Saints travel to Vicarage Road looking to replicate their last visit back in the promotion season of 2011/12.

A lot of things have changed since Saints last visited Watford in February 2012, the only player left from that starting line up who is likely to play is Jose Fonte with Kelvin Davis perhaps on the bench.

But this game is just as important as back then with Saints needing to get ou season kick started and fast, although we sit on exactly the same number of points after two games as we did a year ago, the nature of the defeat against Everton has given some of the more pessimistic Saints fans a feeling of doom and gloom.

But the fact is that after five competitive games this season we have lost only once, whilst it cannot be denied that we are not firing on all cylinders at present, the fact remains that we are competing in games and if we can cut out the errors in the opening Premier League fixtures then there is no reason why we cannot push on into the top half of the table and more in the coming weeks.

Hopefully these weeks will hopefully see at least one new arrival as well as the return from injury of some key players to the team, against Everton last week we started without three players who would have been in that starting line up in Caulker, Bertrand & Clasie, thats almost a third of our outfield numbers, that is a big loss for any squad, Im not saying the result would have changed but certainly the height of Caulker or the pace of Bertrand would have helped.

So Saints make the relatively short trip to the land of Elton John needing to win, not only for our league position or to placate a few mutterings in the stand, but to start to show that the team is starting to gel, as stated we have the same number of points as last year, but it was the third game of the season at West Ham we really kicked in and went on a run that made people stand up and look at what we were achieving.

So Saints need to go to Waford and win and win well, OK just win the well bit can come later.

I do not expect the team to be too much different from the one that started on Thursday evening, the only possible changes I can see is that perhaps Cedric Soares could come back in at right back for Yoshida, that would be harsh as Yoshida played well and added strength in that position but it was at the expense of the attacking options that Soares offers.

Another change could be Jay Rodriguez drops to the bench, he is still lacking a bit of confidence at the moment and it could be that Long comes back into the side or even Tadic for James Ward Prowse.

Saints are not playing badly, they are just making errors and lapses of concentration that are being punished at present, we need to cut these out and there is not a lot wrong, the burden of expectation is weighing heavily with some supporters who need to realise that one bad result does not mean we are in trouble.

The difference between this season and last is that we did not start with key players injured, we had a side that had gelled together in pre season and kicked into gear, that will happen this season as we sign a player or two more and get the injured back to full fitness.

Saints supporters need to stay behind the team and not pick on individuals, Matt Targett has come in for some stick in some quarters, but he was excellent last year when he played and is still learning his trade, lets not destroy him before he gets the chance to really show his talent.

As I say there is not a lot wrong with Saints that cant be put right fairly quickly, I have every confidence that Ronald Koeman will now prove that.

Photo: Action Images

saintmark1976 added 14:37 - Aug 22 Nick, I am beginning to think that your comments are turning the web site into the house magazine of Southampton Football Club. Sorry to disagree but the evidence points out that there is a lot wrong at present.We were lucky at Newcastle,thrashed at home by Everton and could not beat a poor but physical Danish side on Thursday.Our close season transfer dealings have so far produced little end product and now we are linked to a centre back who by popular opinion was very poor in a team that was nearly relegated last time around. Clearly something needs to change and I hope it is tomorrow. Another defeat and surely even you will need to take off the rose tinted specs

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NewburySaint added 14:55 - Aug 22 1 point after 2 games, the same as last season. Or alternatively the pessimists amongst us could say that we are 5 points down from last season being that we won both of the equivalent games, Newcastle away & Everton home, we have played so far!!
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corkcitysaint added 16:30 - Aug 22 Regardless of what we have done so far, Watford away is a game we must expect ourselves to win if we want to accomplish anything this season. There were certain games towards the end of last season where we failed to gain even a point against the lower teams at that time. This season it could be even more important. C'mon Saints!
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SanMarco added 21:45 - Aug 22 I thought before the season started that we would have a slow start and then pick up and move on as the team gels. We are not as strong as last season but we are still more than capable of a top half finish. We do need a few points from these next 3 league games though...
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ElSanto added 10:12 - Aug 23 Great article, Nick. It's easy to forget how many good players we still have. I think we are more than capable of matching any of the results from last season, so let's remember it's about consistency and the boys performing to the level they are capable of. For them to do this, which they can, we need to play our part of getting behind them. The quality is there, so let's, as big Ron says, support them in "showing their qualities". I'm really excited to watch the creation of an evolving team and new system again this season and I know Koeman is a great man to have conducting the orchestra. Can't wait for the game today. Fingers crossed we take another step forward, but if not then I'm happy to support the team while they are finding their feet again. COYF@ckinS!!!

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aceofthebase added 10:36 - Aug 23 Please let's give Targett a break and not play him. He has been really exposed and his game and confidence are at a real low. Far better to play Yushida at left back and Cedric or the other new guy M... at right back. This team has yet to gel but points are being thrown away, remember we are playing the 'easier teams'. We need to push on urgently. Fonte and Caulker should do the job for us. Who to play with Wanyama, JWP just doesn't seem to control things and we need to control the midfield. Pelle and Mane will cause problems but if I was the envious type I would buy the front line of Bournemouth and their defence as well! Wonderful South coast teams( them up the road excepted).

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halftimeorange added 11:07 - Aug 23 Attention all young starlets or those whose careers haven't yet lived up to their initial promise. Come to Saints where we will turn you into suitable candidates for big money transfers to the "big six" when you inevitably say you no longer want to play for us. But be quick about it because our disillusioned manager might well depart at the end of this season along with several thousand discontented fans and our disenchanted owner could well decide to wind the club up as she doesn't need the money and can't see any point in continuing in such a frustrating and increasingly inequitable business.

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DPeps added 11:23 - Aug 23 It'll be a tough game I reckon. Watford have pace and our defence is slow without Clyne and Bertrand. Should be a good game with plenty of goals (...cue 0-0 draw). We have to start protecting the defence better further up the pitch. I'd take a draw and a decent performance
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SanMarco added 12:45 - Aug 23 I reckon you've seen the Wanyama rumour halftimeorange. In the balance between uplifting and sheer depressing that football has always been it seems Saints are a good marker for how the politics and economics of the game are getting worse and worse. We do well and it seems we are punished rather than rewarded. It is indeed a 'frustrating and increasingly inequitable business' and is quite a good metaphor for life itself in the neoliberal world. Nothing will change because those below the highest eltes and powers have no say and often seem to prefer the status quo anyway. If WE were buying up Liverpool/Spurs/Man Utd players even when we didn't need them would us Saints fans be moaning? I doubt it...

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SaintGeorge added 13:43 - Aug 23 Lawrenson reckons we'll win http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/33950162 but he thought we'd beat Everton too :o|
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DPeps added 14:01 - Aug 23 Halftimeorange and SanMarco - you're right. The odds are weighed so in favour of the big clubs. Man Utd's etc transfer policy is like shooting fish in a barrel - they can afford for 50% of transfers to not work (look at the signings they made last season)! Spurs are the same to some extent - look at the players they bought with the Bale money. By contrast, we have to ensure that 90% of our transfers are good

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SaintBrock added 00:17 - Aug 24 We can take a grain of comfort from the fact that all our players who left were bought by top six clubs! The sad thing is as Keown said to night, they'll find out that if they keep going to the well they will soon discover it has run dry. Now we are on again on tenterhooks for another 7 days hoping that Mane & Wanyama will not leave as well. Keoman is clearly rattled and just one more departure sanctions by the club will see his resignation... I'm sure of that!

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