A year ago I bemoaned the fact that the Saints squad was lacking leadership, there appeared to be no natural leader in the squad and the appointment of Jack Stephens as Captain did not fill me with optimism, but things are changing.
Adam Blackmore of BBC Sport has been speaking about how Russell Martin has revealed that over the past year he has had a big say in transfers into the club, but also how he has been looking to change his squad from one lacking direction, into a team of leaders.
Whilst the ability of the players on the pitch was a key reason for this improvement, it is their off-field qualities that are equally as important to Martin, according to Blackmore.
southamptonfcnews has reported some of what Adam Blackmore has said.
"I think it’s important. There’s a lot of good footballers out there but how many do you want to spend an evening with and are actually decent human beings?
"I think that’s important for Russell Martin, certainly he’s talked about that before of course, the relationship he likes to have the players and of course you can’t do that if players are causing problems in the camp.”
Saints were clearly a team bereft of leaders and players willing to take responsibility, some might have had it in them, but it was not showing at the start of 2023/24 season that was for sure.
Although Jack Stephens was given the captaincy, it was Adam Armstrong who captained the side for most of the season after Stephens was injured after just a few games, this was not ideal, a striker doesn't always make a good Captain, but it did show we had players willing to take the responsibility.
Indeed both Taylor Harwood-Bellis who has Captained England U21 side and Flynn Downes looked to be growing with every game and taking responsibility, but it would be a little strange to have the club Captain only a loan player.
Now they are here permanently that might change with both having lead the side in pre season.
But the other players who have joined permanently also have those qualities that Martin is looking for Adam Lallana and Charlie Taylor both being experienced and respected players, after their arrival you can see the core of the squad changing from inexperience to those who can lead both by example and by respect.
Compare that with the squad in the second half of the season when we were relegated, who turned from a reasonable squad under Ralph Hasenhuttl albeit one with issues that were compounded by injuries, into a disorganised rabble who went down with little fight.
Say what you like about Russell Martin, but he deserves some credit for the way he turned it around, got a fractured squad to promotion and is now trying to instil an ethos at the club.
Perhaps the coming season might not end happily, perhaps it will, at least there are signs that can give Saints supporters hope again that we can re establish ourselves back in the Premier League.