Arron Sanders gives us his preview ahead of yet another season that kicks off with the club in turmoil.
With the new season getting underway this weekend, I thought I would provide my 50 pence worth regarding the upcoming 9 months of football for our club.
With Pre season providing a mixed bag of results under new boss Mauricio Pellegrino, there are clearly reasons to be both optimistic and concerned with regards to how we will fare during the new season.
The way the fixtures have turned out the key to a positive campaign for Saints, lies with producing a good start and getting a good return of points on the board early on.
Saints have traditionally not been very fast starters to the season especially in recent seasons, but with just 1 of last seasons top 6 sides to play in the opening 10 fixtures this year appears to be our best chance of doing so for awhile.
The clubs movement in the transfer market has been slow to get going but it appears to be clicking into gear, with the signing of Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina appearing to be imminent.
For me the next priority for the club needs to be getting a quality central defender through the door, espeically with Virgil Van Dijk's position at the club now almost untenable and his departure would push our requirment upto 2 in that position.
If this can be achieved alongside not allowing any further players from the starting 11 leave the club, I believe another season finishing in the region of 8th to 10th position should be the aim.
The key to achieving this will be through good performances of the following players:
Manolo Gabbiadini- Goals win games and this man for me just edges Charlie Austin in terms of quality and should finish the season as our top goal scorer if he can hit between 15-20 goals it'll be a big contribution to the team.
Ryan Bertand & Cedric Soares- The success the new manager achieved at his former club Alaves was by putting an big importance of his full backs and I expect him to do the same with these two quality players at his disposal.
Fraser Forster- We need the big man to get to the shot stopping form of 2 seasons ago his clean sheets numbers was paper over the cracks for him last season in my opinion.
Oriol Romeu- Oriol was tremendous last season and another display like that will be much needed as controlling the midfield within a side who likes to keep possession is a key attribute.
James Ward-Prowse- If Ward-Prowse can establish himself into Pellegrino's starting 11 his dead ball deliveries will be a big contributor to the amount of goals we get from set pieces this year.
Now in terms of what I feel should be achieved on the whole this season below are a few of my targets I would set the new manager:
Premier League: Top half finish should be the minimum aim here with the points gap to the European places being decreased from last season.
EFL & FA Cup: A cup run again in one of the two chances at silverware getting to at least a quarter final place in one would be a good aim.
First team Appearences made by players from the clubs academy: Between the various options avaliable we should be looking at around 50-60 appearences made in first team games this campaign.
What are you thoughts and expectations going into the upcoming season? Are you optimistic of a good season under our new manager?