MAMA MIA !!

Here we go again! Yesterday saw my first visit to St. Mary`s Stadium since the end of last season. Southampton FC were `entertaining` Lazio of Rome in what was billed as a pre-season friendly.

Now, Lazio are no pushovers. Last season, they finished third in the Italian Serie A, despite incurring a considerable points deduction for some misdemeanour or other. Whereas my beloved Saints are languishing in the Coca-Cola Championship (which used to be called Football League Division Two in the days when Dubbin was the only performance enhancing substance known to the football family.)

It was soon apparent that there is an enormous gulf in class between us and them - Lazio were 3-0 up after a quarter of an hour and the game eventually ended up with a 5-2 vistory to our Italian visitors. Saints` goals came from two generously awarded penalties and I got the feeling that Lazio were always able to go up a few gears if they felt like it.

It brought it home just how far Saints have come since our 27-year stay in the top flight of English football was ended with relegation a couple of years ago. OK, we missed out on promotion last season in a penalty shoot-out with Derby County, but we are light years away from being serious contenders this season.

Yesterday we had a nervous goalkeeper, a non-existent back four, a fragile midfield and a powder puff attack - apart from that, it was OK.

I`ll be watching Lazio`s progress this coming season....but I doubt their supporters who graced St. Mary`s yesterday will be returning the compliment. And who can blame them?