St Louis

Ask again this time next year All these posts on here about who is good at their role, who isnt, etc... lets face it, none of us have a clue what they are like behind the scenes. A combination of mistakes have been made, and led us to where we are, but it will certainly have been way more complex than being one persons fault! Lets just hope that the new structure and staff, equates to better decisions and performances all round (and essentially on the pitch for us lot!) starting with the new manager choice and summer transfers (in and out). But only time will tell, and structural changes in a business of this size (which is essentially judged by us on performances on the pitch) take time too. Not one of these organisational changes will have mass impact by August, so if we lose our first 5 games, it isnt the new structures fault, and likewise if we win the first 5!

I'm sorry, but footballers do not turn down Man Utd to stay and play for Southampton. It's just as simple as that, there is no way he was staying once Man Utd (and others) wanted him, and that's not Southampton's fault, its just modern football.

Believe it when I see it, but I really hope so. For someone so young, he has slotted into a new team and league brilliantly. He looks such a top prospect. I’d rather we kept him over anyone else (maybe aside from Lavia, but we know he won’t be here long regardless).

I have a very strong hunch (and it's only that) that Selles will be our manager for the start of next season.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles Lyanco Duje Ćaleta-Car Joe Aribo Adam Armstrong Mislav Oršić Paul Onuachu James Bree Sékou Mara Ibrahima Diallo

I really dont rate him either, he frustrates the hell out of me too. I've also wasted the last 5 years wondering what he actually does and when he will come good. I just wonder if the Championship is his level (given how well he did at Molde, Basel and Celtic) and if we might have an attacking midfielder who could actually score goals. Matters not anyway, he's off. Last time we went down, we brought in a lot of absolute cr*p and it took us a few years to get it right, I just worry that the players that SR bring in could actually be a lot worse than what we already have (the ones we are all wishing away).

Would probably be decent in The Championship. Did really well in Scotland, and the couple of Celtic fans I know loved him (he scored 25 in 66 for them too) Champ is probably his level, maybe one more year wouldnt have been so bad.

There are a multitude of reasons and people to blame, but I'm not sure Mateusz Lis and Juan Larios would be high on the blame list for me of 'why are we being relegated' 😆

I'd swap McCarthy for Bazunu, and Bednarek for DCC (if fit) but agree with the rest of it. Maybe S. Armstrong on for Theo later in the game. Ive also just watched the Bournemouth v West Ham highlights, and didnt realise that all 4 goals came from crosses into the box and awful defending, so maybe Tall Paul has a role to play in this one?

If you can be bothered, go and have a read of the thread on Foxes Talk about Brendan Rodgers. I had no idea quite how disliked he was by their fans, he makes Nathan Jones seem like a god amongst Saints fans. They hated his team selections, formation, stye of football, signings, personality.... everything basically. And thats not just one or two of the more vocal fans, its pretty much all of them.

Definitely leaving Arsenal, and happy to stay with Saints if offered the chance. These words mean little until we know what division we are in and what other clubs want him. I would 100% keep him if we are in The Championship, and probably keep 'if' (big if) we stay in The Premier League, as he's a versatile squad player.

Yeah, 15 more points should be more than enough 😆

We won’t have much of the ball, so hoping to hit them on the break with some pace I guess.

I think DCC has looked the poorest of the lot this season (the Marseille fans were pleased to see the back of him too) and whilst Salisu looks a good prospect, he is still so raw and makes too many mistakes, doesnt cut out crosses, etc. So I also worry about the prospect of those two together (as a partnership). Bednarek (for all his faults) is definitely the more experienced CB that we've been missing for most of the season, I dont think its a coincidence that we started to keep clean sheets when he returned. Not the best player in the world and we can/will improve in future I'm sure, but right now he gives us the leadership the back line has missed all season. It's a real shame we are going to have to start mixing it up again, as the partnership with Bednarek/ABK was developing by the game, and we were starting to look more solid.

Nope... https://veho-world.com/en-eu/

I've usually seen the shirts by now (or at least the official concepts) but nothing yet this year either. My logical guess is that we will go back to stripes, as we've had a break and the club (obviously) know that is our more traditional strip (and it sells). Commercially they like to mix it up to generate 'new' sales with the more unusual/quirky shirts, as if we had stripes each year, people will often stick with their stripes from a previous season, so overall sales are down. I believe this seasons shirt sales have been a disaster. Very bad Home & Away shirts (Marmite), combined with a dreadful season and hard economic times, have resulted in the worst sales in a long time, hence the club starting to reduce them in Feb!

Exactly that, it happens a lot! Sometimes a manager just fits with a certain club and squad. I remember clearly when Strachan got the job here after just getting Coventry relegated for the first time in decades, there was (understandable) scepticism (to put it lightly) and he did a fantastic job with the bunch of misfits we had at the time, and almost won us an FA Cup.

I dont personally think that makes them 'cretins' though. Yes they made a big bad mistake, but IF they are acknowledging the mistake and making moves to get rid early in his tenure, then thats a good thing.

Why would say that already, im not disagreeing or arguing, just wondering what you know that I dont know about them. As far as I can see they got rid of Ralph quite early when the fans turned, have spent more money that we have ever known across 2 windows (without selling) and now it sounds like they have accepted they've made a mistake in Jones and have started the wheels turning in getting rid. Its not like sacking a barman in your local boozer, there are seriously tight legals to go through, millions of pounds to pay out in different directions, etc. Other than making a mistake in hiring Jones (which it sounds like they now accept) I cant see what they've done hugely wrong.

West Ham wont feel safe from relegation yet, so I cant see them selling Antonio to a relegation rival, let alone loaning him to one. Imagine if he scored the goals for us that sent them down.

The squad isn't good enough or consistent enough to win every week, we havent just found a magic bottled formula because we played well and won a game.

How do you know the manager has no interest in developing youth players? What a ridiculous statement to just pluck from the sky.

I find it hard to believe that they would sell to a relegation rival, let alone loan him to one. Can’t see this one happening either.

I don’t know that I’m afraid. Was told by someone within the club (they 100% know, apologies I can’t say who, so you’re welcome to dismiss) that he was keen to come ‘home’, but we weren’t so keen. Especially the direction the player and agent fees (and wages) were heading with multiple clubs keen, on top of concerns with his age and long term value. We were open to the idea. But only on terms that worked for us. I’m not saying he was begging us, but he was very keen on the idea, and with a baby/toddler the appeal of being back home and around family was a big pull too. Personally I would have liked to have seen him back, I think he would hit the ground running and score the goals we need over the next 19 games. Let’s hope his goals don’t save West Ham at our expense. I feel another raw talent is a risk, as we approach the business end of the season and need someone to deliver and fast. We do have irons in other fires.

Ings was very keen to come back to Saints.