Southampton produced their highest ever points tally in a Premier League season in 2015/16.
Under Ronald Koeman, the Saints surpassed last season's 60 points by notching 63 in yet another campaign of improvement.
The south coast club were battling in December but produced six clean sheets in a row after the turn of the year and ended the season with seven wins from their last 10 outings,
Scoring goals was not too much of an issue as they played a brand of fluid, free-flowing football but keeping the players who created that style could be a little difficult.
Sadio Mane is a target for a number of top flight rivals and Graziano Pelle reportedly wants to return to Italy but Jay Rodriguez will be back to full fitness next term, as will January signing Charlie Austin, while the form shown by Dusan Tadic late suggests the penny has dropped with him.
Some reinforcements in the summer are essential if they want to naturally progress domestically and perform to a higher standard on the continent as they get set for another crack at the Europa League.
SAINTS SNAPSHOT
POSITION:6th
WIN-DRAW-LOSS RECORD:18-9-11
POINTS:63
GOALS FOR-AGAINST:59-41
SOUTHAMPTON'S TOP 3
SCORERS: Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle both 11, Shane Long 10
ASSISTS: Dusan Tadic 13, Graziano Pelle, Sadio Mane both 9
CLEAN SHEETS (leader): Maarten Stekelenburg, Fraser Forster both 6
YELLOW CARDS: Oriol Romeu 7, Graziano Pelle, Ryan Bertrand both 6
RED CARDS: Victor Wanyama 3
EA SPORTS Player Performance Index: Sadio Mane 635, Dusan Tadic 564, Steven Davis 535
TRIBAL'S TOP BOY
TWITTER TALK
What a great season by the team this year! @EuropaLeague here we come!! #WeMarchOnpic.twitter.com/zYGLGNYXIO
— Jay Rodriguez (@JayRodriguez9) May 15, 2016
Big thanks to the fans, players & everyone who is involved at @SouthamptonFC for fans & players player of the year! pic.twitter.com/16vmpCHnra
— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) May 12, 2016
Great way to finish the season at home!! Now to enjoy the night then look forward to the euros!! pic.twitter.com/eTGclJv8Pb
— Steven Davis (@StevenDavis8) May 15, 2016
What a season! Proud about the Players and the Staff! #WeMarchOnpic.twitter.com/OEIfYp9ivk
— Ronald Koeman (@RonaldKoeman) May 15, 2016
FROM THE BOSS
"It's one thing speaking about ambition and the second is to show it.
"It's all about trying to improve and to continue. And of course now the expectations will be higher than last season.
"Last season was already a special one and to do even better than last year is incredible."
- Ronald Koeman on BBC Radio Solent, May 2016.
STAT STORY
*Thanks to Opta
6 – Southampton have now finished in a higher league position in each of their last six league campaigns. Elevated.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 16, 2016
