Finn Azaz hits back at critics after joining Southampton - he mentions Plymouth Argyle evidence | OneFootball

Southampton forward Finn Azaz has responded to criticisms over his work-rate, and has defended his style of play.

Southampton star Finn Azaz has fired back at his critics after a slow start to life at St Mary's, and has called upon evidence from his time at Plymouth Argyle to make a "short memories" claim.

It's been an all-round frustrating start to the 2025/26 season for everyone connected with Southampton, however, not just Azaz.

The Saints sit 17th in the Championship after nine games, with just two wins to their name, as wins over Wrexham and Sheffield United respectively meaning boss Will Still continues to wait for his first big signature league win in the Southampton dugout.

As such, frustrations are growing among the Saints faithful over the team's slow start to the campaign, with a number of their new summer recruits unable to hit the ground running in Hampshire.

"Going to prove people wrong" - Finn Azaz responds to Southampton critics and makes Plymouth Argyle claim

One of those has been Azaz, who joined Southampton from Middlesbrough towards the end of the summer window, in a deal that was reportedly worth an initial £12m, but could rise to £14m with add-ons.

However, after six Championship appearances so far this season, the Republic of Ireland international is yet to register his first goal or assist in Southampton colours, and has been coming under growing criticism for his perceived lack of work rate and tendency to go missing in games.

But, the 25-year-old attacking midfielder has hit back at his critics, defending his style of play and even claiming that people have "short memories", in reference to his time spent as a Plymouth Argyle player in which he proved that he does work hard and press for the team.

"We talk about creativity, and that's one of my super strengths. People have always questioned my out-of-possession work, my work rate, my defensive stuff, my ability to press," Azaz told The Daily Echo via The Northern Echo.

"I've been like, 'listen, I'm doing a role in different teams'. It's definitely a strength of mine. I think I've been trying to show that here, working really hard on the pressing stuff.

"The managers are obviously big on that. People say I can't do it, so I'm going to definitely prove people wrong with that this season.

"I've played in a lot of really good possession-based teams. When you have the ball a lot, on the eye, it's all just in possession.

"You don't really see that, for example, on the weekend, those sprints at defenders. To go and win the ball back high, it's just completely different.

"At Plymouth, I think I definitely did show that, but people have short memories, don't they? I'm looking to work on that this season. Hopefully, we get more and more chances from it."

Data evidence does back up what Azaz claims about his work rate

Both from his time at Middlesbrough and now at Southampton, a lack of energy and work rate has always been the main knock on Azaz from supporters.

He scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists in 45 Championship appearances for Boro last season, and was tasked with being Michael Carrick's creative cog, and so naturally, his first focus and role was to always be available to hurt the opposition by getting in dangerous areas.

However, as per FotMob, Azaz ranked in the top 7.5 percentile of Championship attacking midfielders for ball recoveries last season (149), as well as placing in the top 11.8 percentile for number of times he won possession in the final third (23).

Going back to the 2023/24 season, in which he spent the first half of that term with Plymouth Argyle before joining Middlesbrough in January, Azaz once again ranked highly among Championship attacking midfielders in those same two categories.

Indeed, he ranked in the top 21.2 percentile for ball recoveries (188), and in the top 5.3 percentile for number of possessions won in the final third (23).

And finally, taking a look at his solitary full season as an Argyle player in 2022/23, the Irishman ranked in the top 8.6 percentile of League One attacking midfielders for ball recoveries (158), whilst no third tier player in his position won more possessions in the final third than his 31.

Therefore, the data suggests that Azaz certainly seems to have a point when it comes to a potential misconception surrounding his work rate and pressing.

His excellent numbers in those categories among his positional peers could point towards the notion of the role and tactical instructions he receives that make it appear as though he's not working hard enough being correct.

Regardless, Azaz has vowed to prove those skeptics wrong once and for all this season, and it certainly appears as though a fire has been lit inside of him, which should only serve to excite Southampton fans of what they could be about to see from him.