Are Southampton FC heading down?

In the first half of this Premier League season, Saints have been caught at the much lower end of the table. At the moment, they are fighting a relegation battle. The past few seasons they have been sitting in the lower third, coming 15th (2020-21), 16th (2018-19) and 17th (2017-18). At the moment Saints are bottom of the table, but is this a chance to get back up and show the rest of the league who they really are?

New Manager Nathan Jones (previously from Championship club Luton Town) is seen as a new hope for the Saints as they start the second half of the season. Previous Manager Ralph Hasenhüttl, managed the club for 4 years. Every matchweek, Saints weren't being pushed enough, and when it came to the clubs in the top 6 they simply weren't good enough, and fans would be expecting a battering. It was time for a change. Hasenhüttl left after a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle which left them in the relegation zone. Southampton FC bought Jones for £2.5 million, and on the 10th November 2022, he became the new Saints manager.

Some fans may argue that Jones isn't enough for the club. As a manager, he has only ever managed Championship clubs, and not Premier League. Therefore he wouldn't know the other teams as well, and may not have the right experience. For him, it would be difficult deciding the right lineup and formation for the squad. As a Football player, he played for Premier League club Brighton, however during his time there between 2000-2005, they weren't in the Premier League and instead League One/Two, Third Division and the Championship. Never having that Premier League experience would make it much of a challenge for Jones. This links to his experience as a manager, only managing Championship clubs Luton Town and Stoke City, not knowing how to go against even mid-table clubs in the Premier League would be a challenge for him.

Despite this challenge, there is hope for the team. As Jones gains experience in the Premier League, the more chances Saints have of staying up. Right now, Saints need to be focusing on getting out of the Relegation Zone, and be comfortable sitting with the other mid-table clubs. Southampton FC hasn't seen the Championship since 2011-12 where they only stayed for 1 season. It would be a shame for the club, and the fans after working so hard to keep the club up.

Overall, Southampton fans must keep faith in Jones to keep the club up, but Jones must recognise that improvement must be made immediately to hold their place in the Premier League.

By Libbie Jewell