Saints Marching
Fansided

Southampton 0-0 Stoke City: Player ratings

By Daniel Hargraves

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Joe Allen of Stoke City makes a break during the Premier League match between Southampton and Stoke City at St Mary's Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Joe Allen of Stoke City makes a break during the Premier League match between Southampton and Stoke City at St Mary's Stadium on March 3, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next

Strikers and Substitutes

Striker. Southampton. GUIDO CARRILLO. 5. After seven appearances in a Southampton shirt, five of which were starts, I’m not sure how to see Carrillo. It’s clear that he’s taking his time to settle into a new environment but the Argentine needs a goal soon otherwise the board will be scratching their heads as to why they invested £19 million into the striker. From what I’ve seen of Carrillo so far, particularly against Stoke, is that he’s crying out for another striker to play alongside in order to be more effective. We know that heading is the 26-year-old’s trademark skill and we saw that against Burnley as he nodded down for Gabbiadini’s equaliser. However, I can’t recall a good chance that the striker had and, what’s more worrying is that he could’ve had chances if his movement had been a bit better. All I know is Carrillo on his own hasn’t worked so if we’re going to stick with him we should try Carrillo and a partner as we have seen that work.

4. Fans were calling for Gabbiadini’s introduction for the entire second half until the Italian was brought on for the final 30 minutes. Despite saving Southampton from the bench last week, the striker was unable to replicate his heroics this time around and didn’t really get involved too much. The substitute didn’t have a memorable chance but did attempt to put balls into the box however, really it wasn’t a very influencial change.. 1st Substitute. Southampton. MANOLO GABBIADINI

Boufal will be blamed for missing the best chance of the game as the Moroccan nodded Nathan Redmond’s cross just wide of Jack Butland’s far post: on target and it would’ve been a goal. The winger always spices up dull games when coming off the bench with his skill but he didn’t really have the time to take the game by the scruff of the neck which nobody else had done up to that point.. 2nd Substitute. Southampton. SOFIANE BOUFAL. 5

3. Like Boufal, Long didn’t really have the time to make a major impact and was a bit of a useless substitution. Usually the striker can stretch defences with his pace and work rate, especially coming off the bench against a tired defence, however it just didn’t happen for him today. Not a lot happened anyway in the last 10 minutes so for the Irishman to make an impact would’ve been quite exceptional.. 3rd Substitute. Southampton. SHANE LONG