Saints step up a notch in their pre season schedule with a three match trip to Holland that will add a more competitive element to proceeedings.

Saints have arrived in the Netherlands for a trip that was arranged when Ronald Koeman was manager, this evening they will take on PEC Zwolte followed by FC Twente on Wednesday and ending Groningen next Saturday.

This seasons schedule seems to be more training camp focused than game based with the three Dutch matches only being bookended by the game against DC United's U23 side which was very low key and the home friendly with Athletico Bilbao.

There will possibly be the odd behind closed doors friendly, but this seasons schedule is less intensive than in previous years when we played more games.

Whether this is a consequence of Koeman's departure and there being an amount on uncertainty with Claude Puel not being appointed till the eve of pre season starting or if it is what was originally planned is unknown.

Certainly in the past we have eased into the pre season games with the standard of opposition increasing as the programme progresses, however this year it is one game in the States and then straight into playing three Dutch top flight sides, there is no building up of momentum gradually as in previous years.

But tonight will be a real test and Zwolle are a decent test having finished 8th in the Eredivisie last season following a 6th place in 2014/15 and Europa League qualification.

It will be the first time that Claude Puel will have his entire squad together and it will be interesting to see what formation he will employ with all his players at his disposal.

Of course pre season is not always a good guide to what the League season holds and for us this is now 3 out of the last 4 summers being the first pre season programme for our manager, so from this point we have not got consistency in the fact that managers have differing views on how they like to prepare their teams.

Photo: Action Images

TheMoog added 12:02 - Jul 23 Are you sure about 'entire squad'? Fonte and Soares are still on the p1ss aren't they?
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