All Saints' Season,an unexpected one!

When Southampton left Shaw, Lallana, Lovren, Chambers and Lambert in last transfer window, many football experts predicted sad future for this club. Even they had a lot of money, and new manager Ronald Koeman, “The Saints” should have worse season. Today we can see that it’s not true.

Koeman sign Forster from Celtic for around 10 mln euro and sent to bench Artur Boruc, who had very good last season in Southampton. Very few people could understand this move, but Boruc respected this decision and go to loan to AFC Bournemouth (Championship).

Some statistics

Southampton boss was deaf to criticism and do, what he thought to good. His results at first quarter of this season is magnificent. Only two loses ( vs Liverpool 2-1 and Tottenham 1-0) gave second place only behind Chelsea. Southampton have the longest passes win in a row ( five wins). In Capital One Cup they already win with Milwall, Arsenal and Stoke, and they are in Quarter-final where will play against Sheffield United. Southampton on this day have also the highest win in Premier League this season. That was 18.10.2014 when beat Sunderland 8-0!. They are unbeaten in home (only Chelsea and Arsenal have also no loses in their stadiums).

A new heroes

Koeman bought more players than only Forster. Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadić, Shane Long, Saido Mane and loan from Chelsea Ryan Bertrand and from Atletico Madrid Toby Alderweireld. Most of this players today are team focus and really good integrated into the rest of Southampton players. Graziano Pelle has 6 goals and he is 5th in top scorers ranking. Dusan Tadić with the same number of assists is on 3rd place in top assists table. Their defence is the best in all league! Only 5 conceded goals after 11 matches.

Real exams

Southampton played only with two top teams (Liverpool and Tottenham). Both of this games ended lose for “The Saints”. How will be in next games against: Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City or Everton? From 30 November to 8 December they will play 3 very difficult matches ( vs City at home, vs Arsenal away and vs United at home). After this matches we will know more about real form So’ton this season.

My opinion

I think that Ronald Koeman and his players will start loses match after match. I don’t believe that they will win against “Big six”, but at the end of this campaign, Southamtpon will have very high place in table. They deserve it. Only plague of injuries and bad transfer moves in winter transfer window could change this situation. If they begin winning with the strongest English teams, So’ton can join to this elite and create “Big seven” or out some club from “Big six” and replace them.