Ralph Hasenhuttl and Theo Walcott have paid tribute to the ‘fantastic’ Alex McCarthy after a Man of the Match performance from the Southampton goalkeeper against Wolverhampton Wanderers, while speaking to the Daily Echo.
If you asked the casual observer to list the finest shot-stoppers in the Premier League, you would hear a lot of Alisson Beckers, plenty of Hugo Lloris’s and even the odd shout for Emi Martinez.
But those who have had the pleasure of tuning into a swashbuckling, high-flying Southampton side on a weekly basis will tell you that McCarthy, on current form, deserves to be in the conversation.
The 30-year-old former Reading stopper was exceptional in victories over Aston Villa and Everton but saved his best display of the season for Wolves on Monday night.
A remarkable double save to deny Nelson Semedo and Leander Dendoncker early on in an entertaining 1-1 draw would have made even Alisson himself blush.
“He was fantastic. When you see his goalkeeping now compared to one year ago…we have stats on how high he plays now and how calm he is on the ball, how good his decision making is with the ball,” Hasenhuttl said of a man who recovered stronger than ever from that wince-worthy blunder in June’s defeat to Arsenal.
“There has been some massive work done with the goalkeepers from my goalkeeping coach (Andrew Sparkes). Massive praise for the work they all do.
“We must develop every player but also the goalkeeper. He (McCarthy) did a very good job.”
Theo Walcott hogged the headlines after scoring his first Saints goal since January 2006 against Wolves. But he too was keen to pay tribute to a man who made the difference at the other end of the pitch.
“He has been absolutely top drawer,” Walcott said. “Some of the saves on Monday were just outstanding to be honest. He has been like that from day one since I have been here – not just in game but training.
“The level of all the goalkeepers has been fantastic but Alex, particularly in the games, has kept us in there.
“He’s made some very good saves not many keepers would actually make so I’m pleased for him.”
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