This is the day that all Saints fans have been waiting for, our return to European action and the chance to continue to show the World we are the fastest growing football club in Europe.

There are some who last season moaned hat they did not want Europa League competition, they said it was a distraction from the Premier League.

But the reality is that the Europa League is the next logical step for Saints, the empty boasts of Nicola Cortese and Mauricio Pochettino that it was Champions League or nothing was not the words of ambition, it was merely stringing people along as to what was the realistic targets of the club.

For Saints to jump from 14th to 4th was n impossible task in the short term and even the longer given the resources that the four sides that finished in the top four last season have.

But Saints can keep moving forward as a club by making short step and many of them, qualifying for the Europa League is one of them if only for the reason it allows you to attract players of a higher quality and a good un in the Europa League will certainly improve our bargaining power in the transfer windows to com.

So today is the day that Saints step back on to the European stage and put the name f Southampton Football Club on to the lips of football supporters across the continent.

The clue is in the title, we are a football club and should ant to compete for every trophy we can, that means not just king up the numbers, Cortese and Pochettino were not ambitious for Saints, they were more concerned about not getting relegated, they were scared of cup runs because they felt it got in the way of staying out of trouble.

Ronald Koeman and Ralph Krueger are sports people, they are winners, they know if you chase success then you will get money and that ill enable you to chase success with more resources, if you chase money you never catch it.

Photo: Action Images

JGH added 11:17 - Jul 30 I like the sentiment and agree that the current board/management have been fantastic but your criticisms of MoPo and especially Cortese are shockingly short sighted. Lots of bluster yes but to say no ambition and simply stringing along. Sorry - don't buy that.
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saintstuinoz added 11:58 - Jul 30 Thanks to Pardew, Adkins, Pocchettino, Cortsese, Kreuger and of course Mr and Miss Liebherr for bringing our great club from the brink back to Europe. I'll be getting up at 3am to watch this one from Perth!
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BoondockSaint added 14:02 - Jul 30 Nick, I'm one of the "moaners". Of course I will cheer on the Saints in any and every competition even if it's only "Keepy Uppy". But you can't claim Europa is good or bad until we are well into the season or the seasons is done! I'm still waiting for any signings to say they have "dreamed all my life of playing in the Europa League", not to mention that there is no "bargaining power" when teams come after our players saying "why waste you talent in Europa when you should be playing Champions League with us?" The Big Money Four rely on this Attrition League to sap the resources of any teams that might challenge them in the standings with wise management rather than money. Hopefully it also saps Spuds and Scousehampton......

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Zambucco added 15:07 - Jul 30 BoondockSaint, I can claim that Europa is good before we've kicked a ball. Because it is a reflection of our great season and our final finishing place. I spit on all those who joined the other sheep, decrying Europa, it is progress, and progress however small should be appluaded. There have been put forward a couple of examples of teams who finished lower when they were involved in the Europa league. But has anyone researched clubs who have maintained or improved? It is possible that those teams who finished lower just had a crap season! Look at Newcastle, did they have Europa to blame? I blame the internet and the vast amounts of opinions and scaremongering, that happens. Did teams have the same fear years ago, when Europe was a regular excursion, European Cup, Fairs Cup, Cup Winners Cup. Yet many teams still managed to reach the latter stages whilst still doing well on the home front. As for players dreaming of playing in the Europa cup, maybe not, dreaming of playing in Europe at any level yes, then to advance to the pinnacle. Any non league player will dream of playing in League 2, they dream of league one, Championship, Premier League! Probably not even worrying about what team, just to pay. I know I was one of those guys! Well Sunday afternoon dreaming of playing in the Wessex league, moving rapidly to saving a penalty and scoring the winning goal in the World Cup Final. As the eternal optimist, I truly believe we have the squad, the coach, backroom staff, fans and mentaility to go far in Europe and the domestice competitions. (and breathe) COYR!

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BoondockSaint added 15:34 - Jul 30 Zambucco- "I spit on all those......sheep"???? That's not exactly the civil discussion usually on this site! I understand your points, which are valid, but let's not get abusive, OK?
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gpsgm added 19:00 - Jul 30 Southampton captain Jose Fonte says leading the team in Europe can be classed as one of the "proudest moments" in his career. Will that do?
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