A few weeks ago Cedric Soares looked to be the real deal, during our unbeaten run he seemed to be laying to rest the ghost of Nathaniel Clyne, yet he has been overlooked for the past three games.
Cedric Soares has been an unused substitute in the last three games and suddenly seems o be out of favour with Roanld Koeman, the big question is why ? up till our three match blip recently he had been one of the best players in the side and was seemingly coming to terms with the physical side of the English game and making Saints fans forget about Nathaniel Clyne.
Soares was not only showing he could defend but he was becoming invaluable going forward, he had a turn of pace on him and he could get down to the byeline and put in a decent cross.
Ronald Koeman rightly felt he had to mix things up after the defeat to Bournemouth, but putting in Cuco Martina for Soares was not the answer.
Against Sunderland we struggled badly, but we did not lack for possession nor opportunities to get the ball into the Mackems box, what we lacked was people who could do that, with respect to Martina although he has a turn of pace, going forward he lacks the guile and positional play of Soares and to be perfectly blunt his crossing is not of Premier League standard.
We missed Soares against Sunderland although I could understand why Martina was retained at Stoke City as he offered a more physical presence in the back four that was lacking height with Jose Fonte out suspended.
But against Liverpool I could not understand why Soares was not returned to the team, Liverpool play on the break and have no height going forward except at set pieces when they bring the central defenders up.
Martina probably had his worst game for the club, as Match of the Day highlighted, he kept charging forward and getting caught out of position leaving his team mates in the back four exposed, for the first goal he was too far forward when they broke and for the second was trying to make a tackle in the centre of the midfield, on both occasions Liverpool broke and exposed our back four.
But it wasn't just that going forward Martina cannot cross a ball, his pace gets him into good positions but rarely does he deliver a ball into a space that causes problems.
That is where we needed Soares on Sunday and indeed against Sunderland, with Pelle up front he needs a decent ball into him that he can control and lay off or get in an attempt at goal, against Sunderland he did not have any of that till the final minute when he finally got ball into him he could lay off, similarly against Liverpool he rarely had a cross he could attack, certainly not for the first 65 minutes.
I don't often find myself questioning Ronald Koeman or his selections, but in the last few games I have in regard to the dropping of Cedric Soares, I don't mean to be harsh on Martina, but he is a stop gap player who should be used in emergencies rather than in the starting line up unless injury or suspension makes it neccessary.
Perhaps Soares is carrying a knock, but if that was the case then why was he on the bench for all of the last three games ?
It will be interesting whether Soares is restored to the starting line up against Leicester City after the International break, perhaps Ronald Koeman will feel that with Leicester sitting dep on going on the break Martina is the best option, that could be the case, but if he keeps going walkabout as he did against Liverpool, Leicester will murder us.
Im for putting square pegs in square holes, Cedric Soares was excellent in that six game unbeaten run, he has not become a bad player overnight, yes there will be times when perhaps a more physical presence is needed at the back, but tat should be few and far between in most games Soares is the best player we have for the right back position, he should be played.