Does Shane Long ever stop running? I’m not to sure that he does.
A constant workhorse no matter what position he is playing and a crucial member of Southampton’s squad this season. He has nailed down his spot in the side, something he didn’t quite manage last campaign.
Long was a bit-part player last season for Southampton, with a lot of his appearances coming off the bench or ending around the 60-minute mark. He only accrued 16 Premier League starts last season, with another 16 coming off the bench. In those 32 matches, he scored five goals and managed five assists. He did still play well in a lot of games and scored the goal of the season for the Saints against Aston Villa toward the end of the season with a scorcher from distance.
However, he has already surpassed some of those statistics from last season this season. Long has started 17 top-flight matches this term, already beating his tally for the previous season. He has also scored seven Premier League goals, also beating his tally for last season, which was just five.
The Republic Of Ireland striker has scored ten goals in all competitions this season and is Southampton’s second-top goals scorer so far this season, behind Graziano Pelle, who has scored 12 goals this term.
Long was thriving whilst being able to play as Southampton’s focal point in recent months. Long was the sole striker up front and was able to show his talents with the best possible platform. However, he has been pushed out wide due to Pelle’s reemergence in the team. Yet, despite the goals drying up since he has been put out-wide, the performances haven’t dropped in quality or effort.
Despite being moved out of his ‘best position’ and out to a wide spot, Long’s performances have still been very commendable. His movement in behind opposition defences is superb and always causes problems for the opponent’s defence. He is extremely quick and always seems to beat defenders for pace when racing for the ball.
He simply never stops running. His work-rate is phenomenal and that earns his place in the side alone. His skill and intelligence are then what makes him the fantastic player that he is. Long makes so many smart runs and moves to receive the ball and create space for his teammates; it makes him an invaluable asset to the Southampton attack.
I am a little disappointed that Long has been moved into a wide position for one reason; he won’t be able to score his superb headers. Well, he could from corners and set-pieces but without being in a central role, it makes it difficult. So many times this season Long has risen well and scored a fine header. Scoring headers are his niche.
However, it isn’t something that Ronald Koeman will be worrying about too much, given the sublime form of Graziano Pelle. The Italian has scored three and assisted two in his last two Premier League matches. Pelle has seemingly found his best form again and will be Southampton’s first-choice striker coming into the final matches of the season.
Long is unlikely to feature much as a central striker before the end of the season, with the aforementioned Pelle starting, Charlie Austin coming back from injury this week and Jay Rodriguez working his way back to full fitness.
Regardless of whether he plays up front or out wide, you always know what you are going to get from Long… a hard-working performance, and usually a good one at that.
His exploits for Ireland have certainly helped to increase his reputation, including his memorable winner for his Country against Germany in a European Championships qualifier earlier this season.
Long helped Ireland to qualify for the European Championships in France this summer and that will give him the best chance to show off his talents in front of the whole of Europe.
His status as an ‘underrated’ player will surely be washed away by the end of the season, certainly if he performs for his Country in the summer. Football fans around the world, if not just the Premier League, will finally start to see him for his ability and start to actually ‘rate’ the forward.
So in conclusion, do I think that Shane Long is underrated? Yes. However, not by Southampton fans. Saints fans certainly appreciate Long for what he does, but he isn’t always held in high esteem by the rest of the footballing community. I think next season will be very different, especially as Southampton may be playing in the Europa League. Long would have the chance to show his skills on the European stage for a consistent run of games, which would prove all the doubters wrong.
