Southampton FC Loan Report: Tella’s impressive start analysed and updates on all 13 loanees

Naturally, that meant some had to go. Nathan Redmond, Oriol Romeu, and Yan Valery were among those who departed on permanent moves away from the South Coast but for others, their moves are temporary. In total, Saints have loaned out 13 players across the English football pyramid, Scotland, and France.

With just over one month of the season in the books, let’s take a look at how Saints’ loanees have fared so far…

Player in Focus:

Nathan Tella

Club: Burnley

Minutes Played: 463

After signing a new long-term deal last January, Tella struggled to break into Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team and after a stop-start pre-season, departed for Turf Moor in August.

The next day he made his first Clarets appearance off the bench and has appeared in all seven Burnley games since his arrival. He immediately took to the Championship. In Tella’s first four games he scored three goals, more than he has managed in 41 Saints appearances.

Tella was forced off in the Clarets’ recent 1-1 draw with Preston North End but there is hope that it is not a serious setback.

With Burnley largely utisilisng a 4-3-3 system - and at times a 3-5-2 - Nathan Tella has seamlessly slotted in on the left flank and provided an interesting comparison to the new role we have seen from Adam Armstrong in Hasenhuttl’s team this season.

Nathan Tella not expecting the injury picked up in yesterday’s game to keep him out, am told he’s hoping to be fit for the upcoming game this weekend when Burnley play Bristol City at Turf Moor #Saintsfc #twitterclarets pic.twitter.com/rTt82ufgHm

— Dan George (@Dangeorge47) September 14, 2022

The Austrian boss in part has viewed Tella as a striker rather than a prototypical winger and Armstrong’s new job on the left side in a hybrid striker-winger role provides an easy comparison to Tella.

While both players enjoy getting on the ball out wide and trying to take defenders on, both have also found success this season with their more typically striker-esque assets, ghosting into space inside to take up dangerous spaces in and around the box to get shots off.

Armstrong’s goal against Chelsea was a perfect example of this. With Saints attacking through the middle, Armstrong vacates the space on the outside allowing Romain Perraud to drive into the empty space. The former Newcastle attacker drifts centrally into the box and eventually receives the pass from Perraud before finishing past Edouard Mendy.

Armstrong waiting in the box for Perraud to play it back to him. Image: Wyscout (Image: Armstrong waiting in the box for Perraud to play it back to him. Image: Wyscout)

While it comes from a different passage of play and with more space in behind the defence for Tella to exploit, the first of his two against Blackpool showcase similar types of movement.

As Burnley play the ball backward, Tella hangs out wide...

Tella wide on the flank... Image: Wyscout (Image: Tella wide on the flank... Image: Wyscout)

But as the ball starts to get carried up the pitch, Tella begins to drift inside...

Tella drifting inside... Image: Wyscout (Image: Tella drifting inside... Image: Wyscout)

Where he picks up the pass over the top, runs through, and scores...

Tella takes the ball down through on goal... Image: Wyscout (Image: Tella takes the ball down through on goal... Image: Wyscout)

Here is another example of Tella’s ability to drift inside from his position out wide, showing up in almost the exact same spot that Armstrong scored from when a cross is played into the box from the other side.

Tella stationed in the box as the cross comes in. Image: Wyscout (Image: Tella stationed in the box as the cross comes in. Image: Wyscout)

Below are Tella (left) and Armstrong (right) heat maps from their respective Championship and Premier League seasons thus far. They are remarkably similar, much of the action on both coming down the left flank and stretching into the box before fading out.

As the arrows highlight, Armstrong's)positioning has been slightly more concentrated than that of Tella but they have played similar roles.

Average positioning of Adam Armstrong (left) and Nathan Tella (right). Image: Wyscout (Image: Average positioning of Adam Armstrong (left) and Nathan Tella (right). Image: Wyscout)

Tella didn't fully seem to fit the 4-2-2-2 as he struggled to assert himself up front and sometimes lacked the defensive discipline to operate as one of Hasenhuttl's 'wingers'.

The current 4-3-3 could fit Tella perfectly but regardless of formation, the 23-year-old is on the right path to proving he deserves a real chance next summer. But no need to rush, there's still a long season ahead.

Will Smallbone

Club: Stoke City

Minutes Played: 557

It’s been a period of upheaval at Stoke City since Will Smallbone joined on loan following an impressive start to Saints’ pre-season. Within weeks manager Michael O’Neill was sacked and replaced by former Sunderland boss Alex Neil.

