Danny Fox has left St Mary's for Nottingham Forest and some Saints supporters should hang their heads in shame at the way they have treated him in the past year.
Danny Fox was an integral part of the side that won promotion to the Premier League, his attacking play and ability to deliver a dead ball was a big part of our threat on goal and certainly Rickie Lambert would not have scored half of the goals he did that season if it hadn't been for that accuracy from dead ball situations from Fox, perhaps the most remembered being his free kick at Fratton Park that was undefendable and meant Rickie couldn't miss.
Fox's reward for his efforts in 2011/12 were to become one of the scapegoats for the following season, yes poor defending in the opening game at Man City didn't help his cause and some were on his back from that moment and calling for a player that most of them had never seen, Luke Shaw to replace him, of course Shaw was a rare talent, but in those opening half dozen or so games last term if he had been plunged into a side in turmoil it could have perhaps put his career back a year, so it was left to Fox to take the onslaught and become the brunt of a certain type of fans vitriol.
Yes we all could see he want perhaps up to the task, but he wasnt the only one in the first half of last season, however he was the one who got horrific verbal abuse from some supporters whenever he was picked, it didnt matter to them that he was only being picked because of an injury to Shaw and therefore was in as the only option and was doing nothing more than trying his best under difficult circumstances.
Perhaps only Guly has come in for as much abuse, yet another player who did nothing other than help us climb up the leagues and play a vital part in that.
The irony of the situation though is that since Luke Shaw came into the team, in the main Fox has done little wrong, over the past 15 months his 10 starts have yielded 8 points and his 5 appearances off the bench another 11, look at it anyway you want and that is not a bad points average per game, this season he played a vital part in a 2-0 backs to the wall win against Swansea and his performance in the win against Man City last year is overlooked, to those boo boys every Fox appearance has resulted in only one thing and that has been a resounding drubbing, but as the stats show that is not the truth.
Im not claiming that Fox is the best in the World, but he was excellent for Saints in the Championship and he has come in under difficult circumstances at times and helped us to vital points since his regular first team days have been over.
Now he goes to Nottingham Forest initially on loan but with a view to a permanent move in the summer, a slice of deja Vu in that he goes there to replace Dan Harding the very same player he displaced in the Saints side.
So some Saints supporters should hang their heads in shame for the abuse they have given Fox during games, it wasnt the majority but it has been a very big minority that made themselves heard, they didnt care that Southampton Football Club needed to win a football game first and foremost, all they cared about was abusing a player in our own colours, they were not prepared to give him a chance, whatever he did.
Perhaps his departure will have a silver lining, perhaps some people will look at the likes of Guly, Gazzaniga, Hooiveld & Yoshida to name but four and realise they are doing nothing wrong but trying their best after being selected, if they are the best we have then that is not their fault but those responsible for transfers who have not adequately replaced them.
The age old response from the verbal abusers is "I pay my money im entitled to my opinion" I agree with that, but we are called "Supporters" not "Opinioners" opinions are for down the pub and on internet message boards, when we go to matches we should go to "Support"
Football will always have scapegoats but what happened to Danny Fox and Guly for that matter is disgusting, I hope that I do not see the like of it again.
Thank you Danny Fox, you weren't the best left back we have ever had but you were our best left back in the Championship and we might not be here today but for your efforts in that league, I wish you well and should you return to St Mary's on the opposition then I hope that all of our supporters thank you properly for your part in our march back to the Premier league