Southampton: Will the real leaders please stand up?

Last Sunday saw Southampton fall to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool. It is less the final score than the overall performance that is to be questioned.

Although Liverpool and Southampton are not on a level playing field when it comes to financial means and talent, the manner in which Southampton capitulated in the second half of the game has got much more to do with character and leadership than inherent talent.

Ever since Virgil van Dijk was injured on that January 2017 afternoon against Leicester City, the club has arguably known its toughest period in recent years. Fans had become accustomed to finishing in the Top Eight and pushing for Europe year in and year out. Yet all of a sudden things were starting to go downhill.

Despite a spirited performance in the final of the League Cup at Wembley, the absence of Van Dijk was sorely felt with a premature Jack Stephens being thrown into the lion’s den. The rest of the season was quite mediocre with a consensus coming about that Claude Puel was no longer the man that was going to take Southampton to the next level.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 26: Steven Davis of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Southampton and Everton at St Mary’s Stadium on November 26, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

The off-season was tarnished by the Van Dijk transfer saga leading to a less than ideal environment to create team spirit and induct a new manager into the fray.

While the board wanted to prove a point for reasons of pride more than anything else – the collateral damage was to be felt on the whole team and dynamics.

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Virgil van Dijk is a born leader and despite his faults and manner of departure, had a mighty influence on the team. His commanding displays and constant reassurance from the back were part of the DNA of the club.

Since his injury – nobody has been able to fill those shoes. The merry-go-round of captain allocation has seen Steven Davis, Yoshida and Bertrand fill in at times based on the team selection. But captaining a side is surely much more than just an armband?

As Pellegrino has failed at instilling leadership of any kind himself – preferring to adopt a philosophical approach that fans are running out of patience with and it is a matter of time until the board come to the same conclusion. But in the meantime who is going to stand up and be counted in the team and show the character and spirit that is needed in these times?

The second half performance of Southampton was hard to fathom. I am sure that it can be prescribed against insomnia and would have a better impact than conventional medicine. But just maybe the Van Dijk chapter can be put to a close after the Liverpool victory on Sunday.

Even the fans were booing him half-heartedly – such has been the leadership impact of VVD on Southampton. With only 11 games to go until the end of the season, Leadership and character has to be shown.

Firstly officially, by sorting out the random allocation of captaincy and finally collectively so that the Southampton jersey is worn with the spirit and pride that it deserves.