Southampton

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

16th - play-off winners are easy to pigeonhole as favourites for relegation but coming off that high from Wembley, you sense that Russell Martin is making his imprint with the business already completed. Substantial bids have also been made, proving that pursuits are not quite finished yet, which shows the ambition of the club moving forward. We were favourites for the drop in 2012-13 as a newly promoted side too and finished 14th.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

The permanent signings of Flynn Downes and Taylor Harwood-Bellis were imperative given their importance last season. Sealing the deals early eased some fears. Is the best yet to come?

With Gavin Bazunu sidelined until 2025 and Alex McCarthy coming under fire in pre-season, an experienced goalkeeper who is calm and comfortable with the ball at his feet is essential with Martin's possession-heavy philosophy. Is Aaron Ramsdale a pipe dream?

What do you want from your manager this season?

Martin had his critics when things did not go so well last season for his slow and methodical playing out from the back which often left us in troublesome situations. He has addressed many of these issues with a solid array of defensive reinforcements in the market suited to his style. I would like to see Martin be more fluid with his formations, particularly with defensive selections.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

If you were to judge this squad from pre-season then Sam Amo-Ameyaw or Tyler Dibling. However, both may struggle for Premier League minutes. I am going with 21-year-old Ronnie Edwards, who arrived from Peterborough as a ball-playing defender. A style made for Martin's brand. I expect him to break through early.

What is your major concern?

In our last season in the Premier League, we were bad at both ends of the pitch. The concession of 73 goals was a team low in our Premier League history and only 36 goals were scored. Any hopes of survival hinge on these glaring concerns.

You can hear more from Ray Hunt on the In that Number podcast, external

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

Monday's wasn’t the most dynamic Fans' Forum I’ve done in the last 20 years, but there are good reasons for that.

Firstly, Saints have just been promoted and by nature forums thrive in more difficult times. Secondly, the firmness and openness of the answers left little doubt about the plan.

Chief Executive Phil Parsons was strong on the need for the club to cut its cloth accordingly in the transfer market and being responsible with money. He also justified any price rises in a strident open manner.

And Russell Martin backed him up with his transfer thoughts, the strongest of which was his acknowledgment that they still need to fill a number of positions before the window is out, and he reiterated his desire to keep Kyle Walker-Peters, who has been offered a new contract while pursuing a possible move away with a year left on his deal.

Martin is no mug - he will defend his playing beliefs with vigour, and he said he’s waiting for accusations of naivety to come as he tries to plot success in the Premier League while sticking to his style.

After last season he deserves the backing of the fans during any bad spells they may have, and the players are all in with the manager - that will take them a long way towards their aim of staying up. There is unity at Saints.

Listen to BBC Radio Solent's Saints Fans' Forum here

Image source, Getty Images

At BBC Radio Solent's Southampton fans' forum on Monday, Saints manager Russell Martin was asked for his message to supporters before the club's return to the Premier League this weekend.

Martin, who will be managing in the top flight for the first time in his career, said: "The West Brom [play-off semi-final] game was incredible. We were emotional on the bus journey in when we saw everyone. It was one of the greatest experiences I've had in the game. It was really unique and really special.

"We want to be in the Premier League and do it in our way, which hopefully you guys have come to understand, enjoy and be proud of. We'll fight for everything this season and we'll try to do it in our way.

"I will be called naïve a million times, we've been written off by everyone before the season's started. We're going to need to surprise everyone and to be us more than ever, and that includes you guys. There will be some tough moments, I'm not naïve to that."

Martin added: "All we can ever ask from anyone is that they give everything and hopefully, if we give everything and you give everything, I really believe that will be enough. I think we have a chance to have a really special, interesting and exciting season - but it is going to need everyone. My message is to be together and to do it in our way."

Also on the panel were captain Jack Stephens, chief executive Phil Parsons and director of football operations Mark Bitcon - listen to the full programme on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

At BBC Radio Solent's Southampton fans' forum on Monday, Saints manager Russell Martin was asked about the future of full-back Kyle Walker-Peters, who is into the final year of his contract with the club.

Martin said: "He's a top player and he was brilliant for us last season.

"We are in discussions with him and he will make a decision based on his career. If he leaves it won't be because we don't want to or haven't tried to keep him.

"In the short term, I hope he's here for this season whatever happens. It's not ideal for someone to be in the last year of their contract, but last year Stuart Armstrong and Che Adams showed if they're all in and committed, they can contribute hugely.

"If Kyle ends up staying, which I hope he does, the best-case scenario is he signs a new contract and everyone's happy, and the worst case for me right now is he stays and is then on a free next summer but he helps us stay in the Premier League, so it's a win-win in the short term.

"If he ends up leaving before the end of the transfer window, it means the club can reinvest in someone else who can help us stay in the league."

Martin added that Walker-Peters is a "brilliant professional" and, should he still be at the club, would be considered for selection in Saturday's season opener at Newcastle.

