Saints Marching
Fansided

Southampton: Rating Mauricio Pellegrino by his substitutions

By Erik Franzo

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Watford at St Mary's Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Watford at St Mary's Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates scoring his sides third goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham United at St Mary’s Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates scoring his sides third goal from the penalty spot during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham United at St Mary’s Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /

Southampton vs. West Ham

In a game where West Ham was reduced to ten men due to a Marko Arnautovic straight red card, Pellegrino had a lot to think about. West Ham came back from an 0-2 deficit, but the Saints would win it from the spot. Did the manager have influence in the win?

The Substitutions

James Ward-Prowse for Mario Lemina – 65th minute. This sub made a lot of sense. Lemina was debuting, and did not have a great game. Ward-Prowse was brought in to stabilize the midfield with a one goal lead. However, it would quickly turn just eight minutes after he entered, as Javier Hernandez scored an equalizer.

Double Sub – Shane Long for Steven Davis and Charlie Austin for Manolo Gabbiadini – 80th minute. It took Pellegrino seven minutes to realize the Saints would need fresh legs to get a goal. Taking a midfielder off for an attacking player was smart, but again Gabbiadini was taken off when three points were in question.

Putting Austin on ended up being a wise move as he netted the game winner from a penalty. I would have been plenty nervous watching Tadic step up for number two. The Serbian narrowly scored the first from the spot after choosing to go down the middle on Joe Hart.

Rating: B

  • Shane Long is a true nuisance as a late sub, but one must wonder if he should have came on sooner to put the game away.
  • Can Gabbiadini play a full 90 minutes? I don’t know why our best goal scorer is taken off the field again.
  • I doubt Pellegrino put Austin on predicting a second penalty. Although it was a move that truly worked out. Austin is 21 for 23 in his career from the spot!