Cameron Archer was undoubtedly a poor signing by Southampton - there’s no getting away from that.
Signed for a reported fee of £15m in August 2024, the 24-year-old has scored just nine times for the Saints across 72 appearances.
But the young striker truly stepped up on Tuesday night against Blackburn Rovers, and was handed man of the match by the EFL for an inspired performance that saw him grab a goal and an assist.
There’s clearly a player in there - and Tonda Eckert is finding the best way to bring that out.
Eckert tactics allowing Archer resurgence
Tonda Eckert has clearly discovered a role that works for both Archer and the team - and that’s to play him when Saints come up against back fives.
Archer’s only two starts in recent weeks have come against Oxford United and Blackburn Rovers, both teams that opt for a back five when defending.
When Saints have come up against these systems, designed to defend first, then launch counter-attacks through the flanks, they’ve pushed Ryan Manning high and wide in possession, forming a front five. This pins the opposition’s wing-backs into their own half, preventing them from creating outlets on the counter-attack.
With great ball-players Manning and Tom Fellows on the flanks, Cameron Archer and Kuryu Matsuki became narrow inside forwards on the night against Blackburn, suiting both their strengths.
Archer found the right positions on many occasions and expertly assisted Cyle Larin for the Saints’ opener. He then held his run for his goal, before Leo Scienza played him a deft pass.
A deserved break
“It’s so good to play in [this team]. The games keep coming, and we keep winning. We’ve just got to keep pushing now,” Archer told Sky Sports post-match.
The 24-year-old has been dealt the short straw in his time at Southampton, thus far. He was the wrong profile of striker signed by Russell Martin in 2024, when the team needed a new Che Adams to hold the ball up in a system that depended upon keeping possession.
He still isn’t the striker Saints need - but is being reinvented by Tonda Eckert as somebody just as useful.
"He works so hard, it's never easy if you are ambitious in your career and you don't get the minutes you wish to have. I think it's one of the biggest qualities to stay humble and focused. He very much deserved it tonight," Eckert raved about Archer post-match.
A young man who came so close to a deadline day exit to Scottish club Rangers in January, Archer’s Saints career was so nearly cut short.
Archer will still most likely leave in the summer in search of a new challenge, but he’s stating his claim as a great squad player ready to step in for Southampton in the here and now.
With five games left on the fixture list, he’ll be hoping to be rewarded with another couple of chances in Saints’ promotion and FA Cup push.
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