A handful of Saints who have sadly underwhelmed for Claude Puel.
Shane Long has struggled for form off the back of a stellar season
It’s not all been plain sailing for Southampton this term, as Claude Puel’s side were dumped out of the Europa League at the group stage, while they have struggled for goals in many games. Here are five players who haven’t performed.
Shane Long
Long has been unable to hit the heights of last season – his best in the top flight – and it took him until New Year’s Eve to score in the league.
Since then things have picked up, with his goal in the EFL Cup semi-final a highlight, but without playing next to the game-changers he did last campaign his wayward finishing has proved costly.
Dusan Tadic
Having bagged 12 assists and seven goals last campaign, Tadic has just two apiece so far this term and has looked a shadow of his former self without having players of the quality of Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle to link up with.
He turned in his best performance of the season at Sunderland however, buoyed by the arrival of Manolo Gabbiadini, so will be hoping to finish it strongly.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in action at the San Siro
A big money signing from Bayern, he’s been incredibly disappointing and has quite justifiably been struggling to get a game of late.
His shooting’s been terrible, passing not a lot better and defensive work lacking compared to what the other midfielders can offer. Zero goals or assists says it all.
Players need time to settle but so far the signs aren’t good.
Fraser Forster
Only Claudio Bravo has saved a lower percentage of the shots he’s faced in the Premier League and the decision to bring in Mouez Hassan in January looks like a not-so-subtle message to Forster.
Fraser Forster kept a clean sheet in both legs of the EFL Cup semi-final
His form has largely gone under the radar but it has to be a cause for concern, especially with the defence in front of him already depleted by injuries.
Jay Rodriguez
Sadly Rodriguez has never looked the same since suffering that terrible knee injury in 2014.
His confidence looks understandably shot and despite a brilliant goal at Bournemouth, this season has been another one defined by frustration.
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