Southampton fans look away now to avoid insufferable nostalgia. The club right now look void of a clinical striker as they battle relegation in the Premier League. But, in the last decade they have had some of the league's great strikers, as well as bringing in some true flops... Guido Carrillo. Here we rank their best five forwards, and there are some absolute cult heroes in this list.
5. Pablo Osvaldo: 2013 – 2015 Italy
Mauricio Pochettino announced a reunion with Pablo Osvaldo in 2013, when he joined Southampton for a club-record fee of £13m from Roma. The Italian maverick was a fiery and erratic character, who was constantly embroiled in controversy and fights. His stint at St. Mary’s involved a £40,000 fine and three game ban for violent conduct against Newcastle and a training ground fracas with club Captain Jose Fonte where he was suspended for two weeks. He scored three goals in 13 Premier League appearances, before he was swiftly shipped to Italian champions Juventus in January 2014. The peak of his five months was his mesmeric goal against Manchester City, where he turned Vincent Kompany inside and out, before cutting back on his right foot and casually lobbing a pinpoint curled effort into the top corner. Pochettino had got the best out of the forward in Spain at Espanyol, but it seemed at Southampton, Osvaldo was too temperamental and disruptive to be trusted. He eventually left the South coast in July 2015, after his contract was suspended and has since retired in 2016 where he said “I prefer asado and beer and money” in response to hanging up his boots at Bocca Juniors.
4. Manolo Gabbiadini: 2017 – 2019 Italy
Manolo Gabbiadini flourished in his first month, following a £15m transfer from Napoli to St. Mary’s in January 2017. He scored on his debut against West Ham to become the 100th different scorer for Southampton and 400th Italian to score in the Premier League. He then went on to score 3 goals in five league appearances and managed a brace in the EFL Cup Final. He should have had a hat-trick in the 3-2 final loss to Manchester United, but it was unfairly dismissed for offside. He had become the first player to score in his first four games for the club, and this form earnt him the February Player of the Month award. Although, the managerial casualties at the club did appear to dampen his chances, where he saw less minutes under Manuel Pellegrino in his second season. He was then seen as surplus to requirements by Ralph Hassenhutl, which lead to his premature exit in January. When he left Southampton in 2019, he had scored just 10 goals in 51 league appearances. He re-signed with Sampdoria in a £10m deal, where he still currently plays at the age of 30.
3. Danny Ings: 2018 – 2021 England
The 30-year-old had suffered two severe long-term injuries at Liverpool, before joining the Saints on loan to rejuvenate his career in August 2018. Ings scored seven goals in 24 league appearances and signed permanently in a £20m deal in 2019. He instantly became a fan favourite on the South coast, as he transformed into a predatory clinical finisher who was the talisman for Ralph Hassenhutl. In his first season he became just the third Saints player to ever score more than 20 goals in a top flight campaign. His 22 league goals finished joint second in the top scorer standings and his form had earnt him his first England call-up in five years. He evolved into one of the Premier League’s most established strikers and became an integral leader within a struggling side. In three seasons at St. Mary’s, he scored 41 goals in just 91 games. However, surprisingly in 2021 Aston Villa swooped in for the former Burnley striker, in an estimated £25m deal and poached him from Southampton. It stills seems two years on, that Hassenhutl is yet to replace his star frontman, as they have experimented with the likes of Che Adams, Armando Broja and Adam Armstrong to bring goals.
2. Graziano Pelle: 2014 – 2016 Italy
The Italian stallion brought passion and charisma to Southampton, when he signed for just £9m in 2014. Les Reed {former vice-chairman} saw signing Pelle as a “no brainer” to replace club legend Rickie Lambert. The striker had worked with Ronald Koeman at AZ Alkmaar and Feyenoord, the latter of which he had scored 55 goals in 66 appearances. Harry Redknapp applauded the “world-class” overhead bicycle kick from Pelle, that had condemned his QPR side to a defeat. He quickly became a cult hero for Saints fans; his theatrical outbursts celebrating goals, as well as his powerful presence on the pitch. In his first season, he scored 11 goals propelling Southampton into Europe with a sixth placed finish. His influential aura at the Saints, earnt him his first Italy call-up aged 28, where he went on to score nine times across 20 caps. In his second season he finished with 12 goals under Ronald Koeman, but then in 2016 he was intrigued by the financial incentives of Shandong Sheun and moved to China. The £13m transfer did not sever his relationship with the Southampton fans, they still have great admiration and nostalgia remembering the 36-year-old, but they were disheartened to see his departure.
1. Rickie Lambert: 2009 – 2014 England
The club hero made 219 appearances for Southampton, accompanying them on there journey from League One to the top flight. In 2009 Alan Pardew paid in excess of £1m to sign the Bristol Rovers forward. In his debut season, he scored in the FA Trophy Cup Final win against Carlisle and was named in the PFA Team of the season for League One. In the Championship, he was chosen as the Player of the year as his 30 goals saw Southampton promoted to the Premier League. The forward was a traditional striker; strong, with a powerful shot and intelligent movement. In his maiden top flight campaign he scored on the opening day of the season and finished the season with 15 goals. This earnt him his first England cap, scoring on his debut, aged 31. His 200th career goal was a beautiful 25-yard free-kick winner against Chelsea, and he also maintained a 100% record of 34 out of 34 penalties at Southampton. The icon left the club in 2014 joining his ‘dream’ boyhood club Liverpool for £4m plus add ons. He was applauded by Saints supporters, who believed the striker had earnt the right to choose his exit and his legacy at the club will stay forever.
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