Southampton 0-1 West Ham: Premier League – Three Match Takeaways

Is the end nigh for Hasenhuttl?

The short answer is probably not. Indeed if there was a viable option to replace Hasenhuttl, one suspects the Austrian might already be out of a job. Yet with a lack of available managers out there who could realistically do a better job, the axe seems unlikely to fall just yet.

There is a lot to like about Hasenhuttl; he’s engaging, intelligent and articulate. He wants to play attacking, pressing football and has managed to get the best of local hero Danny Ings.

However, results have not gone in his favour, barring the recent successes against Watford and Norwich. There have been question marks about his tactics and the lateness of his subs. In too many games, there has been a response in the second half but more often than not, it has been too little, too late after conceding soft first half goals.

Against West Ham, it was all too predictable. The away side set up with strength and height but Southampton were unable to deal with the power posed by Haller and Antonio. Every cross which came in proved difficult for the nervy Southampton defence. Every diagonal ball seemed to lead to a chance. Basic but effective football you might say.

Hasenhuttl did make a change at half time by sending on Romeu for the ineffectual Redmond. This did restore some balance to the midfield, allowing the underwhelming axis of Hojbjerg and Ward-Prowse to venture forward. Tellingly, the introduction of Stuart Armstrong came too late in a match crying out for a number 10.

With Aston Villa fast looming on the horizon, Southampton cannot fail to leave the Midlands without points to their name or else their manager might be on the first plane back to Austria.