SKD

Just like Juve did last night? Having 2 forwards and 2 wingers stretches the game leaving space in between the fullback / CB allowing players, especially with the movement / pace of Gabbi to get in behind. I'd love for us to really have a go these next few games and play 2 wingers with Gabbi slightly behind of Carillo/Austin who would naturally drop deeper allowing Gabbi to run off them in behind. At the moment we are far to reliant on our fullbacks offering our only width, which pretty much squeeze's the game.

Let's not pretend that he wasn't in the squad before his significant time out with injury and also that he is refusing to sign a contract, which pretty much confirms he doesn't want to be at the club. With Spurs wage structure and recent history, it is a miracle that they are where they are if we're being honest. They shouldn't even be competing with the like of Juve and Madrid, let alone outplaying them. I do think that them not winning anything is lingering over them a bit, but I was watching 'the debate' on Sky last night and I thought Bellamy got it spot on when he said "if they (Tottenham) win the FA cup, will it make them a better team? No". Can't hide the fact they missed a very big opportunity the season Leicester won the league (as did everyone else in the top 10 that year, arguably including us), but that was a freak season, one that will never happen again. I think a club with the resources that Tottenham have / are willing to spend, regular CL qualification is an achievement in itself. I have 0 doubt in my mind that Poch will leave Tottenham in the next year or 2 and go to an elite club (probably Madrid) and clean up. I really don't get the bitterness with Poch, TBH. He generally is a cracking bloke and IMO he's certainly the best coach saints have / will ever have. The only bitterness I have is that Kat's decision to stop significant investment to push us onto the next level, failure to replace Cortese and subsequent failure to persuade Poch 'the project can continue' has probably cost us the chance to be Tottenham.

Spot on - Poch is the only manager I have seen that can make J-rod look top class, before and after (okay injury may have played a part), he was pretty average. Same for Lovren.

We’ll almost certainly be interested, as will a number of other teams, probably Everton. If we can get him we will, but I don’t think we will be able to now.

Silva or Pellegrino... or are you going to continue dodging the question?

If the board are worried about that, despite having c.£50m of VvD money left over, we’re in deep trouble. PL survival is worth a lot more than £6m and that’s looking ever unlikely with every week that passes with MP in charge.

Has Poch just effectively admitted to tapping him up

Expecting Duckhunter to completely avoid the question... But yes, you're right, Silva comfortably. Like him or not, he is clearly better than MP and would have been a better appointment in the summer.

If you had to pick one to take charge of the remaining games, who would it be Pellegrino or Silva?

He didn't say that though, did he. The only thing that you are right about is that it's been all down hill since appointing Puel. We would have been pretty attractive to manage at that time, EL football (for the second year running), just finished 6th and an established PL team

Is that not exactly what Puel is? So many seem to be referring to that cup final we lost as some sort of success. Long term Silva may, or may not be the answer, but if you don't think he'd be an improvement on MP, you've lost your mind.

Unfortunately this is spot on. St Mary's is dead, as are 90% of all PL grounds in fairness, but we do seem to be very much 'a soft family club'. We really can't inspire our players or put other players off.

Also, without Gabbi coming and hitting the ground running (he looked world class at times), it's likely we would have been in the same position as we are this season.

I'd take 8th, for sure. Not sure i'd be that bothered about coming second best (which gives you f uck all) in a cup final though.

Nonsense, we had more than enough ability in that squad to beat Beer Sheva, especially at home. I think Saint Pete's assessment is pretty spot on, and sums up Puel (and MP) in all honesty - set up to draw, at home, you deserve to lose. As others have said, sacking Puel was the right thing to do (for a number of reasons), the failure come when they failed to attract a top level manager (i.e Tuchel) and were left with MP.

Yep - Exactly the same reason for me

1) Everyone can finally see that Les Reed is a fraud 2) Enough ‘half decent’ managers unemployed who can keep us up, should we sack MP 3) Other than Lemina and Bertrand, we have no more players Liverpool will want 4) As a fan, the championship will be more enjoyable and less expensive (hopefully) 5) We’re sh!t, but we’re not Pompey

Not true. The players wanted him gone, that’s what ultimately led to him getting the sack.

Our Support is sh!t, has been for a while, even during 'the good times'. Always take good numbers (home and away), but vocally poor - probably doesn't help that unless its OWTS (used far, far too often) or a song that involves ridiculous clapping a large proportion of our fan base won't sing. Thought stoke were alright Saturday - Even if it's "Pellegrino's red and white army" for a consistent half hour, it's better than silence, groaning or repeating OWTS even 10 minutes.

A large number of people on here seem to think our squad is extremely poor - if this is the case, surly no one will want them.

I'd be very very surprised if JWP left us for someone like Burnley or Watford. He's got a good head on his shoulders and knows that at this current time we are the best club for him, especially if we go down where he will almost guarantee a start week in week out. From what I'm told he see's his future with us (as captain, in the long run). Should an elite club come in that may change, although I don't think he'd ever leave to become a bench warmer at city etc... (money does talk though). I would fully expect him to stay should we go down.

Heaton has been out injured since September. He's likely to be back fit before the end of the season, but Pope has been in pretty good form, so It'll be interesting to see if he plays enough games from now until the end of the season.

I'm not sure it is... He's sh!te. Other than Slimani and probably Kenedy i'm not sure there is any of their players I would rather have.

Hang on, don't the forum experts tell us that are squad is not good enough and that we should be bottom half/quarter of the table? One even compared our squad to Newcastle's

Absolute rubbish - JWP almost certainly will and Redmond, I can't see anyone coming in for him after the season he's had. Would probably do them both a lot of good, to be honest. PEH debatable, one that could go either way.