I have always said that the real work would begin this week and if rumour and counter rumour are to be used as yardsticks Im not wrong.

As I mentioned last week, the Celtic and Eastleigh games were not good yardsticks for the coming season, in the case of the Claus Testimonial, it showed that the squad have a lot of promise, but that there is a lot of work to do, although some would argue that even the starting line up bore no real resemblance to what is likely to be our first eleven come August with players to come in both from outside the club and inside..

Of course the fact that Richard Wright has gone to Ipwsich is a big blow, there isnt a Saints supporter who wouldnt have liked to have seen him between our posts next term, but it isnt the end of the World.

But it is important that morale rises in the coming weeks and a couple of signings could do just that, we need full backs, that was clear from the Celtic game and David McGoldrick has to start showing that he is the man to lead the line and score goals.

But in the next few weeks we will start to find out if this is the start of a bright future or the continuation of last season's nightmare, but all Saints supporters have to give the team and management time to show which one it will be.    

Photo: Action Images

Southampton Polls