Chez

I never ever understood why you need a `buffer' between the chairman and the manager.

I states that Reed will be on a par in terms of organisation structure as the manager. Does that mean his vote carries the same weight as the managers when it comes to buying players? if it does and he has voted against him on several player valuationss the manager may feel he is `interfering' with his role. Whether that happened with Pardew is pure speculation. Lowe used this transfer group structure and many other clubs do as well, but is it ever sucessful?

before we even sacked Pardew, Zola was mentioned. That name has gone off the radar somewhat. Would that count?

such as?

Look how good Adkins looks now. If we are going for a player manager from within then Wotton would be your man.

it's not Adkins' fault that Palace were blindsided by Burleys Scottish lilt. Scunny just thrashed Palace 3-0 by the way and are midtable in the Championship with two wins and two defeats. People underestimate Adkins. Management is not about being a name, its about being good at what you do. He clearly is good at what he does. The only question is can he transcribe that technique to a bigger club with more money available? Some manage it (think David Moyes) and some don't (think Luggy).

a very good point, but I am one of those fans that does care what other fans from other clubs think of Southampton, so i'd like a manager that represents us the club well, oh and win a few games too...obviously. There is room for both.

simply outstanding. A day brightened.

good bloody question. Personally I don't like how he comes across when talking on the TV and the incident with the jumper polarised his personality. However, I respect the promotion he got with `ull and wonder if he can do the same again. Is he a busted flush though? I'm not so sure how'd I feel. Slightly dissapointed I guess then I'd look at all the positive points and get behind him until the negatives started outweighing the positives.

hard to argue with those facts but there was a slightly different starting point in terms of inherited squad quality if you ask me.

people seem to have very much made their minds up about Pardew, but I do want to point out that he made some decent substitutions that changed games to go along with his frustrating ones. There were several games where this had a direct impact on the game positively for Saints such as the Franchise FC game at SMS that saw us 0-1 down to a Puncheon goal and then Pardew brought on Antonio and Connelly just after half time and we scored five minutes later and went on to win 3-1. The Stockport game was another. It was 0-0 and he brings on Waigo after an hour and a minute later we score. Reading this back to myself it looks weak, as it could have been just luck and coincidence, but these subs were just at the right time and for the the right players and they did make a difference. They stuck in my mind as I can't think of many games over the years where the manager makes the right moves at the right time. Just offering a little balance here.

Premiership managers don't apply for League 1 jobs. Premiership caretakers perhaps.

with barmy MON talk on here some of the fans certainly aren't going to see him as a name, but maybe they should do. He certainly looks good compared to Wilkins.

Seeeing as Adkins is a Championship manager and our players are League 1 standard I think he might have a chance. Reminds me of the Grayson signing, stepping down a division to take charge of a big club. Will it feel like a step down for the players?

I'd take several of those and be pretty happy. I think people underestimate the jobs some of these guys have done. Adkins and Pearson especially.

Hill has been an absolute revelation at Rochdale and no less of a candidate than Howe for example. He kept them up when things were looking bad when he took over and then was unlucky not get them promotion the following season. Amazing turnaround and without spending. They should have won the league at a canter last season but the wheels came off a little at the end in a similar vein to Leeds. Chris O'Grady, who we saw yesterday was an inspired signing. Him and Dagnell were sensational all season. Considering they lost Dagnall and Kennedy in the summer they have made brilliant start. As with Adkins at Scunny he's at a small club where the expactations are much lower, so if he came to us it would be a whole different kettle of fish. We expect promotion, well certainly before Saturday we did, so the pressure would be on from the start. I'd also be a little woried about the egos of our players. Having the respect of the players is paramount. Adkins has the advantage in comign down a division, but Hill might struggle a little. At Dale he came through the ranks (Youth team coach etc) so he had the players on side, will ours follow him as quickly?

Adkins is younger than Mobrey

are we talking about Paul Jewell's long term assistant who when thrust into the managerial position after Jewell leaves failed every time? Hmmmmm.

they play decent stuff IMO. I remember the match at their place when Pearson took over and they played us off the park. Two promotions from this league in three years is impressive. Slightly different sense of expacation from the two sets of fans, but he knows how to win games. Yep he was their physio.

don't tell me we have our very own Gabriella Benson?

Take the rough with the smooth like a proper supporter. Experience these tricky times now and then wins down the line will feel that much sweeter.

you are not seriously suggesting Holmes is a better option? Football really is a game if differing opinions.

speak for yourself, I'd of swapped the JPT trophy for just a play off place without a second thought. Tin pot trophy that I almost felt embaessed to admit that we had won. I just wonder if we had put a little less effort into that competition the maybe we would have won the games we needed. I still see Saints as bigger than that. Perhaps that won't last too much longer.

Acronym misuse won't be a problem for long with you keeping watch.

So a friend of Ian Dennis rates him. Wow, he must be brilliant then.