Surprisingly the game against FC Midtjylland on Thursday evening is far from looking like a sell out.

Last season Saints worked hard all season with the aim being to qualify for Europe either by finishing in the top four and getting in the Champions League or by our highest finish since 1985 and winning a place in the Europa League, in the end we would fall just short of that, however the 7th place we did achieve was still our best since 1990 when we finished in the same spot in what was then still called Division One.

Times in general have been hard since those days and in the 25 years we have mainly seen seasons of if not always struggle certainly mid table mediocrity with the only real season of what could be termed success being in 2003 when we reached the FA Cup Final and achieved 8th in the Premier League.

So last season was our most successful since 1985 in terms of what we achieved with the exception of 2003 as back in 1990 there was no European places for English clubs due to our ban for Europe.

So last season was seen as one of triumph for Southampton Football Club, it was one of fighting adversity and coming through stronger after Katharina Liebherr had to wrest back control of her own football club and truly make it the club her Father had hoped it would become.

Therefore it didn't matter that we had got into the Europa League through the back door, qualification for it was another step forward, it put the name of the club back on the lips of World Football and it certainly has enabled us to sign or try to sign a far better quality of player than we could perhaps a year or two ago.

In 2010 the Johnstones Paint Trophy win was a sign that the club was back from the brink and no Saints fan can forget the sight of Markus Liebherr that day, sadly he was not to see much more of us, but his name lives on in Katharina and this seasons Europa League campaign perhaps like Wembley in 2010 is the next sign that we are back where we belong.

This being the case it is sad to see that St Mary's looks set to be far from full for the visit of FC Midtjylland on Thursday and it is surprising given that 30,850 attended the last round against Vitesse.

A quick look at the online ticketing system shows that there are sill plenty of seats available, I would say that we are heading for a crowd of around 23-24k looking at what has been sold so far.

Given that the fact that an adult ticket is only £15 and that under 17's are only £5 and under 11's only £1 I would have thought that like the last round St Mary's would be rammed.

Of course some have genuine excuses, but if we as supporters want to see the club progress then that means backing it with full houses and on this occasion price cannot be given as an excuse, personally I want to see Saints keep moving forward and I ant to see us challenge the best and win trophies but If we want Katharina Liebherr to put her hands in her pocket, then so should we be prepared to do the same.

Many talk of wanting to see the stadium expanded, they talk of thousands out these who would flock to St Mary's if it was bigger and the price was right and its games like this that show Katharina and her board that they are right and the support is there for a bigger ground, unfortunately swathes of empty seats for a game like this send a different message and that is the time is not right for expansion.

Hopefully there will be a late surge in the next couple of days and those unsold seats will be filled, after all there are many reasons why Saints supporters should be there to back their team, firstly the price is right and secondly and perhaps more importantly, this is a vital game, perhaps FC Midtjylland are not in as big a League as Vitesse or as well known, but they are probably a better side.

Fom eople I have spoke to there seems to be an attitude that qualification for the group stages is a formality and that thy are saving themselves for that, that could turn out to be a big mistake.

Saints supporters have been waiting many years for the good times to truly return at the highest levels, they are here now why are some now missing them.

Photo: Action Images

Olley added 07:35 - Aug 19 I am glad to see fans who know what they are :-)
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mesquita added 09:50 - Aug 19 Realism, thank you Dperc. We can all do our bit, whatever that amounts to, and the rest of us should be pleased that others are trying or wanting to be as "good" a fan as we think we are. Pull together, I get a feeling that every voice and hope will be needed against the Danes.
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