Writer: KRAZYB
Southampton are one match away from preserving their future for another season in the Premier League. This has been a very poor season with so many below par performances from the team overall.
Mauricio Pellegrino became our new manager after Saints had removed the previous tenant of the hot seat, Claude Puel. The performances last season had not been of a high enough standard. Even a good cup run failed to hide the worsening overall displays shown.
Absolutely buzzing, we’re staying where we belong! Very happy to receive MOTM but it was a massive team effort! Thanks to the away fans for the amazing support as always 🙌 🔴⚪️ #Saints
— Alex McCarthy (@Alex_Macca23) May 8, 2018
The end of last season saw Saints unable to win at home in a run which we continued this season under the new manager. To the vast majority of Saints’ fans, the manager was not convincing. Saints continued to perform poorly and fans were calling for a new man to take over from Pellegrino as manager from as early as October on a regular basis. None of this will have helped the feelings at St Mary’s, but the board steadfastly remained loyal to their man. Wrongly, as has now been shown since Mark Hughes’ rescue mission began.
The last game of 2017 saw Southampton playing at Old Trafford after a severe mauling by Tottenham Hotspur. The mere thought of facing Manchester United so soon after that defeat must have caused a few nerves to twitch. However, Pellegrino made the one change that proved to be the best thing that he did all the time that he was in charge. He dropped the terribly out of form England goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
Alex McCarthy, our number two goalkeeper, came in for his very first appearance for Saints. In a backs-to-the-wall display, Southampton held the Red Devils at bay and secured a fighting 0-0 draw.
https://twitter.com/Br0wn1e5/status/994295040305451010
Since that game, Alex has grown in confidence and has given us something we have been needing for a long while. A goalkeeper that commands his box and is not afraid to go out to collect crosses. His superb performances have been suitably added to with some breathtaking flying saves of world-class quality. Suffice to say Alex McCarthy is now firmly entrenched as our number one goalkeeper.
His brilliance though has brought admirers, and now we may have to fend off some unwanted requests from the likes of Liverpool for his signature. We need to see him given a new contract asap. The board at Southampton has been noticeable by its absence this season but they can save some face by getting Alex to sign a long extension to his contract.
Without him, in goal, I firmly believe that we would have been relegated weeks ago.
Great game again Alex.. Definitely earn your wages again..!
— Malcolm Ross (@Malcolm55208327) May 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/SteveGeorgeSOTS/status/994126852875866113
You have won the hearts of so many Saints fans with your commanding the box, athleticism and worldy saves, congratulations on doing your job brilliantly which in turn helps us go to work with a bloody big smile on our faces.
— Richard Harrison (@richsaint07) May 9, 2018
You deserve it Alex, your performances over the last few games have kept us up.
McCarthy for England….— Wsmman🏴 (@wsmruss) May 9, 2018
MOM? MOTS more like. Outstanding goalkeeping performance. Well done, we wouldn’t have stayed up without you between the sticks with that performance. Amazing
— #Jäger Tony🙂 (@GSilversqueeze) May 9, 2018
Surely England caps coming next season keeping it going big man
— John Goble (@JohnGoble1) May 9, 2018
If only you were given the chance you’ve deserved at the start of the season! We definitely wouldn’t be where we are now had you been! You’ve been outstanding! #UsSaintsThankYou
— Corbin Ricketts (@IOWSaint10) May 9, 2018
Player of the year 👍👏👏👏
— Curly (@gibbonarms99) May 8, 2018
