After the worries of last season and Southampton fans spending more time looking at a possible Championship return as opposed to pushing on up the Premier League table, I doubt the club have been alone in conducting an autopsy on where everything went wrong for us given how we took to life in the top-flight following promotion all those years ago.
During his brave battle with leukaemia, Joseph's wish was to train with the #SaintsFC first-team, but he was too ill to do so.
Today, his wish came true! ????❤️ pic.twitter.com/T3bEL4zP8p
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) July 18, 2018
Fans certainly have their own thoughts about that, as well as their own suggestions on where the fault lies.
With a marked change this summer in terms of the type and quality of players we have already signed, and what that obviously means for a change of outlook behind the scenes compared to more recent years, fans are naturally boosted that we are again on the up and getting back to the kind of ethos and sensible planning that allowed us to reach the division in the first place.
Another small step for the club and gesture to a fan was massively well received by Saints fans this week and plenty believe we may be back on the path of the ‘Southampton Way’.
I have the feeling that we really could return to that way which we’ve unfortunately lost (a bit) the last two seasons!
— Swiss Saints (@Gion_Brasser) July 18, 2018
???????? can’t help but feel it at the moment mate…it’s all going in the right direction for once!
— Saints122 (@Saints122) July 18, 2018
this window feels so unlike us. Usually our board just reacted to the players we’ve lost but this year they acted and so we’re in the front seat now and they seem to be in control of the transfers. Very different to the past 4 or 5 years. ????????????
— Swiss Saints (@Gion_Brasser) July 18, 2018
Credit where it is due, they seem to have learnt after last year. Proactive rather than reactive as well.
— Chris Ingram (@ChrisIngram96) July 18, 2018
Please make this lad mascot for the @NUFC game let's show the world the true Southampton way #SaintsFC
— Christopher Addoo (@agadoo85) July 19, 2018
This is just beautiful! What a lovely gesture from our club, Joseph looked like he had a fantastic day! Well done everyone. ????????❤❤ #saintsfc
— SaintCirce (@SaintCirce) July 18, 2018
Great to see and looks like Joseph had a blast. Fair play to everyone at the club and the players in particular, genuinely don’t think they understand just how much being so cool with kids like that means to not just them but the fans generally ???? #saintsfc
— terry couzens (@tcouzens1) July 19, 2018
All @premierleague teams should do this for all occasions, to these kids the players are absolute role models and the real reason why football is the greatest sport in the world.
— Alan Chaplain (@abchaplain) July 18, 2018
That's what football is all about and as a Newcastle fan hats off to @SouthamptonFC and you've game him a good game to watch too
— Danny Fletcher (@Danny17Fletch17) July 18, 2018
Amazing well done Southampton ????
— Richard Johnson (@mancworm) July 18, 2018
@Alex_Macca23 has got to be saving that pen. Comfortable height, dives the right way…. I know it’s only preseason but VERY worrying……………….also cutest thing ever so well bloody done all invoked. ????
— Ben Spiteri (@Benspiteri) July 19, 2018
There the team talk for the first game of the season right there…. "listen lads, This is who we are playing for… Fans Like Joseph"
— Charlie Tre-Vett (@charlie_bear86) July 19, 2018
Stay fit and healthy Joseph, great to see you fulfill your wish.
— John Maule (@johnmaule1) July 19, 2018