Do Southampton need to sign another keeper with McCarthy's future set

The experienced goalkeeper penned a two-year extension just days before his deal at St Mary's was due to expire.

McCarthy's new contract marks the culmination of a complete turnaround in his Saints career over the past three months.

He spent the vast majority of the season watching on from the bench or stands as Gavin Bazunu claimed total ownership over the number one spot.

That was until the Irishman's freak Achilles tendon injury in April saw the one-time England international restored to the starting lineup.

READ MORE: Russell Martin heaps praise on Southampton's 'brilliant' Alex McCarthy

PA (Image: PA)

With McCarthy's future secured, Southampton now have two fit senior goalkeepers ahead of their Premier League return.

However, a third keeper is likely needed, at least until January, with Bazunu expected to be sidelined until 2025.

As seen when Bazunu ruptured his Achilles, an injury to your first-choice goalkeeper can plunge a team into uncertainty.

With their current goalkeeper depth, Saints would be left with Joe Lumley as their sole senior shot-stopper should McCarthy suffer an injury or suspension.

Mateusz Lis remains under contract after his successful loan spell at Goztepe, but a player who spent last season in the Turkish second tier is also not the answer to Southampton's problems.

While Lumley, 29, held his own in the FA Cup, he is yet to make his league debut for Saints and has never played a Premier League game.

Joe Lumley joined Southampton as third-choice goalkeeper last summer (Image: Stuart Martin)

Speaking at the Southampton fan forum in August, Russell Martin said: "If I was going to go and sign a goalkeeper, for how we want to play, I would want to sign Gavin Bazunu."

Fast forward almost a year and Southampton now find themselves in a position where another goalkeeper is needed.

Well done Russell Martin👏👏

Strong praise for Gav but also backing him, the best thing a manager can do for a player. #SaintsFC pic.twitter.com/7wc1E1KjBc

— 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 (@SfcAlex__) August 15, 2023

The decision will come down to if they wish for McCarthy to continue as first-choice or whether they want to sign someone similar to Bazunu to serve as the new number one.

It is no secret by now that Martin prefers his goalkeepers to be comfortable with the ball at their feet - a role less suited to McCarthy.

Stats indicate that the 34 year old received the ball less often than Bazunu did when he was fit.

On average, McCarthy made 38 touches per 90 minutes, 10 less than Bazunu's 48.8. He also received fewer passes.

His 24.6 passes successfully received per 90 minutes is 10 fewer than Bazunu's average (34.6.)

Only Hull City's Ryan Allsop and Leicester City's Mads Hermansen recorded higher numbers for touches and passes received than Bazunu in the Championship last season. 

With McCarthy in goal, it became common to see Southampton's centre-backs take goal kicks, rather than the keeper.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis plays the ball to Jack Stephens during the Championship play-off final. (Image: EFL)

This tactic was also deployed when Bazunu was available, however, the 22 year old was more involved with the build-up.

He would receive the ball quickly before distributing it, as opposed to the ball being played around him, as was more often the case with McCarthy.

Gavin Bazunu receives a short goal kick before spreading the ball out wide (Image: EFL / RoversTV)

It should be pointed out that this could also be a tactical shift designed at progressing the ball forward quicker, rather than something done to combat McCarthy's skillset. 

At times, Saints have frustrated supporters by passing sideways at the back rather than forward.

One area where the former Reading man shone during his eight league appearances last term was shot-stopping.

During the play-off semi-final at West Brom in particular he bailed Saints out on two occasions by producing a top save.

What a reflex save from Alex McCarthy 🧤 pic.twitter.com/P3If0ZVERD

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 12, 2024

Moving into the Premier League, Southampton are likely to concede more shots per game by virtue of facing tougher opposition.

Shots on target faced per 90 minutes during the 2023/24 Premier League season (Image: Fbref) All three newly promoted teams ranked in the top five for shots on target faced per 90 minutes during the 2023/24 season. In 2022/23, the three promoted sides ranked in the top six.

Saints had been linked to new keepers prior to McCarthy inking a new contract, so a new arrival is a possibility.

The financial implications of signing another keeper could have an impact on Southampton's plans.

Signing a fourth player in that position could be seen as overstretching the budget on a role regularly played by one player all season.

Given the need to strengthen other areas, namely centre-back and striker, a new goalkeeper may have fallen down the list of priorities with McCarthy now tied down.

However, they risk a potential crisis should another goalkeeper fall to injury or suspension and with Martin's idealistic man, Bazunu, ruled out long-term, tweaks will be needed should they persist with the veteran.