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Southampton: 2019/20 Season Review for Ryan Bertrand

By Ryan Borowski

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton celebrates victory with Ryan Bertrand of Southampton following the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Southampton FC at Stamford Bridge on December 26, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 26: Ralph Hasenhuttl, Manager of Southampton celebrates victory with Ryan Bertrand of Southampton following the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Southampton FC at Stamford Bridge on December 26, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /
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The Southampton Left-back has had an up-and-down season thus far for the club but started playing well before the season was suspended.

The Englishman’s season, much like the whole of Southampton, started off a little rocky. His sending off in the match against Leicester was the catalyst for one of the worst losses in Premier League history.

Once the team started turning around their performances and he was injury free his performances started to turn around and we saw a bit of the vintage Ryan Bertrand again.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 15: Ryan Bertrand of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Burnley FC at St Mary’s Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 15: Ryan Bertrand of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Burnley FC at St Mary’s Stadium on February 15, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /

His match ratings on whoscored.com have an uptick after his sending off with an exception here or there. The 30-year-old is not in his prime anymore but that does not mean he cannot be a solid defender anymore.

This season he was averaging 1.5 tacklers per match to go along with 1.2 interceptions. He was also averaging more crosses per match than he has in years and a slight uptick in key passes per match.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s system allows for the full-backs to have an attacking role and Bertrand has the ability to be a threat in the final third. Bertrand is a very streaky player but when he is playing well he is one of the better players in the team and can really impact a match. He also is a leader on the team as one of the older players and has been with the Saints longer than most other players.

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I look forward to seeing him play again for the club hopefully in the near future.