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Southampton: Wednesday’s weekly fan poll – edition 1

By Chris Hughes

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Glenn Murray of Brighton and Hove Albion and Fraser Forster of Southampton shake hands after the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton at Amex Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Glenn Murray of Brighton and Hove Albion and Fraser Forster of Southampton shake hands after the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton at Amex Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /
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Welcome to the inaugural edition of Saints Marching’s new weekly fan poll series, analysing a topic surrounding Southampton FC from the past week.

Each week, the poll will run on Wednesday with the supporting analysis to go up the following day!

Arguably one of the most-discussed topics surrounding the club and it’s fanbase regards their goalkeeper, Fraser Forster.

The 29-year-old has grossly under-performed this campaign, making a host of mistakes and costing his side more points than he has probably won for them.

When fit, Forster has been the Saints’ first-choice stopper for the past three years, having been rewarded a fresh contract over the summer. This season he has started each and every game, even if he hasn’t quite warranted his place.

Therefore the idea of Forster moving on or being replaced is a weird one that doesn’t quite sit right, especially as it remains unclear as to what standard of club would make a bid for him.

However, according to the Southampton fans, a new first-choice ‘keeper in January should be something Les Reed should look into.

Looking across to the Bundesliga or to France and there are pretty of young, viable options that the Saints could look to, with three quarters of those who voted in the poll suggesting a new goalie should be signed when the transfer window re-opens.

Next: Is Les Reed complacent and the one to blame?

A good portion of fans believe that better depth or a new back-up could be another option, with 19  percent of the votes going to option B. Some supporters have called for Alex McCarthy to get a chance ahead of Forster, but the former-Crystal Palace man has struggled to hit regular form for Saints’ Under-23 side this campaign.

Forster’s speed across his line has been a great cause for concern, with Glenn Murray and Sam Vokes’ goal across the last two respective games both being avoidable.

The 29-year-old has fallen out of favour with England boss Gareth Southgate as a result of his inconsistencies, and it seems like he’s fallen out of favour with the Southampton supporters too.