The game at Aston Villa completed the first section of the season for Saints, but the fact it was only a draw left some fans deflated.

When the chaos of the summer was ensuing where we are now seemed a long way off and a mere pipe dream, even though when we went up to Anfield and the opening game things looked a lot better, there were few Saints fans who could be described as optimisitc that we could match last seasons exploits.

I was one of those who felt that things were not as bad as they seemed, but I have to admit even I could not see what was coming next.

The defeat at Anfield answered few questions at the time, on one hand it was a good display and against a side who had finished second the year before and were expected to challenge for the title again, but on the other there was that suspicion that we had dropped at least a point.

The latter thought would be correct although there were few either in the crowd that day or watching on TV who would have predicted the divide that would exist between the two clubs a little over three months later,

But since then it has been the best start to a Saints season ever with a side playing the best football we have seen in a long time, some would say ever, since that day at Anfield we have played a further 11 Premier League games, we have won 8 of those, drawn 2 and lost only 1, add to that a further 3 wins in the Capital One Cup and it has been a great three months for Saints.

Therefore we headed up to Villa Park expecting a win, but we found that football often isn't like that and we fell to ground with a bump, although we should take heart from the fact that we stuck to our task and got a deserved point, something previous Saints sides would not have done.

All good sides suffer games where just when they are expected to win a game with ease it either doesn't go their way or they have an off day, it is the good sides that get something out of those days.

But now is not the time to be bemoan our performance, now is the time to celebrate a job well done in the first third of the season before we move on and concentrate on the next tranche of games.

Take a look at the Premier League table now ! I mean it go to the BBC Sport site and stare at the table and enjoy, right have you done that ? good so have I, if Im not mistaken Southampton Football Club sit 2nd, two points above Manchester City and a full 7 points ahead of Manchester United in 4th place.

It has been a glorious start to the season and we have every chance to make this a real season to remember.

I looked at this season as one that if we were to progress we needed to finsih ahead of the 7 clubs above us last term, thre e of them sit in the top four with us, the next three sit 9 points behind us and one is 12 points adrift, an enormous gap to make up.

This gives us a great opportunity, last season I said at this time that although Saints were hovering around the top four they had no chance of being there at the end of the season, the reason for that was all of those top 7 clubs I mentioned were all in good form and all there or thereabouts.

This season is different, none bar Chelsea and Man City can be said to be firing on all four cylinders, this season more than any other is a year when a club outside of the big cartel could jump in to a Champions League spot possibly and 5th place for the Europa League definitely, the prize is there for the taking.

So lets enjoy the ride, it will be bumpy but we have a clear path forward and a clear strategy that was not there a year ago, even the biggest optimist would not predict that the next tranche of a dozen games will produce the points haul this one has, but if we can come out of it relatively unscathed then we will be strong and ready for a good run in to the end of the season.

For the first time in a long time Southampton Football Club is united on every front, the board, the staff, the players & the supporters, there has probably not been a period when that could be said in three decades, the future now is truly bright, it will be rocky at times but we have cause for optimism, lets enjoy it .

Photo: Action Images

ItchenNorth added 11:36 - Nov 25 Best start to a league campaign for god knows how long! Living the dream this season living the dream!
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saintnige added 12:17 - Nov 25 I still think 'optimisitc' was left back for Rapid Vienna in the 70s -- right foot only for standing on but his left peg could open a securicor van (apologies to Stan Bowles). Sorry - been proofreading.
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HoveSaint added 12:31 - Nov 25 I am sure that every club look at 12 games played and start to review whats worked and what has not, in our case the verdict would be an 8 out of 12 for wins and fantastic effort that NO Saints fan could have predicted from the summer storm. The so called Big Clubs should not be underestimated here and as was discussed on radio 5 last night its now about the depth of the squad, injuries to key players and the ability to get results from scrappy games - as we all saw last night, that wins Championships. Currently there is what a neutral would call "an imbalance" in that the usual suspects are not where they should be in the table and hopefully it will stay that way come May next year. That would be great for our proud club and the English Footie as a whole. I have been a Saints fan since watching the likes of Channon and Osgood create havoc at the Dell, I have watched my fair share of hero's and villans playing for the club in good measure, but this team and the management have something that cant be bottled. Its massive belief in what they are doing and playing as a team with the drive to succeed and something that I am proud to watch week in and week out. COYS!!

