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COLUMN: Southampton’s season starts, now when does it begin?

By Conor Dunford

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Dusan Tadic of Southampton and Leon Britton of Swansea City battle for possession during the Premier League match between Southampton and Swansea City at St Mary's Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Dusan Tadic of Southampton and Leon Britton of Swansea City battle for possession during the Premier League match between Southampton and Swansea City at St Mary's Stadium on August 12, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images) /
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The last week as a Southampton fan saw the start of new beginnings. A new season, a new signing and a new ‘partnership’ all point towards seemingly more positive signs at St Marys.

With each passing week, there is always something for us Southampton fans to ‘discuss’ on the hotbed of conversation that is the #SaintsFC hashtag. I am using this format to offer my opinion on the events from the past week.

Same old same old? Or a more positive approach?

The first game of the season, we come up against a Swansea team fancied for relegation by many this season. The Swans were without their talisman in Gylfi Sigurdsson as he looked to engineer a now completed move to Everton.

The game ended in a score us Southampton fans were all too familiar with, a 0-0 draw. You could be forgiven for thinking that the team hadn’t progressed from Claude Puel last season. And actually, the starting line-up was identical to one we saw struggle on many occasions in the 16/17 campaign.

In truth, I think we absolute dominated the game. Controlled the ball for the majority of the 90 and limited Swansea to a handful of half chances. Ourselves playing a high press, exciting attacking football. Creating countless chances and having nearly 30 shots at goal.

And there, lies the problem, the problem we had last season and without reinforcements the problem I fear we will have this season. A lot of our players need five or six chances to score a goal, that being said, that means we should have beaten Swansea by four or even five goals. Alas, we didn’t. We beat the Swans to retreat but never delivered that killer blow.

I did see the game as a positive though, despite being asked by someone to sit down (in Itchen North? No chance my friend) I enjoyed the game and the football we played. It showed what a huge difference a manager and his tactics can make. Pellegrino has definitely given me optimism for the season ahead, the season has started, but I feel Southampton’s is yet to truly begin.

ROME, ITALY – MAY 14: Mario Lemina of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on May 14, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images )
ROME, ITALY – MAY 14: Mario Lemina of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on May 14, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images ) /

Super Mario?

Something happened! Something actually happened for Southampton in the transfer market! Mario Lemina arrived from Italian super club Juventus.

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Probably not the signing we had all hoped for, another central midfielder. Arguably a position we have a fair bit of talent in, but after looking more into what Lemina is about it is clear he is a profile of midfielder we do not have at the club.

Deemed a true box-to-box midfielder with the ability to both attack and defend it gives some of us Saints fans the hope we may have finally found the Morgan Schneiderlin replacement we so desperately needed.

Can’t say I’m an expert in what Mario is about, my knowledge of Italian football is somewhat limited past my love for AC Milan, obsession with Sassuolo’s home kit and like many of you, video games. And the signing hasn’t taken my breath away with excitement, but coming from a team like Juventus can never be a bad thing. Especially when they have just signed Blaise Matuidi, one of the worlds best, as a replacement for the Gabonese international.

Juve loss, Saints gain? I hope so. Let’s hope he plays a part at the weekend and shows Mark Noble how a real central midfielder plays.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 29: Southampton’s Swiss owner Katharina Liebherr looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Newcastle United at St Mary’s Stadium on March 29, 2014 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MARCH 29: Southampton’s Swiss owner Katharina Liebherr looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Newcastle United at St Mary’s Stadium on March 29, 2014 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) /

Takeover time at St Marys, finally

Branded a partnership by Liebherr in her statement, the Gao family from China have forked out a whopping £210m for 80% of the club. Which to me, is a takeover more than a partnership but I’m not an expert in business terminology.

It has definitely taken it’s time with this rumour looming over fans for months, I like to think this is down to the due diligence done by both Katharina Leibherr and the Premier League to ensure the club is in safe hands.

But it is an exciting prospect for us as fans, also a nervy one. Chinese investment has not always gone to plan in English football, but we can hope and pray that KL has ensure the new owners will propel the club to the next level.

Finally…

All of us at Saints Marching would like to offer our congratulations and point all you in the direction of this article by The Times.

Southampton’s well-known Player Liaison Officer, Hugo Scheckter, has spoken to Alex Kay-Jelski on how coming out the club and the staff was received. A fascinating read, a truly inspiration individual and we can all hope this is the start of more to come.