Reasons to be excited by Southampton's Championship return

As a result of relegation, Saints will find it difficult to keep their best and most popular players, and will be working to a reduced budget again.

But football exists outside of the mega-rich top tier and, certainly based on our experience during 2023/24, it is pretty good.

Here are a few reasons why we can be excited about a Championship return...

You knew this was coming - no VAR!

VAR left a sour taste in Saints mouths last season (Image: PA/Mike Egerton)

This one speaks for itself but is by far the biggest positive of returning to the Championship. No VAR, hallelujah!

It either takes too long to come to a decision that we all saw first time around, or even worse, inexplicably turns over the referee's correct call.

Saints surely suffered at the hands of VAR more than any other team in the Premier League last season, given the run under Russell Martin.

Controversial decisions in matches against Leicester, Wolves and Brighton had Howard Webb putting the St Mary's offices in speed dial.

Whether it benefits the big teams more or not is another conversation, and clearly the numbers show it does lead to more correct decisions.

But it also destroys the game as a spectacle, adding even more boring scrutiny and debate. Time to celebrate goals as they go in again.

VAR did help Saints win their only home game though... (Image: Stuart Martin)

Rivalries renewed and new away days!

Ready for another trip to Fratton Park?

Enough has already been said about facing Hampshire rivals Portsmouth in league derbies for the first time since the 2011/12 season.

And a lot more will be said about it when the fixtures are revealed on at midday on June 26, as the county gears up for two special clashes.

There will be fans who are nervous about the occasions with Saints, as the bigger club, perhaps having more to lose than the underdogs.

But it is what football is all about, and everybody will be looking for it as soon as the fixtures are released. But it is not only Pompey. 

Saints have not played Wrexham since 1979, and that was their only visit to the Racecourse since 1960. For most fans, it will be new.

Saints have also not visited Charlton Athletic, now managed by Nathan Jones, since 2011, so that will be another new trip for many younger fans.

Have you ever visited Wrexham's historic Racecourse Ground? (Image: PA)

Not competing against the ring-fenced 17!

Even 17th will compete in next season's Champions League (Image: PA)

We wish Leeds United, Burnley and Sunderland all the best next season, and clearly survival in the Premier League is not impossible.

Many teams have and will make a better fist of it than Saints last campaign - they could hardly make a worse go of it, given the final table...

But there is something worrying occurring at the bottom of the Premier League and it suits the rest of the top flight clubs down to the ground.

The other 17 have all been in the top tier, accumulating all the associated riches, for at least three consecutive seasons - most, many more.

Those 17 are stronger than ever. Europa League finalists Spurs and Man United finished 15th and 17th. Crystal Palace, 12th, won the FA Cup.

It will always be the ambition to get back to there but the Championship, for all of its flaws, is a more open and competitive division. 

Both Brighton and Brentford absolutely battered Saints at St Mary's (Image: Stuart Martin)

Lots of games won and even more goals scored!

It was pretty fun in the Championship last time... (Image: PA)

And that's because, as Saints will be one of the favourites to go up, they are going to win more games and score loads more goals on the way!

Last season, Saints won two out of 38 Premier League games. Only one of those came at St Mary's - a 1-0 win over Everton, in November.

They scored just 13 goals at home all season. Work out the value of your season ticket per goal you watched - actually, maybe don't do that.

Saints finished fourth in the Championship but won 26 games, scoring 87 goals and 87 points before going onto be victorious in the play-offs.

There are no guarantees that St Mary's will see scenes as good as those against West Brom in the semi-final, but they will surely be improved.

When it comes down to it, and once it gets going, it really does not matter all that much who the opposition are - we just want to be entertained.

Late winners are definitely better than 5-0 defeats

New Saints heroes to be made!

New Saints signing Joshua Quarshie at Staplewood (Image: Southampton FC/FC)

One of the most important things is feeling connected with your football club. Many fans tell us they have never felt so connected as during 2023/24.

The likes of Adam Armstrong, Flynn Downes, Taylor Harwood-Bellis - even Ryan Fraser - became cult heroes for their efforts in the Championship.

But, of course, the calibre of player required in the Premier League is different, and only Mateus Fernandes and Aaron Ramsdale perhaps made it.

But Saints will sign new players this summer, who will win new favour from the fans, who will create new chants to honour them - hopefully.

They have already signed a 20 year old centre-back who is six-foot five-inches tall and is one of the fastest players Germany have ever produced.

And with a new manager, Will Still, a young and ambitious Englishman, the story starts all over again. A new group to wear the shirt with pride.

Will Still signed a three-year contract at St Mary's (Image: PA)

A new narrative with Saints eating at the main table!

Please stay at Saints, Mateus Fernandes! (Image: Southampton FC/Matt Watson)

The Premier League is the most talked about league in the world, and relegation to the Championship will mean fewer eyes on Saints this season.

But will it make much difference? Gary Lineker must have mentioned Saints on Match of the Day maybe twice this season - they couldn't care less.

Fantasy Premier League's content creators never spoke about Saints players. Why would they? At the bottom end of the table, you are an afterthought.

This season, providing Saints don't mess it all up, they will be on the main table, competing for the places at the top end of the division.

Opposition will want to visit Saints and make a statement, but will know they are the underdogs - hopefully, producing exciting stories.

Pundits will be talking about Saints in a completely different light, as a competent, attractive club, the envy of many looking up to them.