It was a transfer window nobody connected with Saints will forget in a hurry.

Without doubt it was by far the most turbulent since the transfer window system first kicked into life in England in 2003, and was probably the club’s most remarkable ever summer of change.

Having spent years as a club synonymous with stability, Saints have certainly had their fair share of upheavals over the past decade - this summer is only rivalled by the one that featured administration and Markus Liebherr’s takeover in 2009.

Last season seems so long ago already, as does the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.

Talking point In fact, so much has happened since then it’s easy to forget that it even occurred during this summer, whereas for most clubs the loss of a manager would be the major talking point of the closed season.

With the likes of Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers going for around £90m and Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic, Florin Gardos, Toby Alderweireld, Sadio Mane, Fraser Forster, Shane Long and Ryan Bertrand arriving for around £60m, it’s certainly been eventful.

The big question for Saints fans is just where the club are now compared to where they were.

The easiest way to evaluate it is to look at it in instalments.

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster is certainly an upgrade on what they had before, so they are without doubt stronger Left back: Saints do not require a world class left back, as nice as it is to have one. But they do need somebody consistent and reliable. In losing Shaw and gaining Bertrand they have got exactly that.

Right back: it was either Chambers of Nathaniel Clyne, now it’s just Clyne, and the way he’s started this season suggests he might have been the pick anyway. With Alderweireld as cover that is more than acceptable.

Centre halves: Losing Dejan Lovren was of course a big blow but Saints have effectively lost one first team centre half and gained two others, with Gardos and Alderweireld arriving. Indeed, with Jose Fonte also there and Maya Yoshida possibly even squeezed to fourth choice, there is an embarrassment of riches.

Central midfield: It’s as you were, no ins or outs. Most significantly, Morgan Schneiderlin is still at the club Attacking midfield: It took a hit with the departure of Adam Lallana, who was such a leader as well as being prodigiously talented.

Once more, though, the squad looks stronger with Tadic and Mane coming in, the question is whether they will adapt to the Premier League and provide what Lallana brought to the table. Don’t forget that there is also Jay Rodriguez to return from injury as well Strikers: Lambert’s boots are big ones to fill.

Saints have drafted in Pelle and Long to offer a strong physical presence and a player who can play on the shoulder of the last defender Manager: Pochettino was successful at Saints, but you always had the impression he was in it for himself rather than the long term good of the club.

It proved that way with his departure, but Ronald Koeman has come in and been hugely impressive.

His demeanour, the way he has led the club during a tricky time and the team he is building breeds confidence in him All things considered, the summary has to be that things are not nearly as bleak as people might have had you believe a few months ago.

Saints had to tackle a tough summer head on and they have done that and come out the other side.

As Adam Rant was writing at the time, it was always going to be a case of letting the board do what they thought was for the best because, no matter how worrying it seemed, they weren’t going to just keep selling.

Fresh Saints As it turned out they were as good as their word and invested a lot of money back into the squad – it’s hard to be precise but by the time you include loan fees and factor in the extra wages, and bear in mind that Bournemouth took 25 per cent of the Lallana fee, it’s probably not that far off of an equal spend.

What we have been left with is a new Saints, a fresh Saints.

It’s one which we will watch develop with interest, as no doubt some of the signings flourish and others struggle a little more.

But, overall, if you had to have a summer of upheaval, it’s ended about as well as you could have asked for.