SKD

You have to question what said agent is getting out of this deal though. That being said, as long as its above board, fair play to them as it seems to be working.

Sturridge - Extremely high wage demand, dubious injury record, lack of work rate - Avoid, a West Ham signing. Giroud - Simply wouldn't come to us, but would be great if we could persuade him. Walcott - Undecided on this one. Will offer us much needed pace, but isn't the player he once was. I'd like to see a front 3 of: Walcott (LF) New target man type no9 (CF) Gabbi (RF) For me, I think the we are lacking a creative ACM (Davis replacement). I'd be going for Wilshere, but I know he's not everyone's cup of tea on here, so maybe someone from the continent who is similar. I like Aaron Mooy at Huddersfield, but i'm not sure that they would sell in January.

Can't see Koeman taking anything but the Holland job now. It would be career suicide for him to take over WBA, IMO. It's got big Sam's name all over it, but would he want to take it?

He doesn’t have a clue what he’s on about. A watertight organised defence that have conceded 2 against West Ham, wolves, Watford, Stoke and Newcastle. Shipping 3 at Liverpool and a goal a piece against Brighton and Burnley. It’s easy to look at goals conceded and see we’re below whoever, but we’ve had the easiest set of fixtures in the league to date. Let’s see how that stat compares once we’ve played everyone in the league shall we.

I haven’t said they are performing under Puelegrino... in fact the opposite which is why he needs to go. As for Big Sam, I don’t want him at all. Do I think he’d keep us up? Yes. Would he organise us, and get a bit of confidence back? Yes. Do I think he’s as bad as people make out? No. Would he be good until the end of the season? Most likely. Lallana didn’t thrive under Adkins... it was Poch who came in and took that squad and us as a club to the next level. At the time, Lallana was an excellent player (too good) for the championship... let alone L1. I don’t know how often you go or went to St Mary’s but I remember a number of games where we were tactically out thought (reading and QPR at home come to mind). Each to their own, If you honestly believe Adkins would find it “easy” to turn us around, then so be it..... I’m glad you have no input into our club though.

Talking absolute nonsense once again. In all seriousness, can you imagine a squad of full international players reaction to being told that the relatively unknown (outside of saints) Nigel Adkins was taking charge. Take off you red and white, nostalgic, tinted glasses and actually think about what you're saying.... And you call others clueless

What in Adkins career suggests that he'll be able to turn the sinking ship round? He took over us when we arguably and with the benefit of hindsight had the best squad in both L1 and the championship... Poch came in and took us to another level. Adkins had his chance in the PL with us and Reading... More recently, he was terrible at Sheff Utd, who's fans hate him now as a result. Given what he done for us, he'd be a decent choice for our academy but in no way should he even be considered to make a return. There's a reason why he's without a job and clubs aren't really queuing to get him...

BFS > Pulis > Nigel Adkins

Pulis would be a terrible choice... at least BFS has at times played some decent attacking football.

It's no secret that Les is a big fan of the 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 formation, with a philosophy of keeping the ball throughout all the age groups. I heard whispers at the time that Les was unhappy (I'm told the 2 didn't have a great relationship anyway) with Koeman when he was playing 3-5-2 as it wasn't the "preferred formation". I very much doubt that Les tells or makes managers play a certain formation, but I expect he signs managers who historically play this system and that style of play / formation is one of the things stipulated during talks when taking over (as you would expect in all honesty). Les has his, unrealistic IMO, idea of 'The Southampton Way' which is playing in a certain style whilst bringing through x number of academy players, no matter how good they are.

Probably the same bloke who convinced us to pay Stuart Taylor £20k a week...... Long had one above average season with us, under Koeman, and is now one of the higher paid players at the club. Criminal really

Another loss... a draw at best. Next.

This is true... The club sacked Puel thinking that they had Tuchel in the bag. As it happened he changed his mind (I don't personally know why but as ericb has said, it was probably down to budget.... I suspect he also caught wind that he may be inline for a bigger job sooner rather than later if he sits it out and waits), we put all our eggs in the Tuchel basket, which is why we turned down Silva as he also had talks, and ended up with Pellegrino as there was nothing better at the time (we couldn't hold on any longer as he would have gone to Palace).

Yep exactly... if we go down it wouldn't surprise me if we done a Sunderland, Villa or Hull. I wouldn't bet on us coming straight back up.

My understanding is that he wanted a long term contract and that Everton preferred Silva. When BFS caught wind that Silva was the no1 choice, he decided to walk away.. Similar situation to what happened with Eddie Howe when we appointed Adkins. As others have said, it wouldn't be the best football played under BFS (not sure it could be any worse than the past 2 seasons mind), but he would certainly keep us up and would whip the current squad into shape. It's pointless considering BFS as he simply doesn't fit 'The Southampton Way'. I'd love to see us go for Brendan Rodgers but I'm not sure he would come to us mid season.

That’s a fair concern, to be honest. If you look at how long it has taken Everton to appoint a manager (maybe that’s just down to them not making a decision), it would suggest there’s not a great deal out there at the moment. Our stock most certainly would have fallen over the past 18 months

That holds 0 relevance without looking at their fixtures etc.... Also has no relevance to the job he done at Hull. How will he end the season, no one knows, but from the evidence provided so far, he’s pretty good. Certainly much better than Pellegrino.

Adkins would be a disaster and if we were to appoint him, even if it’s just until the end of the season, then we would be in no better position than we are now and most probably go down. Wouldn’t touch Pulis with a barge pole, but BFS would be okay until the end of the season, he’d certainly keep us up, but that just won’t happen.

He took over a truly dreadful Hull team, who were all but down when he arrived. He came in, got them playing and almost kept them up... had it not been for him, they’d have gone months before they did. If you actually look at it he done a pretty decent job at Hull and has continued to do so at Watford, hence why Everton are willing to pay c.£10m to get him. No doubt you think dear old nige is better than him as well

Spot on. The tide changed when Les was given full control of footballing matters, when Mitchell left and when Kat decided she couldn’t / didn’t want to invest any more money in the club.

His squad wasn’t better though was it... look what Lallana, Morgan, Lambert and Fonte went compared to Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole. Nigel is a nice bloke, but he’d be better suited to our youth set up, rather than coming in to turn and turn this sinking ship around. Long term Sam isn’t the answer, but he’d keep us up this year... Adkins most certainly wouldn’t.

Don’t talk nonsense.... look at Adkins career since leaving us. We had a mid table squad in L1 and the championship and failed to win both leagues.

Spot on. We’ve got a number of very good players, who are currently lacking confidence and / or motivation

Hmmmm in all honesty, I think it’d be much of the the same. I know it’s not what people want to hear but Adkins really isn’t that good of a manager.

Why? Just because Pellegrino is worse than Puel, it doesn’t mean Puel was right for us.