Southampton Fan View: Romeu’s importance highlighted by his absence

In Mark Hughes’ first two games in charge of Southampton, Oriol Romeu has been named on the bench.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Mario Lemina have been the favoured midfield pairing in Hughes’ 4-4-2 system since his arrival at the club, a decision which has seen Romeu dropped to the bench this month.

Southampton’s season has been nothing short of a disaster if the truth is told. Even the club’s more reliable players have fallen horribly short of the mark and Romeu falls under this category. The usually dependable Spaniard has been the least impressive midfielder when compared against Hojbjerg and Lemina and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to suggest the aforementioned duo are worthy of their places in the starting line-up.

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However, when Hojbjerg has partnered Lemina against Wigan Athletic and West Ham in the last two outings for Saints, control in the middle of the park has been totally surrendered.

Many Southampton supporters have cried out for 4-4-2 throughout the course of the season, with an impetus placed on the desire to see a greater attacking setup to help aid the team in their quest to fire more regularly. This is a justifiable demand, although it does not account for the additional pressure placed upon the central midfielders.

Lemina and Hojbjerg were able to grow into the game as a pairing against Wigan due to the standard of opposition. The Latics’ pressing and counter-pressing wore as the game progressed, leaving the duo more time on the ball to dictate play and regain control of the match. You simply do not get the same amount of time in the Premier League and Lemina and Hojbjerg were both made to pay for pondering on the ball last weekend.

West Ham were able to overrun Saints all over the pitch. Hughes’ side were vastly imbalanced and the two central midfielders were being pulled away due to the movement of the Hammers’ attacking players, especially Joao Mario.

It was due to this imbalance throughout the team and the failure from Hojbjerg and Lemina to perform that left Saints’ already vulnerable central defenders with little protection. Positional indiscipline has proven to be an issue for the two midfielders in this system and this is something that Romeu could remedy if he is brought back into the starting line-up.

Although Romeu himself has been guilty of ponderous play whilst in possession for Saints this season, few are better than him in the squad when it comes down to spatial awareness and the ability to shield the defence.

Throughout last season, Romeu would drop deeper to receive the ball and often in between the two central defenders. Claude Puel’s style was overly defensive and Romeu is generally a defensively-minded player, however, it was this added security that aided Saints in shutting teams out. The team look more solid with the ex-Barcelona man in it and as Hughes’ men aim to escape from the current rut, Romeu could prove to be key.

Recalling Romeu would not solve Saints’ defensive woes – only a miracle could do that at the moment. However, he deserves the chance to stand up and be counted, with Lemina and Hojbjerg evidently lacking the defensive quality to work in a 4-4-2.