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There is no doubt that Southampton have improved and look a completely team under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but one of their major Achilles’ heel reared its ugly ahead again during the 3-0 defeat against West Ham United at the weekend – a lack of quality at centre-back.
On the chalkboard
Saints have looked much better going forward under the Austrian and generally always look capable of getting a goal, but it was the same old story in defence at the London Stadium.
The south coast outfit have now conceded 64 times going ahead of their final-day clash with Huddersfield Town at St Mary’s on Sunday, and that simply isn’t good enough if they want to be pushing for the top half next term.
The fact that they have lost 27 points from winning positions in the top flight during the current campaign tells you all you need to know about where their main issue lies, and the centre-backs have to take a big share of the blame.
Hasenhuttl has often lined up with three, although the absence of both Jannik Vestergaard and Maya Yoshida against Manuel Pellegrini’s men meant that Jan Bednarek and Jack Stephens started together in a back four – the experiment didn’t go well however.
New centre-back needed
Southampton desperately need a quality centre-back this summer, and Hasenhuttl needs to ensure that he gets the signing right.
It seems clear that the 51-year-old wants to play a 4-2-2-2 system next season given the formation he tried against West Ham, and that means that he needs two good individuals to feel that role in the middle.
Stephens clearly isn’t good enough, while there are still some question marks over Yoshida, Vestergaard and Bednarek, the latter of whom had an off-day in the capital.
The south coast club may be able to find the net on a regular basis, but that won’t make a difference next term if they can’t keep it out of their own one again.
Has Jack Stephens unfarily been made a scapegoat at Southampton? The Ugly Inside discusses in the video below…
They need a player who has leadership qualities, is strong in the air and decent in possession – much like former Saint Virgil van Dijk.
Finding someone like the PFA Player of the Year won’t be easy, but they club has done it before and they can do it again.
If they don’t sign the correct centre-half during the summer transfer window, it is difficult to see them avoiding another relegation scrap in 2019/20.
