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The Numbers Game – Southampton

Next up in our summer series of members’ articles, offering in-depth team-by-team analysis are Southampton. A side that carry extra significance ahead of the new campaign given their exceptionally kind early fixtures.

To get underway, we’ll analyse performance at a team level and attempt to spot trends or improvements. We then delve into the player data, analysing the key individuals as we scour for potential targets ahead of next month’s Gameweek 1 deadline.

In addition, we’ll also focus on any specific periods of interest brought about by tactical changes or breakout Fantasy performances – in this case we’ll focus on the Saints’ home/away displays, investigating a trend that saw them score just 17 goals in front of their own supporters.

Southampton finished in sixth spot under Ronald Koeman back in 2015/16 – a total of 63 points was just three points behind Manchester City in fourth. But the Dutchman’s decision to move to Everton proved detrimental to their prospects, with replacement Claude Puel struggling to maintain those standards.

Despite claiming eight place, Southampton bagged just 46 points and found the net on 41 occasions – a tally that bettered only the bottom five and well behind the 59 strikes under Koeman.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

4,269 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Sir Alpha
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    RMT Please:

    Foster (Myhill)
    Lindelof, Cedric, Trippier (Zabaleta, Hunemier)
    Willian, Sane, Salah, Redmond (RLC)
    Kane, Lukaku, Chitarito

    1. Whattheheck!
      • 10 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      like it. clearly there are poor fixtures for Chica, and gametime risk for Lindelof. Monitor the latter.

      1. Sir Alpha
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Good points! Mainly with Chica due to being unsure if Gayle will hit the ground running. I see Javier as a better option for now anyway, had to take .5 away from Bertrand to Cedric though.

        Admit Lindelof has been inconsistent in preseason but I saw him as the easiest way into that defence, I'll be looking out for if the Chris Smalling transfer takes place due to that pretty much nailing on his game time!

  2. Zlat-man
    • 7 Years
    6 years, 9 months ago

    Mkhi or Fabre?

    1. Still Unsure
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Mkhi but depends if you need the cash. Also Fab not nailed, Willian is safer.

    2. Atimis
      • 7 Years
      6 years, 9 months ago

      RMT

      Foster (Elliot)
      Trippler Bertrand Lindelof (Dunk, Rangel)
      Salah Sane Wilian Zaha (Carroll)
      Kane Kaku Austin

      Lindelof as a placeholder for now
      Also considering Chicharito

      1. VFORVANDETA
        • 7 Years
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Solid 8

    3. Still Unsure
        6 years, 9 months ago

        Quick one:
        A - Phillips, Jesus, Chicharito
        B - Puncheon, Kane, JRod

        It's B, right??!

        1. Zlat-man
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          A for me

        2. DD
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          A

        3. VFORVANDETA
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          A

        4. Still Unsure
            6 years, 9 months ago

            LOL

        5. LangerznMash
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          After last night can't overlook KDB.

          A) FoRster , Sane , Firminho
          B) Foster, KDB , Rooney

          Should I go from A to B ?

          1. Zlat-man
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            KDB

          2. VFORVANDETA
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            B.Not Rooney.

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

          RMT out of 10?

          Foster

          Walker Cedric Ake

          Eriksen Coutinho Zaha Willian

          Kun Lukaku Austin

          Myhill T.Caroll Mee Rangel

          1. HurriKane
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            8. good team. you have sacrificed the consecutive golden boot winner though which is a worry

            1. VFORVANDETA
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              Yeah.You can't have all.

        7. I am here to Michu
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Manchester City look scary!
          Though it was a friendly, City dismantled Real Madrid 4-1. The score could have even worse for the Champions League winners. But, the concern here is FANTASY Premier League.
          KDB registered 3 assists and was playing an orchestral role. Jesus and Aguero - neither of them scored. But, we saw a back 3 of Kompany, Otamendi and Stones.And boy, they looked rigid.
          Stones was a template player in the start of this season, but could perform now with the back three if maintained.
          Having said that, a back 3 will even more limit thebattacking players playing. So, there are chances that only one of Aguero or Jesus will be playing. Sterling or Sane could possibly not feature at all too with Toure, Fernandinho and KDB in midfield.
          The point to be noted was KDB grabbed 3 assists. He looks the city player to have in our team.
          What have you made of City's performance? More dilemma or More Assurance?

          1. I am here to Michu
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            last season*

          2. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            alot of money to spend on someone who is not 100% certain to start

          3. The Mighty Hippo
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            I'm going with all 3 of Kompany, KDB and Aguero. Their early fixtures are good and I think they'll hit the ground running.

            If Kompany stays fit he will make their backline formidable.

          4. VFORVANDETA
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Just going with 2.Kun Walker.

          5. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            I probably won't touch them. If I do the only player that I would countenance is Jesus.

          6. Ruth_NZ
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            La Liga begins 9 days later than the PL. City should therefore be a week or so ahead of RM in pre-season and that makes a big difference at this stage. I wouldn't be reading too much into that result.

