Tomorrow’s midweek bout between West Ham and Southampton pits together two teams who were promoted at the same time, and have endured very different paths to reach the heights they’re at now, fighting for European football just three seasons after making the leap from the Championship. We speak with Saints fansite Go Marching In ahead of tomorrows game.
There was much uncertainty surrounding Southampton at the start of the season, due to the squad turnover in the summer, what were your thoughts/expectations heading into the season?
Despite most people expecting the worst I didn’t think we were in danger of relegation. Yes we lost a lot of players, but I still thought that those who remained and the new faces that arrived were capable of finishing around mid-table.
At the time I remember being most disappointed about not being able to keep that group of players together and build on what was a great season last time around. What did I know!
West Ham and Southampton entered the Premier League this time around the same season, why do you think these two clubs in-particular have managed to break into the upper end of the league easier than other promoted clubs in years past?
Just managing to stay in the Premier League seems like a massive task for most promoted clubs and I think that will only get harder as the absurd amounts of TV money continue to rise.
In Southampton’s case, I think we have benefitted from managers who haven’t come in trying to reinvent the wheel. Nigel Adkins, Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman all played a similar formation and weren’t afraid to make use of the club’s talented youngsters. Whilst each individual has their own styles, the underlying principles – such as formation – have changed very little.
As for West Ham, I think that in Sam Allardyce you have a manager who knows what it takes to survive in the Premier League. Whilst that may not have been pretty, or desirable, West Ham are now enjoying greater success because of the uglier, harder work that was done before.
What do you make of West Ham’s season thus far, and where do you think they will end the season in the league?
You’ve had a very good season so far and I’ve enjoyed seeing you join us near the top of the table. I’m all in favour of shaking up the top of table as much as possible so long may it continue. I hope both our teams can secure European football.
Southampton made a lot of signings in the summer, who has been the most influential and why?
I don’t know if there has been a ‘most influencial’ signing. Each new face settled quickly and has done well, but some of the new recruits have done such a good job that they made it easy for us to forget the key players we had lost.
Here are the key ones:
Dusan Tadic replaced Adam Lallana.
Graziano Pelle replaced Rickie Lambert.
Toby Alderweireld replaced Dejan Lovren.
Ryan Bertrand replaced Luke Shaw.
The Saints won the revere fixture earlier in the season 3-1 at Upton Park, how has the team changed since that game?
There have been a few changes to personnel since then. Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid), Sadio Mane (Salzburg) and Eljero Elia (Werder Bremen) have all come in, settled quickly and added further quality to the squad.
Many thought you would fade away as the season drew on, what do you think the secret to Southampton’s prolonged success this season is?
Ronald Koeman has to take a lot of credit for how successful we have been. His calm and assured nature has given the players the belief in what they are doing. The players have had a taste for what it’s like to be at the top of the league and the longer they are there the greater their desire is to stay there.
What is the key to Wednesday’s game for either side?
An early goal. If Southampton score first it’ll force you to be more adventurous and that’ll suit us. But if you score first, we may struggle to break you down.
We had so much possession against Swansea and lost 1-0, we just couldn’t do anything in the final third.
Finally, a score prediction for this midweek clash?
After Matt Targett went off injured against QPR and with Ryan Bertrand suspended, we’ll be forced to switch things around at the back.
I’m predicting a hard fought game for both sides. 1-1.
