This is the biggest home game of the season so far, Ralph Hasenhuttl has performed miracles in his 10 Premier League games since he arrived, we need to look forward not backwards.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has taken 15 points from the 10 games he has managed so far in the Premier League, he has turned a squad around from being cannon fodder into a tight unit, yes there are still things wrong, but everything cannot be changed at once and what the Austrian has done has been nothing short or miraculous.
Indeed where we would be without those 15 points is frightening and we go into this game still only 2 points above the relegation zone meaning this is a biggie and will go a long way towards deciding whether we will cruise up into mid table or be dragged back into the dog fight.
There are still some Saints fans who are pessimistic, they complain about the lack of transfer activity in January and use it as evidence that the club will struggle, but evidence does not suggest that, Hasenhuttl has got these points on the board with exactly the same squad that he will use going forward, indeed it could be said that given the injury issues that when these players are fit and return he will have more choice to select from and no one could deny that on their day a fit Ryan Bertrand or Mario Lemina are not an asset, add to that Pierre Emile Hojbjerg most peoples player of the season so far who missed four of those 10 games with suspension of injury and the Austrian's success so far looks even better.
So we need to go into this game with no fear, confidence and all singing off the same hmyn sheet, Hasenhuttl won't be moaning about our lack of fit strikers, he will be concentrating on those who will be out there to face Cardiff, focus on the positives not the negatives.
St Mary's needs to be a cauldron on Saturday the players need to be fired up and so do the fans, I am well aware of how difficult it is to put the last 2 years to one side and march forwards, but we did it in the summer of 2014 and we need to do it again now, whats gone is gone, no one can change the past, not the board, not the players, not the fans, not even Ralph Hasenhuttl, but we can change the future.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's philosophy is based entirely on positivity, he doesn't worry about the players that he hasn't got he concentrates on what he has to hand, making them better and bringing out the talent they have, he will know inside that some will not perform as consistently and to the level of others, but he will try to squeeze out enough for us to win games.
Shane Long is a prime example, he is vilified by many, but he puts in a shift, he won as three points at Leicester with his determination and at this moment in time those three points are vital, people forget that at Crystal Palace away he was also excellent and a big part in that victory, but there are too many with short memories.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has changed the players mindsets, he has made them believe and that is half the battle, now we as supporters need to change our own, yes this season will not be great from a final position point of view, but we have our foundations strong again and not crumbling.
So what if we have not signed anyone in the January transfer window, if Ralph can get us 1.5 points per game with that squad so far then he can get near matching it in the final third of the season, if not bettering it.
Every player on Saturday will be going out there and playing for the manager, playing for the club and playing for the supporters, if we are all behind them for the entire game and especially injury time then by 5pm on Saturday we will have taken a big step forward.