            KDB, Aguero, Jesus, Bernardo, Sterling, Sané, Silva, Gündogan. That's 8 players for at most 5 attacking slots (4-1-4-1). If Pep deploys 3-5-2 the number of attacking slots is only 4 (assuming Walker/Mendy are used in the wide positions). All I see there is rotation, especially as Pep is wedded to it and thinks it is good for his players and the team as a whole.

        8. bojack
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Message from Pep Guardiola:

          "Hi guys,

          *Points and laughs*

          See ya"

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

          For opening five gameweeks
          A. Lacazette, Pogba and Firmino
          B. Lukaku, Sane and Hernandez

          1. VFORVANDETA
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            B

            1. hogree
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              Cheers. Leaves me without Arsenal and Liverpool cover though, and they start well...

        10. Live Lad
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Altered my team a bit. Downgraded Bertrand and Trippier to 2 x 5.0 players as suggested by you guys and have more solid attack.
          Only J Rod needs monitoring for now. Coutinho to Mane in mind too after a few GWs.
          Foster
          Cedric, Alonso, Daniels
          Willian, Zaha, Coutinho, Alli
          J Rod, Aguero, Lukaku

          Subs: 4.0 keeper, Carroll, Johnson/ Lascelles/ Mee, Rangel

          1. Teror
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Sound team. I'm personally not a fan of Willian or Zaha. The latter is too inconsistent and the former will only play regularly for the first few weeks and I doubt he'll score very much. J Rod is a gamble that could come off – I'm considering it.

            1. Live Lad
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              Thanks mate. I'm thinking of Ince in place of one of them. Zaha is too inconsistent agree. I'm ok with Willian only getting games in the first few GWs.

        11. Teror
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Any thoughts / comments? 0.5 ITB left

          Forster
          Dawson - Trippier - Bellerin - Daniels
          Alli - Salah - Ramsey
          Aguero - Lukaku - Chica

          (Elliot - Milivojevic - Carrol - Hunemeier)

          1. VFORVANDETA
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Downgrade Ballerin and upgrade Ramsey.

          2. Hotdogs for Tea
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            433 without Alonso ? Maverick

        12. bitz13
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Foster (Elliot)

          Trippier Alonso Bertrand (Dunk Hunemeir)

          Mkhitaryan De Bruyne Coutinho Alli (Carroll)

          Chicharito Lacazette Gayle

          1. VFORVANDETA
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Nice.

          2. DD
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            No Lukaku or Kane, you're a braver man than I

        13. Defoenitely
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Opinions?

          Heaton / Pickford

          Cahill / Trippier / McAuley / Walker / Holgate

          Salah / Zaha / Siggy / Eriksen / Grujic

          Gabbiadini / Lukaku / Solanke

          1. Teror
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Too much spent on keepers. Could downgrade a couple of defenders like Walker and Holgate and one of your midfielders to upgrade Gabbiadini and Solanke. Those two are really poor choices imo. Gabbi could turn out good if he's nailed since Southampton have a really good starting run of fixtures but it's too big of a gamble for what will likely be only moderate returns.

          2. DD
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Why do I get the feeling you're just trolling us

          3. Sir Alpha
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            What formation are you looking at? A few too many who might not start for my liking but it's balanced. I

        14. HurriKane
          • 11 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          So which trio do you prefer ? (both costs the same)

          A) Alli Sane Austin

          B) Willian Zaha Jesus

          1. VFORVANDETA
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            A

        15. marcus2704
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          A) Have Kane, so KDB or Alli?

          B) Are any of Rooney, Benteke, King/Defoe likely to be on Pens?

          1. seaside
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            KDB

        16. wotwot
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Which brighton mids are nailed?

        17. Albert Cole
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 13 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Any love for Milner? Now a defender, and on pens and everything?

          1. VFORVANDETA
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            No CS.

            1. Dr Dream
              • 11 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              Five out of seven at the end of last season sounds pretty good.

          2. HurriKane
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            could be gold.speed of salah and mane could get them a lot of penos

          3. DD
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Don't know how much of his playing time will be taken up by Robertson

          4. FPL ZB
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Robertson is a concern though

          5. Sir Alpha
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            I'm holding out to see how Robertson performs, I can't spend 6.5 on a rotation risk!

        18. Cuchu
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Any thoughts how to improve this team?

          Begovic
          Alonso-Cedric-Bertrand-Trippier
          Lanzini-Sanchez-Phillips
          Firmino-Chicharito-Lukaku

          Bench: Fabianski-Kolasinac-Ward-Prowse-Loftus-Cheek

          Maybe downgrade Kolasinac to 4.5 DEF and change Sanchez & Phillips to Alli & De Bruyne?

          1. DD
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Personally I feel Foster and Fabianski rotate better as keepers. Yes I would swap Sanchez and Phillips to Alli and KDB + Mee in def

            1. Cuchu
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              Thanks. Most likely will do those changes. Once Hazard is fit will do KDB-->Haz

        19. Emiliano Sala
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Which man city defender? Kompany? Otamendi? Danilo?

