Merci Morgan

As Southampton wave goodbye to Morgan Schneiderlin, not only have they lost a player who has extraordinary ability but also, a man who has witnessed a sporting turnaround so remarkable that many pundits have run out of superlatives to describe it. Cast your minds back to the summer of 2008. The much maligned Rupert Lowe had just walked back through the door along with Michael Wilde in order to steady the ship (excuse the nautical pun). Lowe gave new manager Jan Poortvliet a shoestring budget however he allowed him one luxury – an 18 year old central midfielder from Strasbourg for £1.2 million. Always keen on developing young talent, Lowe apparently saw off competition from bitter rivals Portsmouth to secure the signing of the youngster in spite of the large price tag. Moreover, Schneiderlin displayed immediate flashes of talent in Claus Lundekvam’s testimonial against Celtic as he would drop deep to pick the ball off the centre-backs before spraying passes to either wing as Poortvliet attempted to implement total football at St Mary’s.

Yet Schneiderlin struggled to make his mark in a young team who were out of their depth as they received a harsh lesson in the Championship. He clocked up 30 appearances that season however he clearly found it difficult to compete against seasoned second-tier midfield generals. He was a young man living abroad for the first time and playing for a club that was in utter turmoil and matters came to an inevitable head at the end of that season as Saints were relegated and went into administration but Schneiderlin remained while others departed. It was at this point that Markus Liebherr purchased the club and Alan Pardew entered the fray. The new man in the hotseat immediately recognised Schneiderlin’s abilities which also became more evident for fans; some of whom believed that the jury was still out on whether the Frenchman was worthy of the price paid for him. In one interview, the Strasbourgeois stated that he had come to terms with the gritty element of the league in picking up several ‘professional’ bookings however he was criticised by Pardew for his lack of discipline in a season where he was twice given his marching orders. Yet, Schneiderlin obviously grew as a man and a player that season, encapsulated by his first goal for the club – a thunderous half-volley away at Bristol Rovers that was still rising when it smashed into the roof of the net. In the following season, more was expected from Schneiderlin and he duly delivered; establishing himself in a formidable spine including Kelvin Davis, Jose Fonte, Dean Hammond and Rickie Lambert. He, like the rest of the team installed a winning mentality at the club as they secured promotion before embarking on an incredible run in the Championship in the following season. It was in this season that Schneiderlin began to build a relationship with Jack Cork. The two of them provided valuable cover for the centre-backs while also becoming the starting point for an exciting attacking line up which fired Saints up to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

In the Frenchman’s first season in the big time, he excelled to the point where statisticians noted that he was the best ball winning midfielder in the league. This impressive feat only increased his claims for international recognition as he notched up five goals. After an arduous start to life back in the top tier, under Mauricio Pochettino’s guidance, Schneiderlin was one of the main players who had turned the club’s season around, and as a result, picked up the Fans’ Player of the Season gong. In the summer of 2013, Saints pulled off a coup in signing Victor Wanyama who threatened to steal the limelight however the two defensively minded players complimented each other perfectly. While Wanyama shielded Jose Fonte and Dejan Lovren with impressive strength and positioning, Schneiderlin had more license to display his range of passing as Messrs Lallana, Rodriguez and Lambert reaped the benefits propelling Saints into the top ten. What followed was well documented. Media outlets and pundits alike branded it as a “meltdown”. In the space of a month, Saints lost their manager and five vital players. The club decided that the exodus had to end there as they drew a line in the sand amidst reports that Schneiderlin and Rodriguez were heading to White Hart Lane. Off the back of representing his country for the first time at a World Cup, the Frenchman lambasted the club on Twitter however he came round – rumoured to have been asked by Saints to spend one more year at St Mary’s at which point he would be allowed to depart. In his final season, Saints’ number four managed to surpass his previous form once more. Despite niggling injuries, Schneiderlin remained a pivotal part of a Saints team that agitated the big boys until the last before discovering that they would qualify for the Europa League after Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph.

Finally, it was Manchester United who met Saints’ demands – after it seemed Schneiderlin’s most likely destination would be North London. He will go with the club’s blessing unlike others who have left before him. Not only does it represent a sensational profit on the teenager they signed seven years ago, he is also a nostalgic embodiment of the extraordinary progress that Saints have made in his time at the club. How he will progress further in a very competitive atmosphere is another matter however under the tutorship of Louis Van Gaal and new midfield maestro Bastian Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin now has the opportunity to cement his place in France’s starting line-up.