After a record-breaking finish last season, it seems as though Saints are in transition again. With new manager Claude Puel coming in and implementing his style of football from the off, could a top-half finish and a good cup run be considered a good season for the club?
Beginning with a rough start to the season – two home draws against Watford and Sunderland and a loss away at Old Trafford – the club record signing of Sofiane Boufal has brought the confidence and positivity back to the Southampton faithful.
With the whole team in transition and individual players having to adapt to new roles in the diamond formation, what would be a respectable and good enough finish?
Personally, I believe that a good campaign would entail the club securing a top half finish and going on a good cup run, either in Europe or one of the domestic cups. With midweek football almost every other week, the side will subsequently suffer injuries and fatigue to a number of players. Keeping fitness and consistency amongst the squad whilst taking part in all of these competitions will obviously be very hard and will lead to a finish lower than last season’s brilliant sixth.
Additionally, with clubs such as Chelsea and Liverpool – who finished below Saints – strengthening, this will shape the table more as we are used to seeing it. This is likely to feature the ‘big four’ retaking their natural positions at the top, while Southampton will be battling it out with clubs such as West Ham, Everton and even reigning Premier League champions Leicester for European football.
So, this means that a finish of around seventh to 10th place is the most likely for Saints in this season of transition and change.
