Consistency Key for Pelle

Graziano Pelle. Lightning Start. Tailed off.

Those statements summed up Graziano Pelle’s first season with the Saints. He managed 12 goals in the Premier League. With half of them being scored in his first eight Premier League matches. There were multiple sections of last season where he went through goalscoring droughts. His goals in the second half of the season were few and far between and scattered across the final months of the season as the Itlalian striker was unable to get a consistent run of goals together.

Pelle is clever footballer, that much is obvious. The 30 year old forward is clearly very talented, as his spell in Holland proved and this was the reason Southampton bought him in in the first place. His strength and ability to get into goalscoring positions really marked him out last season as a stand out performer pre-December. He still had this in the second half of the season, however, it was his ability to finish the chances that was inconsistent in his game. He amassed a total of 123 shots in the Premier League last season. Many would agree that out of 123 shots, a player of Pelle’s evident quality should be getting more than 12 goals with that many chances.

He has already started this season with a bang. Scoring two goals in as many games against Vitesse Arnhem. Both of his goals were superb – his first as very good run that was spotted by Mane, before he fired a rocket of a shot into the roof of the net and the second being a smart turn in the box, followed by a low left footed effort into the bottom corner. If he can continue this into the season and find more consistent season throughout the campaign then he could be set to beat his goal tally for last season and with the signing of Jordy Clasie and Juanmi plus the return of Jay Rodriguez, he could get even more opportunities to score more goals.

If all of this comes together then Pelle and Southampton have a lot to look forward to for the coming season both domestically and internationally, with the Europa League looking likely to be a competition the Saints will be competing in come September onwards if they can win the play off against FC Midtjylland.

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