Southampton's £37m trio questioned by former England stars, £15m man 'really struggles'
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As Russell Martin fielded Ryan Fraser through the middle during Southampton’s 3-1 defeat to rivals Bournemouth, a penny for the thoughts of those who missed out.
It certainly wasn’t a show of faith.
Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer dropped to the bench alongside Ben Brereton-Diaz as a 5ft 4ins winger lined up through the middle instead.
You can hardly blame Russell Martin for experimenting – what is it they say about doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results? – but as Southampton collapsed down the road at Bournemouth, Martin looked like a man who had got his test tubes mixed up as an explosion went off in his own face.
Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer have a lot to prove at Southampton
That new-look system backfired, and badly.
Southampton were already 3-0 down when Martin hauled off Fraser, Maxwel Cornet and Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu at the interval, introducing Joe Aribo, Brereton-Diaz and a traditional number nine in Ross Stewart in their place.
Archer, missing a penalty against Manchester United and yet to get off the mark, only arrived with 76 minutes on the clock.
The out-of-favour Paul Onuachu and the aforementioned Armstrong – a man who falls firmly into that ‘too good for the Championship, not good enough for the Premier League’ camp – remained on the sidelines throughout.
Southampton failed to tie up a £17.5 million deal for Brazil striker Yuri Alberto before the August deadline. And that now feels even more damaging in hindsight.
"I feel a little bit for Cameron Archer,” former England international Danny Murphy tells talkSPORT (30 September, 6pm), his reputation at St Mary’s already dented after Andre Onana denied him from 12 yards a fortnight ago.
“I like the courage in taking the penalty, the one he missed against Man United before that game turned. He actually had a couple of good chances against Ipswich. He is getting himself into good areas.
“You know what? If he gets one, then all of a sudden…"
A £15 million signing from Aston Villa, Archer has proven himself to be a pretty tidy finisher when given the opportunity.
But, like with Armstrong, a man with six goals in 11 caps for England at Under 21 level is yet to prove that he can be relied upon with Premier League survival on the line.
Adam Armstrong’s Premier League tally is less than impressive
"When I look at Cameron Archer, I like him and I think he has got good movement,” adds Darren Bent, the ex-Tottenham and Aston Villa striker agreeing with Murphy’s assessment.
“But you know a centre-forward that is chasing [a goal] rather than let it come to him. It looks like he's getting over-anxious about it. He is getting in these areas where he should calm himself down, slow it down.
“He is rushing it. I think [if he settles] he will score goals."
Bent is less enthusiastic about Armstrong, however.
Prolific in the division below – Armstrong scored the winner against Leeds United in May’s play-off final – his record in the top-flight stands at just four goals in 72 outings.
"Adam Armstrong is a bit of a funny one because, in the Championship, he scores 20-plus every single season,” adds Bent, Brereton Diaz completing an attacking trio who cost The Saints a combined £37 million.
“[Armstrong] comes up to the Premier League, and he really, really struggles. And then they have got Ben Brereton Diaz, who is a good player, but he is not going to score enough goals."
