Fulham 0-3 Southampton: 5 Things We Learned

4. Chambers And Shaw Are Future England Full Backs

Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers demonstrated once again on Saturday why they are so highly rated by the Southampton coaching team. The full backs played with the maturity of players much more senior than them, indeed it is easy to forget that Shaw and Chambers are just 18 and 19 years old respectively. Shaw, in particular, caught the eye on many occasions. Like Chambers, he is very much the modern full back; strong, quick and fit enough to support attacks but also retreat when possession is lost. What you notice most about the Saints' full backs is their desire to stretch the play and make the pitch as wide as possible. The duo can often be seen hugging the touchline, with Steven Davis or another midfielder dropping in to create a back three alongside the centre halves. The end result is that Shaw and Chambers have a much greater influence on the game, in the same way someone like Dani Alves does at Barcelona. Now, I am not comparing the Southampton youngsters to the Brazilian's ability, but if you watch the Spanish giants you will see how Sergio Busquets drops incredibly deep to allow Alves to maraud forward. The same effect is happening down at the south coast and it is a joy to watch. It also gives more than a strong look towards the future of the England national team. In the modern game, the full back is so much more than just a defender. Shaw and Chambers epitomise this completely and it will not be long before the pair become full internationals.