The ESPN FC crew discuss what the future holds for Virgil van Dijk.
It was the summer-long saga which dominated conversations between Southampton fans and neutral observers alike.
A dark cloud hung over manager Mauricio Pellegrino as he tried to usher in a bright new dawn at the St Mary’s Stadium.
In every pre and postmatch interview, a visibly frustrated Pellegrino and his players were asked to provide a new soundbite on the future of wantaway captain Virgil van Dijk.
Scores of former Liverpool stars lined up to give their view on why the Dutchman would be the…
The ESPN FC crew discuss the latest developments in the Virgil van Dijk saga.
The ESPN FC crew discuss the latest developments in the Virgil van Dijk saga.
Allow your mind to fast forward to New Year’s Day, 2018. Southampton are flying high in the Premier League, competing for a Champions League spot and looking down on a jealous Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk, their disgraced former captain, is watching on enviously from the stands, his place in the Netherlands team for the upcoming World Cup in Russia under threat having not kicked a ball in anger all season.
This is the dream scenario for the majority of Southampton fans following the latest…
Steve Nicol and the ESPN FC crew discuss the transfer furore surrounding Virgil van Dijk.
Steve Nicol and the ESPN FC crew discuss the transfer furore surrounding Virgil van Dijk.
Virgil van Dijk has helped Southampton’s new manager Mauricio Pellegrino score an early PR win with the club’s fans.
Now their board have to back the Argentine by delivering on their promise to keep Van Dijk at least until the end of the upcoming season and stand up to player power.
By effectively sending van Dijk into exile, Pellegrino has struck a blow not only for Saints but for every so-called smaller Premier League side who are bullied by their more illustrious rivals and egotistical players.
However…
Steve Nicol believes Mauricio Pellegrino’s open, attack-minded style of football will suit Southampton.
Southampton unveiled Mauricio Pellegrino as their third manager in as many seasons on Friday.
Pellegrino, 45, won the race to replace the sacked Claude Puel ahead of Dutch legend Frank de Boer as Saints chiefs were impressed with how the Argentine guided little Alaves to the Spanish cup final and see similarities with fellow countryman and their former boss Mauricio Pochettino.
But what five things does Pellegrino need to do to ensure he matches Pochettino’s success on the south coast?
1. Persuade…
Claude Puel has been sacked as Southampton manager.
Southampton executive director Les Reed has rightly been applauded for the way he has guided the club out of troubled waters to become one of the Premier League’s most upwardly mobile clubs.
After all, there are not many sides who could have recovered from losing two managers of the calibre of Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman plus a host of star players and still continue to make forward strides.
But the sacking of Claude Puel after less than a year in charge was a very public admission…
Steve Nicol weighs in on the Virgil van Dijk transfer wrangle involving Liverpool and Southampton.
It is the metaphorical two-fingered salute Southampton fans have dreamed of seeing their club serve up to Liverpool for the past three summers.
As news began to emerge on Monday that captain Virgil van Dijk had told Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp he wants to move to Merseyside, supporters on the south coast experienced that all-too-familiar sinking feeling. After all, the five-time European champions have taken pretty much everything that isn’t nailed down at St Mary’s, barring the tea lady…
Peter Crouch made good on a pre-match bet with a Stoke supporter after the Potters’ 1-0 win at Southampton.
Peter Crouch’s towering header won Stoke City all three points as Southampton’s barren home run continued.
Southampton’s season limped to a disappointing finish as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Stoke on Sunday, piling more pressure on manager Claude Puel.
Peter Crouch’s second half header on his return to St Mary’s was enough to earn fellow Mark Hughes his 150th Premier League win as a manager.
Saints failed to score at home for the fifth match in a row after being denied by some super saves from Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland.
Positives
At least Southampton fans do not have to watch any more of this…
Claude Puel discusses his Southampton side’s goalless draw against Manchester United.
Claude Puel discusses his Southampton side’s goalless draw against Manchester United.
Fall guy: A person who is falsely blamed for something that has gone wrong, according to the Oxford Dictionary.
Southampton manager Claude Puel could be forgiven for pointing out the definition to his bosses when he is summoned to an end of season review meeting, which will decide his future next week.
It is true Puel has made mistakes in his first season in the Premier League, but Southampton’s failure to emulate their lofty finishing positions from the previous three years cannot solely be laid…
Sergio Romero’s saves for Manchester United were the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal contest.
Sergio Romero’s saves for Manchester United were the only bright spot in an otherwise dismal contest.
Claude Puel is pleased with a draw against Man United, but admits they would’ve won without Sergio Romero’s heroics in net.
Southampton’s penalty curse struck again as they fought out a 0-0 draw at home against Manchester United on Wednesday.
Manolo Gabbiadini became the third player to miss from the spot in the past five games as his sixth-minute effort was saved by stand-in goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
Romero also pulled off a string of good stops in the second half to extend the Saints’ scoring drought at the St Mary’s Stadium.
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Positives
United might have rested a number of first-team regulars ahead of next week’s Europa…
Claude Puel admits Middlesbrough made life difficult for Southampton in the Saints’ narrow win.
When it comes to their team missing chances, Claude Puel and Jose Mourinho could compare hard-luck stories when they share a touchline at the St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday.
Manchester United’s failure to finish in the Premier League top four has been largely down to their remarkable inability to put the ball in the net — especially at Old Trafford — while Puel is never reluctant to point out Southampton have had more misplaced shots than any other team this season.
As Mourinho plots to bring…