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Saints Marching predictions: Southampton’s 2017/18 season

By Chris Hughes

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Mauricio Pellegrino, manager of Southampton looks on during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Southampton and FC Augsburg at St Mary's Stadium on August 2, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 02: Mauricio Pellegrino, manager of Southampton looks on during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Southampton and FC Augsburg at St Mary's Stadium on August 2, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /
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GOLDACH, SWITZERLAND – JULY 15: Manager Mauricio Pellegrino from FC Southampton during the pre-season friendly match between FC Southampton and St. Gallen at Sportanlage Kellen on July 15, 2017 in Goldach, Switzerland. (Photo by Simon Hausberger/Getty Images)
GOLDACH, SWITZERLAND – JULY 15: Manager Mauricio Pellegrino from FC Southampton during the pre-season friendly match between FC Southampton and St. Gallen at Sportanlage Kellen on July 15, 2017 in Goldach, Switzerland. (Photo by Simon Hausberger/Getty Images) /

Where will Southampton finish come May?

Chris Hughes: I think we’ll finish ninth, but a successful ninth. Last season our eighth-placed finish flattered us and made the season seem better than it was. I think we’ll score this time around and play better football, but finish a spot down than we did before. I think other team’s have strengthened and one will pip us to eighth this time around.

Conor Dunford: 11th – other teams have strengthened around us whilst we have not been as active as we’d like. Loss of VVD will be huge unless a replacement can be found. Goal threat still seems to be lacking something.

Nikos Lemanis:  10th. On paper it looks like the top seven are pretty clear this season. Although anomalies do occur, the realities of injury, suspensions and expected fluctuations in individual form mean that a top 10 finish is more realistic.

The teams around us have strengthened too. Admittedly some of them needed to, but those teams have shown the ambition to improve their squads over the summer. I can see a combination of Bournemouth, Leicester and West Ham being the cause of our lowered position this year.

Luke Dennis:  Saints will finish eighth – but push the top seven all the way.

Unfortunately I don’t feel they have recruited nearly enough to reach any higher in the table than last season,  but the signing of Mario Lemina and a new manager in Pellegrino will inspire the south-coast side through a thoroughly good campaign.

Dan Hargraves: I’m not sure whether I can pin down a specific position, mainly due to the fact that the season hasn’t started yet and the competitiveness of the teams that will be fighting for similar positions as us. Seventh would be fantastic in my opinion, especially if a top-four side wins the FA Cup so we can qualify for Europe.