A six out of ten performance away at Coventry City is hardly the evidence needed to support a headline like this one.
However, that is exactly the point. While Flynn Downes crashes into another 50:50 tackle and Léo Scienza embarks on another convoluted dribble through a bewildered defence, Cameron Bragg quietly and intelligently goes about his business.
At the CBS Arena yesterday, Tonda Eckert played a three-man midfield and asked Bragg to play the anchor role. His job, to find a way through the Coventry press, was never going to be easy. But, the 21-year-old academy graduate made the task look effortless.
The two stand-out features of Bragg's game
Such is Bragg's composure on the ball and range of passing that he has the knack of making everything look easy. And that is what almost made him go unnoticed in a match identifiable by its fiery nature and swift counter-attacking.
That his coach trusts Bragg to play what can only be described as 'the Pirlo role' at the tender age of twenty speaks volumes about the youngster's maturity and footballing intelligence.
Bragg is a player who always appears to have time on the ball to pick the right pass. Often, that pass is simple, keeping possession and sending the ball across the back four. The intention yesterday was to either break the press or get the ball to Taylor Harwood-Bellis in enough space to make the most of his long passing up to Cyle Larin.
Maintaining possession against a strong Coventry City side, who had only lost once at home this season (to Ipswich Town), was always going to be crucial if Southampton hoped to establish some control in the game.
The luxury that Bragg afforded the Southampton midfield meant that Caspar Jander and Flynn Downes could go man-to-man on their opposite numbers. Consequently, the usually influential Matt Grimes was hurried in possession by Jander. And Frank Onyeka will be nursing his battle wounds after a bruising encounter with Downes.
A formation change that suited Saints
The formation suited the Saints, who ran out deserved winners despite late pressure from a Coventry side desperate to maintain its own promotion charge.
If Southampton are promoted this season, Cameron Bragg could have a significant role to play. His composure is precisely what his team needs to secure a place in the play-offs and then progress through them to Wembley.
Once again, Southampton have the chance to secure a top-six position in their own hands. With two home fixtures, against Norwich City and Oxford United, before the international break, the Saints could be right in the mix come April.
Cameron Bragg exudes class. He has the potential to become a future Premier League and England star. Who knows, one day, he could even surpass Pirlo!