This weekend is only four short weeks from the opening day of the Premier League season, certainly it is going to be a crucial period for Southampton Football Club.
There are some who predicted that we would be down to the groundstaff and tea ladies at this point, however as we head to the business end of the summer in many respects we are better off than we were at the end of last season in that we have replaced two of the three players who have departed and still have a surplus of transfer funds of around £35 million on the deal, add to that a manager who in terms of experience and reputation is a step up from our last one and we have everything to look forward to next season.
However the next four weeks will be crucial, we have to use that £35 million well and Im sure most Saints fans would prefer to see it used sooner than later showing that not only have we identified our targets well, but we have shown to them that we are a club with ambitions to move forward.
I have said this several times recently but I will say it again, we are still a club who most in the Premier would kill to be in our position, compare our squad today with the one that contested our first season in the Premier with and we are much improved, that squad finished 14th so there is every hope that the squad this term can beat that and indeed consolidate our top ten finish of last year.
That is what we should really be looking at, another top ten finish to the season, of course we have had turmoil in the summer and that has to play a part, but as long as we spend wisely, even if we lose a player, even two then we should still be capable of achieving that aim.
So these next four weeks are going to be crucial for Saints, the last two have been great, we need to continue the progress made since Koeman arrived and make perhaps four crucial signings, I would like to see at least one central defender, a left back and a pacy wide man (tm) added to the squad, if we do that and dont lose any more then our squad would definitely be much improved from last season.
But what I feel will make all the difference is that some of the youngsters will be a step nearer being first team ready, the fact that so many burst on the first team scene so young has made us forget that in reality they came into the fray a little early, take JWP for instance, he is still only 19, an age where he should be making his debut not be a veteran of two seasons with 49 Premier League appearances to his total, he is not yet anywhere near his best and will get better, that is not to say that he hasnt been good so far.
Likewise we have youngsters who last season were nowhere near the first team but should be starting to push for a place now, Sam McQueen is one, he is showing on the tour that he is ready for a step up, like JWP he is still only 19 and this is the time that most players in the Premier start to push for the first team squad, likewise Matt Targett, he wont be 19 till next month but looks a fine prospect, add to that Harrison Reed, Lloyd Isgrove, Sam Gallagher all of whom have been on the verge but not quite ready and we have players ready to vye for a first team spot.
It would be brilliant if they all came through, but the reality is that if perhaps 1 or 2 did then it would be a great addition to the squad.
So with four weeks to go the season is starting to shape up and there is every indication that it could be as good if not better than the last, a good core squad, some good signings and a good group of youngsters coming through, so far so good, however it is the next weeks that will be crucial and the key is if anyone else will leave and if they do who will they be replaced by.