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Southampton – Best Three Options

Southampton enter the new season with a new manager, Mauricio Pellegrino, having sacked Frenchman Claude Puel after just a year at the club.

After managing just two more goals than relegated Sunderland last season, Pellegrino has been briefed with improving Southampton’s goal threat and seeing them challenge for a European place once again.

The fixture list has been kind to the new boss.

In their first five game weeks (SWA, WHU, hudd, WAT, cpl) Southampton do not face a side that finished in the top half of the Premier League table last season, representing the perfect opportunity for a flying start to the new campaign.

With such fantastic fixtures and the shackles off their attackers, Southampton players are set to be popular options. Here I look at three of the south coast side’s best options.

RYAN BERTRAND

Despite being the most expensive of the Southampton defenders, left-back Ryan Bertrand looks to be the safest pick.

Portuguese right back Cedric has lacked minutes during pre season and new singing Jan Bednarek provides competition to the current favoured centre-back partnership of Maya Yoshida andJack Stephens. Meanwhile, Virgil Van Dijk waits on the sidelines having handed in a transfer request.

At Pellegrino’s previous club – Deportivo Alaves –  his fullbacks had the licence to get forward and join the attack, which adds to the appeal of  Bertrand,  who managed five assists in the previous campaign.

With the possibility of high attacking returns from the Saints fullbacks this season, the English international could offer excellent value at just £5.5m.

MANOLO GABBIADINI

Throughout the whole of pre-season one of the main topics of Southampton conversation was whether Charlie Austin or Manolo Gabbiadini would start Gameweek 1.

The Englishman managed two goals in pre season and the Italian managed the same tally plus an assist. But with the former benched in Southampton’s final friendly it looks like Gabbiadini may have the edge.

Despite letting many down with a lacklustre display at the end of last season, we all know what the former Napoli man is capable of, after his emphatic entrance to the league last February.  The £7.0m Italian could prove excellent value if he nails his spot in the starting 11 and on the evidence of pre-seasonite looks likely he will be Southampton’s chief weapon in attack.

JAMES WARD-PROWSE

Priced at just £5.5m, the England U21 could be a great differential ahead of the upcoming season. A 4-2-3-1 formation seems to be Pellegrino’s preferred set up and Ward-Prowse currently the preferred option in an advanced midfield role.

Pre-season has also hinted that the youngster is currently on corner duty but there is still some confusion demanding free kicks with both Ward-Prowse and Gabbiadni sharing them during pre season. Despite getting only one goal and an assist in pre-season, the England U21 captain looks to have a big season ahead of him and could prove to be a bargain.

There is a caveat though, with Southampton bringing in Mario Lemina from Juventus. It remains to be seen whether the Gabon international will threaten his place or be utilised in a more central midfield role.

187 Comments Post a Comment
  1. cuterandy
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    kolasinac or bellerin ?

    1. Sydney Saints
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Kolasinic

  2. Imolongo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Zags or Willian?

  3. Imolongo
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    I meant Zaha or Willian?

    1. Joey Barton and Friends
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Zags is due...

  4. Mr-Inbetween
    • 12 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Any 4.0m defenders that will start?

    1. madcat147
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Hunemeier at Brighton or Kevin Long at Burnley but neither will likely start...

  5. Wizard of Ozil
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone else chopping and changing your team with every article in the countdown to week 1. I'm not sold on Gabbiadini after he disappointed at the end of last year but put him in anyway. Hoping Kane has his traditional slow start and Aguero doesn't score 4

    RMT please for W1 good old 4.4.2

    GK - Pickford
    DE - Walker/Bertrand/Alonso/Dawson
    MID - Erickson/DeBruyne/Salah/Zaha
    FOR - Firmino/Gabbiadini

    Bench
    Foster/ Albrighton/Vokes/Hunemeier
    0 ITB

    1. Joey Barton and Friends
      • 12 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      your forward line is very poor with no big hitters. Way too much money tied up in defence

      1. Wizard of Ozil
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        Yea thanks. Was thinking the same. Just so expensive these too strikers. Probably squeeze Lukaku in somehow and lose Alonso

  6. megatron14
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Bertrand or Cedric?

