Southampton 2022/23 season review: Woeful campaign ends in relegation

Southampton have been relegated from the Premier League for the first time since 2004/05 following an abysmal campaign riddled with thoughtless managerial changes.

Misfortune has befallen the Saints, but it has been a long time coming as they have failed to show any real progress since the 2016/17 campaign, which marked their last finish in the top half of the table.

There were signs of danger at the start of the season that culminated in Ralph Hasenhuttl losing his job, with the club languishing in the drop zone.

However, his mid-season dismissal failed to spark an upturn in performances or results, leaving the Saints to rue their puzzling sporting decisions. Here’s Southampton’s 2022/23 season review.

Player of the Year: James Ward-Prowse

James Ward-Prowse was the only bright spark for Southampton in a devastating campaign riddled with gloom, disappointment and despair.

His average rating of 7.23 tells the story of a player with the weight of the club on his shoulders. The 28-year-old racked up eight goals and four assists – the most of any Southampton player in both categories.

However, his heroics were not enough to help his side survive the drop.

Performance of the season

It wouldn’t be a hard task to single out a game where Southampton were at their best, seeing as 25 of their 38 Premier League matches ended in defeat.

However, despite being the division’s worst-performing side, completing the double over Chelsea for the first time since December 1993 marks the highlight of their season.

It is a feat they will relish for years to come – although it pales in comparison to the throbbing torture of playing lower-league football next term.

Disappointment of the season

Breaking into the top half of the table was a massive ask for Southampton at the start of the season, but retaining their Premier League status was the bare minimum.

Failing to stay afloat is the ultimate disappointment for the Saint, and they barely even put up a fight considering the nine-point gulf separating them from safety.

They will fancy their chances of earning a swift top-flight return, especially if they can hang on to their talents, but will require significant reinforcement from the transfer market.

What do the stats say?

Southampton will end the season nailed to the bottom of the Premier League table, having managed just six wins throughout the campaign – their worst tally since being relegated in 2005.

Their colossal 25 defeats this season is a club record that highlights just how poor the Saints have been throughout the season.

Southampton scored a paltry 36 goals this season – the third lowest in the division, with only Everton (34) and Wolverhampton Wanderers netting fewer times (31).

They also shipped in 73 goals from 38 games – the second most in the league, with only Leeds United having a worse defensive record.

Verdict

Southampton have endured an abysmal campaign that only got worse toward the end, with the club picking up just two point from their final ten games (D1).

However, they were the architects of their own downfall. Sacking Hasenhuttl was arguably the wrong call. The timing was also off, especially with a short list of capable candidates to choose from.

Since his departure in November, the Saints have picked up 12 points from 24 games which is as many as they managed in 14 games with the Austrian at the helm.

It is hard to ascertain if they would have been better off with him in the dugout, but what is certain is that their seemingly proactive move to sack him has blown up in their faces.

Southampton’s managerial merry-go-round played a part in their woeful campaign, and their decision on who takes over this summer will be pivotal in their bid for a top-flight return.

Read Next

See all Premier League 2022/23: Team-by-team season reviews.