AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be hoping to claim the bragging rights when they face Premier League neighbours Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium tomorrow.
Ahead of the game, afcb.co.uk caught up with Southern Daily Echo chief football writer Adam Leitch to canvass his opinion on the Saints.
afcb.co.uk: What’s your summary of the season so far?
Adam: It was a poor start for Saints and hopes were certainly not high as they battled for survival.
The appointment of Ralph Hasenhüttl has certainly lifted the club, both on and off the pitch, and now people are again looking forward with optimism.
Saints are all but safe now so it’s case of looking to the future.
afcb.co.uk: Has the season gone as the majority of supporters would have expected?
Adam: Few fans start the season expecting their team to have to fight to stay up, especially after what had happened the previous year, but the reality quickly set in that it would be another tough battle.
The biggest question was what might happen when they changed manager, but that has worked out well for Saints.
afcb.co.uk: What did you make of the timing of Ralph Hasenhüttl (pictured above) replacing Mark Hughes as manager?
Adam: At that point, it seemed like slightly strange timing.
They had only appointed Mark Hughes in the summer after he had kept them up at the back end of the previous season and so to make another change so soon did risk things getting worse.
However, you have to say the club made a good call. Hasenhüttl has clearly been a good appointment.
He has had a galvanizing effect on the squad, the fans and the club as a whole and things are much brighter at St Mary’s than they have been for a long time.
afcb.co.uk: Southampton have conceded their fair share of late goals this season – can you put your finger on why?
Adam: It’s really hard to say for certain why that is, but it is something that they are clearly very aware of it.
Hasenhüttl demands a high level of work rate and fitness and given a full pre-season to work with the club, hopefully, they will be better equipped to deal with these situations in the future.
afcb.co.uk: Eighth, seventh, sixth and eighth between 2014 and 2017, why do you think Southampton have failed to reproduce that form over the past two seasons?
Adam: You can only look at the managerial appointments and the transfer policy.
Saints have spent a lot of money on some fairly big signings which haven’t worked out and that has cost them dearly.
Sacking three managers in less than two years tells its own story on that front.
They look to have appointed well this time in Hasenhüttl, now this summer they need to sign well again.
afcb.co.uk: How excited are supporters with the young players coming through – Angus Gunn, Yan Valery (pictured above), Michael Obafemi, Kayne Ramsey, Callum Slattery.
Adam: All fans love to see youngsters coming through and Saints have been byword for a number of decades.
That said, over the past few years, the conveyer belt has stuttered a little and so it is good to see a manager who wants to progress younger players.
In fact, Hasenhüttl has spoken about having a young team and signing young players in the future as that fitness level is key to the high pressing game he wants.
afcb.co.uk: Who is Southampton’s dangerman?
Adam: At the moment, it’s Shane Long. He is their in-from striker with three goals in his past four games.
And his last one after 7.69 seconds at Watford was something quite incredible.
afcb.co.uk: Who is Southampton’s one for the future?
Adam: Yan Valery has made a big impact in a very short space of time at right wing back and looks like a player that has a very big future.
afcb.co.uk: Which club do you think will join Huddersfield and Fulham in the Championship next season?
Adam: Cardiff.
afcb.co.uk: What’s your score prediction?
Adam: 2-1 to Saints.
You can follow Adam on Twitter at @adamleitchsport
