Southampton PodJockey Matt Brennan looks at Saint's young team and is optimistic about reaching the play-off's this season. 

August has arrived and its time for football again. It’s Cardiff for Southampton on Saturday and I for one am very excited. Having seen the team play very nice attacking football throughout the pre season I expect a lot from them. They may be young but they have ability. The likes of Schneiderlin, Lallana and Surman can all be key players this season.

We have an absolute diamond in Michael Svensson. With him and Davies at the back gives us a good centre back pairing. He gives us experience as well. Inspiration to the younger players in the team that no matter how low things can get there is always a way back to the top. There is no doubt that a few of the youngsters, who we will be seeing have room to improve but with Svensson fit and as captain during the season they have a man who can lead them through anything. Let’s hope he can keep his fitness levels.

People have been worrying that our side is not physically strong enough to compete in the Championship. This I suppose is a fair point. I look at it like this though – if we can avoid defeat at Ninian Park on Saturday confidence will grow. People can say that it is only the first game of the season and that it does not matter but I have the belief that it is the most important game of the season. It sets a precedent – look at last season an absolutely shocking performance that led to a 4-1 home defeat to a poor Crystal Palace side. Confidence is immediately sliced once something like that happens. The team that Poortvliet chooses is apparently going to be similar to the side that faced both Stoke and West Ham. The majority of this team will have ultimately built their confidence and understanding of each other from their days in the youth team. They had relative success in the academy but now face the step up.

I really feel we can get 7 points from the first three games. I may be wrong – we may end up getting stuffed. Our players now though will be playing for something else. They will be in the shop window. We are a selling club and players who have stepped up will know if they perform then Premier League clubs could come calling. This is where we are different from last year. No more journeymen at the end of their careers with nothing to aim for. We have a squad of players that want to progress and the easiest way for them to do that is for them to be in a winning team.

With McGoldrick looking like our first choice striker it could go either way. He did well against West Ham and Stoke – I really hope he can do it when it comes to the real thing though. If he does get a couple of goals early on and his confidence is high then there is no doubt he could do very well. If he doesn’t find form then we have Rasiak, John and hopefully Saganowski who can score 20+ goals a season.

I am excited and I believe we can make the playoffs – nothing is impossible. I just cannot wait until Saturday – I will be nervous going through the turnstiles but hopefully I will be smiling coming back out. Let me know what you think of our chances this season. I can tell you now even Poulton the Pundit has been quietly confident! What is more realistic – relegation or promotion?

Listen to Poulton’s and my reaction to the Dutch duo’s first real test next Monday when the Southampton Football FanCast returns for the 2008/09 season.

Let’s hope it’s a good’un!