Saints manager Ronald Koeman has finally reached the point in the season where he feels that he can plan for the season knowing exactly what squad he will have.

The Dutch manager has always said that until the transfer window slams shut he cannot plan with surity for the season till it is finally confirmed just who he will have and won't have in his squad, Koeman more than most Premier managers has had a difficult task with not only having to arrive at a club with its first team decimated by want away players, but also having to rebuild the coaching staff, most of whom were Pochettino's men and left with him.

he has done all that with a calm dignified air and clearly the Koeman Touch has been instrumental in attracting some quality players into the club, so much so that the supporters are excited to a level that many would not have dreamed possible a couple of months ago.

So now Koeman can truly begin his era at St Mary's and stamp his own blueprint on the club, the toughest task now for him is to decide just who is best starting XI will be in each game.

On Saturday with two new arrivals who will have only met their team mates for the first time in virtually the hours leading up to kick off he has to immediately make decisions the first being to decide whether to stick with a winning side or change it.

But there are options and there are plan B's, something we didn't seem to have at any stage last season, but already this it has been demonstrated to great effect that we do as was shown at West Ham.

Saints fans can now finally sit back and know just who their team and squad is, hopefully they will find that actually it is a lot more exciting than last season.

Photo: Action Images

Jesus_02 added 12:32 - Sep 10 Hopefully I will find its a lot more exiting than last year. Last year was (in my opinion) the best saints have played for at least 10 years. So a big improvement on last year will represent as massive jump in the clubs history. Surely this translates into Champions League football?...or is that simply unrealistic optimism of the kind the evil Dr Cortese peddled?
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bstokesaint added 13:21 - Sep 10 Even 7th would be a big improvement. Each place above where we finished last season would be a massive step up. I don't see any reason why we can't achieve this, unless the unknown quantities turn out to be complete failures..
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slynch added 13:25 - Sep 10 Second by Christmas! ps surety
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slynch added 13:29 - Sep 10 80% of Geordies think Saints will win. Pardew to win the sack race http://www.nufcblog.com/2014/09/10/how-will-newcastle-fare-at-southampton/
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IanRC added 15:25 - Sep 10 Hope we trounce Newcastle but would be sorry to see Pardew sacked, after all he did have the vision to sign Rickie. Lots of positives to come I feel from a squad with real depth. Hope we continue to blood the kids though too.
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Jesus_02 added 09:25 - Sep 11 Newcastle got more moey than us from TV and PL winnings despite finnishing below us...Hope we trounce them.... Pardew should not be sacked, it will take years to turn Newcastle from the course they are headed on, but in this climate someone getting the push after 6 games is very normal. You never know he may find himself at West Ham ;)
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