Southampton: How Ralph Hasenhttl has transformed the Saints as they battle for survival
Southampton are by no means safe, but the door to the Championship has closed considerably in recent months.Under Mark Hughes, Southampton looked to have accepted their fate, second-tier football was on the cards and nine points in 15 matches hinted at a first Premier League relegation since 2005 – until Ralph Hasenhuttl turned up.
5Raplh Hasenhuttl has turned things around at SouthamptonChange was needed. The board turned to the ex-RB Leipzig manager. His arrival was understated, was this the right man to lead a side languishing in 18th, away from danger and galvanise a squad depleted of confidence and purpose?The answer at present would have to be yes. Although Southampton are currently 16th and only two points above the drop, there has been a marked improvement in his brief reign. The ‘new manager effect’ is a age-old footballing myth, in which the boss is sacrificed and the team suddenly starts playing better, is readily reserved for a labouring club, struggling for form.However, wins over Arsenal, Everton, and Tottenham, a battling goalless draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and a narrow loss to Manchester United are indicative of that theory.These results you feel, could very well have been defeats only weeks earlier.A trip to Brighton,
live on talkSPORT 2, is their next fixture, three points here are crucial.What is telling, is that the 51-year-old has won six of his 17 games, his predecessor Hughes managed just five in 27.
5Southampton have taken a high press approach to put the opposition under pressureWhile the Austrian lacks the footballing CV of Hughes, Mauricio Pellegrino and Claude Puel, this does not appear to have impacted him as of yet.Hasenhttl has not only changed the mood on the South Coast, but the tactics and positions too, switching between a 3-4-2-1 and a 3-5-2 formation.He has gone from a back four to three centre-halves, Wesley Hoedt out and Jan Bednarek and Jannik Vestergaard coming in.Hughes’ preferred midfield choice was Pierre-Emile Hjbjerg and Mario Lemina. Hasenhttl has favoured Oriol Romeu, his presence offers the defence added protection.
5Oriol Romeu has now returned to the first XI under Hasenhuttl.The high-energy press favours pushing back the opponent over possession, fuelled by intense, repetitive training sessions which he described as mind-blowing in his initial press conference. Make the opposition’s life as difficult as possible seems to be part of the theory.Bednarek has flourished under Hasenhttl, Nathan Redmond, move from the wing to a central role, is integral to the squad, so too is Danny Ings, while James Ward-Prowse has propelled himself back into England contention, winning his second cap against Montenegro on Monday night.
5James-Ward Prowse, Nathan Redmond and Danny Ings are key to Southampton’s survivalCredit must go to the manager, Southampton have history when it comes to producing young talent.Luke Shaw, Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, the list goes on. That tradition appeared to have been forgotten, Hasenhttl is embracing it once more.The heady heights of Ronald Koeman’s time in charge, which over saw two top 10 finishes, seventh and sixth respectively, their highest ever Premier League points total of 63 and Europa League group stage qualification, seem a distant memory.What Southampton would give to rewind five years, but that’s the beauty of hindsight. Times have changed, survival not Europe is the objective.
5The Saints have a capable squad and will hope to stay upHasenhttl’s appointment was considered a gamble by some, his experience mainly confined to the second tier of German football and Southampton could still drop out of the Premier League.But what they do have now is a plan and optimism. Should they stay up, there is no reason why they cannot move themselves further up the table.A bit of rebuilding in the summer and Hasenhttl has a capable team, one which could and should push on.The players are there to do it and now, more importantly, so is the manager.
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