Make no bones about it, in terms of taking a giant step forward as a football club, the upcoming Europa League tie against FC Midtjylland is perhaps the biggest game for Saints since our promotion season of 2011/12.

Since Markus Liebherr bought Southampton Football Club in the summer of 2009 it has been a journey of steady progress, there have been some rocky periods and issues at times but it has always been about progress.

In that time there have perhaps been some key games that have marked that progress and emphasised to the watching world that we are on the up, the Johnstones Paint Trophy Final against Carlisle was perhaps the first and each subsequent season saw at least one that publicised our cause.

No comes another one, or perhaps I should say two given that the Europa League play off against FC Midtjylland is a two legged affair.

There are some that belittle the Europa League and say it affects league form, but the reality is that yes perhaps it is the difference between finishing 7th one year and 9th the next, but if we want to keep progressing then competing and I mean "COMPETING" in this League is the next logical step for Saints.

Firstly it will put us on the European stage, secondly it will bring in more income which in turn will thirdly allow us to bring in better quality players and of course there is the little matter that the winners now get in the Champions League.

But it is more than just those three things, it is a natural progression, why do you think Spurs and Liverpool do not turn their noses up at it ? they want to be playing in Europe year in year out, of course they would prefer it to be in the Champions League, but they would rather the Europa League than nothing, they know that you cannot just tak a squad from than nothing into truly competing in the Champions League, you have to hav a team that is used o it, that is why I always found our ex Chairman's attitude towards it strange, in football you have to build foundations and you cannot miss out any of those foundation by taking shortcuts.

So this is why the games against FC Midtjylland starting with Thursday night's home leg are so important, we have worked hard to get where we are and it now comes down to these games whether we win through and enter the group stages and get the name of Southampton Football Club on the map, or we go out with a whimper in a small ground in Denmark and become the forgotten men as several teams before us have become.

Therefore it surprises me that there are so many empty seats for Thursday, some Saints supporters want a successful club and want to be part of that glory, but to put yourselves in that position you have to do the mundane, any Manchester United fan will tell you that titles are not won against Arsenal or Chelsea, they are won by being able to relentlessly go to the so called smaller teams and win time and time again.

That is the case now with Saints, FC Midtjylland are not the draw that even Vitesse where, but it is still an important game and one where the team needs your support.

Promotion from League One was not won in the final home game against Southend in front of a packed St Mary's it was won by beating Dagenham & Redbridge in front of 18k, glory is best enjoyed when you have been along for the whole ride, I accept that there is a whole raft of supporters who have not been physically there for the hole ride since 2009, but we need that new generation to sep forward with gams like this and make it a magical night under the St Mary's llghts.

If we want more of last season in the Premier League, if we want Saints to be a top club, if we want more quality players coming in, if we want Ronald Koeman to stay, if we want Ronald Koeman to stay and if we want St Mary's to be expanded then we as a group of fans have to show it by turning up in numbers each and every game, but especially for a crucial game as this one is in the grand scheme of things.

Photo: Action Images

BUCK added 11:42 - Aug 19 Someone wrote on here the other day there is only around 15000 true saints supporters amd the rest go with the wind. So true. Until saints start selling out every game as soon as tickets are released. We will never progress to the standards where the board want to be. I think it's disgusting there's so many seats still available. And at £15 a ticket they should have sold these out the first couple of days. So any saints fans who really think they're saints fans. Go get your ticket and support your team not from your armchair

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schatfield added 12:38 - Aug 19 Buck, not as easy as that. Many of us saints fans dont live in Soton anymore, I for example, work in East London and live in Essex. Therefore on a week night, the journey down would be an absolute nightmare and cost a lot more than the £15 ticket price.
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palmsaint added 13:06 - Aug 19 Would love to be there season ticket holder for 15 years then corporate box ....but dubai a long way away but saints Alway there in my heart .... Hope to make a few games this year
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TissLeGod added 14:45 - Aug 19 Agree with schatfield -3 hours to get to the game on Saturday - M3 nightmare and still 15 mins late - for a journey that should take an hour and a half and no information until we were stuck in it. It's a balance for those living outside of the area - getting out of London in time versus who the opposition are and whether there's another home game at the weekend. Pleased the ticket price is sensible but the cost is not the only consideration. If I lived nearer as I hope to one day I'd be there.

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Santos added 15:05 - Aug 19 I reckon us in the Europa Group stages will also have a bearing on any remaining signings before the window shuts. If the speculation around VVD leaving Celtic are true and that Everton are also interested, then our qualification for it could well tip the balance in our favour. Which might be required after Saturdays showing.
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