The League One Minus 10 Player Review of the Season 2015/16.

Juanmi Divides the Judges Opinions

Spoiler Alert: Fans of Juanmi may be better off elsewhere.

Fraser Forster 8 - Came back from 10 months of injury problems and kept six clean sheets in a row. His return coincided with our upsurge in form and he's been as good as he ever was.  His presence makes the whole back four play better. He is still prone to making the odd mistake regarding when to come off his line (Bournemouth away, Spurs away) but overall, his comeback couldn't really have gone any better.  Him signing a new contract to take him up to 2021 is a huge deal for the club as well and it tells the sniffing Chelsea to go look somewhere else.  It all starts with the goalkeeper (as Brian Clough used to say) and we’re lucky to have an excellent one.  As Koeman said, “Maarten did well but Fraser Forster is Fraser Forster”.

Maarten Stekelenburg 6.5 – I was really pleased when we managed to sign this guy at the start of the season. After all, he is played in a World Cup Final. He was competent enough, not letting in any crappy goals and his kicking and distribution was first class. However, he never seemed to make any game changing saves at all. If the shot was straight at him then he save it but if it was a decent shot then it went in. There was never a moment when I’d given up as the opposition shot as a goal and he appeared out of nowhere and to filling up an arm and tip it over the bar.  In fact, he pulled off more good saves in Kelvin’s testimonial than he did in the half a season he played.  I can't imagine he'd want to stick around next year and be second choice but he gave us a better alternative than we would've had without him at the start of the season and I imagine he could find a decent club to be first choice at.

Kevin Davis. As everyone knows, he's a great guy and a great presence and influence around the first team squad. He thoroughly deserved his testimonial and I hope he had a great night because he deserved that. From a ’playing for the first team’ point of view - thank fuck that's over as it has been about 4 years overdue. Leicester only lost three matches all season but it should have been four and then who knows what would have happened if they'd got the early loss they should've got at St. Mary's. We are to one up in the 95th minute and Kelvin has the ball in his hands. All he has to do is whack it miles and we’ve won but instead, he scuffed one out into midfield, headed forward and Vardy was clean through, goal, final whistle. However, it's not a time to think about what he isn't good at that, it's a time to remember his contribution in the two promotions seasons and the JPT final and of course, the away game at Leeds when for 90 minutes, he was the best goalkeeper on the planet.

Paolo Gazzaniga.  Finally it looks like he's improving into a goalkeeper who may possibly, one day, whisper it softly, be competent enough to be second choice. His performance in the one league game he started this year at Crystal Palace was actually very very good and kept us in the game even though we were completely shit and deserved to lose by many more than the one goal that we did lose by. With Gazza being basically fourth choice this season, I feel we missed a trick in not loaning him out to get a full season of football so we would be in a better position to judge whether he's ever going to be good enough.

Cedric Soares 6 - Has played at just over half of the Premier League games and in most of them has acquitted himself pretty well. It's a bit of a mystery why he's not been in the team the last month or so but I would expect him to better next season. In an ideal world, he would have been the back up to a more experienced right back this season. Good going forward with a decent cross on him. Defensively he could look a bit ropey at times but in the main did a decent job.  Needs to convince the manager that he’s going to improve significantly otherwise it’s one area of the team we need to strengthen.

Cuco Martina 6 - There are two Martina’s, pre-Arsenal wonder goal and post-Arsenal wonder goal.  Before the said goal, he would've been struggling to score more than one as he looked completely hopeless and he couldn’t have been more out of his depth if he was nailed to the bottom of the Channel.  Post-goal and much to my surprise, he has improved and now seems to be confident that he can play at this level and has not been bad at all. His crossing need to work as more often than not there’s not enough pace on the delivery and it just floats over and sometimes he just doesn't seem to react to danger when defending but for a player who was bought in solely to be cover, he's done okay.

Ryan Bertrand 9 - Mr Consistency which is what you want from a fallback. He is probably the best argument ever for leaving a big club where you are struggling to get a game and playing for a decent Premier League side. He's gone from nowhere to having a place in the Euro 2016 England squad and this is thoroughly deserved. He is the best English left back when you look at a combination of defence and attack. He's got it all and if Danny Rose gets picked ahead of him to start for England then it’s a fucking travesty. Also did well as a centre back when we switched to 3 at the back.

