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da pixbet： Southampton secured Premier League survival with a point at home to Bournemouth last weekend and, surprisingly, owe a portion of their solid results in recent weeks to Shane Long – the striker has turned his poor season around in spectacular style and is now Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first choice up front.
The Irishman has been in impressive form recently and this excellent run of form couldn’t have come at a better time for the Saints nor the player himself, with relegation evaded and Long’s contract expiring next summer.
At 32 years of age, Long is into his twilight years now and will surely begin to lose the legs that are his greatest appeal as a frontman soon. The industrious number 7 is keen to earn a new deal that will keep him at St Mary’s Stadium beyond the end of the 2019/20 season but he divides opinion amongst the Southampton faithful.
Football FanCast’s writers give their verdicts on whether the club hierarchy should approach him with a new contract below…
Ben Goodwin
“I would definitely offer the striker a new deal. His scoring record in the past has never lived up to expectations, but who cares about the past? Since Ralph Hasenhuttl arrived the Irishman has been electric and is a perfect fit for the Austrian’s high-octane, high-intensity style. That’s all that matters.”
James Beavis
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes they should offer him a new deal. While Long is never going to be a consistent goalscorer, he is the ideal striker in other respects to how Ralph Hasenhuttl wants his teams to play. While he shouldn’t be a starter next term, as long he is partnering someone else or is simply a back-up, he can cause big problems for opposition defenders. Ross Wilson must get this one sorted ASAP.”
Why should Southampton be more like Dortmund? Find out in the video below…
Matt Dawson
“Shane Long is one of the biggest enigmas in Premier League history and I can’t seem to get my head around him. He possesses qualities which make him a dangerous player but he never really shows that potential. The Irishman is obviously on a good run of form at the moment but Southampton can’t let that cloud their vision. The Saints shouldn’t be considering a new deal at all.”