Southampton’s U-23 manager Radhi Jaidi has admitted that there is some frustration amongst his young side following a second defeat in the EFL Trophy.
The Saints’ U-23 side were beaten 1-0 by League Two side Walsall in the second game of the EFL Trophy group stages that now see Southampton rooted to the bottom of their table despite the likes of Coventry and Forest Green playing one less game than the Premier League side.
Though despite the loss to the Saddlers, Jaidi was largely positive in his reflection of the game, though the former Tunisia international admitted that the players were frustrated to walk away with nothing.
The 44-year-old coach said to The Southern Daily Echo: “It was a really good performance, especially the first 25 minutes where we imposed ourselves and played our football. But we stopped doing that, let them get their confidence and then they’re playing their game, which is more direct, using wide areas and crosses.
Jaidi added with: “There is a bit of frustration from the boys that there were opportunities to do what we needed to do in certain areas, but that will come. Playing against seniors, playing against some experienced league players who’ve played hundreds of games, that’s one thing you can’t truly buy for these boys”
The performance might have been impressive to the coach, but the result was yet another disappointing loss for the Saints U-23 side, who are yet to win a game this season.
As results from the Saints official website show, it has been a dreadful year so far for the young Southampton side that have suffered massive losses against the likes of Liverpool and Everton, with the latter side smashing the south coast side 8-2 in Premier League 2.
Indeed, the Southampton youth machine that once produced the likes of Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Luke Shaw is seemingly becoming dry, and these recent results should be a cause of worry for some fans.
