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Southampton: Three hopes, one fear

By Sean Maslin

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Nordin Amrabat of Watford battle for possession with Steven Davis of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Watford at St Mary's Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13: Nordin Amrabat of Watford battle for possession with Steven Davis of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Watford at St Mary's Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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JINAN, CHINA – JULY 12: Italian footballer Graziano Pelle arrives at the airport on July 12, 2016 in Jinan, Shandong Province of China. Italian footballer Graziano Pelle joined Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C., Shandong Luneng announced on late Monday. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
JINAN, CHINA – JULY 12: Italian footballer Graziano Pelle arrives at the airport on July 12, 2016 in Jinan, Shandong Province of China. Italian footballer Graziano Pelle joined Shandong Luneng Taishan F.C., Shandong Luneng announced on late Monday. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) /

The big fear: That the Saints will be unable to replace Mane and Pelle.

Last season Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane combined to score 22 goals for Southampton. To put that into perspective the two scored 37 percent of the Saints goals in the Premier League last year. While the club has had to replace one scorer during a transfer window never have they had to replace two scorers of the caliber Mane and Pelle.

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While the hope is that the likes of Rodriguez and Redmond will be enough the replace their output, the big fear is that they simply won’t be enough.

That might be okay given the strengths of their defense and the tendencies of their manager. Puel’s Nice side allowed just 41 goals last season, which was fifth lowest in Ligue 1. That would seem to mesh well with Southampton’s current strengths on the back four and on the counter-attack. It might require a bit of change in philosophy for Saints supporters but if their defense holds then the club might just get back to sixth place this season.

But this club need to find the back of the net at some point in the season and without Mane and Pelle it is difficult to see where the goals might come from.

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