2012/2013 Season
Review:
After a
few years in the wilderness, with 2 relegations, financial problems, and a 15
point deduction, Southampton returned to the Premier League with back to back
promotions. Manager Nigel Adkins was hailed as a genius by the Saints fans, and
he brought in several players designed to help Southampton survive in the
Premier League. A £13million club record fee for Gaston Ramirez, as well as
moves for Artur Boruc, Steven Davis and Jay Rodriguez. The season started with
good performances, but poor results, as Southampton lost their opening four
league matches. Though they were unfortunate to lose against the two Manchester
clubs, a 6-1 demolition at the Emirates gave the Saints a wake-up call.
An
emphatic 4-1 victory over fellow strugglers Aston Villa gave Nigel Adkins his
first Premier League victory, and moved the Saints off the foot of the table. A
further run of 4 defeats from 5 put the Saints back to the bottom of the
league, and a 3-0 away defeat away at Leeds sent Southampton out of the Capital
One Cup. If Southampton wanted to survive in the league, they desperately
needed an upturn in form. November provided a kick start to the Saints season,
getting back to back victories away at QPR, and then at home to Newcastle. This
mid-table form continued into December, with a victory over Reading and draws
against Fulham and Stoke cancelling out defeats to Sunderland and Liverpool. By
the end of the year, Southampton were sitting in a lower mid-table position,
needing to be ready for a relegation struggle.
January
saw the emergence of a home form that justified referring to St. Mary’s as a ‘fortress’.
Losing only twice at home for the remainder of the season, the Saints began the
New Year with an encouraging draw against Arsenal. A 5-1 demolition at the
hands of Chelsea in the FA Cup was the only disappointing result of a promising
month for Southampton. Successive positive away performances against Aston
Villa and Chelsea gave Saints fans further reason for optimism as the season
ticked into February. However, despite moving three points away from the drop
zone, Nigel Adkins was sacked and replaced by a relatively unknown young
manager by the name of Mauricio Pochettino. Early reports of the language
barrier were quickly swept under the carpet, with the Argentine requiring a
translator for his press interviews. However, this turned out to be an inspired
decision, with the new boss overseeing three famous home wins against top 6
sides. All three of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea tasted defeat at St.
Mary’s, and these wins, coupled with an upturn in away form, saw the Saints
climb away from the drop by the end of April.
This
allowed Southampton to enjoy their final few weeks’ experience of their return
to the Premier League, having wildly exceeded their expectations. Few fans
would have expected to be safe from relegation a month before the end of the
season. Whilst many were significantly underwhelmed by the decision to sack
Nigel Adkins, Pochettino has picked up where the old manager left off, ensuring
that the Saints maintained their Premier League status for next season. After
the trials and tribulations of the previous few seasons, with liquidation being
a real and considerable threat at times, it will have been nice for the fans to
have top flight football once more. As for next year, the dreaded ‘Second
Season Syndrome’ will have to be avoided, but provided they reinforce
effectively, and key players continue to perform at a high level, I can see no
reason why they would be relegated next year.
Player of the Season:
Rickie Lambert – The Saints’ journeyman striker continued his fine form in
the lower leagues in the top flight, ending the season as the joint top English
goalscorer, an impressive feat for a newly promoted side. A traditional centre
forward, the Liverpudlian-born number 9 has proven himself at all levels of
English football, with both Bristol Rovers and Southampton, which makes his
success in the top flight all the more sweeter.
Game of the Season: Southampton
3-1 Manchester City – Mauricio Pochettino’s first victory as Saints’ boss was a
morale boosting scalp over the current Premier League champions. Having
comprehensively outplayed City in the first half, going in at the interval 2-1
ahead, Southampton maintained momentum in the second period, ensuring a thoroughly
deserved 3-1 success. This marked the start of a rich vein of home form, which
practically guaranteed the South Coast side a place in next year’s competition.
Summer Transfer
Targets (What I Think They Need): Southampton’s new manager has created a
very effective playing style towards the end of the season, meaning that very
few reinforcements are going to be required. Jay Rodriguez’s late season form will
prevent the Saints from rushing out to buy a new striker to support Lambert,
but perhaps another central defender and a bit more width in the midfield would
be useful. Dependent on the funds Pochettino gets to spend in the summer,
players like Robert Huth and Charles N’Zogbia would be good acquisitions.
Transfer Gossip
Links:
In:
Victor Wanyama (Celtic, CM), Victor Ruiz (Valencia, RB),
Frickson Erazo (Barcelona SC, LW)
Out:
Morgan Schneiderlin (Arsenal, CM), Billy Sharp
(Leeds United, ST)
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