It’s been an eventful first half to the season. Southampton sit in 4th place in a Championship table that is dominated by two runaway leaders. Leicester are no surprise to me, having handed us an absolute thrashing early on, while Ipswich are invoking memories of our back-to-back promotion from League One to the Premier League. We’ve only lost four times all season – all in a row, games five to eight (not counting the embarrassing Carabao Cup exit to Gillingham that I’m refusing to dwell on). We’ve managed to win games with very late goals and draw games by conceding, guess what, very late goals. Eleven different players have scored for us. We’ve totally dominated possession in most games and have finally learned manager Russell Martin’s playbook. The players look comfortable and happy, and even the fans seem relatively content (barring those few who just prefer to be constantly miserable).
All in all it has been a pretty satisfying first half, I’ll give it 8.5 out of 10. The club hierarchy have recruited well, shed a lot of the bloated, disinterested squad members and left the coaching staff to crack on. Martin and his coaching team seem to know what they are doing, and have instilled belief, identity and energy into the team. But what about the individual players? Here’s my view, in descending order by games played. Disclaimer: only my opinion, bound to be disagreed with and certain to upset someone.
Ever-Present
Gavin Bazunu (8 out of 10) has played every game and his confidence is now soaring. He even scored a goal (although the league killjoys subsequently decided it was an own-goal). He is exceptional with the ball at his feet, which is vital to the way we play. He’s also very agile. I wish he was a few inches taller but I can’t really mark him down for that, though it would certainly help with the long-distance shot stopping.
Kyle Walker-Peters (10) has been our best player and has occasionally looked a class above everyone else on the pitch. As well as scoring two absolute belters, he has been defensively strong and creative down the right side, making lots of chances for others.
Adam Armstrong (9) – second highest scorer in the league on 12, and with six assists, Adam has been captain dynamo since Jack Stephens got injured. He has flourished in a way that many of us thought was not possible and has combined ruthlessness in front of goal with amazing perseverance and energy around the pitch.
Core Starters
The following players have started more than half of our league games.
Jan Bednarek (8) seems to be playing the best football of his (relatively long) career with Saints. Forming a very steady partnership with Harwood-Bellis, ‘Janny B’ has exuded a calm authority most of the time and really improved his distribution.
Stuart Armstrong (9) – my current favourite, everything about Stuey is class. I just love the way he is takes the ball on the move and doesn’t often settle for the safe or easy option. He’s scored three times and in many games has been the player most likely to unlock a low blocking defence.
Will Smallbone (7) – under-estimated by many (including me probably), Smallbone is one of those players who clearly fits exactly with what the manager expects. Technically proficient and very mobile round the pitch, Will has also scored three times.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis (8) – it’s scary when young players have that aura of presence and leadership, but Harwood-Bellis has been exactly that, after a difficult start. He has been a rock in defence and also often incisive in his forward passing.
Ryan Manning (6) – there always seems to be a player that fans don’t get, even though managers really do. Manning seems to be this generation’s Telfer or Redmond. I’ve a personal soft spot for left backs having played there myself, and actually am more positive than most about Ryan. But he has made some errors that got punished and occasionally looked out of sorts.
Flynn Downes (9) – when Downes came in to great fanfare from the manager and displaced Shea Charles, I was initially sceptical. However, it just shows how little I know. Arguably now our most important player, Downs reminds me of Declan Rice in the way he struts round the pitch running all aspects of our game.
Carlos Alcaraz (7) – every team needs unpredictably; Alcaraz has provided it along with bundles of energy and lots of enthusiasm. Leaving aside his penalty miss at the weekend (so happy he scored later as he looked like crying otherwise) Charlie has always brought creativity to the line-up. Arguably he hasn’t kicked on this season as much as I hoped, but that could be down to finding his role in a new system.
Other Regulars
I haven’t got the space to write a paragraph on everyone else who’s played for this season, but honourable mentions go to those who’ve started nine or ten games:
Shea Charles (8) – very talented and will be excellent longer term
Che Adams (6) – not sure if he fits now, and I would guess he’ll leave
Sam Edozie (7) – scored four goals and needs a decent run in the team
Kameldeen Sulemana (6) – brilliant, and frustrating in equal measure
Bench Warmers
Other players who have made a significant contribution, but have spent more time with a track-suit on:
James Bree (7) – Very steady full-back, preferred by many to Manning.
Ryan Fraser (8) – Our super sub who always seems to make a difference to the team when he comes on
Joe Aribo (7) – Recently back in the team, I’m still not sure I have seen enough of Joe yet to know what he’s really about
Mason Holgate (6) – the classic mixed bag loanee, a couple of poor performances followed by man of the match.
All of which leaves Jack Stephens, our club captain who got injured and is just finding his way back. Let’s hope he can lead us to an even more successful second half.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Saints players, staff and fans.
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