Southampton FC

Southampton FC are aiming for promotion to play in one of the best leagues in the world next season to compete against teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United. If succseful they will be back in the Premier League since the season of 2004/05. Harry Redknapp, who was manager at the time, didn't get enough out of his team and they were relegated after they lost 2-1 to Manchester United. Then in the 2008/09 season they were relegated again down into League 1. Last season after coming 2ndin the league behind Brighton they secured automatic promotion back into the Championship.

So far this season Southampton have been playing very well. They are unbeaten at home in the league winning 10 out of their 10 home games and scoring 26 but only conceding 6 goals. Whereas whilst playing away this season they have only managed 3 wins out of 10 and losing 4 with 3 draws. If Southampton are looking to get back to back promotions they will need to try and win more away games as that is their downfall so far this season getting just 12 out of a possible 30 points. If they keep up their great home record and improve their away record they will be unstoppable this season.

Rickie Lambert is a great striker and top scorer in the Championship with 12 goals so far. In my opinion he has great power in the air and an amazing right foot, shows he is a top player also being the highest goal scorer in one of the hardest leagues. You can tell he is a quality player with precision free-kick and penalty's. He has never failed to find the net for any team he has played for with the exception of his first team Blackpool when he only was chosen for 3 senior team appearances. After his £1million move from Bristol City in August 2009 the Southampton fans have warmed to him, you can understand why as he has played 107 games for the Saints and scoring 63 goals. Rickie Lambert won the PFA League One Fans' Player of the Year in the 2009/10 season and he was also the PFA League One Team Player of the year in the same season.

Southampton have a reputation for producing some great players. Such as Theo Wallcott, who is now an England regular, Gareth Bale, who is one of the best wingers in the Premier League. Peter Crouch, who has always scored goals for whatever team he has played with, he also has a great scoring ratio for the England national side. Finally Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is a very pacey player, and is just finding his feet at Arsenal. I think he should still be a Southampton player as he jumped straight from League One into a side fighting for a top 4 place and are in the Champions League. The one thing all these players have in common is that they are brilliant players, and have been sold off too early when Southampton should try to hold onto them so they can become a great team.

Since bringing in Nigel Adkins, in 2010, Southampton have changed. They now play with a fast attacking style at home which other teams have failed to stop. I think that with a team including Rickie Lambert, Guly Do Prado and Richard Chaplow they will be hard to stop this season. As they have lost 2 of their last 3 games, they will have to consider changing their style when they play away from home to stop them conceding goals. As they are just under half way through the season and they sit top of the league by 2 points ahead of West Ham United, the Christmas period will be crucial for them. West Ham United have a very strong team but the longer Southampton stay ahead the more likely they will go into the Premier League next year.