With the 2015/16 English Premier League season a matter of weeks away, Richard Jolly provides his thoughts on each of the 20 teams and predicts their final league finish. Here he looks at Southampton.
Another summer, still more sales. Southampton responded superbly to the loss of five key players last summer, recording their highest ever Premier League finish (seventh) and points total (60).
Yet they lost Nathaniel Clyne, Morgan Schneiderlin and on-loan Toby Alderweireld, arguably their three outstanding individuals last season, and the challenge has got still harder.
Success has come at a cost and Southampton now have to juggle Europa League participation with their Premier League commitments.
They have tended to be fine buyers in recent years and Ronald Koeman’s recruitment will be crucial if Clyne and Schneiderlin are not missed: Portugal international Cedric Soares will take over at right-back and the Dutchman Jordy Clasie in midfield.
Maarten Stekelenburg has arrived from Fulham to provide cover while first-choice goalkeeper Fraser Forster is injured and the lightweight but gifted Spaniard Juanmi is an intriguing addition to the forward line.
Graziano Pelle certainly required assistance and Southampton suffered when Dusan Tadic lost form and fitness last season.
As ever, there are gifted youngsters on the fringes and this could prove a breakthrough year for combative midfielder Harrison Reed but after six years of progress, the immediate challenge for Koeman and Co is to prevent Southampton from regressing.
Key Man: Jay Rodriguez — Scored 15 league goals from the left wing in 2013-14 but missed the whole of last season with a cruciate ligament injury, which provokes questions as to how much better Saints could have done if he was fit. He is back now.
Pivotal Signing: Jordy Clasie — A passing midfielder who has drawn comparisons with Xavi may not be a like-for-like replacement for the energetic Schneiderlin, but the £10 million Dutchman, who joined from Feyenoord, has big boots to fill.
Crucial Factor: The Europa League. Everton struggled in the Premier League until they were out of Europe and Southampton are strangers to the difficult Thursday-Sunday routine. Koeman will have to navigate his way through the season cleverly.
Prediction: 11th
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @NatSportUAE
