Where is the exodus?

 Relegated Premier League teams are the metaphorical babies which candy is taken from.  Players yearning for the bright lights of the top flight. 

Leicester have thus far lost James Maddison & Harvey Barnes, who together scored 23 goals last season. Leeds also losing striker Rodrigo, 13 goals last season, alongside midfielders Brendan Aaronson and Marc Roca. Whereas, at time of writing, Southampton have lost Mislav Orsic & Ibrahima Diallo, who contributed 0 goals last season.

As it stands we still have our candy.

Of course there is still plenty of time left in the transfer window, Russell Martin himself admitting some players might start the season with us before moving on later in the window. How come it hasn’t happened already though?

It may be the red & white tinted glasses but most fans will have expected certain players (JWP, KWP & Lavia etc) to be shoe ins for an immediate Premier League return, which hasn’t materialised.

Saints certainly have the supply of players to be sold but the demand is lacking.

Unlike Maddison and Barnes there isn’t an immediate necessity for clubs eyeing Southampton players to pounce. Tottenham needed extra creativity, Maddison was bought, and Newcastle needed a replacement for Allan Saint-Maximin, Barnes was signed. With the exception of the transfer involving Declan Rice going to Arsenal, subsequently causing West Ham to need a central midfielder replacement - seemingly JWP - there isn’t that immediate demand for Southampton players. 

There is also a feeling that Southampton players aren’t necessarily target number one for buying clubs. Lyanco was set to join Besiktas only for the Turkish side to move the goalposts of the deal at the final moment. Having signed former Leicester City defender Daniel Amartey, Besiktas’ need for a central defender had gone. Leaving Lyanco and Southampton out to dry.

A potential Salisu deal looks to have run into similar difficulties. Fulham are chasing the Ghanaian defender but they are also after Calvin Bassey (Ajax) another left footed centre back. Buying clubs have options, Southampton players are among the options undoubtedly but it doesn’t appear as though the are first choice options

Generally there is a consensus that relegated players can be picked up for much less than had they retained their Premier League status. Often this leads to sides such as Southampton being lowballed when it comes to offers. 

Cases in point; Tino Livramento & Romeo Lavia. 

Newcastle’s offer of £12 million significantly lower than Southampton’s valuation. Liverpool opening offer of £37 million also short of the £50 million mark Southampton are looking to receive for the Belgium international.

Elements of lowballing are part and parcel of the course for transfer sagas, although would the opening gambit from these clubs had been so low if Southampton were still a Premier League side.

Southampton as it stands are under no immediate pressure to sell these players below their value. Neither Tino nor Lavia appear to be throwing toys out of the pram in an attempt to gain traction on a move. The caveat to this being though that usually the longer these rumble on, the greater the chance of a deal being reached. 

Lavia, arguably, is the more likely deal given the ageing profile of Liverpool’s midfield combined with the reported outgoings of Fabinho & Jordan Henderson. In contrast Newcastle may step away if it gets too rich for their liking as Burnley did with Nathan Tella this summer, interestingly opting for former Saint Nathan Redmond.

Supply but a lack of demand plus buying clubs keeping options open and lowball offers are all part of the reason Southampton hasn’t seen key players leave yet unlike their relegated counterparts.

At some point this will change, a domino will fall. Be that JWP to West Ham, Lavia to Liverpool or even Sulemana or Onuachu sealing moves away. 

Players will go, it will be interesting to compare the starting XI’s for the final game of the Premier League season to Sheffield Wednesday on August 4th but more importantly the XI that faces Sunderland (away) on September 2nd when we’ll finally know whether a full blown exodus has happened.

Russell-Ball: A first look

 

Pre season as a fan is odd. Are results important? 

Starting the Russell Martin era against Champions of Portugal, UCL quarter finalists, realistically the result is secondary. 

If we take that conclusion, then what does matter? Since December 2018 under Ralph Hassenhuttl, Southamptons style has been oriented towards out-of-possession strategies such as pressing triggers and rest defence. Now, as a Championship side, the appointment of Russell Martin is designed towards overhauling that style and implementing possession based football. The players demonstrating an understanding of new tactical concepts is important within pre season games.

Against Benfica, Southampton outlined their new identity.

