Southampton are currently 17th in the EFL Championship and just seven points below the play-off places. Interim manager, Tonda Eckert, has turned things around at St Mary's with two wins from two matches and will certainly get the next three games to rubber-stamp his credentials for the permanent role.
Meanwhile, Johannes Spors and co will be plotting a January transfer window which has as much to do with streamlining the squad as it does about adding quality. Here's Saints Marching's realistic dream team for January and beyond.
What might Southampton's dream lineup look like in 2026?
Under Sport Republic, Saints have not been afraid to invest in the squad. Sadly, more have flopped than succeeded as the result of poor scouting and tragic team management.
Re-investing some more of the funds recouped from the sale of Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes this summer could easily see Southampton push on up the table.
Goalkeeper: James Trafford (On loan)
Without a solid goalkeeper there is simply no chance of progression. Both Alex McCarthy and Gavin Bazunu have been given their chances in goal this season. Neither has done well enough. Now, it's time to move on.
James Trafford's £23.7 million move from Burnley to Manchester City was one of the most high profile transfers of the summer. However, things haven't worked out as Trafford and Pep Guardiola might have anticipated. Trafford's poor form propelled City to lure Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG and thus relegate Trafford to the bench.
The 23-year-old still harbours dreams of getting into Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 World Cup but he will need regular minutes if Tuchel is going to entertain any notion of that happening.
This could give Southampton the opportunity to secure Trafford's services on loan until the end of the season.
Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, who has been linked with Southampton before, would be another viable option.
Right Back: Elias Jelert
Currently injured, the loanee from Galatasaray has made an inauspicious start to his Southampton career leading to claims that Saints will not be making his move permanent in the summer.
However, Saints Marching believes that Jelert will come good and enables the team to play in their preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. The inclusion of Jelert also means that Southampton do not to invest in a right back in January.
Centre-Back: Taylor Harwood-Bellis
A few weeks ago, Harwood-Bellis would not have been considered for the team such was his poor form. However, under Eckert the former England international has regained his form and some of his composure.
Centre-Back: Joshua Quarshie
Playing with a back four places additional demands on the two centre backs. Playing with a flat back four requires at least one of the two to possess ample pace. Quarshie is one of the quickest players in the Championship, something he showed against Wrexham on the opening day of the season.
The German under-21 international has the strength and power to dominate Championship forwards, despite lacking a little in touch and technique with the ball.
Left-Back: Archie Brown (Fenerbahçe)
Brown is a player scouted by Saints Marching last season when he was playing for Gent in Belgium. The English left-back is a product of the Derby County academy who has continued his development at Lausanne, Gent, and now Fenerbahçe.
Although Ryan Manning and Welington have done okay this season, the permanent signing of a player like Brown would enable Southampton to play with either a back four or a back three.
Defensive Midfielder: Caspar Jander
One of the signings of the season, Jander has gone from strength to strength since joining the Saints. Jander has demonstrated that he is composed in possession and aggressive when pressing against the ball.
He has an enormous engine which enables him to get on the end of chances and score goals. He could have been on three goals already this season were it not for the post and a couple of stunning saves.
Defensive Midfielder: Oriol Romeu
Although it is difficult to predict Romeu's fitness, there is no doubting the Spaniard's quality. He should dominate possession and make the team tick with the ball.
The additional quality of Flynn Downes and Shea Charles will help to keep the double pivot fresh and ensure the three attacking midfielders are able to get forward and wreak havoc.
Attacking Midfielder Left: Leo Scienza
A player who needs no introduction, Southampton fans have taken Scienza to their hearts. The Brazilian has been one of the most effective players in the Championship in attacking transitions and only the woodwork has prevented Scienza from being the club's joint-highest scorer.
Attacking Midfielder Centre: Finn Azaz
Azaz has begun to show what he can do under Tonda Eckert. His second half performance against Queens Park Rangers led to him starting against Sheffield Wednesday where he opened his account for Southampton with a clean right footed strike.
Returning from international duty with the Republic of Ireland, Azaz will be on a high. His assist for Troy Parrott's equaliser against Hungary was divine.
Attacking Midfielder Right: Tom Fellows
Fellows has been a consistent threat for Southampton and Saints Marching are in no doubt that he will soon be racking up the goal assists.
In the 3-4-3 system Fellows has been unable to get forward enough. The change in formation should enable him to do just that in 2026.
Centre-Forward: Troy Parrott
The AZ Alkmaar centre-forward is in dreamland himself at the moment having scored five in two games to steer the Republic of Ireland to a play-off for the 2026 World Cup.
Parrott is exactly the kind of forward that Saints need right now. He works hard between the lines and runs in behind all day long. At 23-years-old, he is a typical Sport Republic buy, but he won't come cheap.