Saints Marching
Fansided

2016/17 Southampton season review: Sofiane Boufal

By Chris Hughes

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton celebrates scoriong his sides first goal with Claude Puel, Manager of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Middlesbrough at St Mary's Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 11: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton celebrates scoriong his sides first goal with Claude Puel, Manager of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Middlesbrough at St Mary's Stadium on December 11, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Sofiane Boufal arrived at Southampton with the weight of some serious expectation, but a year later has left many fans underwhelmed.

Arriving near enough on deadline day, Sofiane Boufal was brought in as a direct replacement for Liverpool-bound Sadio Mane. Signed for his skills and ability to run between the lines, Southampton splashed out a record £16 million on the Moroccan.

A year later however and supporters have been left disappointed. One league goal and no assists in all competitions have left some fans expecting more, but it isn’t all his fault. The 23-year-old had fitness issues upon joining the club and didn’t kick-start his season until nearly November, and a month later he was preparing to join up with his national team in the African Cup of Nations.

Couple that with short-term spells on the sidelines and Boufal made just 24 league appearances despite featuring every time he was fit. In the league he made as many substitute appearances as he did starts.

Next season will prove massive for Boufal’s career it seems. At nearly 24 he’ll struggle to be considered a young talent anymore, and he’s had a year to adjust to life outside France, where he’d spent all his life prior to the move from Lille.

Boufal struggled with his decision-making at times despite having the raw talent, often attempting pop-shots and running past one too many players rather than trying a more sensible bit of play.

Next: Aaron Mooy to be a pawn in City's chase for VVD?

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton (L) is shown a yellow card by referee Andre Marriner during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at White Hart Lane on March 19, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton (L) is shown a yellow card by referee Andre Marriner during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton at White Hart Lane on March 19, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) /

Dwindling figures

When analyzing his WhoScored stat-sheet, Boufal’s figures this season haven’t been that good. Whilst he may made a team-high three successful dribbles per game, he also badly controls the ball a further 1.9 times a game and is dispossessed another 2.3.

Furthermore he has more yellow cards this past season that he does goals and assists collectively, something you’d expect from Oriol Romeu, not your record-signing winger.

However there is the potential to argue that he hasn’t really had the opportunity to express himself – in fact from 24 league appearances he’s collectively played just over a 1000 minutes. That equals just 45 a game.

In fact he played the full 90 on just one occasion since the turn of the year, in the Saints’ win against West Brom. After that he failed to make more than 68, and that was in the loss against Chelsea.

My verdict

It’s difficult to judge Boufal’s ability based on this season. He’s had to adjust and in honesty he hasn’t done too well at it. He might just be incredible next year but sadly that’s not what we have to judge.

As our record signing brought in to replace the goals and influence of Mane I’m really disappointed in Boufal this campaign. Two goals in all is poor and his decision making has been amateur. I sadly can’t give more than a five.

Sofiane Boufal: 5/10