The Fosse Way’s Hazzetta season preview - 6: Southampton to Wolves
Part six of Harry Gregory’s season preview starts with a trip to St. Marys, sees us spending more time in the capital to first visit James Maddison, before heading over to East London and a slightly easier trip across the Midlands to see where we find Wolves this year.
Part 1: Arsenal to Aston Villa
Part 2: Bournemouth to Brentford
Part 3: Brighton to Everton
A quick reminder that each club is judged based on its away day experience as a visiting fan, the potential for a meltdown from the stands, likelihood of a points deduction, and the player most likely to score against the Foxes.
We’ve also got access to a secret algorithm to predict their expected relegation chance (xR) and finishing position.
Southampton
Last season: 4th (promoted via Championship Play-offs)
Fixtures v Leicester: Home - 3rd May / Away – 19th October
We have no time for needless, showbiz gossip. We are serious football journalism. However, the story that Brussel Martin has begun a relationship with a former Page 3 model is as ridiculous as such stories learnt this summer. Like that N’Golo Kante is stepfather to Dijibri Cisse’s three children and Danny Mills’ son ran 5000 metres for Great Britain at the Olympic Games.
Anyway, the Saints have spent well this summer in securing loanees to full deals (Flynn Downes) and several players have returned from loan too (Armel Bella-Kotchap). How this all fits into Brussel’s tactical masterplan, who knows.
Away day scope
Personally, one of the worst I have encountered but that was 2015. It’s not that it’s particularly poor, it’s just that there’s nothing redeeming about a trip to St Mary’s and Southampton. It’s bad as Leicester for historical pubs. It scores low for me.
That said, I am reliably informed by those who have had a stay over due to cruises that the SeaCity Museum is an excellent way to spend an hour or two.
Opposition meltdown?
Southampton listened to their supporters and have brought in a whole raft of changes to St Mary’s. The away support are now located elsewhere and safe standing is installed for both home and away fans. There are other tweaks too in a rare occasion where the club have welcomed a refresh of their approach to engaging supporters.
Points deduction
A chance. They made significant profit in player trading last season (over £100 million) but the unknown is when the loan players such as Alcaraz, Onuachu and Bella-Kotchap have returned how much of a stress is that putting on the wage bill.
Likely opposition goalscorer
Che Adams is gone. Danny Ings before him too. The ghosts are gone. Step forward Adam Armstrong to take over the baton as a short attacker playing for Southampton who likes to score against Leicester.
xR
The big question is how Brussel fits returning players into a system he’s wedded to. The system was exposed by certain teams across last season but then at the very end of the season, Saints made it work.
However, their keeper issues and dysfunctional defence put a real downer on their prospects. 71% chance of relegation thrown up by the super computer.
Tottenham Hotspur
Last season: 5th
Fixtures v Leicester: Home - 19th August / Away - 25th January
One of the few redeeming journeys in the Premier League last season was watching Ange Postecoglou begin as a nice, stand-up guy who spoke articulately descend into an enraged, annoyed, abrasive character.
His pop at James Maddison about opening his mouth to the media regards his injury a particular highlight. That pattern of Ange’s personality mirrored Spurs’ performances. They started off as a genuine joy to watch but ran out of momentum towards the season end.
Away day scope
Quite simply the best stadium in the country but that doesn’t make a great away day. Travelling away from Tottenham is a total headache and can often be an hour plus task to get back to central London. You could open your horizons though; jump in at Hackney or Stoke Newington for some of their fine pubs and eateries.
Another alternative is to go away from London and enjoy Epping Forest on the same tube line. It’s a head scratcher that somewhere so close to central London can feel so ‘wild’.
Opposition meltdown?
Spurs supporters caught the headlines last season by making a visible protest over the removal of concessions for over 65s.
In March, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust highlighted several decisions that the club had made which directly affected and aligned supporters.
This was further underlined when ticket prices were increased again. Sound familiar?
Points deduction
The real trophy for Daniel Levy. No points deduction.
Likely opposition goalscorer
James Maddison. It must be him and followed by a very ‘respectful’ celebration.
xR
Top six. No rumbles of disaster here. 21% calculated for Champions League qualification and 50% of European football next season. A full calculation of 71% being in the top six.
