da prosport bet： Southampton will be looking to improve on a disappointing start to the season and pick up just their second home Premier League win of the season when they host West Bromwich Albion at St Mary’s on Saturday.
da bet vitoria： Despite having winnable fixtures on paper against Swansea City, West Ham United, Watford and Newcastle United on their own patch this term, they have taken just five points from a possible 12 in those matches, with another defeat also coming against Manchester United.
With just seven goals in their nine games in all competitions this term, the supporters are beginning to get frustrated with their players and manager Mauricio Pellegrino seeing as Claude Puel was sacked at the end of last season because of a lack of goals and dull style of football.
Following the 2-2 draw against the Magpies on Sunday, Pellegrino will certainly be considering making alterations to his starting XI for the visit of Tony Pulis’ Baggies.
Here are three changes Pellegrino must make when Saints host West Brom…
Alex McCarthy for Fraser Forster
When Southampton are struggling to find the net at one end, they can’t afford to have a player that is costing them goals at the other end, and that is exactly what Forster has done on a number of occasions this season.
According to Squawka, the England international has made more defensive errors (4) than any other Premier League player this term, with two of those leading to goals, and the stopper should have done much better with Ayoze Perez’s goal for Newcastle on Sunday.
With his ability to save long-range efforts, command of his area and his distribution often leaving a lot to be desired, it is time for Pellegrino to take the 29-year-old out of the firing line against West Brom and replace him with Alex McCarthy.
Wesley Hoedt for Virgil van Dijk
While the majority of Southampton fans would have wanted Van Dijk back in the team following his failed transfer request during the summer because of the quality he has, his performances have left a lot to be desired so far and he doesn’t look as though he deserves to start right now.
The Dutchman was guilty of giving away a penalty against Stoke in his first start for the south coast outfit since January, while it was his poor clearance that led to Isaac Hayden’s goal for Newcastle on Sunday.
However, it isn’t just the errors that mean that he should be dropped, as the 26-year-old looked more than happy to sit as the last man when Saints were looking for an equaliser against the Magpies, when this time a year ago he would have been driving forward with the ball.
It suggests that while Van Dijk is being professional right now he isn’t putting in the effort and showing the commiment that he has previously, and Hoedt should replace his Netherlands compatriot in the XI against West Brom after being unfortunate to lose his spot in the team originally.
Sofiane Boufal for Nathan Redmond
With no goals and four assists in his last 20 Premier League appearances, it has been clear for a while now that Redmond isn’t doing enough to justify starting every week for Southampton – which is what he is doing right now.
The 23-year-old had a particularly poor day at the office against Newcastle – including when he passed the ball straight to a Magpies player from a free-kick – and when he was substituted off in the second half the decision was met with a chorus of ironic cheers and boos.
Pellegrino must take the winger out of the firing line against West Brom, and after Boufal’s impressive cameo against Rafa Benitez’s men – in which he looked good both in attack and defensively – the Morocco international deserves an opportunity from the start against the Baggies.
Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.