I just wanted to put my thoughts across regarding Saints’ season to date, mainly as I have so often read others’ opinions and the one thing that pops up is ‘we're only X points off from the same amount of fixtures last season’ – a comparison which in my opinion means absolutely nothing.

Since the start of the season I have been keeping a spreadsheet on this, comparing the actual corresponding fixtures against the individual teams (substituting the three relegated teams for the three promoted ones) and compared the actual fixtures, rather than the number of fixtures we have played.

To say one season when we won our first 10 games against the three promoted teams and seven mid/bottom of the table teams is incomparable if the next season our first 10 games are against the ‘top teams’ and we lose them all.

Saying that, at no point this season have we actually been as good as we were last season, comparing the teams fixtures – at best we were possibly a win away from equalling it.

However, poor results have put an end to that. As it stands now, I have us at being seven points worse off than last season. Taking that into account, we are mid-table, nine points clear of the bottom three and approx. Nine points away from where we possibly should be (Editor’s note: this letter was written before the weekend fixtures). Saying that, it is also still possible to finish the season nine points better off than last season.

Unlikely, yes, but mathematically possible. Some people are comparing fixtures from last season including ones against Villa, Norwich and Newcastle, then saying we are six points worse off even though this season it includes fixtures against Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City and we are yet to play teams with a much higher possibility of picking up points against.

We are probably being punished for our own excellence of the past two/three seasons, In my opinion the continuous record breaking seasons (that were undoubtedly helped with the poor seasons some of the ‘top teams’ suffered) were never going to last.

Now throw into the mix a more successful Europa league campaign; however disappointing not progressing beyond the group stages was, we were playing a round further than the previous season, while having some historic nights.

We progressed a round further in the FA Cup than the previous season, once again, an improvement. Then we have the much-anticipated EFL Cup final to look forward to. Again this is an improvement on the previous season when we were knocked out at the quarter-final stage. We win the EFL, Manchester united have a Europa league game on the Wednesday before, and we are back in Europe next season.

Starting next season with a cup in the trophy cabinet, back in Europa League (whether you like the competition or not, for a club of our stature it’s where we want to be playing consistently in order to have any eventual progression) as well as the experience gained from this season, in my opinion is another season of progression, regardless of our eventual league position this season.

With this in mind I am going to continue to read the comments posted on here, agree with some and laugh at others, but until the season is over and the cup final is either won or lost, I don’t think we can really know how successful, or unsuccessful the season has been.

So let’s enjoy the healthy debates regarding team selections, tactics and performances (on all of which, we all know, we are the experts) and enjoy the prospect of a cup final, hopefully a good league position and we can judge the season when it’s actually finished.

Mr C

Hythe