Southampton achieved promotion through the play offs, after an injury to Gavin Bazunu forced Russell Martin to modify his possession football style, but we all knew that in the Premier League we would need a new goalkeeper.

To make it clear from the start, this is not a witch hunt against Alex McCarthy, the 34 year old has been a good servant to Southampton since signing in August 2016 and has played 125 Premier League games for the club plus another 8 in the Championship including the 3 play off games.

But in his 8 seasons at the club, he has never been the undisputed number 1 for the entire season and had rarely played in the 3 seasons prior to this one.

However no one can deny that he didn't step up to the plate for the final League games last season, plus the play offs, however when Russell Martin made the big decision to jump him above Joe Lumley when Gavin Bazunu was injured in the warm up before the Preston game, he was making a far bigger decision about the way that Saints would play.

It became clear from the start that McCarthy was not comfortable from the start in playing the possession football game and after a 5-0 drubbing at Leicester, Martin changed the playing style, we no longer played the ball along our own six yard box and if we did then McCarthy played it long.

This effectively won us promotion and Alex McCarthy played a full part.

But every Southampton supporter knew that something had to give in the Premier League and with Russell Martin stating that he was not changing his principles, a new goalkeeper had to be a priority.

Sadly one had not arrived by the time the opening game against Newcastle came along and it was McCarthy who started the season in between the sticks, there was no other choice, Joe Lumley had played just 18 minutes in pre season and although he was more comfortable with his feet than McCarthy, clearly Russell Martin did not feel he was up to the job.

At Newcastle we appeared to be playing the possession football game as per the most part of last term and the folly of doing that came up and bit us in the rear, under no real pressure Alex McCarthy tamely played a 10 yard pass straight to a member of the opposition.

Yes it should have been easy, but it emphasised just how far off the level needed in his game with his feet, Alex McCarthy is, given that there was only a minute before half time and Newcastle were down to 10 men there was no need to take the risk of playing in our own box in a tight situation, yet we still did it, whether that was Alex McCarthy's fault for not hoofing it, or whether he was under strict instructions from the manager will remain unclear.

I don't blame Russell Martin completely, getting the right keeper in was never going to be easy, but as we approach the last week of the transfer window, the situation is becoming quite grave.

If we do not sign a keeper, then avoiding relegation will be near on impossible, we have already thrown away 1 point and some would say 3, how many more would we drop ?

If that turns out to be the case, then surely Russell Martin has to change his playing style drastically.

I think we are playing a very dangerous game, we are banking on signing one of our targets in the last week of the season, the media think those targets are Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal, Sam Johnstone of Crystal Palace and Christos Mandas of Lazio.

I would say that if we are signing the inexperienced youngster Mandos, then we are in big trouble, we all know what happened when we threw in a 19 year old Gavin Bazunu two years ago, in our position we need a keeper that has the experience at the top level.

So that leaves just Ramsdale and Johnstone and neither of their clubs seem keen on letting him go.

Arsenal seem to want to sell and the player himself and Saints would prefer a loan deal, the Gunners are said to be ready to loan him out if they cannot find a buyer, but we are playing a game of cat & mouse here, ready to take our chances in playing McCarthy for the first 3 league games.

So as the transfer window slamming shut approaches we are still in limbo, this is going to be a pivotal moment in the season, we need a keeper up to the job and as of yet we haven't got one.

So if any Premier League experienced goalkeepers who can play with the ball at their feet are reading this, please apply directly to Southampton FC, St Mary's Stadium, Brittannia Road Southampton, enclosing your CV.

Photo: Action Images

JoeEgg added 09:38 - Aug 20 Ha ha!! spot on Nick. We live in dangerous times. Can one reasonably hope that behind the scenes we are already close to signing an experienced top level keeper. Its not looking good for Ramsdale now - a nervous time indeed for all Saints supporters!
3

Farlow added 09:53 - Aug 20 We lost the gamebecause we did not scorerArmstrong should have had a hat trick,Smallbone missed a sitter.We obviously need a top class keeper but if in the meantime Macarthy is Number one surely you modify the system to suit.I,m sure his first thought would havebeen to hoof it clear but theyre coached to play out from the back at all times. Agreat shame we did not get anything from the game as i thought we were far and away the better team.A couple of odd subs as per usual.

2

davidargyll added 09:58 - Aug 20 Great post and I don’t think there are many fans who would disagree. Except RM that is! As I said in a previous post, I do find bizarre the comments he made about AM being a great goalie and the blame for goal mistake should be shared.. Call me a cynic but it could be argued that he is making a fruitless effort to defend/justify a new 2 year contract (which he was presumably aware and supportive of). Furthermore, if he really does believe what he is saying, I just wonder, reading between the lines, whether RM - who after all is just 4 years older that AM - sees him as an ally and/or therefore might find it rather difficult telling off his contemporary….

7

highfield49 added 11:32 - Aug 20 Media outlets elsewhere suggesting that Wolves have offered Arsenal a loan, with option to buy, offer for Ramsdale could be an issue. However, my opinion of Ramsdale is that whilst he is a better keeper than McCarthy he is little or no better with the ball at his feet. I'm hoping that there is a deal in place to sign Sam Johnstone on the basis of his all round game. The essential factor is that AM doesn't have the ability to play in goal, at this level, as a first choice selection.

3

RedandWight added 11:39 - Aug 20 Arsenal apparently now ready to accept a loan deal for Ramsdale. It will mean an extra £6M on the wage bill though!
1

kingolaf added 11:48 - Aug 20 Sam Johnstone isn’t great with his feet.
1

SaintPaulVW added 11:56 - Aug 20 Why do we appear to have 3 keepers that we can't really use? Seems a little short sighted by the club.
3

Farlow added 12:47 - Aug 20 in truth its a very long time since we had a quality keeper
3

blubberboy added 15:25 - Aug 20 The McCarthy situation is a weird one. I don't think anyone expected him to sigh a new contract so it took the club a little by surprise when he did. Given our other incomings and the fact that AM is on rather meaty wages we will need to offload players before bringing in a top-quality keeper, but finding buyers for ABK, Alcaraz, KWP, Tall Paul and Kamaldeen seems to have been much harder than expected. I'm not sure if this is down to Saints playing hardball or to other clubs messing us around. My guess is we'll end up with a transfer-day loan deal - Ramsdale if he hasn't gone to Wolves first or Johnstone. Either would be an upgrade so we just have to hope for no more AM howlers before then.

0

underweststand added 15:59 - Aug 20 Yes. McCarthy DAJFU in the playoffs, but not by choice. Sadly he is not a Prem. standard keeper and the idea that he could "hold the fort " until Bazunu is fit ...is simply grasping at straws. The Newcastle game may have made big headlines for another reason but every Prem. manager is going to make their goal incident his first talking point before playing us. Even if Bazunu comes back "superfit" by January, meantime we must rely on AM or Joe Lumley (ho barely played more than a few Cup games against lower league sides). Neither was really a first-choice for Championship matches. If it all goes "pear-shaped " we could be 10 points adrift at the bottom by Christmas. Another experienced goalie should have been first priority in June.

1

Monksway added 18:29 - Aug 20 I'm guessing that McCarthy got a new contract because he had been with us for the year, was a good character in training and had improved his distribution in accordance with RM's preferred style. He also did well having stepped in for the play-offs. However, I suspect the real reason will be the lack of alternatives who are content to keep the seat warm for Bazunu and will be financially viable and an upgrade. Sam Johnstone might be an option but has many of the same issues as McCarthy.

0

Farlow added 09:31 - Aug 21 Bazunu is certainly not Prem class.
0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Sheffield United Polls