They keep going and more still emerge. Luke Shaw is Southampton’s latest ‘golden boy’
They keep going and more still emerge. Luke Shaw is Southampton’s latest ‘golden boy’
“The vision is to get 50 per cent of the players in the team through the Academy.” Those were the words spoken former manager Nigel Adkins. Just how long this will actually take to implement is unclear, but with the arrival of Luke Shaw; Southampton are one step closer to realising their dream.
Tied at 2-2, Southampton were closing in on a memorable opening day point at the home of league champions Manchester City; then all of a sudden a mistimed clearance from left back Danny Fox and Nasri stole in and finished with aplomb. Nigel Adkins side had witnessed at first hand the cruel nature of the Premier League; despite their best efforts, they left empty handed and without the point they truly deserved. There had been rumours of the club attempting to sign a left back yet nothing had yet materialised; the failure to secure the signing of Dutch full back Alexander Buttner (who later joined Manchester United) from Vitesse was looking to be a potentially costly error.
To pin all blame on Fox is harsh; the Southampton defence proved brittle on more than one occasion, but the Scottish full back undoubtedly had a very tough time in adapting to the English top flight. Questions were consistently asked of the former Burnley man and on many occasions he did not have the answer; a goal in the 6-1 mauling to Arsenal provided little consolation.
This had not gone unnoticed by fans and former players alike, with former Saints striker Gordon Watson remarking, “Danny Fox has struggled this season…Let’s see if Luke Shaw is good enough, let’s see why Arsenal have supposedly been keen to sign the kid.”
And he was right; Luke Shaw was a name that had been on the lips of many connected with Southampton for a number of years. Linked with the top clubs before he had even kicked a ball for the 1st team, Sir Trevor Brooking had described him as ‘technically very gifted,’ and ranked the London-born youngster as one of the country’s top talents. However, he had yet to feature; three appearances on the bench are the most we had seen of him.
Watson’s wish was granted a few weeks later as Shaw became Southampton’s youngest ever player to start in the Premier League, making his debut against Swansea in mid-November.
A sense of intrigue surrounded the youngster with many naturally making comparisons to former Southampton left back and academy graduate Gareth Bale. These comparisons were somewhat wide of the mark. His manager at the time, Nigel Adkins was quick to downplay any comparisons between the two so as to avoid heaping pressure on the youngster, firmly stating, “We’ve just got to say Luke Shaw is Luke Shaw, and we’ve got allow him to be Luke Shaw.” Bale is more powerful than the 17 year old and whilst both began their careers as left-backs; the former is now a left winger come attacking midfielder, whilst the later is clearly a natural defender.
However, like his Welsh predecessor, he is very quick; perhaps deceptively so and this has been shown on a variety of occasions, most notably his assist during Southampton’s shock 2-2 draw against Chelsea in mid-January. Shaw showed no hesitation in bursting past Azpilcueta before squaring for the on rushing Puncheon. A perhaps pivotal goal in the outcome of Southampton’s season and his contribution did not go unnoticed; he garnered praise from his manager who commented, “You talk about maturity and he demonstrated it. It was a great surging run.”
Confidence has been key to the Shaw’s impressive performances; something he is not short of as recognised by his captain, Adam Lallana; “The confidence and matureness he has for such a young kid is unbelievable. He’s come in and done absolutely outstanding. To think he’s still 17 is unbelievable.”
The lack of fear displayed by the left back was incredible for that of a 17 year old; however this was no flash in the pan, he had made a similar run against Aston Villa the week before, whilst the impressive attribute was also on display in the 0-0 stalemate with Everton.
Although described as an ‘attacking full back,’ Shaw’s off the ball movement in the final third is far from the level of the likes of Glen Johnson and Maicon; who pride themselves on their attacking play. However, this does not mean he is inept either. The aforementioned turn of pace comes into play with quick give and goes, meaning he can outrun covering midfielders; who are usually caught unawares by the unpredictable and impulsive nature of his attacking play.
It took a while for Shaw’s to unveil the attacking side of his game; he threatened in fleeting glimpses but his attacking instincts had clearly been curbed in favour of defensive solidity as it was opposite full back Clyne (another fine talent on Southampton’s books) who marauded forward against the likes of Reading and QPR.
