Three takeaways from Southampton’s loss to Stoke City
By Chris Hughes
We need a physical defender
Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens are a partnership that no Saints fan asked for. However in place of the injured Virgil van Dijk and the transferred Jose Fonte, they’ve done brilliantly.
Despite this there’s no shame in admitting that they aren’t the dream partnership, as whilst they may be quick and good on the ball they both lack serious strength, especially in the air.
If VVD is to the leave come summer then priority has to be a rugged centre-back who can compete in the air with the league’s best, otherwise repeats of yesterday’s game which occur.
Side’s know that Stephens and Yoshida aren’t the strongest and therefore they target that with crosses into the box – Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the EFL Cup final is a perfect example of this.
The two can defend well when the ball is on the ground in front of them, like with Liverpool a few weeks back, but again when you look at the Arsenal game and Giroud’s goal you have to think that Southampton need someone who can tussle in the air with the likes of him.