Having been drawn with Southampton in a cup competition once again, it feels like we are practically family so we had a chat with our friends at St Marys Musings to find out about their summer and season so far.
Q. What were your hopes and dreams for the new season before a ball was kicked?
Personally, I wanted a safe mid-table spot in the Premier League to compliment a nice Europa League campaign with some interesting away days. We’ve managed to get a couple of decent trips to Inter Milan and Sparta Prague. We know how the Europa League can interfere with league form so anything clear of the relegation zone suited me.
Q. Was it a successful transfer window for the club or are there areas that still need improving?
It’s been another frustrating one. But, as always with Saints, judgement should be reserved until later on in the season. We lost three key players in Graziano Pelle, Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama. The latter two have been replaced with Nathan Redmond and Pierre-Emil Hjobjerg on the relative cheap, though Pelle was never replaced. We only have three strikers and two of them are injury prone in Charlie Austin and Jay Rodriguez. If they stay fit, we should be okay.
Q. It has not been a great start to the season for you, any particular reason?
It’s been another summer of change. New manager, new system, new players. They are playing okay. Comfortably beat a good Sparta Prague team in the Europa League, beat Swansea City and robbed of a point thanks to some awful refereeing against Arsenal. It’s a slow start but there are some positive signs.
Q. What do you make of your new manager?
There is a sizeable contingent who aren’t fans of his. But, I feel Claude Puel is in a bit of an unenviable position by taking on a Saints team who have continually improved the last six years in terms of league position and has lost established Saints starters in the process. Football fans are an impatient, fickle bunch. I have faith!
Q. Dare we ask your views on the rule changes going into this new Premier League season?
I can’t say I’m a fan. Some of the penalties that have been awarded are totally farcical, including the one awarded against us in the Arsenal game. Constant rule changes muddy the waters and increase an already large grey area in officiating, in my opinion.
Q. It is looking difficult for an un-fancied team breaking into the top six this season but if you were to pick one, who would it be?
This season will be totally different to last. But, if anyone could, I think Saints are the team. Puel managed to take a Nice side with no money into the top four last season and we managed to break the top six, so why not?
Q. Seeing as we are practically family now, perhaps you could share your views on Palace as a club, how we did last season and our start to this season?
Despite some leanings towards M*llw*ll, I do like Palace. Decent, well run club. I also happen to like Alan Pardew so I always want him to do well despite some of the stupid things he does. Palace’s second half of last season was so typical of Pardew, but you’re looking a better side now with some smart (if not expensive) signings in Christian Benteke and Andros Townsend and I cannot see a second half season collapse like last year this time around.
Q. Name one player from each team that the opposition should be concerned about?
I think Saints should be wary of Benteke if Pardew sees him suitable for this cup game. He loves a goal against us! Meanwhile, it’s hard to predict who Saints will be starting on Wednesday but, Charlie Austin now has three goals in two games so he is definitely worth looking out for.
Q. Prediction?
I’m hoping Saints can finally end their run of being knocked out of the cup by Palace in a drab 2-1 win.
Q. Please tell us a little more about St Marys Musings and any projects that you are working on.
We are the leading Saints blog with plenty of interviews with former players and other figures around the club. We’re continually growing so we hope to be working alongside TEB for the foreseeable future!
