Fraser Forster’s arrived to little fanfare in the south coast, following a summer exodus that placed question marks over the Saints’ resilience under new manager Ronald Koeman. The ex-Newcastle United youngster has since emerged as one of the signings of the season, commanding the Saints’ new-look backline with an authority that subsequently earned him call-ups to the national squad. A serious knee injury in Gameweek 30 served to curtail Forster’s impressive campaign, yet before that even he was among the highest performers in the Fantasy Premier League (FPL).
The Statistics
Forster began his debut Premier League season in fine form, chalking up seven clean sheets in the first 11 Gameweeks. The former Celtic shot-stopper conceded only five goals during that stretch – five fewer than the next best-achieving keeper, Joe Hart. In response to this laudable run, Forster’s value rose from 5.0 to 5.4 by Gameweek 13. His next eight starts were less profitable – harvesting just one shut-out – before Forster got back on track in the following 11 Gameweeks, carding a further six clean sheets. Nine of these 13 shut-outs arrived at home, illustrating Southampton’s dominance at St Mary’s Stadium.
Prior to suffering a season-ending broken kneecap in a Gameweek 30 clash against Burnley, Forster boasted the most clean sheets (13) and conceded the fewest goals (21) of any keeper in the league. The fact that the Saints number one was only forced to make 61 saves in 29 starts (2.1 saves per game) is testament to the resolve of Southampton’s rearguard. Both Thibaut Courtois (2.25 saves per game) and Joe Hart (2.18 saves per game) were called upon with greater regularity throughout that period.
In terms of points per game average (ppg), Forster (3.9) ranks fifth among those keepers who’ve recorded 15 or more starts this campaign. A paucity of save points (12) – by way of Saints’ defence conceding the fewest shots (181) while Forster was between the sticks – served to limit the England international’s scoring potential. Furthermore, Forster, inconceivably, wasn’t awarded a single bonus point this season, with Ryan Bertrand (13) Nathaniel Clyne (15) and Jose Fonte (16) notching 44 between them – consequently, Bertrand (4.2) and Clyne (4.1) lay claim to a superior points per game average.
Despite missing Southampton’s last seven fixtures, Forster remains fifth among their squad in terms of total score (118) – behind the above-mentioned defensive trio, Sadio Mane (courtesy of his quick-fire hat-trick) and top scorer Graziano Pelle – and eighth among the full roster of keepers.
The Prospects
Forster’s knee surgery is expected to keep him sidelined for between nine months to a year, with the former Celtic player in for a return just beyond the turn of the year. Speaking on his goalkeeping options after Saints’ 2-0 defeat to Leicester City, manager Ronald Koeman reiterated that Forster would be out for a substantial period, though confirmed he is still assessing the club’s other keepers before deciding who will take up the position until Forster’s return:
“We spoke to Kelvin (Davis) and we spoke to Paulo (Gazzaniga). It`s all about the situation we have for the next season about Fraser Forster. He will be out for a long time. Still we know not until when. We have to make the decision about that. To make really the good decisions I like to see Paulo playing – not playing with the Under-21s, not training every day with the group, but playing two games.”
At present, it’s unclear which stand-in Koeman will start next term – assuming, of course, the Hampshire club don’t acquire another in the off-season. Kelvin Davis started the five subsequent fixtures following Forster’s injury and is set to be recalled for their trip to Manchester City on the final day; yet Koeman’s decision to assess Paulo Gazzaniga over their previous two encounters suggests the Dutchman is not fully convinced that the veteran is up to the task.
Given that the Saints’ defenders will be due for a price hike in light of this season’s exploits, Forster’s deputy will surely be a popular pick over the first few months of the new season. The likes of Clyne, Bertrand and Fonte are likely to be elevated into the 6.0 price bracket, whereas Davis and Gazzaniga could easily start the campaign at 5.0 or under – offering us a cheap route into one of the league’s tightest defences.
If, as anticipated, Forster is ruled out until the New Year, many may well opt for Davis or Gazzaniga until the January wildcard comes into play and allows us to reassess the situation. The one downside, though, is that the Saints have only registered one clean sheet in seven since Forster succumbed to injury, highlighting just how crucial a part he’s played in their season to date.