West Ham
Last season: 9th
Fixtures v Leicester: Home - 3rd December / Away - 25th February
A fresh start at West Ham. David Moyes departs. Julen Lopetegui arrives. The Hammers better be ready for Guillem to turn up with his client journalism. Lopetegui’s been backed as well. Really backed. The eight signings he craved at Wolves. They all look astute. Niklas Fullkrug looks handy until you see his age.
The aim is to gatecrash the chasing group of Newcastle and Aston Villa but it remains to be seen how Lopetegui moulds a team which was very much constructed with Moyes’ touch.
Away day scope
A real bizarre stadium. The bottom tier arguably a better view but an angle of the pitch shared with Kettering Town’s Latimer Park. The top tier, take your binoculars. When its loud, it can be loud but when it’s quiet, it feels so ill-equipped for football. Hackney Wick is the place to gather pre-match; shame the weather won’t allow a canal-side drink in February.
If retail therapy isn’t your thing with the huge Westfield Stratford development, use the travel links to visit Spitalfield Market and Brick Lane. Some remarkable food choices.
Opposition meltdown?
A summer of discontent; another club who have scrapped concessions bar certain sections of the ground and they also sneakily raised the concession ticket prices for away fans too.
This has led fans of West Ham to call on a boycott of all merchandise, buying food and drink in the ground and not to attend the ‘Betway Cup’ fixture versus Celta Vigo on 10th August. The latter was a success with just fifteen thousand in attendance.
Points deduction
They’ve done well to sell players and therefore keep their spending funded. They look all good with healthy gate receipts and recent European success.
Likely opposition goalscorer
Michail Antonio is still hanging around despite the squad rebuild. The chances of him overpowering our defenders to claim a header that he really shouldn’t win is high.
xR
They’ll be looking up rather than down. We don’t see a relegation but the super computer still thinks Europe will be difficult to achieve - 14%.
Wolves
Last season: 14th
Fixtures v Leicester: Home - 21st December / Away - 26th April
Wolves in the last twelve months completely changed tack when the FFP monster came calling for some points. The owners decided to detach themselves from Uncle Jorge (Jorge Mendes) and his entourage of players.
As a result, their signings appear far more astute and less with an Iberian feel. Gary O’Neil was seen to be a bizarre appointment, but he’s proven himself to be incredibly flexible and fostering a very good team spirit. Questions asked about their depth.
Away day scope
The transport links make this a Birmingham trip and it is notoriously hard to get into a pub of any note on matchday within Wolverhampton. You are rather told to position yourself in a bar to a connecting Holiday Inn and pay an entrance fee for the privilege.
There are ways and means to get yourself to such Black Country delights as Stourbridge for a few beers too with the charm of the locals. Batham’s Bitter is a must if available.
On a similar note, you could spend the morning at the Black Country Living Museum which is worth it if only for the Victorian Chip Shop.
Opposition meltdown?
Another club who went aggressive with season ticket pricing and included some eye-watering increases for differing age groups or concessions.
Fan groups united and eventually got some alterations to the planned increases. The relationship between club and fanbase is strained; whether it be ambition or just poor engagement.
Points deduction
In the last two summer transfer windows, Wolves have sold four players for over £35 million. They have been creative recently in signing players on loan with clauses to push the financial strain further down the line. They look okay but you wouldn’t be surprised if there was a charge.
Likely opposition goalscorer
Craig Dawson has scored twice against Leicester City. Both were in the last minute of games. A third time?
xR
Unlikely. However with the departure of Pedro Neto, you have to question if the squad is being rid of its talent and that very tough start to the season might start a slump. Still 7% is being worked out by our super computer.
That completes the marathon of the season preview. We’ve attempted to avoid hot takes and provide a lighter-hearted view of the forthcoming season. We can exclusively reveal that the Super Computer isn’t some high level calculating machine but the thoughts put together by the Fosse Way writers. For completeness, please see our predictions for the season.
Champions
Manchester City (78%), Arsenal (22%)
Champions League
Manchester City (100%), Arsenal (100%), Liverpool (78%), Manchester United (57%), Tottenham (21%), Aston Villa (21%), Chelsea (7%), Newcastle (7%)
Europa League/Conference League
Aston Villa (57%), Tottenham (50%), Chelsea (42%), Manchester United (28%), Liverpool (14%), Newcastle (14%), West Ham (14%), Crystal Palace (14%).
Relegation
Leicester (78%), Southampton (71%), Ipswich (57%), Forest (50%), Everton (7%), Wolves (7%), Brentford (7%)
