Podcaster Dave Azzopardi believes Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu has a ‘good future’ ahead of him after watching his performance in the Saints’ recent Premier League game.
Bazunu was unlucky to concede the game’s winning goal at Molineux as Daniel Podence’s scuffed effort deceived the Irish No 1, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side unable to find a response in the second half.
Speaking on the Talking Wolves YouTube channel after the game, Azzopardi was full of praise for the home side as they claimed all three points, but also picked out Bazunu as the Saints’ shining light.
He said: “Gavin Bazunu, the young goalkeeper for Southampton, has got a good future in football. Republic of Ireland No 1, there were a lot of people around me that didn’t actually know who he was.
“As a sweeper ‘keeper coming off his line, he was so quick, he’s a big player and I think he’s got a good future. I think Southampton have got a good goalkeeper there.”
TIF Thoughts on Gavin Bazunu’s Southampton performance…
At just 20 years of age, the fact Bazunu has immediately come in as the club’s No 1 shows the faith Hasenhuttl has in the young shot-stopper, so it’s unlikely Azzopardi is alone in thinking the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper is at the start of a sparkling career.
Having shone for his country in the past – saving a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo last September – it’s clear that Bazunu has natural talent. And having declared that that moment would not be the defining one of his career, it looks like he has the ambition to go with it.
This can only bode well for Southampton, and keeping him may be a bigger challenge for the club than keeping balls out of the net will be for the Irishman.
How well will Gavin Bazunu do at Southampton?
One-season wonder
Sold for big money
Future captain
Saints legend
And with Bazunu being hailed as ‘exciting’ by his peers, we have surely not yet seen the best of him – and Southampton should be commended for managing to bring him in this summer.