    1. madcat147
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Cedric only 3 assists last year, Bertrand 2G, 5A. Jack Stephens scored in preseason too.

  7. K-win
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Anyone know how to add a display pic as a member?

    1. G-Whizz
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • Has Moderation Rights
      • 6 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      How do I get a picture next to my name when I post a comment?

      Head on over to http://www.gravatar.com and register for an account (make sure you register with the same email as the one you are registered with here). Choose an image, and this will be associated with all of your comments on site. Your gravatar image should appear next to your comments within roughly 24 hours.

      1. K-win
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 7 months ago

        yeh that'll work, lovely thanks mate.

        1. G-Whizz
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 7 months ago

          You're welcome 🙂

  8. Neil_kman
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Any thoughts Gents

    FORSTER
    BERTRAND ALDEWEIRLD FOSU-MENSAH (will play at palace?)
    KDB MYKI TADIC ERIKSEN
    KANE TAMMY JESUS

    ELLIOT RANGEL HUNEMEIER RLC

    1. madcat147
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Too thin at the back. Alderweireld not good value at 6m (only 1G last year). Davies cheaper entry into Spurs CS, and Kolasinac better option at 6m. Lots of 4.5s who will start: Lejeune, Dunk, Mee... Good mids/attack. Making me scared of going without Kane. Agree Eriksen over Alli. Have Forster too (had Foster but I think West Brom will suck this year, again).

  9. SnkCity
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Foster
    Danilo/Bertrand/Daniels
    Zaha/Mkhitaryan/Eriksen/Phillips
    Kane/Aguero/Firmino
    Bench:Elliot,Carroll,Rangel,Hunemeier

    Tips?

    1. madcat147
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      Downgrade (upgrade?) Aguero to Jesus. Swap Daniels for Ake (Ake better for BPS, not sure Daniels is on PKs anymore with Defoe, plus he's in his 30s). Mkhitaryan a slight risk. Downgrade along with Aguero and upgrade Phillips?

  10. Wolf
    • 14 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Ok think I'm there... so one n only RMT please:

    Forster (Elliot)
    Bertrand, Alonso, Stones (Rangel, Mee)
    Fabregas, Matic, Salah, KDB (Carroll)
    Gabbiadini, Lukaku, Jesus

    Suppose unsure of Fabregas and Matic (but latter seemed quite attacking in super cup last night?)

    Really appreciate any comments as used to do well in this game but crashed bad last year...

    1. bet_dodd
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      get matic+ stones out that team

  11. A71
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Cedric or Bertrand?

  12. BIGREDDOG
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Who are the teams playing with wingbacks? Chelsea, United, Spurs, Crystal Palace

    1. madcat147
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      City played a 3-3-2-2 last preseason match with Walker slotting in on the side of the 2nd bank of 3.

  13. TigersTooTough
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Hi all, gone with a slightly riskier strategy this season, hoping some kind fixtures allow for a playoff.

    Danilo a 2 week placeholder for Trippier, Tadic a left-field option instead of Willian, Fab etc

    Let me know of any glaring mistakes!

    Foster
    Kola - Bertrand - Danilo - TAA
    KDB - Mkhi - Tadic
    Kane - Kun - JRod

    Elliott Carroll - Ritchie - Suttner

    1. Onwards
      • 14 Years
      6 years, 7 months ago

      You'll likely get more responses if you post on a more recent article. JRod > Abraham stands out for me. I don't know who TAA is though.

  14. ibenk
    • 8 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    foster
    bertrand stones davies
    willian kdb milivojevic tadic
    firmino lukaku kane

    elliot-fraser-francis-rangel

    tips?

  15. Narboa
    • 6 Years
    6 years, 7 months ago

    Yoshida or Stephens?