Southampton’s scouting and recruitment of forwards has been a disaster recently. Adam Armstrong has been doing the heavy lifting for too long, and while he remains a key figure, relying on him without serious competition feels short-sighted.
Armstrong is a striker who thrives in the right system. He fits Southampton’s counter-attacking style. He's at his best when there is space to attack and defenders to run beyond. Saints have shaped much of their attacking approach around his movement, his willingness to stretch the pitch, and his ability to arrive in the right areas at the right time.
This season under Tonda Eckert, Armstrong has remained the primary source of goals, and he remains the Championship's top scorer despite not scoring in the last six league matches.
The problem at Southampton is obvious
The problem is what sits behind him. The players meant to challenge Armstrong have not done enough to force difficult selection decisions. None has offered consistent finishing, or a different dimension that demands inclusion. Ross Stewart has struggled to be fit enough to play ever since he arrived at the club. Armstrong starts because there is no compelling alternative.
That lack of pressure is unhealthy. Even reliable strikers improve when they are pushed. Sharpness, movement, and decision-making all benefit from knowing that minutes are not guaranteed. Southampton are missing that edge.
Armstrong is a strong Championship forward. That should not be confused with being the level Saints ultimately need. If promotion is the goal, recruitment must reflect what comes next, not just what gets you through the current season.
A forward capable of operating in the Premier League brings more than goals. He offers presence against low blocks, holds the ball under pressure, and creates space for others. That type of striker would raise standards across the front line.
Southampton do not need to move on from Armstrong. They need to challenge him properly. The burden he carries is too heavy, and the ceiling too low, without serious competition.
Southampton need Premier League quality
If Saints want to turn ambition into progress, the search for a higher-level centre forward cannot be delayed any longer. Former Premier League strikers Danny Ings, Jamie Vardy, and Neal Maupay could be ready-made options.
Saints fans old enough to remember will recall how Lawrie McMenemy used to find players at the end of their careers and get another year out of them. Charlie George, Frank Worthington, and Alan Ball were all great examples of that.
Whether Southampton fans can trust the talent identification and recruitment staff at Southampton to get this right is highly debatable. They have let a highly rated striker in Dom Ballard, be sold and replaced him with Damion Downs. Downs' contribution was negligible, and he's already been sent out on loan to try and recapture some form and confidence.
It's true that Cameron Archer has found the net a couple of times recently, although both goals have been deflected, and one was against hugely inferior opponents. Truth be told, Archer should already have netted a few more times this season. He's had the chances to do so.
It's true that finding the ideal centre-forward is a challenging task. However, this is exactly what the staff at Southampton are paid to do.