All football fans know that the Championship is one of the most competitive leagues in the world, if not THE most competitive. Southampton have heard this excuse before. And that is the problem.
After the friendly at Eastleigh in pre-season, Will Still made it clear. He said, “It proves to us that we're going to have to put a shift in. We're not just going to walk the league and beat everyone as easily as we'd like.”
It was a fair comment at the time. It was pre-season. It was early days. But now, months later, the message sounds the same.
What Tonda Eckert said sounded like an echo
Following the 1-1 draw at home to Charlton on Saturday, Tonda Eckert reflected on the result. His words were strikingly familiar.
“We still shouldn't forget that there's no game that just comes easy in the Championship. It's not just that we're going to travel through the league and go and win every single game.”
He is not wrong. The Championship is relentless and unforgiving because every team can hurt you. Take the surprise result of the weekend; nobody expected Portsmouth to go to Millwall and turn them over.
But supporters already know this reality. Repeating it is patronising.
No Saints fan walks into a fixture thinking it will be easy. They have seen too much over the years. They understand the physical battles and the long trips and the fine margins.
Repeating that the league is tough does not enlighten anyone.
Fans want solutions, not reminders
When results disappoint, supporters look for insight. They want to know what will change and how the team will respond.
Saying the league is difficult feels like a holding statement. It feels safe and predictable.
It also feels tired.
Southampton did not draw at Charlton because the Championship is hard. They drew because they did not manage key moments well and because they lacked cutting edge.
That is what fans want addressed. Managers must protect their players and keep perspective. That is part of leadership. But there is a fine line between perspective and repetition.
When Will Still said it in July, it sounded like a warning. When Eckert says it now, it sounds like an excuse. No one expects the Saints to walk the league. They expect progress, clarity, and solutions.
The Championship is not easy. Everyone accepts that.
The real question is, what are Southampton going to do about it?