Ralph Hasenhuttl has spoken of how the next few weeks will decide whether the remainder of the season will be one of looking forward or looking over our shoulders.

Since he has arrived at the club Ralph Hasenhuttl has won 3 of his opening 7 Premier League games, drawn 1 and lost 3, that doesn't initially look great reading but when you consider that is an average of nearly 1.43 points per game and that if he repeats that ratio then we would finish comfortably in mid table with 42 points then that looks a lot better.

Given that 3 of those games were against the Big Six clubs and 2 against clubs that aspire to finish in the top 7 then it shows just what the Austrian has achieved in such a short time.

But now after the visit of Everton come the games that will shape the season, those against fellow relegation strugglers, Crystal Palace, Burnley & Cardiff then after a trip to Arsenal hosting Fulham at St Mary's.

These four games are going to shape the season and determine whether we will spend the rest of it looking comparatively safe or like last season struggling right to the last.

At the top end of the sale winning all four games would see us on 31 points (not taking into account the result against Everton) and possibly already having enough to survive by the end of February, it could also see us launch our own bid for a top ten finish.

But conversely losing more than we win would see us dragged right down in the relegation battle and probably playing catch up.

Ralph Hasenhuttl is very aware of the fact that the honeymoon period is over and now the serious work begins, he has put the foundations in place he now needs to build on them.

"Every win is very important at the moment, We showed against Leicester how much we wanted to fight for the three points, because we knew exactly that it could help us to leave the relegation zone."

"The next weeks are very important and the good thing is, after this Everton game, we have more time to prepare for Crystal Palace and the other games, so that's important for us."

"The next opponents after Saturday, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Cardiff, are teams that are in our zone. This game on Saturday and then the next ones maybe show us in what direction our development is going — is it going in the upper regions or do we stay there where we are?"

Saints supporters already believe that Hasenhuttl is the best man to take us forward that we have had in a long while, Pochettino was respected but the fans did not truly warm to him because of his aloof attitude and refusal to speak English, Ronald Koeman was loved and seemed set to take us forward but then blew it by leaving for a big pay day and as for the last 3 enough said.

Hasenhuttl though seems different he has engaged with the club engaged with the media and most importantly engaged with the fans, perhaps his stay here won't last for ever but it will hopefully last long enough to help put us back on an even keel and able to move forward again.

But first comes this vital period of just over a month, by the start of March we will know just where the land lies and so will Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Photo: Action Images

Hugh_Jarce added 14:58 - Jan 18 Agreed. The break after tomorrow will provide some respite and recuperation time from what has been a very demanding schedule for RH so far
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Whatsforpud added 16:43 - Jan 18 Top 10 finish!!!!???
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saintmark1976 added 18:29 - Jan 18 Nick, I always admire your glass half full attitude in regard to the Saints but I have to take issue with your comment that Ronald Koeman "blew it by leaving for a big pay day". The only person who blew it was our then penny pinching owner. She let a top six manager go and has subsequently been rewarded many time over by having to pay compensation to each one of his successors.Never a better example of " penny wise and pound foolish".

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saintpp added 19:06 - Jan 18 In reply to stmark RK wasnt a top 6 manager at everton he got sacked for failing there despite spending a fortune and if it hadnt been for mane and pelle even long he wouldnt have achieved that with Saints, He was allowed to leave as he wouldnt commit to saints for more then one year meaning he was open to offers. He went on holiday promising to sign then got approached by everton and took the thier longer contract and money.

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1970 added 22:01 - Jan 18 'saintpp' koeman must of had a hand in building that team from nothing we all remember the twitter photo's at training, I for one loved it when he failed at Everton but with the power of hindsight he would of had to jump through hoops season upon season just to compete because we now know everyone was for sale and in fact the club were actively trying to sell all the players even Pelle at 31 so why would he stay? In that scenario I wouldn't would you? I'm very glad we have RH now we'd be well and truly in the brown stuff by now otherwise

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