It's been a while since Watt View graced the pages of The Ugly Inside (last column in 2017) and I am delighted to be welcomed back following the completion of a very eventful and ultimately successful season football-wise for the club.

It was always a pleasure and privilege for me to share news, views and comment with fellow Saints fans - and football fans in general — over many years via the fanzine-turned-webzine having been an avid reader myself from my teens onwards at The Dell.

So to be back is a great feeling and I look forward to catching-up with fans when we eventually get back into the concourses and stands.

Coming just a couple of days after the excellent 3-1 victory over Sheffield United at St Mary's on the final day of the season, it provides the perfect positive plaform to reflect on the progress we have seen from Ralph Hasenhüttl's men.

Having heard so much about it, I have to have a say on the infamous 0-9 defeat at home against Leicester City. Yes it was a disastrous night, but for all the learning points the game gave Ralph and his players, it was also a freak result.

The last time the same scoreline was recorded, 4 March 1995, when Manchester United knocked Ipswich Town for nine, the Tractor Boys went on to be relegated rock bottom and the Red Devils dipped out on the title by a point.

Leicester, meanwhile, dropped out of the Champions League places this season having sat pretty for the majority of the campaign and Saints finished up in 11th.

As it happened, in addition to taking all three points in the reverse fixture at the King Power Stadium in January, Saints went on to earn two more points than the Foxes — 44 compared to 42 — over the remainder of the season.

And if you ever feel down about it, just think back to the month before — 24 September — when Saints comprehensively disposed of South Coast rivals Portsmouth away at Fratton Park 0-4. What a night.

My only real gripe with the Leicester defeat now is that without the three goals handed to Jamie Vardy, our own Danny Ings - a school friend of my sister as it happens - would have bagged the golden boot (and he deserved it for what he achieved with a club in mid-table).

With 22 league goals though, what a season and just reward for someone who has been the ultimate professional through tough times in his career.

But the reason I've ventured into this territory is not to relive the nightmare but to focus on Ralph's comments prior to the following Premier League game against Manchester City.

He said: “I am now a better manager than before and this is the good thing from this game. And if the players see the same and learn out of it then they know they are better players in the future.”

He could not have been more right.

I had been longing for a return to the type of feeling experienced during Ronald Koeman’s reign charge and Ralph’s arrival signalled a new era - and a potentially very bright future after the slog that had occurred under Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes.

The tenures of those three sent me into a type of “Saints depression” and seemed a million miles away from the joys we had seen under Koeman and his squad.

Despite’s Claude’s achievements in reaching the League Cup final and an eighth-place finish, his style of football and choices just didn’t do it for me.

I could never really get over his abuse of Saints’ Europa League campaign, something that still pains me to this day.

So for Saints to be the ones stung for nine for the first time in 24 years, it concerned me that Ralph may either not live to fight on in the hot seat or that he would lose his way.

However, a simply fantastic Christmas and New Year, along with the sublime post-lockdown return - as well as an outstanding season-long away record - put any misleading fears caused by that fateful night to bed.

And this is all following a transition period from the pieces Ralph inherited from three previous managers who had attempted, unsuccessfully, to bring their own styles of play and philosophies to the club.

The fact we are now looking at the squad without the need for any radical transfer action is a credit to the club, manager and squad.

With £11 million man Mohammed Salisu, 21, set to tick the box for a new young centre back, the return of Harrison Reed from a sensational season-long loan with promotion-chasing Fulham to potentially fill the void left by the imminent departure of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and the late-season form of striker Che Adams, the appetite for need not be great.

While Højbjerg has been a valued member of the club and has grown in his time at St Mary’s, his departure will have minimal impact in my opinion.

Even were he to remain then he would not earn a place ahead of Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse and the midfield of those two along with Nathan Redmond and Stuart Armstrong is first choice for me any day. And that is with the luxury of Moussa Djenepo, Sofiane Boufal, Will Smallbone and Harrison Reed waiting in the wings.

It will be important to wrap up Kyle Walker-Peters on a permanent deal, though I remain a fan of his back-up Yan Valery who has a very promising career ahead.

The real focus for Saints will be in offloading Wesley Hoedt, Guido Carillo and Mario Lemina, though with Belgium, Argentina and Turkey respectively all likely destinations for the trio, achieving that looks a real possibility and will be as welcomed.

Although I want to avoid negativity around the current squad, Jannik Vestergaard cuts a similar figure to Hoedt in my mind and is a player I would be equally as happy to see move on to pastures new as Højbjerg.

While he shows signs of promise, he has one mistake too many in him and, certainly in the relentless world of Premier League football, that costs goals and precious points. If we are to progress and make every point count then there is minimal room for simple errors of judgement or lack of quality.

I also have special mention for Nathan Redmond who I have been impressed with all season but particularly post-lockdown. The boy has skills and pace to burn and I really hope he can turn those performances in consistently next season.

He is another first-class professional who I would like to see continue to build his confidence and belief. There is much the 26-year-old can still achieve in his career and all the best to him in doing so.

The future is bright...again.

Photo: Action Images

lemmsy added 09:39 - Jul 29 I haven’t come across your articles before but what an excellent piece, On a personal note the one thing I couldn’t understand about the 0-9 was why we didn’t just shut up shop at 0-3 ,down to ten men the game was gone and damage limitation was my view.Since then saints have continued to grow and IMO are now a pleasure to watch rather than a chore. I feel vestergaard has improved but ultimately isn’t strong enough ( happened a couple of times against SU) & always a mistake in him.Think there’s a lot more to come from djeneppo but still not conVince by bouffal. All in all agree with everything you’ve wrote & pretty excited about the future

0

Shakin_Stevens added 07:35 - Aug 1 I've missed these, the reason I became a regular in the first place. First literate, sensible article I've seen on here in ages. Not condescending, biased or provocative. Just a common sense opinion piece. Please keep them coming so we don't have to read the usual drivel about Stephens. Before him Yoshida. And how Hoedt is actually really good but regular fans just can't see it. Or how the owner is legit. And how we invest heavily in the squad and there really isn't a surplus of missing money. And all the sycophants that leave ridiculous comments that usually start with 'excellent article Nick'. Whatever, bit of a rant but this article just made me realise how much rubbish is usually spouted on here. Again I implore you, keep the articles coming, thank you

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls