Saint Albert

I’d be interested in seeing what people think after the January transfer window closes. I think that the club have buggered up their transfer window plans, by deciding to stick with Pellegrino.

So both clubs matched the asking price according to this but Allardyce impressed Walcott with his plans for him and the rest of the team. Sounds like Walcott has merely joined the ranks of everyone other than the Saints board and a few isolated supporters, in being unimpressed with Pellegrino and what he has done to the side. I’m not sure how many more signals the board needs, to understand they are backing a loser.

I’d love to see how Gabbiadini performs under a different Saints manager. Can’t blame him for looking to leave if Pellegrino stays.

Despite all the talk of protests I’m expecting that the home supporters will get behind the team for the Spurs game. I can’t see Theo to Everton improving the mood though. If things start to go pear shaped on the pitch like the reverse fixture at Wembley, it could get ugly.

Both the club through its mouthpiece in the Daily Telegraph, and Lemina himself have indicated he is underperforming due to an injury.

The failure to adequately replace Mane and Pelle changed us from a team challenging to be the best of the rest, to a team with a middling squad capable of a mid table finish. Pellegrino transformed the squad from a comfortable mid table team, to relegation candidates. We simply should not be in this position. The club made a huge mistake firing Puel without a better replacement signed up and ready to go. Pellegrino simply is not a better replacement. I suppose you could blame Les for hiring Pellegrino, or Pellegrino for not being a good manager, or both if you really enjoy blaming people. I just want the board to wake up and do something about it.

I thought that Long was brilliant in the first half against Watford on Saturday. He may not have scored but he set up JWP for his first and was instrumental in the break leading to the second. The problem Carrillo will have (if he arrives), is people will only see his goal scoring record, and particularly his association with an unpopular manager that many would rather see fired. Given that Pellegrino must be on thin ice at Saints, and would have been fired by literally any other PL club weeks ago, signing one of his players at this juncture seems a little short-sighted to me.

Brutally unfair. I think that Wigley even has a better winning percentage as Saints manager.

They’re seeking a target man to play alongside Austin when he recovers from injury apparently. Someone should tell Sky Sports that Pellegrino does not tend to play two strikers at the same time.

So he may be injured. Monaco may still need him because of injuries and lack of replacements. I hope that Les and Co. are not putting all their eggs in this basket.

I would have been disappointed if Lambert was Pellegrino’s replacement, but in fairness I wasn’t keen on Hodgson or Moyes, who seem to be doing well at Palace and W. Ham. I can’t help thinking that the board are looking at the Stoke experience and thinking that sticking with Pellegrino is the best option.

The Stoke experience feels like a bit of a cautionary tale to me. Lambert was their 4th choice, behind Rowett, QSF, and O’Neill, in that order if you believe the press.

An ITK claim on the Reddit forum is that Saints will be signing RB Ryan Fredericks of Fulham, with Targett going the other way on loan. The fee is not yet agreed. I’m not sure what to make of this, since the club only seems to be considering attacking options according to its media mouthpiece in the Telegraph if I recall, but there seems to be a bit of a need for depth at RB as Pied’s contract winds down. Fredericks was speculated as a Swansea/Stoke target last week by the Daily Mail: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5242711/Stoke-Swansea-battle-Fulhams-Ryan-Fredericks.html

Theo should hold out for ice skating lessons.

Long has played well lately and was instrumental in both of JWP’s goals yesterday. Long deserves to play next weekend. I’m going to stop complaining about his continued selection, but I still don’t fully get why the manager of a team woefully short on goals, does not rate Gabbiadini. Even if he is struggling with a knock, I’d start Lemina over Davis.

He’s struggling with injury - the club mentioned it again in the Telegraph puff piece a few days ago.

It was not the first time he gave up the ball to set up a Watford attack in that game.

Allegations of racism have been made against J-Rod for gestures he made during today’s Brighton game... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5266447/Pardew-expects-FA-investigation-Rodriguez-racism-claim.html

According to Pellegrino, we played well for most of the time in the second half... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/01/13/watford-2-southampton-2-abdoulaye-doucoures-controversial-last/ I must have been watching a different game.

Since he still seems to like us, Poch’s team will be decent enough to apply lube but still shaft us 1-3.

The really good news is we’re playing Spurs next.

It seems like a prudent thing to do. Hopefully they had a contingency meeting about finding a replacement for Pellegrino, as well.

He deserves it. I’m not sure what the rules are re. a deliberate handball like that vs. successfully diving for a pen and violent conduct missed by the referee.

It feels a little like Groundhog Day when I watch the games now. We do OK in the first half in spite of some interesting team selections, then sit back and capitulate in the second. It genuinely surprises me that the decision makers at the club do not see this.

0 wins in 10 PL games now, I believe.