Suddenly, talk of Southampton being one of England’s ‘must-watch’ teams thanks to the admirably rapid implementation of Pochettino’s high-tempo, front-foot football, has switched to cold analysis of a record which boasts only one maximum return – that victory against the current champions – from six matches under the 41 year-old.
For large chunks of the 1990’s Saints’ atmospheric old ground, The Dell, was witness to an almost yearly titanic and ultimately successful fight to beat the drop – thanks in large part to the unique and exceptional influence of Matthew Le Tissier.
Due to to those experiences, and the more recent turbulent history at St Mary’s which saw the club drop to League One, there should be an air of calm among Southampton’s hardened support which is unlikely to be replicated among their immediate rivals.
If Saints’ fresh-faced new boss can retain the faith of his players and their unyielding commitment to adhere to his fearless and energetic principles, the South Coast of the country should maintain its sole top-flight representative.
Another group who perform rigidly according to their manager’s swashbuckling and refreshing beliefs are the players at Wigan Athletic. The Latics’ remarkable late season form which secured their presence in this year’s Premier League was one of the tales of the division’s celebrated 2011/2012 campaign.
There has to be considerable doubt as to whether Roberto Martinez can engineer a repeat turn from his troops. The Spaniard’s free-flowing team have proven too much for lesser adversaries such as Reading and Aston Villa. All too often though, invertebrate performances have brought heavy defeats or narrow submissions causing the haemorrhaging of cheap points.
Even with enough potentially winnable matches to play, the likelihood is that the mix of a perennial loss of key performers and eight years spent fighting the odds might finally catch up with Martinez’s admirable bunch.
Reading lie a single point from climbing above the dreaded dotted line and have a squad imbued with an innate spirit which any manager who finds himself entangled in a dog-fight must crave. Application, discipline, and character will however only prove sufficient for long –term success when blended with the necessary quality.
Their laudable attributes have earned the Berkshire outfit some memorable days on their return to the Premier League – notably in January scoring three times to turn around a two goal deficit with eight minutes to play against West Bromwich Albion, and striking twice again at the death later the same month to take a point from European Champions Chelsea.
Notwithstanding those sporadic flashes of hope, in the harsh and unforgiving environment at the highest level where every mistake is punished and any flaws are brutally exposed, the Royals look destined for an immediate return to the Championship which they so impressively won 10 months ago.
Saturday’s visitors to the Madejski are Aston Villa. It is conceivable that if they can come through Paul Lambert’s first season at the club unscathed then the assembled unit at Villa will develop into a side of some standing.
The Villains’ young roster is chock-full of bona fide potential thanks to the manager’s risky recruitment policy that has been implemented with more than one eye on the future at one of the country’s most famous clubs – albeit one that has been in the wilderness for a considerable period.
In Christian Benteke, Gabby Agbonlahor, Andres Weimann and Charles N’Zogbia, Villa have the pace and wit to trouble any defence. For all the promise in midfield and among the greenhorn rear-guard there is a naivety which has landed the Midlanders in their current predicament.
If Villa can maintain the vigour and enthusiasm that was apparent in defeat against Manchester City this week, at no expense to their attacking capacity, it will be enough to see off Brian McDermott’s side. Tougher, and similarly nerve- shredding tests are to come. Opponents lying in wait include; QPR, Manchester United, Sunderland, Chelsea and Wigan. It is these meetings that will determine the destiny of a squad that could equally be striving for promotion or European football a year from now.
At the panic stricken end of the Premier League at least, it promises to be a thrilling climax to the season – especially so if your team is not involved in the gut wrenching drama that is sure to unfold.
Tales of miraculous escapes and incredible relegations are as much part of English footballing folklore as titles won and memorable sun-drenched Wembley cup finals.
Coventry City – once escapology experts – improbably winning at White Hart Lane and therefore leapfrogging Middlesbrough and Sunderland to condemn their North-East counterparts to demotion in 1997, Everton extending their record-breaking stay in the top-flight with a crazy 3-2 last-day victory against Wimbledon in 1994, Oldham Athletic, a year previously, taking all 9 points they required from their final three fixtures against Aston Villa, Liverpool, and Southampton to survive, and West Brom’s 2005 feat of hauling themselves free of trouble having been rooted to the foot of the table at Christmas are indelibly printed on the memory of football fanatics.
The story that will unfold over the next two months promises to be no less captivating.
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