Ian Darke has claimed that a few surprising English names could qualify for the Champions League which must motivate Southampton to stage their own top-flight dominance in future.
Ask any fan about Premier League football, and the first thing they would mention is its unmatched intensity and competition. Well, that’s been the stature of the topmost European league in the world.
But what if I tell you there’s never been an increase if not a decline in the neck-to-neck competition here lately? Sounds surprising, but a look at the Premier League tables of the last few seasons conveys this.
In fact, at the bottom, the competition has actually decreased. This could be a record-low season for the team at the bottom, and with Wolves already feeling safe despite a modest points tally, it’s clear the competition at the lower end has weakened.
So why is Southampton’s situation so miserable despite the reduced competition? This is because they failed to utilize this to their advantage.
And those who took advantage of this shift are now reaping the rewards. In fact, as per ESPN journalist Ian Darke, many Premier League clubs can write history this time.
Speaking on the European qualification this year, Darke said: “This campaign could end with Nottingham Forest, Brighton & Hove Albion and Fulham qualified for next season’s Champions League, and Manchester City missing out on European competition altogether.”
Southampton’s success requires just small yet noticeable efforts
Interestingly, it’s from these clubs’ success stories that Southampton needs to draw practical motivation.
To note just a few years ago, Fulham and Nottingham were bottom-table teams, but their systematic planning uplifted them. So what should Southampton do? Listen to genuine well-wishers like former manager Russell Martin and adopt smarter transfer strategies.
But, first of all, a managerial change is the need of the hour. With the right manager in place, a winning mentality will naturally follow. Something Southampton has desperately lacked in closing out winnable games this season.
Well, it’s these small things that can help Southampton return to their glory days. Let’s hope the Saints curate the next success story amidst a Premier League shifting competition.