Matt Targett 6 - Looked a bit like a fish up a tree when he played at the start of the season when Bertrand was injured. Disappeared for a while but came back when we switched to 3 at the back and we needed a left wing back. Much to my surprise, he did very well in that position (I didn’t think he had the pace to play there) so overall and I think he will be pleased with his contribution this season.

José Fonte 8 – José has had another solid season. Struggled against pace a couple of times this season, particularly in the Leicester away game. Mind you, that was against Vardy who gave everyone nightmares. Even at 32 he is still a hugely influential player for us and I think he's got at least three years left in him at this level. A solid season for the captain and I hope he gets some game time for Portugal in the Euros.

Virgil van Dijk 9.5 - Apparently, some of the big boys didn't sign him because they thought he had flaws in his game. Let's see: he is virtually unbeatable in the air, very quick across the ground, isn't afraid of going in for a tackle, passes a ball 70 yards with either foot and is a big goal threat in the oppositions penalty area. Even better news is that we signed him and he's signed a six year contract with us. Player of the season by a mile and deservedly so.

Maya Yoshida 5 - A poor season to be honest. I'm not saying that because it seems like it's fashionable to have a go at Maya. I'm saying it because he's been worse this season than last, seemingly coughing up a goal per game whenever he's got on the pitch. An indication of how poor he's been is that Bertrand was used as a centre back instead of him when Fonte was suspended. His form this season means that we need better cover in the central defence. It has been a relief that he hasn't had to play too much.

Steven Caulker 2 – Came in before we signed Virgil and after the Alderweireld shambles and on the face of it, it looked a solid loan signing but he quickly showed everyone why he’d been relegated two years running.  Rumour has it that he had the largest turning circle ever seen in Southampton until that massive cruise ship was in town last week.  A decent half against Man City was followed but being ripped apart by Liverpool who then signed him on loan as we were more than happy to tear up our option.  Rumours of off the pitch issues as well and what should have been a great opportunity for him just died and his career will do the same.

Florin Gardos. Injured all season and only made it back to the under 21s about two weeks before the season finished. Next year he needs to prove that he is worth a place in the squad. Last year I thought that there was potential there but he needs to prove it all again and get ahead of your Yoshida in the pecking order.

Victor Wanyama 7 - How do you grade big Vic’s season? When he's at it he is one of the best players in the league but too often this season, especially in the first half of the season, he couldn't be bothered and missed loads of games through suspension due to some particularly brainless red cards. Had his head turned by Underhand Hotspur at the start of the season which directly affected our Europa League campaign (such as it was). With just the one year left on his contract, I assume he'll be gone but you never know, with other players signing long term deals he may just change his mind. It would be a very good thing for us if he did. Come on Big Vic, you know you want to.

Oriol Romeu 7 - One of the very few criticisms I have of the manager this season is that Romeu didn't play as much as he should have. Seemed to get dropped after putting in a really good performance a couple of times but it doesn't seem to affect him too much. Always at 100% and offers a lots more going forward than most people seem to realise. A very good player and soon to be a cult hero.

Jordy Clasie 6.5 - Does a lot of good work in the closing down and harrying and hassling the opposition. When he gets the ball, he invariably uses it well. Occasionally though it seems that half an hour goes by without him touching the ball. Has struggled to adapt to the pace of the English game and needs to get fitter. Hopefully, with next year being his second season, he'll be able to sort this out. Picking up a injury which kept him out for two months when he first arrived didn't help either.

Steve Davis 8 - Three goals in the last two games have a somewhat masked the problem with Davis. He is too good a footballer to leave out of the team but his contribution in terms of goals and assists for the advanced position and that he plays in usually, is a bit of a problem. Still, he scored two goals at White Hart Lane so all forgive him every other shanked effort that ended up in the crowd. I really hope he has a brilliant Euro 2016 tournament with Northern Ireland as he really deserves it. A massively important player for us who links everything together.

