Southampton & Relegation April 17th, 2005 1:44 pm

Southampton FC are face a massive fight to stay in the Premiership following yet another defeat, this time at home to Aston Villa. Saints were safe at 2-0 up, but managed to throw away a vital 3 points with some shocking defending. This is the third 2-0 lead the side has chuck away, and those 7 dropped points could well be the difference between Premiership and Championship football next season.

All is not lost yet, but a tough away trip to Bolton probably won’t yield points and with West Brom in the “one place above the drop” position, it doesn’t look good for Saints. Worse still is a trip to Fratton Park next week could see arch rivals Pompey inflicting a defeat that could end the Saints’ 27 year stay in the top flight.

I’ve supported Southampton as long as I remember and it’s hard to believe that 2 seasons back the side had finished high up the league and reached the FA Cup Final under Gordon Strachan. Unfortunately since then it’s been downhill. The managerial situation (Strachan, then Wigley, then Sturrock, then Wigley and now Redknapp) has been a contributing factor, as have injuries to key players like Michael Svensson, Matt Oakley and Marian Pahars.

In my opinion the club has lost their way. James Beattie was the closest to a Matt LeTissier legend figure, but even he wasn’t fit to lace Matty’s boots. No other player will ever stand out like Matty, but currently none of the current squad seem to get the supporter’s pulses racing.

A drop to the lower division could in some ways be beneficial - a chance to remove some of the peripheral squad players and a chance to bring through the numerous “one for the future” signings the club has made, at the expense of proven Premiership quality. The clubs Under 18s are doing well, and by all accounts Saints have one of the best academy set ups in the country.

However, lessons should be learnt from the likes of Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Coventy. All once graced the top flight, but now all are struggling. Also, Saints need to avoid becoming a yo-yo side (up one year, down the next) in the vein of Leicester, Sunderland and Ipswich.

Whatever happens the loyal supporters should stand fast behind the club. The coming seasons will mould the future of the club and for one season at least we may have to accept being in a division below Portsmouth and Wigan - something most Saints’ fans will find hard to stomach!

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