Our regular columnist Dan takes a look at what the second half of the season may hold for Southampton Football Club and what our expectations should be.
Even though there are still two more league games to be played until the second half of the Premier League season begins, Southampton could have a fantastic second half to the 2016/17 campaign,just like last season.
The January transfer window will take up the first month of the five-month period and some new signings may boost the quality of our squad significantly.
First, there is an EFL Cup semi-final to be played against Liverpool in January. Now, this system will be relatively new to Southampton but one to cherish as the tie will be played across two legs, the first being at home and the second away at Anfield.
After failing to qualify for this stage of the competition for the last two season where Southampton have reached the quarter-finals, it is refreshing to see the club so close to a long overdue trip to Wembley.
Saints haven’t made an appearance at the home of English football since the beginning of 2010 when they beat Carlise 4-1 to famously win the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy. Now the silverware at stake is much more significant, another emblem of the success Southampton has tasted in the last six years.
Despite the draw not being too favourable for us, Liverpool will be suffering from the rough Christmas period as they play three league games in seven days as we enter the new year and injuries haven’t been too favourable towards the Premier League’s second place side. Also, despite its unlikeliness, Liverpool will be challenging for the Premier League title and may dedicated around 80-100% on that particular competition, leaving a gateway for Southampton to take advantage and get one step closer to lifting their first piece of silverware for seven years.
Moving on from that particular competition, Southampton will also begin their quest in the FA Cup, a competition that they have struggled in of late. Having drawn Norwich City away, their first game of the season in the world’s most famous cup competition could’ve been more challenging so the Saints must take advantage of a good opportunity to advance in a competition.
Especially now that we’re out of Europe, I would love to see Southampton fight for the FA Cup. They haven’t done anything in the competition of note recently and it’s one to cherish competing in. And if the EFL Cup campaign finishes at an abrupt end then they have another trophy to fall back on in a season where they should target silverware. Of course, it all depends on having a bit of the rub of the green when the draws are made but going far would be very pleasing now that we won’t have to balance another competition after February at the latest.
And to wrap things up, the Premier League. The competition that dominates all and allows the teams to compete in other competitions. Saints won’t finish in the top six again; we all know that and have accepted it. However, they are at the top and are consistently near the top of their and other clubs’ "mini-league”.
This league showcases the teams in the Premier League who will fight for the back-end places of the top half or very top of the bottom half (around 7th -12th). Also, most of these teams will be fighting for the Europa League which makes it pleasing for Southampton to be at the top of this league.
And seventh could get us European football for a third season running, granted that a side in the final top four of the Premier League wins the FA Cup, however it would enter us at the third qualifying round but we would be more experienced from last season’s and this season’s European disappointments.
Just to showcase, here are Southampton’s Premier League fixtures for the second half of the season…
Everton A, Burnley A, Leicester H, Swansea A, West Ham H, Sunderland A, Arsenal H, Watford A Manchester United H, Tottenham A, Bournemouth H, Crystal Palace H, West Brom A Manchester City H, Chelsea A, Hull City H, Liverpool A, Middlesbrough A, Stoke City H
Our travels in 2017 are more kind to us as they give us a chance to pick up more points on the road than the beginning of the season, winning only twice away from home to start. We will host several of the league’s big dogs including the two Manchester sides and Arsenal, however St.Mary’s has become a fortress and we can easily beat anyone who visits with a good performance from the team and the fans.
This second half of the season should prove to be more exciting, nerve-wracking and hopefully memorable. Two pieces of silverware are at stake (the EFL Cup the more likely of the two to be won). I don’t believe we can get more than 63 points by the end of the season but we can definitely get the magic sixty points total which would be an achievement and a half with the critics that the team received at the beginning of the campaign.
Puel, in my opinion, just needs to be aware that each competition should be prioritised but I think I speak for all Saints fan here that, even though the games are infrequent, that until February we need to prioritise on winning the EFL Cup (or not obviously if we get knocked out).
We can only exceed expectations which will be the most satisfying part; this next part of the seasoncould be one firmly cemented in the history of Southampton Football Club.