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Southampton: Three Bold Predictions for Saints’ 2020-21 season

By Erik Franzo

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Che Adams of Southampton celebrates with Kyle Walker-Peters of Southampton after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Southampton FC at Vitality Stadium on July 19, 2020 in Bournemouth, 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 Ian Walton/Pool via Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 19: Che Adams of Southampton celebrates with Kyle Walker-Peters of Southampton after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Southampton FC at Vitality Stadium on July 19, 2020 in Bournemouth, 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 Ian Walton/Pool via Getty Images) /
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Southampton’s Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (Photo by IAN WALTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton’s Austrian manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (Photo by IAN WALTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Southampton FC qualifying for Europa League? Not a bold enough prediction for a 2020-21 Premier League season full of promise for the red and whites.

The Saints are headed into a 2020-21 season full of promise, led by a confident manager and a world class striker.  Ralph Hasenhuttl’s system finally took shape following the Premier League’s project restart with impressive wins over Manchester City and Sheffield United while drawing with the red hot red devils. The constant throughout the process was the goal-scoring of Danny Ings who has Saints fans finally believing we have a striker who simply cannot be stopped.

James Ward-Prowse signing a new five year contract solidified the captaincy for years to come.  Will Smallbone penned a future in the red and whites as a true academy product, and Mohammed Salisu, a promising Ghanian centre-back, has joined from Real Valladolid.  There are of course still areas to improve, however, Southampton appear ready to take a step toward the Premier League top 10 while challenging for a place in Europe.

Shockingly, qualifying for Europe for the first time since Claude Puel led the team in the 2016-17 Europa League campaign does not seem bold enough a prediction.  Hasenhuttl appears to have a formula capable of beating the top six on any given day and the players believe in it.  Nathan Redmond is a constant threat to opposing defenders, Stuart Armstrong may be the most underrated midfielder in the Premier League, and the centre-back partnership of Stephens and Bednarek is very solid.  Add in the fact that Che Adams has found his footing, Kyle Walker-Peters has signed on to be a mainstay at right-back, and Alex McCarthy has regained his shop-stopping form, the Saints on paper are ready.

Of course the demands of a heavy schedule, Hasenhuttl fitness regime, and/or the thinness in a few positions could derail Southampton hopes. Although, fans should brush those possibilities aside and are right to have full hope in a team and club moving in the right direction.  Here are three bold predictions for the Saints heading into the 2020-21 season.

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