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halftimeorange added 12:42 - Nov 25 I have to take some issue with your words "For the first time in a long time Southampton Football Club is united on every front, the board, the staff, the players & the supporters" . The derision which greeted Mane's poor ball retention last night (and, to a lesser degree, Long's battling) reminded me of the attitude displayed by Saints supporters towards Ricardo Fuller and Paul Telfer. The former went on to have a successful career at Stoke and the latter was a wholehearted trier every time he played. They just didn't fit in and it appears neither do Mane or Long. It's ludicrous but we have some of the most fickle supporters in the country. Also, the continual hints of Schneiderlin's departure do not support the claim that all the players are on board. Furthermore, there is the Cork question. In my opinion his presence last night would have given those in front of him more space. The forwards were tripping over each other. Cork came on much too late but he seems to be surplus to requirements. I find the fact that he apparently hasn't been offered another contract most peculiar. Lastly, of all the current first team, I don't believe I'm alone in not being convinced by Forster's communicative abilities. He plucks balls out of the air with ease and his kicking is good (in comparison to Boruc or Davis) but Boruc was definitely in charge when he appeared for Saints. I agree that we have the talent but there have been a few signs in recent games that we need a little more ingenuity if we are to maintain this good start. It would help if the boo-boys stopped and Morgan said he would stay. Just my view.

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richardmdcooper added 14:19 - Nov 25 A little negative there halftimeorange! The points you raise are mostly valid (except the Forster boruc complaint- Forster is far superior) but the point of the article is that big picture, everything is looking pretty damn good. We're in a far better position than last season- a much better manager, a better squad and cohesion off the field. Agree it would be nice to sign cork long term but the point of the article is spot on. Coys

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Whatsforpud added 15:39 - Nov 25 I take a photocopy of the league table to bed with me every night!
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A1079 added 18:05 - Nov 25 I have been a Saints fan for years and what has always stood out for me above anything else was the Lawrie McMenemy era, the one touch football, finishing 2nd to Liverpool and consistently being entertaining to watch and being able to compete by and large with the so called "bigger" boys. I have seen the darker side and as I have openly admitted I was one of the doubters at the end of last season and going into this, but this first half of the season has been something else. I don't think it quite matches yet the experience of the 80's but there are positive signs of some similarity. Koeman has been a breath of fresh air. Our play, on the whole, has been almost as good as it can get and certainly there does appear a good spirit and attitude. Halftimeorange makes some valid points without being negative. I am still bewildered as to why Cork contract has not been sorted out, which suggests that his future here is not that long. Schneiderlin, whilst he has been professional, clearly intends to leave either in January or the end of the season, otherwise, why not say now, that he is happy to remain and has no desire to move under the current regime. The jury is still out on one or two of our signings. I think also it was Sonicboom who made a point the other week - it is not that we cannot make people stay or stop people wanting to move on, but it would be nice if our "best" players or officials would one day stand up and say - why would I want to join Tottenham, Liverpool or whoever, it gets as good as it gets here at Southampton. May be that is idealistic and unrealistic but would love to hear it. But, what a tremendous season we have had thus far. I still remain realistic about where we may end up, but I sincerely hope we continue the entertainment and the challenge right up to the end and not just confound the pre-season doubters like me, but the wider footballing public and at the end of it all hear the players and managers alike say - Southampton - why would I go anywhere else, when we are ourselves going places.

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FrankSaint added 20:58 - Nov 25 Yes the table makes even greater viewing when we remember we our ahead of schedule in our club's long term plan. That puts any blips like last night into perspective. Compare that with Spurs where the fan blogs have only just woken up to the fact that Pochettino is only their Head Coach so apparently they have been Managerless this season (LOL). Last night was reminiscent of the West Brom game. Villa played like an away team that parked the bus and hoped to hit us on the break. And it was only when we played our normal fast tempo game that we broke them down with the normal efficiency. Too much hesitation and trying too hard after they scored spoiled the party. So many runs to beat the offside trap were not rewarded with a pass, not least with runs by Mane. And why was Schneiderlin hitting so many long lofted cross field passes that took an age to come down. They need to be pinged if done at all. Anyway we all have an off day at the office, and the first cold night, a Monday night, a determined opponent and live telly must all have hampered our play. The important thing is that we came away with a point despite all that.

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SanMarco added 22:18 - Nov 25 halftimeorange: "ludicrous but we have some of the most fickle supporters in the country". I think it is more that every club has a per centage of pillocks amongst its support. I meet them every time I go to an away game. Every club has them - their prime motivations are hatred, negativity and alcohol. There are not many of them but they tend to be loud. I like most Saints supporters I meet but there will always be a few...

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