As the New season approaches we look at how our first opponents Southampton see things in the Championship this season.
|
How did you fare last season? A success, or a failure, and why?
It was a rude awakening in the Championship. We started off well and looked a decent striker short of a team heading for the play-offs. However, the wins turned to draws and then to losses with the bitter departure of Harry Redknapp to Pompey and a massive turnover of players. It took until the end of the season to come full circle and finally string some wins together as George Burley slowly got his team, playing his way.
How do you expect you'll do this season?
With Hearts' goal machine Rudi Skacel the pick of a solid group of signings, the emerging talent from our academy and the excellent George Burley at the helm, we are targeting the play-offs as a minimum. If we start strongly and turn last season's draws into wins, then we could even gain an automatic promotion place. We'll need to be more clinical in front of goal though.
(DC Mad Editor…..Just hope Rasiak doesn't score on his return…………like every other Ex-Rams striker and goalkeeper does!)
What have you done in the transfer market this summer?
|
Following the departure of unpopular Chairman Rupert Lowe, the new board have backed the manager with some serious spending to date. We have plugged the gaps in the squad, with some solid and some excellent signings, with the promise of plenty of goals from new signings Rasiak, Bradley Wright-Phillips and of course Rudi Skacel. To top it all we've even signed (the other) Pele.
(DC Mad Editor……….always wanted to see Pele………what you mean it's not him!)
Which of your new signings are you expecting most from?
Rudi Skacel comes with a big reputation after scoring 17 goals from midfield last season, but with no pre-season behind him we have to give him time to settle. Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips from Man City has been in the goals in pre-season and Portuguese defender Pele looks a real find - let's hope he proves half as good as his namesake!
Where do you think you'll need to strengthen in the January transfer window?
After a very busy summer, we have genuine competition for places in most areas of the team. However, we are too reliant on 17 year old Gareth Bale at left back and would benefit from signing a defender comfortable at left and centre back to replace want-away Danny Higginbotham.
(
DC MAD Editor…..Ex Ram Higgy was touted as coming back to Pride Park but Billy Davies doesn't rate him either!)Have you any promising youngsters breaking into the team?
We are fortunate that the Saints academy is one of the best in the country and we have a number of youngsters breaking into the first team. Wales' youngest ever international Bale, the pacy but inconsistent Dyer and local boy Surman are the ones to watch out for.
|
Absolutely the right man. It was a real coup to get George Burley to come to the Championship and he has slowly got his team, playing his way and has the full backing of board and fans alike. If he's not here at the end of the season, then it means that things have gone seriously pear-shaped.
(DC MAD Editor) As long as George behaves himself >wink, wink< you have got yourself a damn good manager there)
Is the club being run well? Are you likely to be singing 'Sack the board' any time soon?
We were singing it throughout the whole second half of last season and after the mother of boardroom battles, Chairman Rupert Lowe and his associates were forced to resign. The new board have swept into power on a wave of goodwill and have backed the manager in the transfer market. How times change.
(DC Mad Editor……..Do you know that sounds just like Pride Park, hopefully both teams will benefit from a new board of Directors.)
|
Who do you think's going up?
Automatic:
West Brom, Saints
(DC-MAD Editor…. Nothing like being optimistic at this stage of the season ;-) )
Preston, Leeds, Birmingham, Norwich
(DC MAD Editor…Are you sure about Preston, the Rams now have most of their backroom boys and their ex manager. Maybe it should be changed for DERBY eh?)
Who do you think's going down?
Colchester United, Barnsley and Hull City.
(DC Mad Editor….Thank-you Chris for the excellent pre-season report on the Saints. All at Derby County Mad wish you and the club every success this season…………after Sunday's game J To visit the Southampton Mad site click here)