Also on the panel were captain Jack Stephens, chief executive Phil Parsons and director of football operations Mark Bitcon - listen to the full programme on BBC Sounds

Southampton have agreed a £12.8m (15m euro) deal to sell 22-year-old Germany centre-back Armel Bella-Kotchap to Hoffenheim, with a medical scheduled for Tuesday. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Listen back as BBC Radio Solent presents a Southampton fans' forum from St Mary's with the Premier League return just five days away.

You can listen here

Image source, Getty Images

The curtain opens on the 2024-25 Premier League season in just a matter of days, so why not take a look at how all 20 clubs performed in pre-season?

The games have been spread across the globe, from Tokyo and New York to Crawley and Preston.

See the results here

Image source, PA Media

Southampton boss Russell Martin speaking to BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore after the draw with Getafe on Saturday: "I thought it was a good game for us against a tough, physical team. We were pressed really aggressively but played some great football out of the press. At the same time, there are a few things we need to work on.

"I preferred it to Wednesday night [against Millwall] and liked a lot of what I saw. It was just the last bit. We created enough chances to score two or three and limited them to one shot.

"We can't go to the Premier League, turn up and be nice. We need a bit of darkness to create some light. We played some beautiful football today but have to match that with managing the game, being physical and making contact with people. I don't want us to be considered as soft."

On Kyle Walker-Peters' first appearance of pre-season after rumours about his future: "We had a chat at the start of pre-season and there has been a lot of speculation. We agreed he could stay out of limelight but he's very fit and has trained very well. We're at a point now where he hasn't gone anywhere, he is a really excellent player and we might need him. He's been great - and he's been ready."

Full interview on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton rounded off their pre-season campaign with a goalless stalemate against La Liga visitors Getafe at St Mary's Stadium.

Will Smallbone went close twice and Adam Armstrong missed late on as Saints kept a second clean sheet in three friendlies.

What did you make of the performance, Saints fans?

Are Russell Martin's side ready for the kick-off next weekend at Newcastle?

Have your say here, external - and come back on Monday to read the submissions

Premier League clubs are hard at work preparing for the 2024-25 season, and the promoted teams are no exception.

Here's who the Premier League newcomers are playing in pre-season friendlies on Saturday.

All times BST

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Right now, brinkmanship is the name of the game. There have been times when some clubs sorted their transfer business early in the window and everyone wondered why so few others followed their lead. Put simply, it isn't in the selling clubs' financial interest, and it usually isn't in the moving player's financial interest either, to go early.

A selling club wants a bidding war to up the price and they don't mind a bit of panic buying when the window is creaking ever nearer the sill. If you still haven't signed that star player who you think, hope or maybe even actually believe, will make all the difference, clubs can get twitchy and make rash costly decisions.

I have watched it happen from within. Good intentions and a willingness to stick to a pre-arranged budget, suddenly evaporates when clubs are bounced into making these calls. There is also a bit of pride in there too. "We aren't losing out on our first choice to that lot!" is a common refrain, especially when it's to one of your close rivals.

As for the moving player, or more specifically his agent, last-minute brinkmanship is the dream scenario. Playing two or three suitors off against each other (and you don't even have to tell the truth of what you are being offered elsewhere) means you can exaggerate as much as you like to up the ante.

So that is why the deals go to the wire, and why they are so lucrative. It is also why I never have too much sympathy for a player, when a huge deal falls through at the last moment. Greed can push it too far in the end and it can all come crashing down, which is why they call it brinkmanship! If you dance on the edge of a volcano you might just fall in.

Image source, Getty Images

A quarter of the managers in the Premier League will be taking charge of an English top-flight game for the first time on the opening weekend of the season.

They are Arne Slot at Liverpool, Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, Russell Martin at Southampton, Kieran McKenna at Ipswich and Fabian Hurzeler at Brighton.

So, what can you expect from the quintet?

Slot led Feyenoord to the 2022-23 Eredivisie title, and the Dutch Cup last season. Reds midfielder Harvey Elliott says his playing philosophy is a typically "elegant" Dutch style - compared to Jurgen Klopp's 'heavy metal football'.

Maresca prefers a heavy possession-based style - which is how he has started his reign at Chelsea too - and was sometimes criticised for his reluctance to make substitutions while at Leicester City.

It is possession-based football that Martin has brought to Southampton too but fans and local media have warned he will need to be smarter with style this season.

McKenna is considered one of the top managerial prospects around. His expansive brand of football saw Ipswich gain promotion with successive second-placed finishes, scoring 101 goals in League One and 92 in the Championship.

Hurzeler, who joined Brighton from German second-tier side St Pauli, is the least known name in England of the managers on this list. He is known for his passionate side line antics and his teams dominating games on the ball.

Read more on what each manager has to offer here

Southampton have received an offer from Hoffenheim for 22-year-old defender Armel Bella-Kotchap. The Saints have already rejected an £8.6m offer from Stuttgart. (Sky Germany), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

We asked for your views on the new Southampton third kit for the 2024-25 season.

Here are some of your comments:

Ben: I honestly didn't think I would like it, but much like a Taylor Swift song, I cannot help but find myself enjoying it. Sponsor suits this kit better too.

Sean: Absolutely shocking... got to be up there with the worst kits ever released and no I will not be purchasing this kit.

