Tadic Blossoming Once Again in Saints' Late Charge for Europe

Ahead of Southampton’s notable 2-1 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, manager Ronald Koeman was full of praise for Dusan Tadic. “He’s one of the key players in front at the moment. He’s one of the best if he plays on his top level. He’s a clever player, he’s strong, and has a fantastic left foot.” The Saints boss was justified with his compliments when Jon Moss blew for full time at White Hart Lane. 

Tadic was a creative force to be reckoned in north London at the weekend. No player completed more key passes (3) than the Serb, who registered both assists for Steven Davis’ goals either side of half time. His performance came on the back of his three-assist showing in the 4-2 win over Manchester City the week prior to their trip to the capital, where Tadic became only the third player after Moussa Sissoko and Cesc Fabregas to register three or more assists in a single Premier League match this season. 

Indeed, his double assist salvo at White Hart Lane took him to 12 for the season, a return bettered only by Christian Eriksen (13) and Mesut Ozil (18). Since moving to Saints in 2014 only Fabregas (25) and Ozil (23) have registered more assists than Tadic (19). His recent flurry of assists has helped thrust the 27-year-old back into the limelight as Saints make a late surge for European football. 

Eredivisie experts will testify to Tadic’s creative qualities prior to his move to the south coast. When Nacer Chadli move to Tottenham in the summer of 2013, Twente fans breathed a sigh of relief. Tadic was the jewel in Twente’s crown. He reinforced this with 16 goals and 14 assists in his final league season in the Netherlands. It was somewhat ironic then that while Tadic played a starring role at White Hart Lane, Chadli fluffed his lines in the dying embers as Spurs failed to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. 

What’s all the more impressive about Tadic’s return, is how little he has played this term. The Serbia international has made just 26 top flight starts this season. A drop off in form at the start of the year coupled with Koeman's initial failure to settle on a system that benefitted his players has restricted Tadic's involvement this season. Having experimented with a three-man defence with limited success for a time, the Saints boss has since reverted to a more familiar looking 4-2-3-1 formation. While operating on the left, Tadic's given a license to roam across the final third in order to exert his creative qualities. 

Of course, his return to form hasn’t been due to just his individual displays in attack. While Tadic has played a key role in Saints’ fine end to the campaign, he’s been helped by Koeman’s decision to play him in a front three alongside Steven Davis and Sadio Mane behind Shane Long. Davis offers tenacity and energy behind the striker, Mane drive at the opposition defence and Long a sprinkling of both. 

With the trio working in tandem to drag markers across the defence, Tadic is able to ghost into more central areas to subtly pick apart opponents. A prime example of this came against Spurs, where Tadic and Davis played a neat one two with the former in the 18-yard box before the latter tucked past Hugo Lloris to secure all three points. 

Indeed, with Davis, Mane and Long all constantly on the move, this opens up space to be exploited in the final, which Tadic is maximising. One key pass every 30.8 minutes in the Premier League this season - one of the best returns in England’s top tier - highlights his creative quality and further accentuates his statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘key passes’. 

The general consensus is that if Koeman had more prolific goalscorers at his disposal, then Tadic would have more than the 12 league assists under his belt already this season. Nevertheless, after a bright start to life in England, the former Twente star has firmly established himself as a key member of the Saints side, with his performances of late rightly drawing the plaudits. 

As the season comes to a head and with Saints still gunning for a Europa League finish, supporters will hope Tadic can end the season with a flourish and add to his six assists in his last four league outings when they welcome Crystal Palace to St. Mary's on Sunday. It would be nothing less than the player and club deserves following another commendable campaign.

How impressed have you been with Dusan Tadic of late? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below