Supersubpuckett

i've not read all the posts on here but we were weak down the left all tournament. Every game shone a bright light on the absence of Bertrand - Young was atrocious and Rose way off fitness. Our progress may paper over cracks likes these in the short term but if gareth continues with 'bold' selections like this then it will get picked on eventually. Being a great leader is also about knowing who the right people are.

If we're being financially out muscled by Leicester then we're either deluded from still operating to the business model from six years ago, or we are stone broke. I don't believe all that geographical ****** either. The decision not to renew the family season tickets this year feels like a better one every day.

Refs don't stand a chance in the modern game. It's so fast, with so many players skilled at conning that VAR is a must. Added to that the refs get stick from the armchair fan ad commentators who have multiple slow mo replays and zero pressure to make their decisions. If it stops the big 6 gaining advantage through sub-conscious bias from the refs and means we get more decisions our way then we should be right behind it.

If Hughes doesn't sign up I'll take that as a huge warning sign about the plans for the club. I imagine he'll be wanting less influence from Les, more control himself and investment in the squad to ensure we aren't faced with a relegation battle each year. Using Ralph's description, there are other 'small' clubs who seem to be able to operate within the FFP rules, invest adequately in their playing staff and remain a going concern. You don't get into football to make a profit, our business model might have worked 5 years ago but the rules have changed and everyone else prioritises their income on the squad. If we insist on turning a profit and not stretching ourselves then there's only one outcome. As we have two seasons of neglect to catch up on, we probably need two or three quality players (20-30m types) plus a similar number of squad players so we can make a step change back to being a Top 12 club. So something in the order of £100m. I'm glad I have until 22nd June to reclaim my ST seats and it'll be interesting to see how things turn out between now and then.

I don't think he holds much power - has declared he'd like to be permanent and there aren't many others who would go for him from clubs our size and with our infrastructure. I'd say balance of power was fairly even. Sticking point could be the Les Reed factor as Hughes won't want him anywhere near decisions on players.

our policy to 'eat what we kill' is admirable as long as that's how all the other clubs approach transfers........er, which they don't. We will be signing players for £10-20m when our peer set will be paying twice that. Equally, we will target a player who will then get touted around clubs who will spend more meaning we will rarely get our man. I confidently expect to be watching a passionate team next season but one who will be struggling.

I work with teams and understand the psychology that surrounds being part of one - don't, for one minute, under estimate the strong bond that will have been created between hughes, his coaching staff and the team through the eight games he had with us. In a few short games he will have over turned the toxic, destructive and weak mentality that had been established with our last two managers. The transformation in team spirit, in such a short space of time, was exceptional and you could see it in the way they played and the way they celebrated with each other. Hughes has vast experience of the premier league and, rarely for us, has history with our club. Appointing him properly will maintain this momentum and take the positive feeling into next season.

I get Ralph talks in classic corporate speak but for those of us who work in these environments it's pretty standard fare and his objective would be to handle the questions without getting emotional or being directly and publicly critical. I think if you listen to what he says through the filter of 'he's p1ssd at Les for screwing up the season', then what he says takes on a slightly different meaning. You need to assume that he takes guidance on footballing matters from Les, so even though Ralph is chairman it's Les that ultimately makes the football decisions and Ralph accepts his view. Bad decisions this season nearly got us relegated and I would imagine Ralph squarely blames Les for letting it get this far. Back in Jan his interview talked about how VVD going will improve things - maybe this is the bull Les was spinning to Ralph. Maybe Les was saying back in the summer "no, don't sell VVD, we can make it work" where I would imagine Ralph would have wanted him sold. Along with MoPe being appointed he is looking at a situation entirely of Les's doing to the point where he stepped in a pulled the trigger after Newcastle, hence the rush to get a new man. His emphasis on how well Sparky and his team fitted in could have been a veiled criticism of Les's previous decision making. When a boss steps in to do the job of one his team, it's not usually for positive reasons.

he knew he would relegate us, he clearly realised he was out of his depth BUT despite that would have seen it through to the end just so he could bank the dollars. a braver, more honourable man would have fallen on his sword long before he was fired.

the black kit is a little too 'third reich' for me

How about any parallels to the seasons we managed to stay up - you'll find anything in stats if you look hard enough.

