Southampton fans were left scratching their heads when Will Still left Kuryu Matsuki out after his brilliant strike at Norwich. The Japanese midfielder hit a 30-yard screamer that stunned everyone and capped off an encouraging 3-0 win. It was a goal to remember, and it should have altered how the manager viewed him.
But instead of riding that wave of confidence, Matsuki was dropped. That decision has left Still with egg on his face because Matsuki has proven he can play at this level and make a real impact.
Matsuki’s form speaks for itself
Matsuki’s recent performances have been full of promise. He has looked technically good on the ball and energetic out of possession. Against QPR on Tuesday, he scored not just one but two goals. The first was intelligent movement to get in front of the goalkeeper and head in Léo Scienza's inswinging corner. And the second was cool, precise finishing following in Scienza's parried shot.
Those contributions helped the Saints secure an important result, and they showed what Matsuki can do when he is trusted to play. His ability to demand the ball, get crosses in, and arrive late into the box makes him different from many others in the squad. It makes him a threat, and it gives the team another dimension from Tom Fellows.
If Still had kept faith with him after Norwich, then maybe things would feel different now. Maybe Southampton would have had more creativity and energy in the games when they needed it most. Maybe the confidence from that stunning strike would have grown into consistency.
It is easy to speculate in hindsight, but when a player scores a goal like that and shows his quality again soon after, it feels like a player worth backing. Matsuki has done nothing but make the most of his minutes under Eckert.
The trust shown in him to start against local rivals, Portsmouth, even surprised the most long-in-the-tooth fans. The 22-year-old Japan Under-23 international's performance under intense pressure at Fratton Park was exceptional.
Decisions have consequences
Managers make tough calls every week, and not all of them land. But dropping a player who has just shown he can score a world-class goal from range and score twice in a key game looks like a mistake now.
Matsuki’s journey is not yet over, and he has more to offer. He has shown he can score spectacular goals and contribute in big matches. That should be enough to earn him more starts and greater trust.
Still may have had his reasons, but the results now suggest that giving Matsuki more chances was the right course. And if the Saints are serious about a promotion challenge, they will need to find a way to keep Matsuki firing because his talent deserves to be on the pitch, particularly given Fellow's poor form of late.