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Southampton are reportedly set to appoint Ralph Hasenhuttl as their new manager after sacking Mark Hughes on Monday morning.
The 51-year-old’s previous job was at German outfit RB Leipzig, whom he led to second and sixth-position finishes in the Bundesliga respectively before parting company with them back in May.
The Austrian coach is likely to integrate his preferred style and system at St Mary’s, which will have big consequences for some Saints players.
On the chalkboard
Throughout his managerial career, Hasenhuttl’s preferred formation has been a 4-2-2-2, in which his players press – starting from the front.
This of course means that the 51-year-old will want strikers who are willing to chase and close down opposition defenders, rather than simply being in the right place at the right time in the penalty area.
While this could suit players like Nathan Redmond, Danny Ings, Shane Long and Michael Obafemi down to a tee, the same can’t be said for another Saints attacker.
Charlie Austin?
Precisely.
The 29-year-old doesn’t have the speed or mobility needed to play that role that Hasenhuttl usually demands, and as a result it seems unlikely that he would ever be a Southampton starter under the Austrian but for injury issues for some of his teammates.
The former Queens Park Rangers man would be relying on the 51-year-old wanting a proven Premier League scorer in his ranks in order to make the XI, but given the clear lack of fitness he has shown at times this term – think Fulham away where he was booed off by his own supporters – that may not be an option.
Of course he hasn’t even shown that he can get the goals the south coast outfit desperately need in their fight against the drop, as he is yet to find the net in 526 top-flight minutes during the current campaign – even if his strike that was disallowed against Watford should have counted.
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