By Scott Cooper
August 5 2005

AS it seems to be the norm for websites to carry a feature with fans from the opposition, we thought we would follow the trend. Meet 23 year old Southampton Fan Chris Reynolds.

Welcome to the Championship, otherwise known as the division from hell. Do you think you will have what it takes to bounce straight back up?

Undoubtedly we have enough talented players to do the job, but I am under no illusions as to the difficulty of the task we face. The success of Southampton this season will hinge on fitness and the coming of age of certain players. With Fuller and Pahars we could have two excellent strikers easily capable of firing us to the Premiership, or on the other hand we could have a busy Jim Joyce!

Our defense was the major problem last season so I am glad to see the useless Jakobsson leave to be replaced with a very promising Hajto. The former Poland international impressed on trial and has really looked the business. In addition we have signed Daryl Powell who I am less convinced by and not forgetting Michael Svensson. He and Claus Lundekvam formed a formidable partnership 2/3 years ago when Gordon Strachan moulded them into one of the best defensive units in the Premiership, so to have him back from injury will be a massive boost.

Only time will tell if this reformed Southampton side have the backbone to mount a serious challenge. However I am quietly confident that with a new blend of youth and experience we will be there or thereabouts come April 30^th.

 Harry Redknapp. Is he the man to take you back?

His attitude does concern me. You get the impression he doesn’t really want to be doing this. I dislike the way he seems to have got his excuses ready, “After losing that many players what do you expect” etc. But despite that this man has done it before, we do have money to spend and the transfer window is still open, while he has the opportunity to do some trademark wheelin n’ dealin there is always hope that he’ll build a team he is happy with and repeat his previous Hampshire success.

 You have lost Crouch and Phillips, so who will now score the goals?

Any one of Pahars, Fuller, Ormerod, Jones or Blackstock could realistically be our main threat this season. I get the feeling that for the first time in years we will score goals from midfield. Kenwyne Jones is definitely one to watch, after an impressive hat-trick against Anderlect I hope he can reproduce loan spell success for the Saints.

 Who do you think (if not Southampton) will win the division and why?

There is definitely no team that stands out to be significantly better than the rest. But if I was to choose I would say Norwich. They have done well to hold onto their best players, and Nigel Worthington (despite the Fulham drubbing on the final day) seems to have worked the players into a useful team. Leon Macenkie and Dean Ashton should provide enough goals to do the business for the Canaries. 

Glenn Hoddle recently told us that he was very close to re-signing for Saints. He claims the only reason he walked away was because the board would not have been 100% behind him, what would your reaction have been?

I for one would have let bygones be bygones. But hindsight is a wonderful thing. The fact is he was beginning to forge a good premiership team only for him to desert us for his ‘spiritual home’. You can imagine the wry smiles in Southampton when things went wrong for him at Spurs. 

What reaction from the Saints fans will he [Hoddle] receive as he steps out at St Mary’s with his Wolves squad?

Frosty for sure! I don’t think there is a Glenn Hoddle fan club in Southampton. The jeers will be sure to fire up the players and set the tone for what has all the ingredients of an excellent league tie. 

How have the Saints fans taken to relegation, sold many Season Tickets?

Id say opinions are split. Obviously all fans are disappointed and first thoughts went on who to blame. Rupert Lowe got most of the flack. The truth is that relegation has probably been a long time coming. Too many managers, too many average players and too little investment are a recipe for disaster. Many people have not renewed their season tickets, and I can see there being many empty seats in St Mary’s this season, however there is a fans collective (of which I am part of) that believe in the long term, Southampton Football Club will benefit from this relegation. We were financially prepared and have an Academy that is one of the best in the country. Our youth team won the league last season losing only one game, and where better to blood these potential stars than the Championship? Before relegation our squad was one of the biggest in the league, full of many mediocre players. Many of these have gone, sadly (although inevitably) a couple of good players have gone too, but on the whole I am happy and looking forward to a season of cheering and winning more than losing.  

Saints. Who is your “one to watch”, signed any decent players and will Niemi play?

Of the signings I would say Hajto. I doubt anybody would have heard of him, however he has been a big success in pre-season. In particular his passing range and accuracy are worthy of note. But my main ‘one to watch’ is Theo Walcott. This 16 year old is a phenomenon. Reportedly courted by Chelsea last season at just 15, Theo is a fans favorite already. He received a standing ovation during our recent friendly with Anderlect after leaving three defenders standing with a fantastic display of skill and control. At 16 he will not play a big part this season but is definitely one to watch nevertheless.

I understand from a recent quote made by Niemi’s agent that he will be available for selection. If so then he will play. Harry will be concerned obviously however Anti is a professional and cannot be left out of a game that will surely set the tone for our entire season. 

Wolves. What do you know about our current side, who do you fear (if any!) and if you could take one player from the Wolves side and turn him into a Saint, who would it be and why?

I’m sorry to say I don’t know much about the current Wolves team. Whenever I think wolves I think Steve Bull! However the ‘what player would I make a Saint’ question is an easy one…… Henri Camara!

 Finally, your prediction for Saturday?

3 – 1 to the Saints! First goal Matt Oakley.