A number of Southampton fans have been offering their verdicts over why they believe both Yan Valery and Michael Obafemi have fallen so far down the pecking order for the Saints this season.
Obafemi was handed the chance to impress by Ralph Hasenhuttl last season who gave him 21 Premier League appearances last term, including eight starts. The 20-year-old showed flashes of his ability during those matches registering three goals and two assists, but he only averaged 0.3 shots and 0.5 key passes per game (Sofascore).
The young Irish forward has been frozen out of the first team so far this season, making just one Premier League appearance. The likes of Danny Ings, Che Adams, Shane Long, Nathan Tella and Dan N’Lundulu all appear to have moved ahead of him in the pecking order, leading to reports that he could be allowed to leave the club on loan in January.
Hasenhuttl has also called him out more than once on an apparent lack of professionalism, having said: “The problem with Michael was always he would play one good game and then fall back a little bit and was not professional enough to force or keep his position in the team or in the squad.”
Valery has also been frozen out of the first team picture and is far behind Kyle Walker-Peters in the pecking order at right-back. The 21-year-old made 11 Premier League appearances last term, failing to help the Saints record a clean sheet in any of those (Sofascore).
That has seen Hasenhuttl lose faith in him and he now appears to be far from the starting line-up after being left out of the squad recently. He also faced criticism from the likes of journalist Dan Sheldon, who called him “their weak link in defence” last term.
Saints fans give their views on Valery and Obafemi
Many Southampton fans have been suggesting that neither of the two players have done enough with the chances that Hasenhuttl has offered them during his time in charge. One supporter even questioned the professionalism and attitudes of the pair to really fight for their places in the first team.
Both are too big for their boots I feel. I can see unprofessional attitudes in them both. Ralph won’t let them bear the squad unless that changes. Both likely to be sold in Jan in my opinion
— Mart (@SFCMart) December 20, 2020
Valery was never gonna make it as a premier league RB, and obafemi offers little apart from pace, he’s quite lazy too, both no better than championship for me
— Liam⚽️🏀 (@LiamEyre25) December 20, 2020
And vokins. Don't think Valery is good enough. He has been around for a while now and koeman, puel and now Ralph don't appear to rate him. Tbf Ralph has tried. Obafemi 🤔 – Has pace but not a lot else imo
— Lee V (@SaintLee_) December 20, 2020
https://twitter.com/saints_fandom/status/1340606598805401601?s=19
Both players have been given good opportunities by Ralph and clearly neither has shown enough to convince Ralph that they deserve their place in the squad.
— DEAN ANDREW (@DEANDREW965) December 20, 2020
I don’t understand what’s happened to Obafemi that Tella and N’Lundulu have moved above him in the pecking order
— Francesco Lopez (@FrankLopezCoach) December 20, 2020
This right here. Valery and Obafemi are clearly surplus players right now. One has to wonder if both might be earmarked for loan moves during the January window. #SaintsFC https://t.co/SzwRSh3pq3
— Robert Molnar (@SaintRJRM) December 20, 2020
