In 16 matches, Southampton FC only managed to achieve one win, two draws and a surprising 13 defeats. With this sad record, they have now fallen into a dark abyss, anchored at the bottom of the Premier League standings.

Southampton FC struggled to survive

It was evident that the promoted side were far from Premier League standards, their problems deepening with each successive defeat — most recently, a crushing 5-0 defeat at home to Tottenham added another page to their story.

Of course, it’s one thing to look at the Premier League table and think that Southampton FC are really bad, but then look closer and see that they are doing everything better than some teams. So, why are they sitting at the bottom of the table?

Look at the statistics

From an expected goals (xG) perspective, Southampton FC have amassed 16.9 chances but have converted only 11 of them, a clear reflection of their lack of attacking firepower. All this was made worse by their weak defence, which conceded 36 goals – second only to Wolves, who conceded 40 goals.. This means that even when the Saints do manage to score, it won’t make a difference as they can’t score from their own side.

Another surprising statistic is their passing ability. Southampton FC currently ranks third in the league for most passes completed, with an impressive completion rate of 86.3%. However, this has not produced results. Why? Because only 6.9% of their successful passes were progressive, showing a lack of creativity and imagination in moving the ball forward. The inability to break lines and create meaningful chances further explains their struggle to convert possession into points.

It’s the intangible things that make the difference

Last, and perhaps most striking, are intangibles like “fighting spirit” and “resilience.” It was abundantly clear that the Saints lacked the mental toughness necessary to get to the important points. This is where the other promoted teams, Ipswich and Leicester, have a significant advantage. On several occasions, Southampton FC showed a tendency to lose focus and motivation in the middle of matches, even after a promising start.

Two games, in particular, highlight this worrying trend. The first is their opening game against Newcastle. After the Magpies played with 10 men, instead of taking advantage of the opportunity, Southampton FC lost their enthusiasm and ended up suffering a shocking defeat to a team that was running out of steam.

The second example occurred against Manchester United. For the first 30 minutes, Southampton FC dominated the indecisive Amorim Red Devils, even winning a penalty. However, after missing that crucial penalty kick, their intensity and focus waned, and they seemed to play in a daze for the rest of the match.

This pattern of fading setbacks is evident in some of their matches, and it is a cause for serious concern.

The qualities that Southampton FC need in their potential new manager

It is not surprising that Southampton FC finally decided to part ways with Russell Martin. Although he guided them to promotion to the Premier League, it proved he was not the man who could ensure their survival in the top flight. The board’s next managerial appointment must address the glaring deficiencies in Martin’s team.

The new manager must have a commanding presence and the ability to inspire the squad to fight with determination and grit. Motivation aside, there must be a proven track record of defensive improvement – ​​someone capable of shoring up a defense that has been breaking goals at an alarming rate. Equally important is the ability to cultivate a bolder style of play, one that prioritizes risk-taking and purposeful progress over a thousand meaningless passes. Southampton FC need a leader who can balance discipline with creativity, turning their potential into points to win their future relegation battle.

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Is There Hope of Survival for the Saints?

While it is impossible to avoid relegation with one win in 16 games, history shows that it is not impossible. A look back at Premier League campaigns (2004/05 to 2024/25) includes 10 cases where teams scored just one win in their first 16 games. Amazingly, in three of these cases, the teams managed to defy the odds and retain their Premier League status.

If Southampton FC are to make PL survival more than a distant ambition, major sacrifices will be required. Surprisingly, this isn’t a new situation for the Saints — they experienced a similar situation during the 2018/19 season. However, to their surprise, they stuck together, worked hard and ultimately avoided relegation, finishing 16th. To do so again, they will have to use grit, toughness and perhaps a little luck to survive the relegation battle ahead of them.

So, is survival in the Premier League impossible? No. But will it be an uphill battle? Without a doubt, yes.