On 4 March 2011 Southampton sat 5th in the npower league 1. It was nervous times, in a play off position but searching for automatic promotion. Brighton were 10pts clear and wrapped league 1 up and Huddersfield were on a great run. p pts Brighton 31 62 cherries 33 58 Hudders 33 56 Posh 32 53 SAINTS 31 52 With 15 games remaining we went on to lose 1 (rochdale away), draw 1 (charlton away) and won 13. We finished 2nd on 92 points. 9 playes that featured in the final win against Walsall played against Leeds yesterday - Davis, Richardson, Fonte, Harding, Guly, Spiderman, Chaplow, Hammond, Lambert. Lallana who also played against walsall would have played yesterday if fit. How well these players have adapted to the championship. With virtually the same team and great addittions to give more strength in depth and without breaking the bank this team has achieved brilliant things and come such a long way. Who would have thought a year ago that a year on we would be top of the npower championship, above the likes of west ham, birmingham, blackpool, leicester etc. It has been an amazing year, records broken........ we lost 10 games last year in league 1, so far we have only lost 7. We scored an incredible 86 goals in league 1, we have already scored 62 in the championship. Saints - you have surpassed all expectations, with results, entertaining football and have adapted so well. i dont expect us to emulate the run in of last season - i think we can win at least 7 of our remaining 12 fixtures giving us 86 points, plus a few draws. Can we do that, who knows, would it be enough, who knows. What i do know is that its been a great time being a Saint and whatever happens from here on in im a proud supporter. Roll on 4th March 2013 where i will be posting about us just beating Chelsea to move into the top 6 of the premier league and how we won 11 of our remaining 12 matches in 2012 to win the npower championship. COYS
Great article. Good to get some perspective. We're a couple of months away from making this a fantastic season with an unprecedented promotion. Your mention of the league standings at this point last season has reminded me just how much I despised Brighton at that point. I think it's time to remind them just how pleased we are to be six places and 11 points above them!
I do feel that the run in last season will put is in good stead this year. The players coped with it last year under huge pressure from Huddersfield, which may well leave us better prepared than some of the others this year round?
8 wins will do it I think. 9 for sure. 6 games left at home, win them all (which includes taking 3 points off of Reading) is a must IMO. March 31st is huge really, we're away at Blackpool whilst West Ham host Reading. The 6 days of the Pompey and then Reading games are huge beyond belief. COME ON YOU REDS!
Its also been good in footballing terms to leap way above Portsmouth in terms of bragging rights, though not to the extent of the position they find themselves in. Number 1 in Hampshire will do me. The only sadness without getting too sentimental is that Markus is not around to see the progression of what he started. He would have had to buy at least 3 new cameras by now.
That's a cracking thread. Thanks for putting it up. We might not see times like these again for a generation.
Brilliant post RWMK, says everything I wanted to...everytime someone gets a bit negative, I'll bump this thread.
This has made me happy. Just think. 3 years ago we were a shambles and rightly docked points and relegated for being run so badly. Now, we have the greatest chance of getting back into the premier league after a good few years out of it. I don't get to many games, but I make sure I listen on Saints Player every single match. The passion, enthusiasm and oneness the team have shown in the few years since the club was saved is incredible. I really hope, as many of you do, that this is the start of good things at our beloved club.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, and well timed too. Well done R&WMofK-BvsJ Perhaps, as an encore you can explain the evolution of your name..?
As another poster suggested "bumping" this post, I'll start now. This should be a sticky marked "to be read in case of depression"! Great post, and even as a regular attender I hadn't realised how far down the pack we were a year ago. I might now even dare to believe.
Someone please make this an article it optimises the efforts of the team and the club not only over the last year but ever since the takeover. These have been the best of times for us saints fans. I also didn't remember how far down we were! God knows where we will end up, but let's enjoy the ride while we find out. COYR
Great read RAWMOK, Thankyou. After reading that my chest has swelled with so much pride its gonna burst. What an awesome group of players we have! What an achievement in the space of a year. Proud to be a saint COYR!!!
A very satisfying read RAWMOK. As tomethesaint says, I think that the run we went on last year whilst going head to head with Huddersfield will really help. I believe that we are about to get involved in another massive struggle against a team in blue and white and having done it and come through once, you are more likely to do it again.
