The usual suspects are vying for the title of Premier League Champions this season: Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, and oh wait…Southampton?! How can a team that was languishing near the bottom of the table last season under the hapless Nigel Adkins be in the top four with virtually the same squad of players over a quarter of the way into the season?
The magician behind the Saints’ miraculous transformation is a little known Argentine called Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino was a mediocre player, with spells at Espanyol sitting either side of time in France with Paris Saint-Germain and Bordeaux, but he has quickly established himself as one of the hottest young managers in world football. Uncovering the secrets behind Pochettino’s success is something that has fascinated many football fans, pundits and the media. So, just how has he managed to do it?
Rock solid defence
Last season under Adkins, Southampton leaked goals like a sieve, but this season they boast the best defensive record in the league thanks in no small part to the shrewd signing of Dejan Lovren from Lyon and watertight organisation. Artur Boruc has been marshalling the back four in front of him like a general and has been in the form of his life. Victor Wanyama has proven to be worth the investment and has been the glue holding the team together, providing great cover for the defence behind him.
Positive approach
The Saints were at times playing Wimbledon style football last season and relying heavily on the long ball, but an exciting three-pronged attack of Jay Rodriguez, new signing Pablo Osvaldo, and Rickie Lambert has seen the club play a much more expansive game involving slick passing and clever movement. It is no wonder that Lambert has become a regular in the England setup and Rodriguez is set to win his first cap in the upcoming friendly against Chile.
Playing without fear
Last year, not even the most optimistic Saints fans would have expected anything but a walloping from Manchester United at Old Trafford, but this time around they went there with belief and confidence that they would get something from the game. They deservedly grabbed a late equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw and were not the least bit intimidated by the Theatre of Dreams or the champions.
It is hard to imagine Southampton maintaining this current push for the title, but if they can avoid injuries to key players like Lambert, Lovren and Wanyama then they could enjoy their highest finish in the league since the days of Kevin Keegan in the early 1980s.