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Southampton 2017/18 season review: Sofiane Boufal

By Chris Hughes

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton takes a look around the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park on March 10, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton takes a look around the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park on March 10, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /
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Despite hopes that he could step up this season, Sofiane Boufal’s second campaign at Southampton was perhaps more disappointing than his first.

The Moroccan scored just twice all season with the only goal that mattered being the Premier League’s official Goal of the Season – with the score goalless against West Brom back in October the substitute ran half the pitch, leaving four or five Baggies players in his wake, before slotting the ball home.

At that point the Saints were hoping it would be the start of a purple patch for the 24-year-old, however it would be another five games before he was directly involved in another goal and a further six beyond that until he would score again.

In the first half of the season this summed up Boufal’s relationship with Mauricio Pellegrino – a couple of good appearances before being dropped once again and limited to a substitute role.

However the winger’s relationship with managers seems to be a recurring theme – at times his relationship with Pellegrino seemed on the ropes before he famously fell out with new boss Mark Hughes at the end of the season.

Next: Olomola joins Scunthorpe

WIGAN, ENGLAND – MARCH 18: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton is chased by Sam Morsy of Wigan Athletic during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Wigan Athletic and Southampton at DW Stadium on March 18, 2018 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
WIGAN, ENGLAND – MARCH 18: Sofiane Boufal of Southampton is chased by Sam Morsy of Wigan Athletic during The Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Wigan Athletic and Southampton at DW Stadium on March 18, 2018 in Wigan, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /

In fact, the ex-Lille attacker failed to play a single minute of football beyond March, as he was totally frozen out by the Welshman. It’s believed that the two had a big falling out, with Hughes forcing Boufal to train with the Under-23’s as a result.

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Attitude aside, the Moroccan hasn’t done enough in his second season. He was once the Saints’ record signing at £16 million but just two goals and two assists are simply not up to standard.

Boufal regularly overdid things, something which may of stemmed from a desire to turn the game on it’s head by himself. However, bar the goal against West Brom, there were very occasions where his dribbling runs led to goals, and as a result patience may be wearing thin.

With Redmond misfiring this season would’ve been the perfect opportunity for Boufal to come out from the shadows and make a name for himself – for the best part this year he still had a lot of support and a lot of fans calling for him to start more.

Interesting he did only start 11 games, something which seems a lot lower than you’d think – however he was substitute in a further 15.

Despite this, his end of season fallout has lost him a lot of support, and with Mark Hughes almost certain to now stay on as manager, things may not get easier for the 24-year-old. Boufal may, as a result of his attitude this season, be sold back to France. He’s already hinted that he’d be open to a move to Marseille.

Verdict

Sofiane Boufal: 4.5/10