Southampton News and Analysis

Russell Martin provides Adam Lallana injury news after Southampton’s win over Everton

2Nov

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Premier League

Russell Martin provides Adam Lallana injury news after Southampton’s win over Everton

Southampton avenged two heartbreaking losses against Leicester City and Manchester City by taking down Stoke 3-2 in a hard-fought League Cup victory before smothering Everton this weekend for their most impressive win of the season since they last beat the Toffees in the League Cup. Russell Martin has been feeling the heat with the Saints battling in the relegation spots again upon their return to the Premier League, and this clean sheet victory over Everton feels like a massive gorilla off their back; it's literally their first win of the 2024/25 league campaign. The Saints, whose only other point this season was a tie against another newly-promoted side in Ipswich Town, won the game in the 85th courtesy of a goal from veteran forward Adam Armstrong. Southampton will be riding hi...

The biggest silver lining from Southampton’s loss to Man City

26Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Premier League

The biggest silver lining from Southampton’s loss to Man City

Southampton fought tooth and nail for a point against Manchester City at the Etihad, and while they ultimately came up empty-handed with an early goal from top Premier League marksman Erling Haaland making the difference, Pep Guardiola and Bernardo Silva are right to say that the Saints did some good things in defeat. At no point did Southampton give up, and while they were overmatched in midfield and without the requisite quality in the attack to break Man City's world-class defense, they managed to hang in there and keep things interesting until the last kick. Southampton are no longer one of the more talented teams in the Premier League and will have to keep fighting to the death in matches in order to avoid another demotion, but in this rebuilding squad, they do have a couple of ...

EPL Preview: Southampton’s X-Factor; Aston Villa’s biggest worry; Everton’s key to victory

24Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, Premier League

EPL Preview: Southampton’s X-Factor; Aston Villa’s biggest worry; Everton’s key to victory

Everton's biggest key to victory vs. Fulham There's usually not a whole lot of nice things to say about a team stuck 16th in the Premier League table, but Everton are more than three points above the drop zone and have one of my favorite wide men in the league in Dwight McNeil, who has a knack for scoring bangers. Everton aren't the favorites against Fulham this weekend, but you have to admit they have more than a fighting chance. Sean Dyche has had a tough task getting anything out of his team attacking-wise, and it feels like a few of their most talented players, such as former Serie A starters Beto and Jesper Lindstrom, haven't quite figured this whole "scoring in the Premier League" thing out. What Everton need to do in order to win this game is elementary. They need to get the ...

EPL News: Top Erik ten Hag replacement, Alexander Isak and Kamaldeen Sulemana injury updates

17Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, Premier League

EPL News: Top Erik ten Hag replacement, Alexander Isak and Kamaldeen Sulemana injury updates

Who would replace Erik ten Hag if Manchester United fire the Dutch manager? When is Alexander Isak returning to the Newcastle starting lineup? And what is the latest on talented Southampton winger Kamaldeen Sulemana? Here are the latest Premier League news updates heading into Matchday 8. What is the latest injury news on Southampton's Kamaldeen Sulemana? Southampton star winger Kamaldeen Sulemana hasn't played in the Premier League yet this season due to injury he sustained in the preseason, and the Saints have been anxiously anticipated the return of the Ghanian international to their attack. They have a big game set this weekend against Leicester City, another notable Premier League side making their way back to the top flight after a surprise 2022/23 relegation. Southampton ...

Latest news from Fabrizio Romano means Southampton are set to lose Kyle Walker-Peters for free

20Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, Premier League

Latest news from Fabrizio Romano means Southampton are set to lose Kyle Walker-Peters for free

Southampton right back Kyle Walker-Peters was the subject of transfer speculation this past summer with his contract set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, but the Saints were unwilling to part ways with arguably the best right back in the Championship. Knowing they were headed back to the Premier League, Southampton didn't want to sell Walker-Peters for too cheap, as it would be difficult to find an adequate replacement at right back. Furthermore, Southampton were optimistic that they could negotiate a long-term contract with Walker-Peters, re-signing the English fullback before he could leave for free. However, it looks like that contract extension won't materialize. Fabrizio Romano reports that negotiations have broken down between Southampton and Kyle Walker-Peters. ...