Bidsy: Love this! Will be getting this one for sure.

Mike: Hope they don't need to wear it!

Chris: Not something I’d wear personally, and I wouldn’t expect it to sell by the bucket load. However, Saints fans generally want red and white stripes for home, and yellow for away. We’ve got that, so we need a high contrast option. I’d expect to see us play in this against Newcastle on the first day of the season.

Sam: Absolutely diabolical. No history, nothing. Almost need sunglasses to see it.

Paul: It’s the best of the three by a country mile. It reminds me of the 80s fashion which was great! Well done Saints and Puma for being so ambitious in their colour choice.

Image source, Matt Gordon

Southampton have unveiled their third kit for the 2024-25 season.

"Just like the home and away kit, the striking new third kit follows the dazzle concept for inspiration as the concept has been used on the collar and sleeves, contrasting neon pink with white," the club said in a statement

What do you make of the kit, Saints fans? Will you be buying?

Let us know your thoughts on the kit here, external

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton forward Adam Armstrong has been nominated for PFA Championship Player of the Year.

Armstrong finished the 2023-24 season with 24 goals and 13 assists, including the all-important winner against Leeds United to secure promotion.

He is nominated alongside Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Leif Davis, Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville and Sammie Szmodics.

The winner will be announced at the PFA Awards on Tuesday 20 August.

Image source, Getty Images

Eight years on from his "whole world crashing down" when he was released by Arsenal as an 18-year-old, Nathan Tella will return to his boyhood club for a pre-season friendly on Wednesday as a league champion.

Tella scored five goals in 25 Bundesliga appearances last season as Bayer Leverkusen shocked the footballing world by going unbeaten to claim their first ever league title.

His route back to the top has been complicated by a serious knee injury and unsuccessful trials at Reading and Norwich, before finding a home at Southampton and playing in the Premier League.

"I think obviously at Southampton, I hadn't really played much in the Premier League and for me that was a nice feeling to play at the Emirates in front of the Southampton fans and obviously the Arsenal fans and, more importantly, my family, because they've been with me the whole journey," said Tella.

"But I think now, especially going back to the Emirates as a champion, as an invincible as well, it's a great feeling, and it's an amazing feeling."

It will be a reflective occasion however for Tella - whose £25m move to Leverkusen from Southampton last summer raised some eyebrows - because of the impact his exit from Arsenal had on him as a young player.

"The day that happened, when I got released, my whole world just came crashing down," he added.

"That was probably the first time in my life I'd ever been rejected from something in a sense.

"I'd worked so hard to get to the level I am and technically it's the last step before you think of yourself as a professional footballer for Arsenal. I might say I was this close to doing it, or this close to doing it. I was one step away from ultimately fulfilling my dream for the club I support."

We asked for your thoughts after Southampton's 1-0 pre-season friendly win over Millwall.

Here are some of your comments:

Luke: I think there has been a really strong improvement since Oxford and it was a much better performance by us. Yukinari Sugawara played really well and I think he is a really good signing for us. We definitely need a stronger midfield though. However, overall it was a solid match.

Mel: A good win, but not good enough for the Premier League. I’m still worried for our chances against stronger teams week-in-week-out in the higher league. Hope I’m wrong.

Daz: Not exactly a convincing win. I think we will struggle against the top teams in the Premier League though as scoring the odd goal here and there is no good. Saints have never been a high-scoring side, so hopefully our new striker can score two or three per game. Optimistic I know but no harm in wishing or dreaming.

Laurie: The thing with pre-season friendlies is that it gives the manager and the teams the opportunity to try different tactics, or to at least form a safe Plan B. The real stuff will start soon and the first six games are vital for a teams' psychology. A home defeat on the first game often blows the cobwebs out.

Shaun: If we play like that this season then we will be relegated by Christmas. On the pitch, it looked like we were playing 3-5-2 but Armstrong and Edozie kept pulling out too wide and we have no presence in the centre.

Southampton are hopeful they will be able to keep defender Kyle Walker-Peters at the club this summer after West Ham pulled out of talks to sign him. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton boss Russell Martin speaking to BBC Radio Solent after beating Millwall in Saturday's pre-season friendly: "It was a different team to Wednesday [against Oxford United]. We are still trying, testing and tweaking a few things in regards to the formation that we want to play. But I am really happy with the players.

"We are working on a lot of things and hoping a few more moves [transfers in] will be pulled off."

On new signing Ben Brereton Diaz: "He has been great. I like a lot of what I have seen already from him. He is a bit behind the others in terms of preparation as he had time off for Copa America, but he is going to help us a lot. He and Adam Armstrong are really fluid and flexible in their position. That is integral for helping the team to score goals."

Image source, Getty Images

Adam Armstrong scored the only goal as Southampton beat Millwall 1-0 in their final away match of pre-season.

What did you think of that performance, Saints fans?

Are you feeling optimistic going into the new season?

Let us know your thoughts here, external

The Premier League season is fast approaching and clubs are continuing their pre-season preparations.

Here's a look at where teams are in action on a busy Saturday.