As Saints strive to achieve European qualification of one sort or the other, the crucial factor in the final 9 games could be that we now have a squad rather than a team.

Last season under Mauricio Pochettino there was very much the feeling that we had a team rather than a squad of players, if you take a look at the outfield players we used last season Pochettino used a core of 13 players, these being the only ones who got into double figures in terms of first team starts, everyone else was very much a peripheral player as the manager kept, injuries and suspensions aside to virtually the same line up week in week out.

Back then after that 13 the rest consisted of players like danny Fox, Jos Hooiveld and Gaston Ramirez, ie players who could come in but werent seriously threatening for a place in the starting line up or a number of youngsters who in truth were too raw to be serioulsy considered.

A year on and a new manager and the difference is clear, we already have 14 outfield players who have made 10 Premier league starts or more, add to that the likes of Florin Gardos who although being a genuine first team contender is not a regular, the loan signings in January Djuricic and Elia who will get near that 10 start benchmark and you have a squad of 17 outfield players up to scratch (I havent included Jay Rodriguez here), but you can add a few youngsters who with another years experience behind them like harrison Reed, Matt Targett and Lloyd Isgrove and you are getting near a squad of 17 outfield players who can compete.

Now although 4 more players doesnt sound much it is a lot of extra option and although we have found ourselves stretched in the early part of the new year with so many injuries and suspensions we havent broke, the last six games havent been great but they have still produced 8 points and those could be vital come the end of the season.

Our season average so far is 1.72 points over the last six games its been 1.33, not great but not a disaster either and only slightly less than the 1.47 we averaged throughout the whole of last season.

So for the final 9 games the squad could be crucial in picking up a point or two that could be the difference between Europa League or not or even between Europa or Champions League.

What Ronald Koeman has done here is build a squad and that is what we need to do going forward, there are some who would advocate holding on to certain players at whatever cost, offering key player £100k a week has been mentioned.

This would perhaps be folly and we should remember what we are trying to achieve long term and that is building a sustainable club not just financially but on the pitch, that doesnt involve paying big wages and relying on our star players being fit week in week out, it involves building a stronger squad.

Saints long term plans are well planned, the secret of this seasons success has been we sold players for big money and replaced them with those who are in many way better than what we had, but more importantly we signed more than we sold (at least in terms of genuine first teamers)

That will continue this summer when it is inevitable we will lose a few more sadly.

But that is the nature of the modern game and we need to leave throwing big wages and transfer fees and trying to buy success to the likes of Spurs and Liverpool, meanwhile we need to get on with a long term sustainable plan.

in the short term this season that has served us well and could prove to do so in these final 9 games, but going forward we should not fall into the trap of so many clubs before us and take our eye off what the long term goals truly are.

Photo: Action Images

IWOZTHERE added 11:24 - Mar 17 I agree that we don't want to throw daft money around but I still think that we are so close to disturbing the top sixes' cartel that it would be sad if this opportunity was missed. Momentum is a big thing, you rarely stand still, you're usually going forward or backwards. If we lose big players again, what signals does that send out to current players and potential signings? You can't expect Ron (and the Board) to work miracles every summer. If we have another mass exodus he, as well, might become unsettled. I guess one or two departures are inevitable but I hope at least top replacements are in before we let anyone go.

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