Saints' good start to the season
Posted by DavidM in Southampton | 10 August 2006
After a season of bitter disappointment Southampton fans have good reason to feel more optimistic about Burley's first full campaign in charge.
Saints had been close to the relegation zone before, but 2004-5 finally saw them succumb to what pessimistic fans thought was inevitable. The following exodus of big names such as Crouch (big in more than one sense) meant there was little hope of an immediate bounce-back. The sale of players and lack of signings drew more anger from the crowd.
I was sitting next to a woman at one game last season and she asked me, "where did all the money go from Crouch's sale?". In answer, all I had to do was point at the wide band of empty seats in the upper stands all around the ground. Falling from the top flight is an expensive failure.
With the 'loss' of Redknapp and arrival of Burley things started looking up. Rumour has it that when Burley joined his aim was to finish in the top 6. Within a few weeks of working with the squad he changed his target to avoiding relegation. He achieved this and having had a busy summer in the transfer market he can have no complaints about the squad - it's very much his team now.
Hopes amongst Saints fans were higher going into this season. Most I talk to don't expect to top the table but do expect to finish in the top six and take their chances in the play-offs.
Judging by the away draw and home win against decent sides in the last week, this looks a real possibility. They still have to stem their habit of conceding late goals that cost them 2 points at Derby, but the team look more exciting and cohesive.
With stable management, a new board and a clutch of new signings mixed with good young players, Southampton are well on their way to refilling those empty seats.