Amidst the mayhem that has been the start of the Potters’ campaign, Smallbone has been a near constant. The Irishman has played in eight of his side’s nine matches since his arrival, starting six of those. He is yet to record a goal or assist as his side have won just two of the games he has played a part in.

Smallbone in action for Stoke City. Image: PA (Image: Smallbone in action for Stoke City. Image: PA)

That’s not to say Stoke’s early failings were Smallbone’s fault. He earned Man of the Match honours on his first start against Blackpool and has averaged one key pass per game, fourth-best amongst his team. The hope now for Stoke, Saints and Smallbone is that the Potters are turning a corner after beating Hull City 3-0 earlier this week for their first victory under Neil.

Dan N’Lundulu 

Club: Cheltenham Town

Minutes Played: 681

After spending time on loan at Cheltenham last season, N’Lundulu returned to Whaddon Road this summer. A popular figure around Cheltenham thanks to his intensity and fight, N’Lundulu has three goals and one assist for his temporary side. Largely operating in a front two alongside Alfie May, N’Lundulu has started all eight of Cheltenham’s League One fixtures since his arrival while being spared the embarrassment of their 7-0 Carabao Cup thrashing at the hands of Exeter City.

One slight area of concern for N’Lundulu is his temperament with Cheltenham Head Coach Wade Elliott believing League One defenders are targeting the young man with the intention of riling him up and putting him off his game.

🏆 Your MOTM, brought to you by @Hazlewoods

👏 @nlundulu pic.twitter.com/0qLwKgIaA1

— Cheltenham Town (@CTFCofficial) September 13, 2022

“He’s a young man, certainly in terms of games,” Elliott explained recently. “He hasn’t had bundles and bundles of starts. The reason he’s out on loan is to expose him to that side of the game. We know technically and physically he’s excellent. He is understanding what League football is all about and that people are going to rile him and ruffle him. 

“He’s a really good kid who takes things on board. He thinks deeply about things. Teams will try any means to stop him and you can see already he is learning to deal and cope with that. He has to understand that and take it as a compliment. You saw even in pre-season, he’d get kicked and pulled and he’d get irate and it’s telling him just that; take it as a confidence booster.”

Kegs Chauke

Club: Exeter City

Minutes Played: 182

After a successful trial period over the summer, Saints starlet Kegs Chauke joined Exeter on a season-long loan deal but it’s not been the easiest start to life for the South African. Granted, this is his first real taste of professional football so patience is required but two appearances from the bench and no starts in the Grecians’ first eight League One matches is a slight disappointment.

Kegs Chauke in action for Saints in the EFL Trophy. Image: PA (Image: Kegs Chauke in action for Saints. Image: PA)

The 19-year-old however, did start and score in Exeter’s EFL Trophy defeat to Newport County. The important thing though is that this was always going to be a project with adaptation needed. Speaking after Chauke joined in July, Exeter manager Matt Taylor said:

“He has fantastic attributes, a fantastic attitude, he’s dynamic and he can play football as well and in the next two years, I think you’ll see a different, physical specimen than what’s on show and what’s on offer today because he’s still got a lot of growing to do. His bandwidth is huge which is why he is going to be a top, top player and hopefully, we can add some layers to his game and get him a bit more body-hardened and get him ready to go back to Southampton and play at the highest possible level.”

Chauke’s best days are still to come.

Thierry Small

Club: Port Vale

Minutes Played: 183

A tough maiden campaign at St Mary's for Small saw the former Everton defender struggle in his only professional appearance against Coventry City in the FA Cup. With a feeling that he had grown out of B Team football, Small joined League One Port Vale this summer on a season-long loan deal.

Small is yet to fully make his mark at Port Vale, appearing in six games across the league, EFL Cup, and League Cup. Of those six matches, Small has started just one lasting 70 minutes in defeat to Rotherham United.

Thierry Small in action for Saints against Coventry in the FA Cup. Image: PA (Image: Thierry Small in action for Saints against Coventry in the FA Cup. Image: PA)

With Port Vale struggling in 17th place in the League One table, it promises to be a relatively tough season for Small but in a first loan that is likely not the worst thing in the world.

Caleb Watts

Club: Morecambe

Minutes Played: 254

Another of Saints youngsters to head off to League One this summer, Watts joined Derek Adams’ Morecambe and has had a stop-start spell since. His first six appearances for his new side came off the bench including an EFL Trophy clash with Everton’s U21s where he headed in his first goal in a Morecambe shirt.

Speaking to Morecambe’s official club website after that triumphant cameo, Watts opened up on what has been a tough year for him with injury struggles.

“I haven’t played in a while, especially last year [due to injury], so I’m just getting into the swing of things, hopefully, I’ve convinced the manager he can trust me, and hopefully I’ll be available for more minutes going on.

“Going a stretch without playing is always quite difficult but having the 90 minutes to get the ball at your feet and do what you do, a player like me, [there’s] nothing better.

“The manager makes the decisions, I’ll just keep showing up and, when he decides it’s my time, I’ve just got to be there to take it.”

Watts finally earned his first start for Morecambe earlier this month in a 2-2 draw with Bristol Rovers but the Australian was left out of the squad for their recent heavy defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

Kazeem Olaigbe

Club: Ross County

Minutes Played: 429

When offered the chance to leave Southampton temporarily and move 600 miles north to Scotland, Olaigbe excitedly jumped at the opportunity to test himself. He was under no illusion that it would be a challenge, but that is evidently not something that fazes him.

Olaigbe has thus far made a total of ten appearances - five in the Scottish Premiership and five in the League Cup. His first two goals came in one of those League Cup outings, a 7-0 demolition of East Fife.

Last season’s B Team Player of the Year, Olaigbe went through a valuable learning experience when he and his side were swept aside 4-0 by Rangers at Ibrox.

Kazeem Olaigbe poses after signing a new Saints contract. Image: Southampton FC (Image: Kazeem Olaigbe poses after signing a new Saints contract. Image: Southampton FC)

Speaking after the heavy loss, the Saints loanee told The Inverness Courier: 

“I was expecting a tough game as we were up against good players.

“But we have learned a lot from playing against top players, we made mistakes but we can learn from them.”

Olgaibe was also asked about the switch from the South Coast to Scotland, saying:

“It is a different experience from playing at Southampton but I am getting used to it. They are two tough leagues,” says the Belgian.

“It is also great that I have also learned a lot of stuff from manager Malky Mackay so far.”

Dynel Simeu

Club: Tranmere Rovers

Minutes Played: 110

Following a positive loan spell at League Two Carlisle United over the back-half of last season, many - including Simeu’s representatives - had hopes there might be a loan further up the pyramid for the Southampton native. Instead, the centre-back has headed back down to League Two joining Tranmere Rovers on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old came off the bench for the final 20 minutes of his new team’s 2-1 defeat to Leyton Orient 48 hours after his signing before he started and played the full game as Tranmere were again beaten 2-1 - this time by Bradford City - earlier this week.

Dynel Simeu in action for Carlisle last season. Image: Richard Parkes (Image: Dynel Simeu in action for Carlisle last season. Image: Richard Parkes)

Jake Vokins

Club: Woking

Minutes Played: 19

With two years left on his current Saints deal, Vokins left the club this summer for National League Woking. He has thus far played 19 minutes off the bench of what will likely be a make-or-break season for the 22-year-old.

Saints youngster Jake Vokins (Image: Saints youngster Jake Vokins)

Will Tizzard

Club: Chippenham Town

Minutes Played: 180

After winning Scholar of the Year in 2021 and making ten appearances for the B Team last season, Tizzard has left Staplewood for his first taste of professional football, joining National League South Chippenham Town until January.

Tizzard has started all three of Chippenham’s league fixtures since his arrival, with his side conceding twice in those matches.

Mateusz Lis

Club: Troyes

Minutes Played: 0

After spending pre-season with Saints following Lis’ arrival this summer, the Polish goalkeeper departed for Ligue 1 Troyes on deadline day. Lis is yet to appear for his new side.

Jan Bednarek

Club: Aston Villa

Minutes Played: 0

The Polish international joined Aston Villa on loan late in the window after no permanent move away from St Mary’s materialised. Bednarek is yet to make his debut after last weekend’s games were postponed. He’ll have to wait at least one more week with his temporary side facing his parent club on Friday night.

Bednarek in action for Saints last season. Image: PA (Image: Bednarek in action for Saints last season. Image: PA)

Jack Stephens

Club: Bournemouth

Minutes Played: 0

Like his former central defensive partner Bednarek, Stephens departed Southampton on loan late in the transfer window, also joining a Premier League competitor in Bournemouth. As with Bednarek, Stephens has yet to step on the pitch for the Cherries.

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