This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
It has been a long old decade, and what a ten years it has been for Southampton.
The Saints have gone from a Championship side to one that enjoyed a run in the Europa League and an appearance in the Carabao Cup final, while seeing some players who can now be regarded as some of the world’s best come and go.
Let’s take a look at who should make up the south coast side’s Team of the Decade…
Fraser Forster – The 6 foot 7 glovesman is almost certainly the best Southampton shot-stopper of this decade, having broken Paul Jones’s top-flight record for the longest period of time without conceding a goal, reaching 708 minutes – over 11 hours! Forster also made 125 appearances for the club, before things went downhill in recent seasons.
Nathaniel Clyne – What a full-back this man was. Signed from Crystal Palace, Clyne went on to play for England and made 104 appearances for the Saints, contributing to some of the finest moments in the club’s recent history.
Jose Fonte – The Portugal international made almost 300 appearances for the Saints during his time at the club, and was integral during Southampton’s rise to European football. Fonte captained the side during their golden period this decade, before leaving for West Ham.
Virgil van Dijk – Forget how it ended, if you can, and just admire how good of a player this man was. After arriving from Celtic, van Dijk make 80 appearances for the Saints while scoring seven goals, and made things look downright easy at the back for years.
Ryan Bertrand – It was a close call between Bertrand and Luke Shaw for the left-back role, although the current Southampton man takes the prize due to the fact that he was a mainstay in the side that qualified for Europe and finished just three points off the Champions League positions in 2015/16. The England international has made 181 appearances for the Saints, scoring seven goals and setting up 19 more.
Morgan Schneiderlin – What a classy midfield operator this man was. Schneiderlin made 257 appearances for the Saints, and like many in this side, played a crucial role in qualification for the Europa League in 2016 before departing for Manchester United.
Victor Wanyama – There simply is no other option in midfield, Wanyama was that good. The Kenyan colossus was a vital presence in the middle of the park for years at St Mary’s, making just short of 100 appearances for the club before being poached by Tottenham.
Steven Davis – One of few in this side who wasn’t nabbed by a larger club, Davis kept things ticking over nicely in midfield for years with his energy and composure. He made making a whopping 226 appearances for the Saints during a lengthy period at the club, and gets the nod over 2019 Ballon d’Or nominee, Dusan Tadic.
Sadio Mane – Scorer of the Premier League’s fastest-ever hat-trick while at Southampton, Mane is now one of the best players in Europe. The Senegal star netted 25 goals in 75 appearances for the Saints, and is arguably one of the finest forwards to have ever graced the St Mary’s turf.
Rickie Lambert – Nobody else was taking this spot, even if Graziano Pelle was a real fans’ favourite. Lambert is a bona-fide Southampton legend, playing a leading role in getting the Saints to the Premier League with 27 Championship goals in 2011/12, while continuing to perform in the Premier League as well. In total, Lambert scored 115 goals for the club before, unsurprisingly, Liverpool poached him.
Adam Lallana – The Southampton academy graduate, another player who departed for Liverpool, made 261 appearances for the Saints. Lallana helped carry the torch in the club’s early days as a Premier League side after promotion, scoring some wonderful individual goals along the way.
In other Southampton news, Hasenhuttl must keep reiterating this message he uttered before the Watford game…