          1. FPL ZB
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            None.

          2. DD
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            If you had to pick, Kompany

          3. Sir Alpha
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Hard to tell at this stage, I would look at Danilo for now IF they confirm Mendy's injury to be serious enough to sideline him for a few weeks.

        20. reason17
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Trippier- Lindelof- Daniels - Cedric - Mee

          A) Daniels + lindelof
          B) Francis + bailley
          C?

          Trying to get bailley in due to lindelof's performances

          1. HurriKane
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Bailey and Valencia are the only nailed on manutd defenders

          2. DD
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Maybe get a 4.0 filler def instead of Mee to upgrade to Bailly

        21. FPL ZB
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          I think I've settled on De Bruyne over Sane and Austin over Chica. Risky planning the transfers to get them in in advance though?

          1. PhoggyRatherGroggy
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            I'm thinking the same. Chicharito may be eased in and splitting some time as well so Austin could very well end up being the budget pick off the hop! KDB all the way for me now over a Liverpool mid. I really wanna see how things pan out with Salah, Manes fitness and of course Couts departure!

            1. FPL ZB
              • Has Moderation Rights
              • 7 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              I've got Salah and KDB in. Willian is cheap enough to be my third mid and then Phillips might go something with his fixtures. The big concern is therefore no Arsenal midfield, but have to miss out somewhere

        22. PhoggyRatherGroggy
          • 9 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Hello all, if anyone is interested in an 8 team mock draft, here you go! 166884-44180

          1. PhoggyRatherGroggy
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Starts on the hour in 17 minutes btw!

          2. FPL ZB
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            why only a mock?

            1. PhoggyRatherGroggy
              • 9 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              Good question, I guess everyone should be prepared at this stage but not sure how many teams you can have etc. will plan on deleting this one!

        23. BIGREDDOG
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          When is Hazard due to return?

          1. FPL ZB
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            I'd guess after the international break

          2. Ruth_NZ
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            GW4 as it stands. Might come forward, might go back. Too soon to know.

            He's not even doing full-pace drills yet and has had no pre-season.

            1. BIGREDDOG
              • 6 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              Thanks Ruth.

        24. Lady Yaya
          • 6 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Redmond/Radical or Ramsey?

          1. Lady Yaya
            • 6 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            *Tadic - bloody autocorrect

          2. hogree
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Gotta be Ramsey for me

        25. Salah'd n Sauce
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          RMT - I'm sure i'll still be fiddling with this for a while but the basic structure is there...
          Keeping an eye on Lindelof starting likelihood as well as the Coutinho saga....
          Kolasinac also not impressing and McArthur a placeholder until I know if I have funds left.

          Foster / Elliot
          Lindelof / Luiz / Kolasinac / Rangel / Hunemeier
          Coutinho / Redmond / Alli / Sane / McArthur
          Lacazette / Chicarito / Jesus

        26. reason17
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Foster - Elliot
          Lindelof - Trippier - Daniels - Cedric - Mee
          De Bruyne - Alli - Zaha - Tadic - RL Cheek
          Lukaku - Lacazette - Gayle

          How do I find the 0.5 to get Valencia/bailly instead of lindelof?

          1. dunas_dog
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Tadic to JWP?

          2. hogree
            • 7 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Daniels to Francis? Gamble, but I think Francis could play as a 3 at the back

        27. dunas_dog
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Goalkeepers are
          Foster Myhill

          Is it bad move to double up with Dawson for first few games for defence of

          Trippier Alonso Cedric Dawson (Dunk)

          Or is Daniels/Ake better option even if early fixtures not so good and Bournemouth away to WBA week 1?

        28. Rajveer
          • 7 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          A) Lacazette + Mkhi
          Or
          B) Lukaku + Lallana

        29. Manchester 17
          • 8 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Thoughts please!

          Foster
          Cedric Bertrand Lindelof Trippier
          KDB Alli Pogba Willian
          Lukaku Lacazette

          Elliot Dunk Carroll Fletcher

          Cheers!

          1. DD
            • 11 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            I would keep a look out on Pogba. If united sign a cdm then he could be superb value. I don't think he merits 8.0 playing in the pivot though

            1. Manchester 17
              • 8 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              He's the one that I'm most worried about, but there are options in a similar price bracket. Also Carrick is captain so surely him and Herrera start in the pivot with Pogba more advanced?

        30. Urchin
          • 10 Years
          6 years, 9 months ago

          Just finished a four people draft, thanks to a poster here, this is what I got:
          Forster Ederson
          Azpi Kolasinac Toby Valencia Bianes
          Coutinho Pogba Zaha Ramsey Sane
          Kane Morata Jesus

          Was the first pick...midfield seems light but man, what about that forward line 🙂

          1. Sconeaus - The Dude Abides
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Grand midfield good middle of road options that's cracking team for draft, to get Jesus n Morata as well as Kane is unbelievable

          2. weaver93
            • 12 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            Team cost = 114m...

            1. Doosra - ☭DeclanMyGenius…
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              6 years, 9 months ago

              This.

          3. The Man Pastore
            • 9 Years
            6 years, 9 months ago

            How did you end up with that front line?! Very good team mate!