Football News: Southampton Premier League season so far

Image from: alchetron.com

Results so far:

H v Watford 1-1
A v Manchester United 0-2
H v Sunderland 1-1
A v Arsenal 1-2
H v Swansea City 1-0
A v West Ham United 3-0
A v Leicester City 0-0
H v Burnley 3-1

Yet another summer of change saw Southampton lose yet another manager, along with more of their best players, to the 'bigger' clubs in the Premier League. This was probably the bitterest pill of all to swallow for the fans, as Ronald Koeman left to join a team that Saints had finished above last season, when he chose to take over at Everton. Incoming manager Claude Puel came in with a massive job on his hands, as the club were in desperate need of a boost.

A slow start piled more pressure on, as Puel looked to integrate some of the youngsters that Koeman had ignored, results were just not coming quickly. While the fans were beginning to show signs of restlessness, the club's hierarchy backed Puel and stood by him, and saw the Saints finally pick up a win in their 5th match of the season. Since then, two more wins and a draw have followed, as the South Coast club look like a club going places.

With Southampton once more returning to their strengths, producing young players in their academy and giving them a chance in the first team, after a few years of looking to cheaper foreign imports to build around, the future looks rosey. This season is looking to be yet another top half of the Prem finish, with European football once more the aim. The main issue could turn out to be the impatience of the fans, who want to see their club moving forwards, rather than standing still.

Puel's track record suggests he has been brought in to develop the youngsters and bring them through, while maintaining decent results. Is that still enough for Saints' fans? How much longer can the club continue to sell players and maintain their place in the league, when other Premier League sides are investing in their teams?

Written by Tris Burke October 20 2016 07:32:07