Southampton want to take transfer flop off Juve’s hands

29Aug

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features, Premier League, Serie A

Southampton want to take transfer flop off Juve’s hands

Southampton are looking to make some more attacking signings in the summer 2024 transfer window, and they have started by looking at talented players they can sign for cheap and resurrect. One such target is West Ham left winger Maxwel Cornet, who was a very good footballer for Lyon and scored nine Premier League goals in a season for Burnley. However, Cornet has struggled to make an impact with West Ham due to injury, so Southampton could swoop in and take a gamble on the 27-year-old Ivorian in the hopes he can stay healthy and score some goals for them. According to a report from Gianluca Di Marzio, Southampton are also interested in Juventus winger Filip Kostic, who has failed to impress since moving to Turin from the Bundesliga. Unlike Cornet, though, Kostic can't write off...

Southampton consider gambling on talented West Ham forward

29Aug

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features, Premier League

Southampton consider gambling on talented West Ham forward

After a deal for Feyenoord goalkeeper Justin Bijlow fell apart due to a failed medical, Southampton pivoted to a more expensive signing, bringing in former Arsenal starter Aaron Ramsdale to be their next keeper. Southampton are trying to make assorted upgrades to their squad in the final days of the summer 2024 transfer window, because the last thing they want is to fall back to the Championship after climbing to the Premier League again. The Saints would like to acquire a little more attacking juice, and they have found a potential bargain option from another Premier League side in West Ham United. According to a report from the Telegraph's Mike McGrath, Southampton are considering a transfer for 27-year-old West Ham left winger Maxwel Cornet ahead of Friday's deadline. Cornet...

Southampton must turn to Arsenal as bargain transfer falls through

27Aug

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features, Premier League

Southampton must turn to Arsenal as bargain transfer falls through

Southampton have been in the hunt for a new goalkeeper to buoy their hopes of remaining in the Premier League after the 2024/25 season ends, as they fought their way back from a 2023 relegation. The Saints seemed to have an eight million euro transfer for Feyenoord star goalkeeper Justin Bijlow secured, signing the shot-stopper for nearly half of his actual market value. However, sometimes the cliche that things are too good to be true end up coming to fruition, and that appears to be the case for Southampton with the Bijlow transfer. According to a report from Feyenoord beat writer Mikos Gouka, Justin Bijlow is returning to Rotterdam and Feyenoord after his medical with Southampton and will not be transferring to the Saints after all. That's a huge blow for Southampton, who th...

Southampton sign player for 40 percent less than market value

25Aug

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Features, Premier League

Southampton sign player for 40 percent less than market value

Southampton have been looking for a new goalkeeper in order to help the Saints stay above the drop zone this time around in the Premier League, and they had a few candidates to choose from. Many rumors linked Southampton to Arsenal backup goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who is, at worst, a league average starting goalkeeper and would have been a decent option for the returning Premier League side. However, Southampton decided to balk on Ramsdale as an option because of his bloated wages and because of the fact that he would have been acquired on an initial loan deal. Instead, Dutch outlet Telegraaf's Marcel van der Kraan reports that Southampton will pay just eight million euros for their next goalkeeper, Feyenoord starter Justin Bijlow. Although Bijlow only saved 65.9 percent of th...

Every Premier League team’s most valuable player heading into the 2024/25 season

4Aug

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, Premier League

Every Premier League team’s most valuable player heading into the 2024/25 season

Addressing the topic of a player's value is extremely difficult in world football, especially when comparing across positions and even ascribing value to a player specific to the team they play for. One way to define "value" is an equivalence to importance. That is to say, a player is valuable because he is important to his team, and the "Most Valuable Player", which is the phrasing Serie A uses for its annual award in a hearken to American sports, is therefore the player who helped his team the most. But in this article ,I'd like to discuss value in a less nebulous but equally challenging realm, which is a player's financial value on the transfer market in a perfect vacuum in which leverage, contract, and overall situation are taken out. Let's take a look at the most valuable pla...