Southampton challenging for the Premier League top 10, or perhaps Europe, is not a bold enough prediction for this list. Despite the loss of Danny Ings, there is plenty to be positive about heading into the Saints’ 2021-22 season.
If you missed last year’s addition of this article, the bold predictions were as followed:
- Mohammed Salisu won’t start until matchweek 8. It lasted quite a bit longer than that with Salisu finding it difficult to acclimate to his new surroundings. Injury and fitness were concerns and he did not appear on the Southampton bench until December 7th. A second injury put him out until February and we did not see the Ghanian start in a PL game until February 20th in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. It is becoming harder and harder for players to transition into the English Premier League, and that was the basis of this prediction which was correct and then some.
- Southampton will reach a Cup Final. This one was extremely close, with the Saints flashing no desire to confirm the prediction. A lackluster loss in the FA Cup semis to eventual champions Leicester City was the verdict. Hey, at least there was a trip to Wembley for a few lucky fans, but Southampton should have put their lives on the line for what was the culmination of the 2020-21 season.
- Che Adams will outscore Danny Ings. This was a lot closer than many would have thought. Che Adams finished with 9 goals in all competitions with Ings edging him out at 13 (12 in the Premier League). The basis of the argument was on Ings’ fitness record, and it nearly proved true. It would be tough to make this claim again this year with the latter moved on to Aston Villa, but Adams will have so much opportunity to make the goal-scoring leap Southampton need him to make.
Here are three bolder predictions for the 2021-22 Southampton season ahead.