Considering we’ve only amassed a grand total of one point from nine games, it’s surprising Saints have only just arrived at the bottom of the table (discounting goal difference moments here and there).
We had Wolves to thank for elevating us to 19th until this past weekend, but no more, we are now alone and looking a little stranded.
It’s obviously been a very difficult start to the season. There’s an adjective invented by Southampton fans to describe various things that seem only to happen to us – ‘saintsy’.
This season it’s been applied to conceding late goals to drop points, plucky loser performances against top teams, inability to score goals despite world record possession stats, inexplicable cup runs, inability to beat sides reduced to ten men and misfiring strikers.
We’ve seen it all, it’s been very ‘saintsy’. Of course these phenomena are not unique to Southampton, but in dark times it seems like they sort of are.
My strategy for these periods of doom and gloom – and there have been plenty over the decades – is to batten down the hatches, grit my teeth and not talk to anyone about football (apart from to my lifelong viewing companion who knows how to engage in the conversation we both need). It’s a form of denial that generally minimises the worst of the suffering until the next sunny uplands start to appear into view.
Back in the old days it was much easier of course. Don’t buy a newspaper, go to bed before Match of the Day (or stay out late and don’t record it) and avoid those people you just know are going to tell you that the end of the world is nigh. Nowadays it’s much harder, and while the principal is the same, the sheer volume of negativity and unprocessed trauma makes it much harder to prevent infection. Still, that is what I’ve done, and it’s allowed me to retain some semblance of hope.
I’m grateful to the 13th century Persian poets who apparently coined the phrase “this too shall pass”. Picking up on the great impermanence of life, they recognised that suffering doesn’t last for ever. We only know it is bad because we have good times to compare it to, and the next set of good times will come out of these dark times because…this too will pass. Just keep saying it.
Enough philosophy, in more footballing terms I still believe we can recover from this position. We have a talented, young, improving squad. We have apparently a stronger financial foundation than recently. And, we still have togetherness in the stadium between fans, management and players. How long it all lasts is unknown but given how bad results have been I’m chalking this up as a good sign.
I wish there was the same spirit on social media, but that is never going to happen. I broke my Saints digital embargo to do some research for this article and it’s pretty apocalyptic.
According to the keyboard warriors we are going to be relegated by Christmas, with a record low points score, best players will down tools, the owners are deliberately trying to get us back to the Championship and the manger is on a personal crusade to secure a big move (a la Vincent Kompany) by persevering with a trendy but suicidal method of playing.
Needless to say after a day staring into the abyss that is the Saints fans’ forums I’m pulling the shutters down again, if only for my own mental health.
I’m writing this article before our match with Stoke in the league cup, with my fingers crossed we extend our inexplicable cup run but knowing our recent home record against them is woeful.
And, then we face Everton at home this Saturday for what feels like our fifth ‘must win’ game of the season.
The fact we didn’t win any of the other must win games is of course now forgotten.
We simply must win this one.
Let’s hope so.
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