SAINTS endured a dismal season on the pitch and it makes rating the overall performances of their players a little less enjoyable.
We have given a score out of 10 to all qualifying Saints players, taking into account performances, availability, value and expectations.
We have only rated players who made five or more appearances in all competitions, excluding superstars Joe Lumley and Maxwel Cornet.
You can rate those yourself, while promising young talent Jay Robinson also only made four senior appearances by the end of the season.
Here is how we scored every other Saints player over the 2024/25 season...
Goalkeepers
Aaron Ramsdale - 8.
Surprisingly only got 13 per cent of the Player of the Year vote but probably deserved more in all honesty. Ramsdale was key in many of the few games where Saints won points, and kept the score down in others. Lot of goals conceded but few his fault.
Alex McCarthy - 5.
Was a bit of a play-off hero last season but started this campaign with that error against Newcastle. No more particularly bad ones but only made a total of five Premier League appearances, failing to win a point in any. Saved a penalty in a cup shootout.
Defenders
Kyle Walker-Peters - 6.5.
Walker-Peters has had more defensive issues this season than last, as expected, but has still offered a decent amount in a variety of positions this season. Potentially a favourable review this 6.5 but an ever-present for most of the year.
James Bree - 5.5.
A couple of lovely goals in the Carabao Cup this season - shame they didn't count towards league points. Played 90 minutes in the win at Ipswich and draw with Man City, fairly steady but unspectacular operator. Not terrible by any means.
Yuki Sugawara - 5.
Showed early promise and finished with a decent performance against Arsenal, but was defensively shambolic at times during his debut season in English football. Good player going forward but defensively suspect. And those handballs!
Taylor Harwood-Bellis - 5.5.
A very disappointing season for a player who was so integral last year. Four errors leading to opposition goals is the most of any outfield player in the league this season. Visibly frustrated on the pitch a lot of the time. He can do better, though.
Jan Bednarek - 6.
Bednarek also made some mistakes leading to goals, but probably comes out of the season with a decent bit more credit. While not perfect, came out on top of individual battles including Erling Haaland. Elected to captain the team regularly.
Jack Stephens - 5.
The skipper's first-half of the season was marred by suspension after red cards against Man United and Chelsea, which kept him out of the team for nine games. Apart from the trip to Leicester, fairly reliable in the second half of the campaign.
Nathan Wood - 5.
A mixed bag for Wood this season. Looked every bit a Premier League player when he first came into the side under Russell Martin, but had equally as many games where he was out of his depth. Will be useful in Championship, we are sure.
Armel Bella-Kotchap - 4.5.
Clearly something going on behind the scenes as was left out of the squad altogether by all three managers, other than a four game spell where Ivan Juric had nobody else to pick. Beaten in all four, including that Brighton hammering.
Ryan Manning - 6.
The Irishman was much-maligned last season and found himself out of the squad altogether back in August, but fought his way back to be well-respected by most fans. Again, not perfect, but did pretty well against the expectations.
Welington - 6.
Weird one to grade. When he was on the pitch, everyone thought he looked decent. Happy to get stuck in and seems to possess a decent cross. However, sometimes looks a bit slower than the game around him - and only started six league matches.
Charlie Taylor - 4.5.
Actually played quite well in Sunday's match against Arsenal but you have got to rank on what you have got, and he only made a handful of appearances all season. Two of those were the Brentford and Bournemouth disasters. Bad year.
Midfielders
Lesley Ugochukwu - 6.5.
Started off looking a little bit ropey under Martin and he had to win back his place. Recovered from giving away a silly penalty against Brentford to be a key man in midfield. His equalising goal at West Ham a rare highlight in the season. Tidy player.
Flynn Downes - 6.
Struggled with the step up to the Premier League for a long time but started to look a bit more comfortable by the end of the season. Also picked up 12 bookings in 27 appearances, and was not the ever present figure he was last campaign.
Joe Aribo - 6.
Mixed bag for Aribo but definitely had as many good games as otherwise. Scored three Premier League goals, which is a miracle in this team. Not fancied by Simon Rusk, making just two appearances in seven after 30 in 31 previously.
Will Smallbone - 5.
Difficult year for Smallbone, unfortunately. Missed most of Martin's tenure through injury and then not quite tactically suited to either Juric or Rusk. As a result, struggled to get up to the speed of games as a sub. Scored at Liverpool in March.
Adam Lallana - 5.5.
Looked quality when he was on the pitch under Martin but that was probably not often enough. We knew the deal when signing a 36 year old though, and he was not suited to the styles of play that followed. Good character around the place.
Mateus Fernandes - 8.
The standout winner of the club's Player of the Year awards. Needs to add goals and assists to go to another level but the Portuguese is hard-working and central to the team's efforts in defence and attack. Brilliant first season.
Tyler Dibling - 7.
Tailed off in the second half of the season but made the third most appearances of anyone at the club in his first senior season. Was so exciting when he first tore opposition defenders apart but struggled to adapt to new tactics.
Albert Gronbaek - 4.5.
Almost certainly a better player than this rating suggests but can't give him any higher as it was an absolutely pointless signing. Did well at Anfield in midfield but has played 143 minutes in the league, doing nothing else. Mostly injured.
Ryan Fraser - 4.5.
It looked clear that a Premier League return was a step too far at this stage of Fraser's career despite his performances last season. Will obviously be remembered for the Leicester penalty, and the fact he has played two minutes in 2025.
Attackers
Cameron Archer - 5.
Played 35 times in the Premier League and scored two goals. Alright, most of his appearances were as a substitute and he hardly got any service, but still dreadful. Pacey player though and has a bit of an eye for a finish. Could come good.
Kamaldeen Sulemana - 6.
Maybe a lucky six considering he never actually discovered any end product, with one league goal and one assist. But he did actually run quite a few defenders ragged - Leny Yoro - and he had a small resurgence. Still, not a lot to shout about.
Paul Onuachu - 6.5.
The club's top scorer with four Premier League goals. No, it's not great, but nobody did any better. Not going to win the Ballon d'Or in his career but has his uses and was a decent watch for a lot of this season. Just can't stay fit enough.
Adam Armstrong - 5.
Never going to make it as a Premier League player but got his customary two goals. He was anonymous in a lot of games and fine in others, but too lightweight and not clinical enough. Scored and assisted in one match against Liverpool, unbelievably.
Ben Brereton Diaz - 4.5.
Not even meant to be a dig at Brereton Diaz but unfortunately he completely failed to show what he is about as a player while he was at Saints. Never recovered from the Newcastle incident and being played on the touchline. Not good.
Ross Stewart - 6.
It's full marks for staying fit to end the season and long may that continue. Deserved his first goal against Arsenal for that reason and looks a handful in the right system, but was obviously off the pace a lot of the time. Made 13 appearances.
Let us know in the comments which ratings you agree and disagree with...
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated: 1st January 1970 12:00 am
Report this comment Cancel