Players from Southampton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth are included in this all-star south coast XI.
Portsmouth fans
Only two Premier League seasons – 2010/11 and 2011/12 – have not featured a team from the south coast. Southampton, Portsmouth and Bournemouth have all enjoyed spells dining at English football’s top table, and between them they have had some excellent players.
In the interests of fairness, all three teams are represented, though Bournemouth’s relatively short spell in the top division means they occupy just one place in this line-up.
Some illustrious names miss out – there is no room for Sadio Mane, Yakubu or Harry Arter – but who makes the cut? In a 4-4-2 formation, the south coast all stars are below:
Goalkeeper – David James
David James lifts the FA Cup as Portsmouth celebrate victory
The experienced gloveman had been through a relatively nomadic career before pitching up at Fratton Park in 2006. With spells at Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham and Manchester City under his belt, James arrived at Portsmouth aged 35 but proceeded to put in years of consistently strong performances on the south coast.
Five clean sheets in his first five Pompey matches were a sign of things to come; James was twice named the club’s player of the year and was also named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for 2007/08. He also played in two FA Cup Finals for the club, winning one and losing the other; in the latter, he became the oldest goalkeeper to play in the showpiece event.
Right back – Simon Francis
Jason Dodd and Glen Johnson can count themselves unfortunate, but the Cherries have a right to be represented so their most impressive Premier League player to date takes his place in the team. Francis has been an integral part of Bournemouth’s rise through the divisions and appeared in every game last season as Eddie Howe’s men stylishly played their way to safety.
Bournemouth’s Simon Francis applauds fans after the game
Now often found playing centrally, Francis looks more comfortable on the right as he can break forward to great effect. Formed a great on-pitch relationship with Matt Ritchie before the winger’s departure to Newcastle.
Centre-back – Virgil Van Dijk
Jose Fonte can consider himself unfortunate to have missed out on this XI, having been a true great for Southampton in their rise from League One to Premier League stalwarts. However, Virgil Van Dijk is in another class. The 25-year-old arrived at St Mary’s from Celtic and is now being linked with moves to the likes of Manchester City.
Centre-back – Sol Campbell
Campbell’s experience and leadership were vital in establishing Portsmouth as a Premier League club in the late 2000s. He had been in talks with Juventus and Besiktas after leaving Arsenal, but Pompey fans were soon delighted he had chosen to stay in England.
Having captained Pompey to their FA Cup triumph, his consistency endeared him to the Fratton Park faithful over the course of his three years at the club. Things turned sour after his exit, but on the pitch he goes down as one of Pompey’s best ever defenders and leaders.
Left back – Francis Benali
Francis Benali in action for Southampton
A true Saints stalwart, Benali made over 300 appearances for the club and remained an ever-present part of their squads throughout their regular battles with relegation in the 1990s.
A one-club man who is still adored in Southampton for the charity work he has embarked upon since retiring from football, the loyal left-back is more than worthy of a place in this lineup.
Right midfield – Adam Lallana
Having come through the Saints academy, Lallana starred for the club during their ascent through the divisions and continued to excel in the top flight. His creativity was crucial for Southampton as they comfortably readjusted to life back in the top tier, and he contributed 12 goals over his two Premier League seasons at St Mary’s.
He has gone on to improve yet further and now finds himself an integral player for both England and Liverpool, but he owes a great deal of his success to Southampton.
Centre midfield – Morgan Schneiderlin
In terms of sheer ability, it has to be Morgan Schneiderlin here. The French international was superb for Southampton earning a move to Manchester United, where things didn’t quite work out, but he’s impressing once more under Ronald Koeman at Everton.
Left midfield – Sadio Mane
You could make a case for Matt Taylor on this flank, the Englishman having been a fine servant to Portsmouth, but Sadio Mane is a better footballer. The former Salzburg man was too good for Southampton to hang on too, switching the south coast for Merseyside last summer, and he has arguably been even more impressive at Anfield.
Attacking midfield – Matt Le Tissier
He’s not known as ‘Le God’ for nothing – amongst Southampton fans, there is no-one more highly regarded than Matt Le Tissier. A player content with being a big fish in a small pond, his individual moments of genius rescued Saints on countless occasions during otherwise dour seasons throughout the 1990s.
Matthew Le Tissier
He was particularly prolific in the opening three seasons of the Premier League, scoring 60 goals, but went on to reach double figures on two further occasions and fittingly scored the last ever goal at The Dell with a typically brilliant strike against Arsenal. His casual style may have held him back at times – Chris Marsden would certainly have to cover a lot of ground in this team – but for sheer effortless class few were in Le Tissier’s league.
Striker – Peter Crouch
The rangy striker is in the unusual position of having excelled at both Southampton and Portsmouth, making him more than worthy of a spot up front in this team despite some stiff competition and the relatively short spells he had at both.
He was the star performer in an otherwise dire Saints season in 2004/05, finding the net 16 times in all competitions as Southampton’s 27-year stay in the top flight was brought to an end. He returned to the south coast with Portsmouth in 2008, and scored 16 times for them as well during his solitary season at Fratton Park while forming a prolific partnership with Jermain Defoe.
Southampton’s Peter Crouch scores his teams second goal
Striker – Jermain Defoe
You could make a case for a handful of strikers here, but now back on the south coast with Bournemouth and the perfect partner for Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe has to be the favourite. The England international is a born goal scorer, and that has prompted the Cherries to offer him a highly lucrative three-year deal despite the former Pompey man already being 34.
Manager – Eddie Howe
Harry Redknapp managed to enrage fans of both Southampton and Portsmouth, so the much-admired Howe is the sensible choice to lead this side. Having rescued Bournemouth from their lowest ebb, he has guided them to the Premier League and looks set to establish them there.
What do you think? Who is lucky to make it and which players should have been included? Leave your thoughts below.
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