The lineup for the behind closed doors encounter, at face value featured four recognised defenders, five players you’d consider as midfielders and a striker. 4-5-1? Not really. The positions of which certain players took up is more interesting to analyse than assigning a formation template. 

Inverted fullbacks are something you’d associated with the “elite” clubs, watching Southampton do such will definitely take some getting used to, previously full backs provided the width for Ralph’s sides. The first half saw a Guardiola style inversion - the left back stepping into midfield. Young Jayden Meghoma playing in this role in the first half. He, alongside JWP, forming the base of the box midfield that Martin likes to adopt. 

At top of the box, Alcaraz and Doyle. The Argentine left of centre, Doyle to the right. RM, in his coaching masterclass video, spoke about connections on the pitch, the “box” best demonstrates this, Alcaraz & Doyle dropping to exchange passes with Meghoma or JWP. Meghoma and Alcaraz in particular with 1-2s in the middle third of the pitch to help drive Southampton up the pitch. 

The front three; Dibling wide left, Amo-Ameyaw wide right & Mara through the middle. 

Behind this, Lyanco, Stephens and Bree. Bree on occasion advancing forward but not with the regularity KWP or Tino have done over the last few seasons. Lyanco & Stephens as the “2” in RMs preferred 2-3-2-3 shape, notably electing to hold onto the ball than rush a pass.

Despite losing the first half 2-0, the principles of RM-ball are there. A box midfield with the two “10s” - Alcaraz and Doyle - dropping deep to receive the ball and hopefully draw our opposition defenders. An inverted full back in Meghoma joining the midfield. Wingers staying wide and, in particular Sam Amo-Ameyaw, driving towards the box. The centre backs anchoring the structure, RM’s 2-3-2-3 visible to see.

Tactically this is what we saw throughout the match. Second half XI saw ten personnel changes - 21 used in total - yet tactically Saints persevered. Slight tweak in relation to the inverted full back. A Klopp style inversion with the right back, now Tino, adding to the midfield.

No further score for either side in the second half.

Aside from two blocked shots from outside the box - Adams & Tino - and Djenpro having a shot well smothered by the Benfica keeper after dropping a cross Saints offered little in the final third throughout the half and really the match in general. 

The key takeaway from this match was Saints are implementing a brand new style of play which as a fan will take some getting used to.

Following on from Benfica, Saints travelled to Turkey for the Sport Republic Classico against Goztepe. Both sides under the Sport Republic umbrella residing in the second division of their respective countries. A B-List multi club catalogue.

Cynically this friendly acts as a show piece for the ownership however the defensive low block utilised by the Turkish side is common in the Championship. A good test for Southampton. 

What won’t be common in the Championship is the heat experienced in Istanbul. Upwards of 30’C, doubt it will be that hot at Hillsborough in two weeks time.

The heat impacting the performance, Saints looking more lethargic understandably so. Structurally & tactically Southampton continued with their new approach.

The toothless criticism remains, outside the box JWP forcing a fine save out of Mateusz Liz (yes the very same) in the only attempt of note in the half for Southampton. Goztepe in contrast scoring as Bazunu beaten at his near post having anticipated a cross that turned into a shot.

Second half saw greater attacking intent from Southampton. Sekou Mara meandering into the penalty area, drawing a foul and a spot kick. 

The less said about the following penalty, the better.

The equaliser did though come minutes later. The first goal this pre season, of course, courtesy of Alcaraz. A left footed volley inside the area as the ball bounced around after Bednarek’s near post flick form Kamari Doyle’s corner. Alcaraz’s first goal not scored with his right foot for the club.

Sam Amo-Ameyaw with the final attempt of note for the Saints. Aribo swept the ball out wide for the teenager to drive at the Goztepe back line, after some quick feet and trickery he poked his shot agonisingly wide of the post. Amo-Ameyaw driving at defenders is exciting, it’s raw, it’s got that ‘va va boom’ about it. What could his season bring?

Full time 1-1. One loss and one draw so far this pre season with clashes against Reading, Bournemouth and AZ Alkmaar to go.

To return to the start, do we NEED to win any of these? Possibly yes for the sake of momentum and belief that winning can bring. Equally, no not necessarily. The understanding of the new style is far more important as results will follow on from this. 

Personally I’d much rather beat Sheffield Wednesday than Reading.