Before the match at Preston North End eight days ago, James Bree had played all but five minutes of the twelve Championship games Southampton had played; he had either not been included in the squad, having played in the first game, or had been an unutilized substitute in ten of the other eleven. His only action came in the last five minutes of Southampton’s 3-1 victory over Leeds United at St Mary’s.
However, Ryan Manning’s suspension presented an improbable chance for him to step in, and he has since played two whole League games, contributing four points to the Saints’ victory.
Some would say he has been the missing link, that with Ryan Manning in the squad our left side was exposed as manning surged forward and Kamaldeen Sulemana failed to cover him, certainly Manning was not a popular man in some circles.
There were several options for replacing Manning for the trip to Preston, but some credit to Russell Martin for spotting where Saints were being exposed and dealing with it and putting Bree in as left back to give defensive cover on the left.
The temptation must have been there to restore Manning for the Birmingham game, but again Martin knew that if is to get the best out of Sulemana he has to give him something of a free rein and that means playing someone behind him that is more defensive minded than Manning.
I don’t think Manning is a bad player, although some certainly do, but I think as an attacking full back, he has to play with a player in front of him that can compliment his style and know how to cover back when needed.
But Bree Kept his place for the visit of the Blues and put in a solid performance, but more to the point his presence allowed Sulemana the freedom he needed to express himself.
But there is a bigger picture and that is the depth of the squad, the fact that we score so many late goals is no coincidence, when we make changes we can bring on quality, look at the subs made at Preston, we had Sulemana, Alcaraz, Fraser, & Stuart Armstrong coming off the bench as well as Sam Edozie, the home side had nowhere near that quality, so it’s no surprise we score so many late goals, we can bring on players who can truly change a game, most of the clubs in this division cannot say the same Preston brought on 34 year old Ched Evans.
So although the headlines will go to those scoring goals and indeed those creating them, just as key will be those in the squad that are unsung, like James Bree, Jack Stephens, Joe Aribo, Sekou Mara, Mason Holgate, even dare I say it Ryan Manning, players that have experience and can do a job.
Twoweeks ago, James Bree was the forgotten man, painted with the same brush as the man who signed him, Nathan Jones. A bad performance against Birmingham or Preston may have earned him a bad reputation, but he put in a shift and demonstrated that, despite our dislike for them, any member of our squad can enter the game and win over the fans with a strong performance.
