Southampton keep proving those that expect them to falter after recent good seasons wrong.
There seems to be a familiar story surrounding Southampton. In the summer they lose either a big player or their manager and everyone wonders whether this is the season where they finally tumble down the table.
Then they prove everyone wrong, produce a strong showing in the Premier League, and sometimes even qualifying for Europe. This season looks as if it is going to be no different.
Having started the Premier League campaign with two losses and two draws, there were sayings such as ‘this is the season when losing their best players and their manager will catch up with them’.
The Europa League was not supposed to work in their favour either, but it is something they have embraced and their league form has probably benefited from it, if anything.
It was as if those first few games were a case of Claude Puel’s diamond formation – which can sometimes easily look like a 4-3-3 – taking a little time to implement.
After all, this is a Southampton side that has a striker that can find the net on a regular basis, good technical players, some quick attackers who are willing to get at opponents and a defensive solidity.
It looks as though the Saints could upset the big boys again. After all 11 points out of their last five games is a good return that has seen them climb into eighth place in the Premier League.
Their most recent result in that run was their 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. While many will focus on City being unable to win in five consecutive games in all competitions, Southampton’s ability to keep City’s opportunities to a minimum, the way they used possession and effectively, as well as creating chances of their own has been overlooked.
Puel has rotated and has thus far kept his side well placed in all of the competitions. He has continued to develop younger players like the managers that have gone before him, while showing signs that he can preside over a Southampton side that can consistently get positive results.
If other Premier League sides were not doing so already, they should be looking at facing Southampton with a degree of trepidation and take them with the utmost seriousness, as they are a dangerous side to come up against.
In a season when people are talking about a six-horse race (or more) for the Premier League title, would it be all that surprising if the Saints were to finish above one of those tipped at the start of the campaign?
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