After a largely disjointed and unconvincing performance in the FA cup against Watford (resurrected by a beautiful goal from Stuart Armstrong in the dying moments of the game) the Saints now face a congested schedule, playing 5 matches in under two weeks.
As the surge for promotion is well and truly on, tired legs will need sheltering, and capitalising on opportunities when granted them has never been more essential.
Southampton’s style of play is up there amongst the most physically demanding, so as the calendar fills up and the importance of results is ramped up too, the next two months could be what makes or breaks the season. The slope after Christmas is where teams crumble or gain and while our run of form is something to celebrate, the hard work starts now that the January window has passed, giving clubs the opportunity to reset.
With over half the season down, players will naturally begin to tire and there is a heavily increased probability of an up-rise in injuries; squad depth and adaptability will become essential factors in the equation for success, and factors that Southampton should excel in.
After the departure of Charly Alcaraz on loan to Juventus, and the termination of Holgate’s loan, there are a few gaps that weren’t there before January, however none that should be overtly detrimental. Bringing in both Joe Rothwell and exciting talent David Brooks from Bournemouth, the saints may arguably be in a better position than before, after another seemingly successful window.
While his debut in the FA Cup didn’t show him in the brightest light, Rothwell should be a good addition to Russell Martin’s Saints. The versatile midfielder was key in Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn side, making 160 appearances and claiming 11 goals before making his move to the cherries. Transitioning now along the south coast to St Marys, he’s a player to watch as we see how he settles into life here at the club.
David Brooks is another loan to be excited by. After breaking onto the Premier League and international scene, the winger was diagnosed with cancer in the October of 2021. After battling and beating it, he made his return to league football in the March of 2023. Now, as he looks to rebuild and move forwards, he has transitioned to Southampton for the remainder of this campaign, hopefully bringing goals with him. He is praised for his creativity and intelligence on the ball,so hopefully will fit right in with this possession-loving squad.
In a season where loans have been the talking point for the saints, these two latest additions will hopefully be positive additions to the narrative.
Keeping the momentum in the league as we go into facing Rotherham today is essential. Winning becomes a habit, and at this stage in the season it is one you don’t want to change. If the confidence takes a knock, you risk a ripple effect, and that is something the club cannot afford. But as it stand, things look positive as we enter the window where maybe, just maybe, we can start to hope. A window where possibly, promotion looks to be in our future.
Poppy Deabill