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2014/15 Player Review Matt Targett
Wednesday, 3rd Jun 2015 16:18

Probably Matt did not get in as much game time as he would have hoped due to the consistency of Ryan Bertrand, but he certainly has what it takes.

Matt Targett was touted to be the next youngster to breakthrough last summer, however the subsequent signing of Ryan Bertrand and his relatively injury free season meant that opportunities for Matt were few and far between in the Premier league, but when he did play he more than showed he has the talent to go far.

If Matt Targett was a right back then no one would be too upset if Nathaniel Clyne was to leave this summer, however he is a left back and that is an issue with the fine form of Ryan Bertrand.

Targett's main games in the first half of the season where in the Capital One Cup where he started all the games and showed his skill especially in the win at Arsenal.

In the League though it was a different story, he made his debut coming on as a sub against QPR at home but that was in the 89th minute, he also got 10 minutes off the bench against Everton before making his starting debut against Chelsea in the final game of 2014 due to the unavailabilty of Bertrand against his then parent club.

He let no one down that day and Saints got a creditable 1-1 draw, his nest appearance though would be brief although it would not be off the bench but being carried off after being knocked out in the 26th minute at QPR.

His only other full game in the Premier would come in the 2-0 defeat at home to Liverpool in February, meaning that 3 starts and 3 appearances as sub would see his total game time in the league totalling only around 3 1/2 hours.

That is no reflection on his ability though only on Bertrand's, this coming season will surely see him continue his footballing education and if Saints progress to the group stage in the Europa League then Targett alongside several more of our promising youngsters will be called into action a lot more.

As a player Targett is more of a traditional left back than a wing back, in contrast with Ryan Bertrand, Matt's talents lie in using the ball rather than running with it and his ability to lay a ball up the line will be useful in the future.

It is hard to see him ousting Ryan Bertrand this season, but he will certainly start to offer Ronald Koeman more options including using Bertrand in a more forward role with Matt playing behind him.

Photo: Action Images



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