He knows what he's talking about and has plenty of experience in this league. He has clearly stepped things up in the club and there has been a reaction where we're picking up points again. The only thing he can't fix on his own is the psychological car crash instilled by the last two managers, however yesterdays win and the surrounding circumstances will have been an enormous boost for the players. The whole teams reaction at the end said it all and sets them up in the best possible way for the next two away games.

terrible first half, better 2nd - unfortunately the players are bereft of confidence in themselves and each other. Puel and Pelligrino take a bow.....

heard a bloke at the game today saying reed is on garden leave having been relieved of his duties. He didn't want mope to get fired. Maybe the rubbish of the last two seasons have finally been pinned on him.

with someone in common

slow and edgy = nervous as hell and devoid of belief

on the plus side, maybe if we go down then dumb and dumber won't get their bonuses for ushering the new owner into a profit situation

nailed on defeat

Charlton - they're just up the road and give my kids schools free tickets. I know they're L1 but I'm planning ahead.

Agree with this.....we have the players to play that system and this is where I think Puel got it wrong also. More direct, fast paced, counter attacking football.....and I'd welcome it with open arms!

I think Hughes is perfect for what we need - a short term shot in the arm and a kick up the a4se for the players. Knows the league and has had more 'relative' success than not - plus he actually has a link with us, so maybe...just maybe....he might show some much needed passion. He'll also have a much better set of players to work with than the dogsh1t at stoke....any team still dragging crouchy onto the pitch has real issues.

Generally agree with most of that. This is a people issue, not a structural one, where the unwillingness to dismiss MP as soon as it was clear he was the wrong appointment (home vs Leic should have been the absolute final straw), smacks of hubris and ego, and is the single reason we are where we are. In this new Gao era we need a new team running the club and obviously a new manager. It would also be good to understand what his vision is? Purslow would be a great man to get on board as he knows his way round the league and speaks intelligently when I hear him interviewed. Then the club needs to re-engage with the fans and be more open. Lack of communication just leaves us all to make up our own conclusions.

Quite how they could run the awards evening this year, I don't know. It'll be embarrassing and awkward. The lap of honour after the last game will make last seasons effort seem like a carnival

people say he's a nice bloke but I disagree, he has no class - he should have fallen on his sword weeks (months) ago and is simply proving what a bare faced fraudster he is, no pride, no honour....nothing. He just wants his cheque.

There's clearly a leadership vacuum in the club where no single person is prepared to step up and take action. I wonder if, as part of the sale, Les and Ralph needed to stay until the end of the season before collecting their dividend. In which case would explain why neither are coming forward to address the fans or are too bothered about MoPe - it's too much hassle to fire him and then sort either a short term or permanent replacement. Next season there'll be new people running the club and they can do it. Which leaves Gao - I wonder if relations between him, Les and Ralph aren't that great, which would again explain why they haven't done too much to protect his investment. His business is about 'sports' clubs so perhaps he's not bothered if we're in the Premier or championship, as long as we're high profile enough to add kudos to whatever else he has planned for the area around SMS. Unless of course he wants to turn it over to a completely different use,so getting saints right down the leagues would be the easiest way to bulldoze SMS and get us ground sharing with eastleigh. Maybe that's far fetched but I, like most, am at a loss to understand how they've all let this situation come about. Another problem is the relationship with the fans. Gradually, through last season and this, the fans have become increasingly disengaged and the complete lack of communication has only served to exacerbate this. When an organisation is going through significant change, the worst thing it can do is not communicate with your stakeholders but that's what has happened and we no longer feel part of the club in the same way we did previously. So much damage has been done in such a short space of time.