3 Southampton Players Who Have Surprised Us All This Season
If the season ended today and the new began one tomorrow, Southampton would be getting ready for their first ever Champions League campaign. Unfortunately that cannot happen, but what has happened is that Southampton have had a very good start to this season.
After the surprise sacking of Nigel Adkins early last season, Mauricio Pochettino came in and the signs didn’t look good as he stumbled through his first press conference with a translator in tow. But some excellent performances this season have seen just two goals leaked and you will now see why.
Artur Boruc
Artur Boruc is no stranger to big games. Celtic keeper at the time when Rangers were still a force in Scottish football, Boruc has also performed in the Champions League, the European Championships and the World Cup. Out of contract at the start of last season, he was part of the goalkeeper merry-go-round that saw Kelvin Davis and Paulo Gazzaniga all losing their places as the Saints leaked goals. But from New Year’s Day, he played in every league game and his form by the end resulted in a new contract. And he has continued that fine form throughout this season. Five clean sheets in seven games have made Southampton very hard to beat and, if he can continue that form, Southampton are set for an extremely impressive season.
Jose Fonte
Jose Fonte has been there and got the t-shirt when it comes to Southampton. After joining them in January 2010, the next season he helped them win promotion to the Championship. He has gone from strength to strength and this season, their second successive in the Premiership, he has been a stand-out performer. He has played all eight games and played a key role in the excellent draw against Manchester United recently. Just three goals conceded in the first eight games has proven to everyone he can be a top class defender.
Dejan Lovren
One reason why Fonte and Boruc have been so solid at the back is Dejan Lovren. The experienced Croatian international spent three years at Lyon before making the move to St Mary’s this summer. He has also played all eight games scoring one goal and has a 73% aerial duel success rate. Couple that with an 80% tackle success rate and you can see why Southampton have been so solid this year. Nobody expected these three to have formed such a successful back three but, with the youthfulness of fullbacks Nathaniel Clyne and Luke Shaw, they have become one of the best defences in the league. If they manage to keep this up then who knows where they could finish this season.
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