James Ward-Prowse 6.5 - Has not been playing as often as he would like in the last half of the season but there are signs that he is improving on some of his weaknesses. Highlight of the season was the way he smashed Martin Skrtel out of the way against Liverpool in the build up to the winning goal. The more physical approach has made him a more effective player and the free kicks and corners are all present and correct. It’s easy to forget how young he is and another who has committed to the club on a six year contract.

Harrison Reed. I think he's played 10 minutes all season which is not enough for a player of his age. He really needs to go out on loan for a season or move on permanently as I can't see this lack of game time changing any time soon.  The signing of Clasie has done for him really as there’s no way that two midgets are going to be picked in midfield.

Dusan Tadic 7 - Didn't starting the season too well and seemed to give the ball away 90% of the time when he had it. Fell out of the team mid-season and almost disappeared for a month or two on his mid-season break. For the past three months of the season he's been brilliant, racking up goals and assists with great regularity. When he is on his game there are few better creative players in the league.  Tadic is our Riyad Mahrez and if he’s been on top form the whole season then who knows where that would have taken us.  However, he was responsible for one of the moments of the season when he had an open goal at Stoke and decided to beat two more players.

Sadio Mané 7 - Another, like Tadic, who had a mid-season break for the second year running.  He has absolutely been on fire at the business end of the season. Unsettled by Manchester United transfer rumours at the start of the season, his form in the middle of the season was so bad that I suggested the only available move to Manchester might be if Salford were looking for players. Now he looks like the player that attracted all the attention in the first place and so yet another summer of rumours is on the cards. With two years left on his contract there is no need to sell but if we do, Raheem Sterling went for £50 million and Mané is a better player.

Jay Rodriguez 6 - After the knee injury came a few games and then the foot injury which ruled Jay out until March. When he returned he understandably looked off the pace but he appears to have bulked up. A full pre-season will help him and next year will tell us whether he's going to reach the level he was at before.  Potentially a great asset to the team.

Charlie Austin 6 - It was a surprise when we signed him in January as he would have been out of contract in the summer but Manchester United goal aside we've basically signed him for next season anyway. £4 million quid to secure the signature was definitely a bargain though and he is showing flashes of his undoubted ability. Again, next season will be the time to judge.  I initially saw him as the long term replacement for Pellè but he’s not really a ‘back to goal’ striker so we’ll have to see.

Shane Long 9 - If you asked any Saints fan to list the strikers in order of preference at the start of the season, then Shane would have been fifth or sixth on most people's list. Ask them now and he'd be first which tells you all you need to know. He's always been a nuisance to defenders but he's taken at up to a whole new level this season. I've never seen a player sprint around the pitch as much as showing does and he absolutely never leaves anything out on the pitch at the end of the game when he often looks like he needs to be carried off.  Has scored and created enough goals to put to bed the criticism that there is not enough and product and in any other season would have won the player of the year award.  Could be one of the stars of Euro 2016 if Ireland can use him correctly and not just launch it up to him from a different post code.

Juanmi 0.5 - Useless little twat. A complete waste of space since the minute we signed him.  Looked good against Vitesse who were League 1 standard at best but the key is that they were a typical European slow-tempo side.  Obviously not suited to English football and is never seemed to make any effort to change that.  An absolute liability when ever he was on the pitch and nearly got me thrown out of The Emirates for swearing at him in front of a steward. Even if he goes back to Spain, does well and gets back into the international side, I won't regret getting rid of him for one second. Even worse than Mayuka and I didn’t think that was possible.

Graziano Pellè 7 - A player that divides opinion and I warn you now, I'm a big fan so if you are in the other camp then I suggest you stop reading now.  Playing up front as a target man with two defenders trying to kick lumps out of it is not easy and he's been excellent at it for Saints. A criticism would be that he is another who needs a mid-season break and he takes one without meaning to but he has immense value to the side. We are less reliant on him now as not all our play goes through him but if he does leave to head back to Italy or anywhere else this summer then he should go with our thanks ringing in his ears.  A player who adapted to the English game because he was willing to adapt and has in the main, been superb.  I really hope he stays and gets another two years added to his contract.  My mum thinks the same as she’s in love.