This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
It has not been the best of seasons for Southampton.
The Saints are currently languishing down the bottom of the Premier League, and with each passing week, it feels that they are struggling to put a strong run of form together that will help them survive in the top flight.
That is mainly down to a horrific defensive record. So far this term, the south-coast outfit have conceded more goals than any other team in the division. In one match, albeit against high-flying Leicester City, they shipped nine, and that was at home, as well.
Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy have been the two men to line up between the posts, and neither have covered themselves in glory. They have a save percentage ratio of 61.5% and 54.5% respectively, which puts them both towards the bottom of the list of all the shot-stoppers in the top flight. Between them, they have just two clean sheets.
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What they would give for a dependable goalkeeper in good form, right? Well, in Fraser Forster, they actually do have one on their books. So far this term he has a save ratio of 74.1%, has kept seven clean sheets, and also received rave reviews – his current boss even called him world-class – for his fantastic display in a cup final. Unfortunately, all of this has been during his loan spell at Celtic rather than at St. Mary’s Stadium.
Surely they should think about recalling him given their recent struggles? Unfortunately, that won’t be the case if Ralph Hasenhuttl’s comments on his situation are anything to go by.
He recently said: “He is a fantastic goalkeeper – I always knew. But for him it was important to get the chance to play, get the games and the self confidence back. I am very happy for him. We have our three goalkeepers here. He is on loan until the end of the season and it is not the moment to think about that.”
Quite frankly, it makes little sense. At the foot of the table, a reliable goalkeeper can be the difference between staying up and being relegated. As it stands, Southampton do not have that at their disposal. Instead, he is a doing a good job for a team that finished top of their Europa League group as well.
£7.2m-valued Forster – as per Transfermarkt – may have fallen out of favour last season, managing just one Premier League match, but that doesn’t mean his career with the Saints should be over. Hasenhuttl could do a lot worse than bringing him back south of the border.
In other news, Ralph Hasenhuttl clears up the mystery concerning this one Southampton man.