Nothing but battle to survive
Southampton had a hard time to survive last year and they will want to forget the season as soon as possible. Team never hit the good form, did not impress at all and to be even worse as their financial situation was fr away from the secure one, they had to sell the best ones and even talented youngsters. Of course, in that kind of situation, neither coach Burley nor his replacement Nigel Pearson, could not make a miracle. At the end of the year, The Saints ended at 20th and survived. For how long, we will see this year.
Without good news for the fans
It looks like this season won’t bring anything new for The Saints. Team manager is new one. Dutch Ian Poortvliet, who managed Telstar and Helmond in his country, will try to make the best of what he has. Departure list is the long one again. John Viafara is back to Columbia, while Inigo Idiakez, Ostelund, Powell and Safri are all out. Even club legend Klaus Lundekvam retired after injury that sidelined him. Also, they lost Polish forward Rasiak who went on loan to Watford, as well as Saganowski who signed for AB Copenhagen. Andrew Davies has been sold to Premier League Stoke City. The only new faces at St Marry are Frenchmen Schneiderlin from Strasbourg, young goalkeeper Forecast from Spurs, Walton from Plymouth and Chelsea loanie Jack Cork. That will hardly be enough.
In
Morgan Schneiderlin (Strasbour), Tommy Forecast (Tottenham), Paul Wotton (Plymouth), Jack Cork (Chelsea, pozajmica)
Out
John Viafara (Kolumbija), Inigo Idiakez, Alexander Ostlund, Darren Powell, Youssef Safri (Katar), Klaus Lundkevam (završio karijeru), Andrew Davies (Stoke).
Bad days ahead for The Saints faithful
New coach will probably try to make new team and to make them play in attacking 4-3-3 formation. Even if their young team manages to accept this big change, The Saints will have a tough time this year. Poortvliet is without too many options. Couple of experienced players like Perry, Stern, Euell and recovered Svensson will help, but it will hardly be enough. The Saints are one of the underdogs in the league and one of the teams that should end in relegation zone. With quality in the league better then ever, we think that legendary team from the south coast will be without too many chances.
Our tip: Southampton to be relegated
Odds
Bookmaker: Bet365
PROM
PL-OFF
RELEG
