Are Southampton FC really in trouble?

13 August 2014 03:32

Southampton FC has lost a lot this summer including their manager, top scorer and player of the year and some top young talent. The general consensus seems to be that this could land Southampton in serious trouble this year in terms of Premier League safety but are they really in trouble or are people just overreacting?

Looking at what they have lost you have to say The Saints have lost a lot, Adam Lallana was last year’s player of the year with 9 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League but he also offered a lot more to the team. Rickie Lambert last season’s top scorer who contributed 13 goals and 10 assists is another player who has left. To add to this they have also lost key defenders Dejan Lovren, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers the last two being very promising youngsters. Finally they lost manager Mario Pochettino to Tottenham after a very promising first year in English football.

Although they lost Pochettino to Tottenham a move which the Argentinian couldn't turn down but they have brought in what I think could be a more than adequate replacement in Ronald Koeman who has been in this situation before and led Feyernord to bigger and better things.

Also they lost all these key players they did gain a very hefty amount of money for them, Lallana going for £25M, Lovren for £20M and Lambert for £4M all to Liverpool. Also they gained £27M for Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers for around £16M. It has to be Southampton have gained good money from these fees and some players maybe went for more than there real value.

This money can now be spent on improving the current squad and replacing the departures they have so far signed:

Ryan Bertand-Season long loan from Chelsea who is a proven Left Back and replacement for Luke Shaw.

Fraser Forster-Who has impressed for Celtic in the past few seasons and now England International Goalkeeper for £10M.

Dusan Tadic- £11M from FC Twente versatile attacking midfielder like for like replacement for Adam Lallana, last season scoring 16 goals and 14 assists in FC Twente’s 3rd place finish.

Graziano Pelle- 6ft 4in Italian who like Rickie Lambert seems to have blossomed late in his career scoring a very impressive 55 goals in 66 games in his last two seasons at Feyernord bought for a rumoured £8M.

Stephen Taider- A loanne from Inter Milan who came as part of the Osvaldo deal plays central midfield un proven as of yet could be Schneiderlin’s replacement if he leaves.

Also rumoured to be coming into Southampton are Florin Gardos and Shane Long from Hull. Gardos a centre back from Stetua Bucharest and Long a experienced Premier League striker but maybe a bit over priced at the £12M mark but that seems to be the way football is going at the moment.

The facts are you cannot force players to stay and they will always be bigger clubs looking for better players. The new signings will take time to gel and adapt to the Premier League but if they do they can add more quality to the squad which still has some good players in . Also they need to keep hold of Jay Rodriguez and Morgan Schneirderlin which could prove harder as the window goes on. They have replaced in the areas they have lost and gained money in doing so.

I think people may be overreacting and although they may not do as well as last year when they finished 8th. I think they could be mid table with a finish around 10th in sight not the relegation battle people are predicting.

Source: DSG