Southampton
Beware the fading of the Dell effect
Useful information
That'll do nicely: Le Tissier slots home yet another penalty, against Sunderland at The Dell. But supporters have only one more year to enjoy at their old favourite ground
Photograph: CHRIS ISON  |
Summer summary: All quiet on the Solent front. Three signings have failed to arouse much enthusiasm on the South Coast, although Patrice Tano, the teenager from Ivory Coast who was signed from Monaco, could prove an interesting acquisition.
Transfers in: Uwe Rosler (Borussia Berlin) free; Mark Draper (Aston Villa) £1.5m; Patrice Tano (AS Monaco) free.
Transfers out: None
Looking forward to: A final glorious season at The Dell; a visitor centre is opening for the new ground at St Mary’s.
Worried about: The possibility of St Mary’s staging First Division football in its first season. The "Dell effect" showed signs of wearing off last season — even Manchester United managed to win there, although the minuscule allocation of tickets for visiting supporters and the proximity of the crowd still make The Dell uncomfortable for most teams.
Liabilities: Injury-prone players such as James Beattie (broke ribs "falling down the stairs at home" — yeah, right), Kevin Davies, Matthew Le Tissier.
Tactical profile: Many options in a large squad, but too many players have no defined role. Versatility is a virtue, but Jo Tessem, Jason Dodd and a number of others might like to know where they are playing a little more often. Goal potential throughout the team, though, with Marian Pahars the star, and Hassan Kachloul, who turned down a close-season approach from Ipswich, weighing in from midfield. They are still capable of beating anybody on their day, especially at home.
Style: All-action attack at The Dell, too often a passive, defensive approach away.
One player they need: A fully-fit Matthew Le Tissier. Glenn Hoddle says so himself.
Fans’ gripe: The club cannot even compete on a financial level with Bradford City, whose offer to Dan Petrescu was far more attractive than anything the Saints could muster.
Fans’ big wish: To stay up again.
Up-and-coming prospect: Wayne Bridge — not yet 20 but starting his second full season as a left-sided midfield player or wing-back — has signed a new four-year contract. And, folks, he’s English and he has already represented the under-21 side.
Manager’s quality: Tactically aware, as befits a former England manager (no, sorry, I take that back) and brought the best out of the squad last season, guiding them to mid-table safety with relative ease after taking over as caretaker from David Jones. Whether there is enough quality to improve on that is doubtful. Could do well in a cup, as long as the match doesn’t go to penalties — Hoddle, as we remember from England v Argentina during France ’98, doesn’t believe in practising them. Ironically, in Le Tissier, he has the Premiership’s penalty master — only one missed.
Hoddle is still a believer in omens, though — for example, a glut of spectacular goals scored against his side in pre-season has made him believe that the opposition has used up its quota of great goals already. Logical enough .
Bogey team: Derby County (first opponents this season). Visits to London yielded only one point last season, at Wimbledon.
Likely disaster: A seven-goal thrashing will happen at some stage (Tottenham last year, Liverpool the season before).
Potential of their new signings: Limited, but at least there are no big new stars to upset the balance, or the wage structure.
Ideal improvement: Quality.
Sure sign of a Southampton fan: What, apart from the red-and-white No. 7 shirt with "Le God" on the back?
Least likely TV soundbite: From Glenn Hoddle: "I got it completely wrong tactically."
Hollywood actor most likely to star in Southampton, the Movie: Macaulay Culkin as Marian Pahars; Vinnie Jones as Francis Benali.
Why sponsor’s name is (in)appropriate: Friends Provident? A lot of supporters felt that the new board would turn out to be asset strippers, but with the team still in the Premiership and the new ground actually rising from the mud against many expectations, chairman Rupert Lowe, greeted with suspicion in the early days, is proving quite a provident friend after all.
Useful foreign phrases for fans: Sarauj Pahars! (Latvian for "Come on, Pahars"); Varti!!! ("Goal!!!", also in Latvian).
Prediction: A record-breaking second successive season safe from relegation on the final day.
NICK SZCZEPANIK
Useful information
Squad: 1 Paul Jones; 2 Jason Dodd; 3 John Beresford; 4 Chris Marsden; 5 Claus Lundekvam;
6 Dean Richards; 7 Matt Le Tissier; 8 Matthew Oakley; 9 Mark Draper; 10 Kevin Davies; 11 Uwe Rosler; 12 Richard Dryden; 13 Neil Moss; 14 Stuart Ripley; 15 Francis Benali; 16 James Beattie; 17 Marian Pahars; 18 Wayne Bridge; 19 Danny Rodrigues; 20 Tahar El Khalej; 21 Jo Tessem; 22 David Hughes; 23 Patrice Tano; 24 Patrick Colleter; 25 Gary Monk; 26 Imants Bleidelis; 27 Scott Bevan; 28 Kevin Gibbens; 29 Paul Hughes; 30 Hassan Kachloul; 31 Shayne Bradley; 32 Trond Soltvedt; 33 Philip Warner; 35 Luis Boa Morte.
Stadium: The Dell
Capacity: 15,200
Address: Milton Road, Southampton, Hampshire SO15 2XH
Telephone number: 023-8022 0505
Clubcall: 09068 12 11 78
Website: www.saintsfc.co.uk A worthy site, with easy navigation and good overall news content. The rousing pictures of construction workers working on the new stadium is one of the more engaging features.
Unofficial site: www.marchingin.co.uk This established unofficial site offers news which reflects that “the media generally hate us”. There is also a guide to away grounds, caption competitions, forums and e-mail newsletters.
Manager: Glenn Hoddle
Assistant manager: John Gorman
First-team coach: Stuart Gray
Chairman: Rupert Lowe
Ticket details: 023-8022 0505; 023-8022 8575 (recorded information)
Ticket prices: £22-£26
Cheapest/most expensive adult season ticket: £378/£494
Recommended radio station: BBC Radio Solent 96.1 FM
Programme: £2.50
Fanzine: The Ugly Inside
Cost of adult replica shirt: £40
Training ground: Marchwood
Directions to ground: The Dell is just over half a mile from Southampton Central train station. The No. 25 bus runs from the station, the No. 5 runs from the city centre. The stadium is near Hampshire Cricket Club. You’re more likely to see Matt Le Tissier in an England shirt again than you are to find a street parking space.
Pubs near the ground: The Golden Lion, 82 Northlands Rd; The Winston Hotel, 51 Archers Rd.
