Fabrice29

Longevity is not a recipe for success any more. Fergie/Wenger and all that one man runs a club crap is gone. It's a lovely thought but this is the Jose/Pep era now. Managers dont want to stay for longer than 3 years or so because they can get pay rises elsewhere if they are doing well and know full well they could stagnate and ruin their reputation. Clubs dont want them to stagnate and if they are doing well then a better calibre of manager becomes available. Short term managers and long term people overseeing them is most logical and successful formula. I imagine this 5 year plan realistically involves 2 different managers.

Emery didn't win away from home in the league all season. Something to think about. What are his coaching credentials like? As that will be a big part of what we are looking for. I think AVB and Howe suit us nicely. Howe's lack of experience of where we want to be is something to think about as well though. Not sure how much AVB will fancy taking on the media here again though. Maybe it will suit him at a less intense club. FDB is fascinating. You have to wonder why he left Ajax with nothing lined up. Is he going to be that guy everyone looks at and leaves alone until he ends up somewhere and failing? Moyes seems meh but it would be foolish to write him off. He has to be on any shortlist really and a lot of what we are doing matches up with what he acheived at Everton so I can see the appeal. Pellegrini has the experience but will he have the hunger for it?

Not one of them even looks like De Boer or Reed ffs

You realise AVB has done more than just manage those PL teams dont you? He's had quite a bit of success too. Pellegrini has also been sacked by a PL team.

1 - It hasn't happened yet. No real proof it is happening either. Quite a lot of chatter though and we've had that many times before 2 - Did we actually write that article? 3 - We are in the best position we have ever been. So calm down. If it happens we are in quite a good position to rectify it. It was happening next year anyway, we just put that plan into place a little earlier

User Actions Follow Ben Grounds ‏@Ben_Islington Koeman set to pledge his allegiance to Southampton. No offer was on the table from Everton #saintsfc #efc Curve ball! Or not. So dull. Hope it's done tomorrow one way or another.

What does that achieve? Until something is signed it wont be announced. I tell you what a phone call would achieve... a fan pleasing video from the DOF saying how everything is going fine.

It's not though is it? If you had a contract with still a year to run on it and your company offered you a new one you wouldn't be in a huge rush to sign it would you? Certainly wouldn't cancel or end early any holiday plans you had and you'd probably wait until your first day back before getting down to it. The guys on a break ffs.

Don't really see why there is such an outcry over Wilshere and Henderson specifically. Both been part of the squad for a while now, Wilshere bailed England out single handily at one stage in the qualification. Drinkwater has just come into the squad, he was always going to be vulnerable. I think he should have been picked by the way but can see why he isn't. The idea of picking the squad based on form is quite funny. You build a squad for 2 years only to throw it all out of the window because of someone having a good few months just before the tournament. If England are to do anything in the tournament the best players will need to perform. Thats Jack Wilshere at his, that's why you take him.

Stoke have a lot of money behind them to be fair but lets not go down the route of being jealous of them again. The reason they end of there is because nobody else wants them. The majority are players that were overhyped in the media but never good enough to get a move...or failed in a move..and then ended up at Stoke.

Yeah a lot of waffle masking a positive but non committal statement.

What's this new direction we are taking? I assume it will shed some light on who we intend to replace these guys with...

Frank Lampard also is widely considered the worst MLS signing of all time. So no ta.

He's not been a decent player for at least 2 years.

Traore will have our back tonight. Also Liverpool will rest players this weekend for sure and against a West Brom side notorious for being dull and a pain in the arse, I can see a draw happening.

OH actually maybe not. So yeah top 6 for sure, 7th and we need united to win the cup. 8th and there is no chance.

If Liverpool finish 8th and win EL they trump 7th's place in Europe...England have a maximum of 7 teams in Europe next season...

He's not doing it for NY this year though is he? Hasn't played a single minute this season yet am I right? Not denying what a great player he has been but it's an incredibly short term signing and one with loads of risk baring in mind his fitness and cost. Not to mention I doubt he'll be interested. I'm all for signing a goal scoring midfielder though. Just one at a good age that might do it for longer than a season at most.

Pearson is quite obviously a terrible idea. Tin hat time but if we could find a way to curb him a little bit in the transfer market (by working with our recruitment team) and don't let him completely revamp our defence...I wouldn't be adverse to Roberto Martinez.

27,777

These favourites you speak of are favourites for a reason. They've remained fit and delivered assists and goals for 2 seasons now.

If we are going to sell Pelle and go with Austin as our main striker next season then he's really going to have to step up. I think he can and will step up but the adoration he got when he first signed and the stick Pelle got at the same time is looking rather silly. I remember the first couple of home games after he signed...everything Pelle did wrong was met with frustration and calls for Austin to come on...he's done nothing to suggest he can lead our line next year from the odd appearance he has made. I think he can and will but the stick Pelle got was totally uncalled for.

De Boer.

Quite liked him when he came on tbf. The only player willing to take the ball in an unorthodox position. He's a little pass and move player, he isn't going to set the world alight in a struggling static front line.

Exactly this. Lino has to take just as much blame. He should be screaming down the mic that he's missed a kick out and there is no advantage.