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Southampton: The Importance of a Strong Start for Saints

By Ryan Borowski

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Southampton players celebrate at the end of the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Sheffield United at St Mary's Stadium on July 26, 2020 in Southampton, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Andrew Boyers/Pool via Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JULY 26: Southampton players celebrate at the end of the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Sheffield United at St Mary's Stadium on July 26, 2020 in Southampton, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Andrew Boyers/Pool via Getty Images) /
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It goes without saying that a good start to a season is important but I would say this one is more important than others for Southampton.

Southampton, are a team that have a lot to prove this year after a strong finish that say them flirting with finishing in the top half of the table. Last season would be considered a success by many but it was an uphill battle for the most part due to a poor start to the 19/20 campaign.

The first two months of the season were not kind to the Saints as they struggled to find their identity and get results and as a result they quickly found themselves at the bottom of the table.

They did turn it around and were on the better teams for the final quarter of the season (especially after the restart) and set the expectations high for this upcoming season.

For a team that has European dreams, a strong start is crucial to their chances of obtaining a Europa league spot. Take Sheffield United for example, they started the season well and due to that they were in and around that Europa league spot all year long meanwhile the Saints had to worry about relegation once again. Even though they only finished 2 points apart their seasons had very different feels to them.

The club starts off the 20/21 season with a fairly favorable schedule starting with Palace away. It is weird to say the first game of the season is a “must win” but the Saints will want to get the momentum going from the very first whistle of the season and they simply have to beat Palace.

If the Saints take all three points from Crystal Palace, that will set them up for the rest of the season to succeed.

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Players thrive on confidence and getting a win coming off a strong finish to the last season will solidify to them that they are a good team and deserve to be winning these games and playing on the big stage of Europe or competing for a league cup.

Hasenhuttl will have the boys ready to go, there is no doubt about that. They will take punches this season but they have to be mentally strong and ready to strike back and prove they deserve to have the respect of the league.

In the first three matches I expect the Saints to pick up a minimum of 6 points and sit in or around 5th place and continue to be in the top-half of the table for the whole season.

Largely the squad is the same as last year but we still have time for a few more transfer to happen and help strengthen the squad even more.