The buzz generated by Saints becoming – at least on paper – one of the richest clubs in English football saw a bumper turn out of away supporters. A hastily arranged extension to the allocated area ensured that most were seated by kick off.
The cold, rainy weather didn’t dampen the mixture of high spirits and relief in all those in the red and white stripes. In truth, the Saints contingent were grateful simply to have a team to support.
A few turned up enthusiastically waving Swiss flags, but quite what proportion of the new owner’s fortune will be unlocked to improve matters on the pitch remains to be seen. On the basis of today’s evidence, reasonable sums will be needed just to shore up Southampton’s League One status.
After half a decade of inexorable decline and a near-death experience, fans hoping for a sudden, dramatic upswing in our footballing fortunes face disappointment. Saints supporters should brace themselves for at least a couple of seasons of patience. The journey back to greatness may have begun, but the road is a long one and Herr Liebherr has made it plain that he intends to move at a slow and steady pace.
The Saints starting line-up certainly resembled a first choice XI and in something that looked a bit like a 4-4-2. Rasiak and Lallana began up front, with the latter in a support role. Lloyd James began alongside Simon Gillett in central midfield, swapping his more usual right-back slot With Paul Wotton. Jake Thomson took up the right flank and Boyle the left. Chris Perry and Ollie Lancashire shared central defensive duties. Joseph Mills started at left-back and returning skipper Kelvin Davis completed the line up. There was no sign today of Stern John, Marek Saganowski or Morgan Schneiderlin (who has at least been keeping fit playing for the French U-20s). Jason Euell and Bradley Wright-Phillips have been out of contract since the end of June. They can’t be used – for insurance reasons – unless and until they sign new contracts.
A pretty dour and unimaginative display from both teams saw a limited number of chances – and no goals – in the first forty five minutes. To say Rasiak looked languid is akin to noting that water is wet. He still seems to find it impossible to leap for headers and his typically frustrating lack of running was exacerbated by a terrible first touch. At least Lallana was able to show a few nice tricks, but his persistent pirouettes were elegant rather than effective.
James and Gillett were competent in midfield, but didn’t boss the game and are quite clearly far too similar as players to complement each other successfully. Stewart Henderson’s inability to realise this - and to switch James and Wotton back to the roles they occupied last season – just goes to underscore the importance of getting a new manager appointed. It needs to be done right – but swiftly too.
Saints’ best chance of the half came as the interval approached. Jake Thomson had pulled up and was replaced by Paterson down the right flank (the more rational decision would have been to switch Lallana to the wing and pair Paterson with Rasiak up front).
Within a couple of minutes, the referee’s understandable tendency to leniency was stretched to farcical levels, when he failed to even book the Bournemouth goalkeeper for deliberately handling outside his area in order to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity. The resulting free kick was wasted. The half-time whistle blew. The crowd yawned.
The only evidence that Southampton were taking this match moderately seriously – rather than as a totally tedious warm-up was that only one change was made at half-time – with Bailkowski getting forty five minutes between the stick. And in the early stages of the second period, Saints did dominate. Once Paterson had delivered a sweet finish from the edge of the box, it should have been plain sailing. In fact, Lallana did have the ball in the net barely a minute later, but it was ruled out for a push by Rasiak.
Then – as if they wished to remind the fans of the catastrophe of last season – Southampton contrived to commit footballing suicide. Firstly, a slip by Lancashire allowed the hosts an equaliser and a few moments later, a Bialkowski brain fart meant an insane half-clearance left the goal gaping. Although Saints made some sort of effort to find an equaliser, it was all rather half-hearted and the away fans started making their way to the exits with a full ten minutes left to play.
Whoever Nicola Cortese and Andy Oldknow select as the new manager will at least have the benefit of starting with a near blank sheet of paper. There are a handful of genuinely talented players in the Southampton squad, but some yawning gaps as well. We clearly need a strong, tall and experienced centre-back to pair with the tidy and unflappable Perry. Jean Paul Saeijs would fit the bill nicely. I hope the termination of Mark Wotte’s contract has not signalled an end to all things Dutch at St. Mary’s.
In general terms, the team requires more physical presence throughout. Ridiculously, Rasiak was our most physically imposing player, and he is hardly a fighter even when he is “up for it”. In the centre of the park, we need a coupling consisting of a ball winner and a playmaker. Wotton is not a right back and can fulfil the former role. Schneiderlin or Gillett the latter. Up front, we need two out-and-out centre forwards. With Rasiak, Saganowski, John, Wright-Phillips and –possibly – Euell, we have, in theory, an embarrassment of riches for a League One club. But will any of them be willing to show 100% commitment and effort? If not, they need to be shown the door.
Finally, if the technically gifted Lallana is retained – or even made the lynchpin of the team – he can’t be used as a striker. We also saw last season that he is better in the centre of the park than down the flanks. If Southampton continue to lack any truly exciting wingers, the new manager might wish to consider deploying a 4-3-1-2 formation, with Lallana in the hole. Whatever he decides, he can’t arrive fast enough.
The fans will certainly need patience – we are likely to still be in the relegation zone at Christmas – but the team desperately needs preparation. It also requires surgery that goes beyond the cosmetic. With the big kick-off just four weeks away, let’s hope that Saints’ next manager is in place within a couple of days.
Man of the match: Adam Lallana