There has been a fundamental problem at Southampton Football Club this season, and the way it has been operated. Sitting outside the relegation zone, Saints are yet to make any change in management or in playing quality on the pitch.
Yet it is refreshing to see that the board are sticking with their manager in Mauricio Pellegrino, the situation in which they compherhend has required some form of shake-up to reignite form.
To put it straight, there has been a overwhelming cry from the fans for the Argentine to be dismissed, yet the board have stood firm.
Despite Pellegrino still being in the job, you would expect that the Southampton hierarchy would back the manager in the transfer market, however investment in the squad has been questionable. However the club our yet to address their problems within the squad – leadership, creativity and a target man being just those.
Yet, just over two weeks in, and having recently recently sold a world-class defender in Virgil van Dijk, our most natural leader, Saints have been unconvincing in the window. Having lost out on their main transfer target in Theo Walcott, willing to take a gamble on an unproven Argentine striker in Guido Carrillo, and aren’t linked to any experienced or proven Premier League players.
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To add, our best finisher of the ball in Manolo Gabbiadini has been linked away with a return to Italy, having been mismanaged and provided little service during the course of the season.
Though, it should be mentioned that Van Dijk was not in the right mind-set before his move away, nor was he of any help to squad harmony, hence his sale.
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However with lack of rumour in reinvestment, fans should be/are questioning the board. It is starting to become alarming that they aren’t willing to go out of their way to acquire the high level of player that our team is screaming out for.
Even if Saints had paid over the odds for Theo Walcott, it’s a part of the modern day market to do so, players are moving for astronomical fee’s following the summer transfer window. If we are to quote on quote, strive to get back into Europe, then we need to make a statement of intent, and therefore compete against the likes of Everton in the transfer market.
Therefore going forward, we as a club can’t afford to lose out on more of our supposed targets. In order to secure players that will address our problems, the board have to be ruthless in the market, despite this not fitting the financial ethos they stand for. Failure to do so could only cause for the club to be relegated.