[ad_pod ]
A much-changed Southampton side were put to the sword by West Ham at the weekend – a result that, admittedly, means very little to the Saints, whose Premier League survival was secured with a point at St Mary’s Stadium in the previous game, although one player’s performance stood out for all the wrong reasons.
Shane Long has been in great form for the south coast outfit in recent weeks but he was back to his old ways, or perhaps worse, against the Hammers on Saturday. With his future at the club uncertain, will a horror display like this one come back to haunt him when push comes to shove in the summer?
On the chalkboard
The 32-year-old scored some crucial goals for Southampton in April, netting four times in five appearances and impressing with his drive and work-rate – two things that Ralph Hasenhuttl holds highly.
For a long time, the Irishman’s sole purpose was to put pressure on defenders, with the sacrifice in terms of potency in front of goal made in favour of the energy he offers. However, in finding his shooting boots again, the number 7 seemed the perfect fit for Hasenhuttl’s high octane approach and has established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet.
Unfortunately, he was unable to keep up his solid run of form and instead took a big, big step backwards at the London Stadium, with his contributions to the team as minimal as it gets.
Why should Southampton be more like Dortmund? Find out in the video below…
A Long afternoon
The former Hull City man attempted zero shots on goal and completed zero dribbles, while his defensive contribution – something he prides himself on, surely – was also non-existent, as he completed zero tackles and zero interceptions.
Completing a team-low (for players who played more than 45 minutes) 23 passes, the hitman struggled to link up with his teammates, too; it’s certainly difficult to make a case for him to remain at St Mary’s Stadium based on his latest showing. If he has another stinker against Huddersfield next time out, his future will surely be in major doubt.