What is most striking about the youngster is the ease at which he slid into life in the top flight and many remark upon this when discussing him; “He is still learning but nothing fazes him and he has stepped up into the Premier League very comfortably,” were the words of Southampton executive director Les Reed; a man who knows Shaw better than most. Shaw made an astounding and rather unconventional leap from the development leagues straight to the Premier League with no loan move in between. These loan moves have the objective of instilling consistency into the game of younger players; with some such as Tom Cleverley enduring the process into their early twenties.
Remarkably Shaw is yet to register a bad performance; his form has not been an issue in the slightest. Since making the step up to the starting 11, he has been a pillar of consistency in a rapidly improving Southampton defence and this stability did not go unnoticed; England Under 21’s manager Stuart Pearce observed, “I don’t think I’ve seen him play badly in all the games I’ve seen of him. For a 17-year-old playing at that standard that’s quite impressive.”
Pearce was seemingly right in his assessment, perhaps an explanation is his already mature physique. Most players of his age are yet to add too often wiry frames and as a result the physicality of the English league can take some time to adapt to.
For a full back (in the English league particularly) ability in the air is just as vital as ability on the floor. Standing at just over 6 feet tall and blessed with a stocky build, he is competitive in aerial duels and intelligent when contesting for aerial balls; leaning players off the ball if they are taller than him but timing his jumps well when directly challenging.
He possess unusual strength for a boy of his age and as a result has taken well to the physical nature of some of the opposition in the Premier League; the yardstick being the daunting task of facing Stoke at the Britannia, however, he coped admirably.
Stellar performances against the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea have not gone unnoticed as he has been rewarded with a call up to the England U21 squad; an amazing feat for a 17 year old. Yet commendably, Shaw was delighted but not content; he has bigger aspirations, “I want to push myself as far as I can go. I want to be playing in the senior team eventually, but I’ve got to take it as it comes.” With his rapid rate of progression then there is no limit to what he can achieve; next year’s World Cup will surely come too soon for him but Euro 2016 is a legitimate aim. Maybe we are getting slightly ahead of ourselves but the potential of this young man is exciting; perhaps what is most noteworthy is that he is yet to display a substantial flaw in his artillery.
Shaw has slotted into the first team with consummate ease, never has he looked out of his depth. He looks like a seasoned Premiership defender; experienced in the way he shuffles across to cover for centre backs who have been drawn out of position or the assured manor in which he patiently waits for an attack to develop instead of vacating his left back berth too early. Lallana continued to lavish praise on his teammate saying, “We all know the ability that he’s got. He’s unbelievable for his age…I don’t think the occasion fazes Luke…He’s going to be one to watch for the future, there’s no doubt about that.”
The Southampton captain is seemingly right, Shaw has a great future in the game, but no player is without mistake; even Pablo Zabaleta and Ashley Cole; two of the finest full backs on these shores are privy to the odd blunder and Shaw is no different. Inexperience has reared its head on a few occasions; where he was perhaps to calm with the ball at his feet, however, he has quickly learnt that some of the risky decisions that pay off in youth football will more than likely lead to danger in the Premier League. These were not mistakes as such; rather minor hiccups in an otherwise very quick adaption to life at the top.
Faults by defenders are usually more costly than those committed by their attacking counterparts; meaning that even the slightest of errors can have huge implications. This is what makes his arrival in the first team even more impressive and these thoughts were echoed by Southampton Academy Manager, Matthew Crocker who praised the youngster, saying, “To be playing regularly in the Premier League as a 17 year old is credit to his endeavour and application.”
With the level of consistency displayed by the Shaw it is of no surprise that he has been linked with a move away from the club. Arsenal had managed to prize away Oxlade-Chamberlain in the summer of 2011 and Theo Walcott made the same move some years earlier. So what of his future? Despite these rumours; Shaw, like James Ward-Prowse, (a promising central midfielder) pledged his loyalty to the South coast club saying; “To put an end to all the speculation, I will be committing my future to Southampton. I’m not going anywhere…I think Southampton is the place to be for young kids like me.”
Unlike Gareth Bale and Wayne Bridge before him; Shaw has decided to break the trend and stay put and if he maintains his consistency it may not be long before he is sporting the white of the England national team. Southampton’s ambitious project is certainly off to a good start.
This post is an AFR debut by Aniefiok Ekpoudom. He writers for several sites including Think Football and Bundesliga Fanatic. You can also follow him on twitter @DictatePlay. Comments below please.
