Miltonaggro

At the start of the summer I expected that we would be on for the league and cup (JPT) double with a few choice exciting signings, a season to savour before another build and push in the Championship next year. The danger signs began during the Swiss tour and pre-season where the team and management looked frankly disinterested. Pardew going and the manner of his exit has left a lot of fans angry and demoralised as it looked like we had finally found some unity and stability at the end of last season - this has to effect the morale of the players. If an impact manager had been appointed the fans and the team would have been galvanised quickly, it would have been costly and dramatic but it would have provided the catalyst to fire us up the division; can you imagine the buzz O'Neil or Keegan plus an extra 8000 on the gate would have created. The appointment of an uncle Les approved 'continental coach' of the Adkins or Howe type will not create this buzz or impact, so even if 75% of the first team decide that the new man is OK aand worth playing for by Xmas it will probably be too late to recover the season. Overall I tend to agree with FF that mid table will be a result, and if this is the bed Cortese makes he must lie in it and change the five year plan to a seven year plan...

I've heard she goes down like the Titanic! Sorry...

Having been tied up today all that has unfolded in the press and on here looks like an incredible sh*tstorm! I think that when we wake tomorrow to our manifold tax rebate letters South Today will broadcast that Cortese was simply creating a smokescreen and that Martin O'Neil (Kevin Keegan, either or...) is the man to take our beloved Saints back to the Premier League and away from all the tawdry below stairs nonsense that has clouded our 125 anniversary season...

Typical skate, fickle and bitter...

Shearer would be the cherry on the Keegan icing on this lovely cake we call SFC! Was it on a Thursday that KK signed last time?...

Adkin's former mentor Alan Latchley speaking a few years ago on the 'Scunny way' (the three 'M's - Motivation, Motivation, Motivation!). I hope NC has seen this:

All this about Keegan being a serial quitter is somewhat misleading, he was with Newcastle for five years in his first spell, then both Fulham and England for just over a year each, followed by four years at Man City, before the Wisegate Newcastle debacle (any manager worth his salt would have quit over that situation). Compared to the revolving door at SMS in the last few years Keegan is in line for a long service award! The fact that he wanted the job last year is significant and the calls for him to be installed as Hamburg manager by their fans earlier this year speaks volumes. The point about KK is that he has done the business in the Premiership and the Football League, if he was appointed with a young assistant of his choice I tend to agree with CBF, that promotion would be 'nailed on' another by product would be unity of purpose among the players and fanbase, something that has been lacking at Saints for far too long...

Keegan with a young assistant would be a brilliant call at the current time, just what the doctor ordered in fact - attacking football, raised public profile, and above all else pure entertainment. He would do exactly what he did last time, put 8000 on the gate and leave the club in a much better position than he found it! Bring it on...

The players seem to be talking a good game, which is lost in translation when Saturday comes...

Zola Keegan Howe

I think the most amazing thing about that side (particularly when considering the compliment of 'senior pros') was the movement off the ball, willingness to work for one another, and the sheer enjoyment of playing football for a living. Given the size of the Dell pitch the way that the 80's sides used to zip the ball around was just fantastic...

Only if he is first team coach, with his old striking partner Kevin Keegan as manager!...

AP had his failings as all managers do, and I agree with Alpine's three points, but overall I tend to think that we need to see who is being brought in before being over critical. If NC blows it Pardew could look like the lovechild of Bill Shankly and Brian Clough...

Was the Departmental bully called gripper?...

O'Neill (yeah right), or Keegan...

What a beautiful surface!...

We should instigate a sticky: 'Pulis Watch' as we approach autumn!...

Who knows what's true, but Howe's past sentiments about Saints may be to do with his strong Portsmuff links (and the bravado therein), not only as an ex player but also due to his closeness to Kevin Bond and Redkrapp. Surprising what a management opportunity at a real football club can do to one's past feelings and principles! Ask 'arry...

A problem has been created here in that AP was doing OK and there was an expectation of promotion under him regardless of the indifferent start to the season. Therefore, if NC appoints a manager who seriously underwhelms or polarises the fanbase there will be a reaction in terms of loss of faith and revenue. This makes me think that the new man has been in the wings for a few weeks, negotiating terms and asking questions, and that the new man is a name to unify the fans and inspire the staff. Martin O Neill or Kevin Keegan are the only two names that immediately spring to mind who would seem to fit that bill, the likes of Zola or Curbishley could lead to indifference both on and off the park! This decision will either be Cortese's triumph or downfall...

The turning point methinks, a game in hand win away from a play off place...

Water Works! Hopefully that will change tomorrow...

I think for the fans it's understandible in trying to augment their disappointment, for the team management it's a way of buying time...

Spot on!...

For every Peter Reid and Andre Kanchelskis there is an Alan Ball or Jimmy Case; if Butt is focussed and fit he will be the latter. Butt has won virtually every honour in the game apart from the World Cup and thus has the profile and ability to inspire the youngsters and organise the senior players. Could be just what we need...

Although we have obvious quality with Lambert, Barnard and Connolly, I think that you need to freshen up the front line with a single quality addition; a target man. This does not in itself explain why we are not putting the ball in the net in our first few games, but would allow us to rest Lambert (if he is carrying a knock or unfit, as it seems at present) and mix things up, both in terms of personnel and formation...