Forester

As I mentioned in a post a couple of days ago, Still would be a good appointment. Has done well in two different Ligue 1 sides, so not a one off, just signed off at Lens by beating runners up Monaco 4-0 in final game to secure eight spot. We should be grateful to secure any manager with a good record of managing in top flight of England, Spain, Italy, France or Germany in my view as a championship club. Throw in his age and high potential, what is not to like? I remember the white handkerchief protest at newly appointed “Mauricio Who?” when we sacked Adkins….

Not getting the negativity from a few on here for both Still and O’Neil. Yes the latter was a Pompey player, but so was Crouch when he joined us and he did well and was liked here. Taking the two in turn: - Still now in his second top flight job at the age of 32 and widely seen to have done a good job at both clubs. Lens guaranteed a top half finish ahead of final game against Monaco. - O’Neil took over from Parker off the back of poor start to season at Bournemouth, newly promoted, and kept them up comfortably in their first season back. Then goes to Wolves, widely predicted for the drop which is why Lopetegui walked out on eve of season starting. Took them against expectations to comfortable mid table finish. Was sacked in second season, but how many managers don’t have at least one disappointment on their CV? Strachan, Poch and Koeman all had one when appointed. To be clear, I would also be happy with Danny Rohl, Steve Cooper or Sean Dyche, so not touting these two in isolation, but it’s depressing to see people with good track record written off.

Refreshingly balanced view

This is the annual reminder we sacked Puel for finishing 8th, having sold Pelle, Mane and VVD going on strike, and he took us to League Cup Final beating Arsenal and Liverpool en route without conceding a goal. All because the football was apparently “boring”.

Wagner wouldn’t be top of my list, but a summary like this would see you as a candidate for Trump’s press spokesperson. Turning to the facts: -Wagner got Huddersfield promoted, which nobody predicted - He then kept Huddersfield up in Premier League, which even fewer predicted - He was sacked midway through their second season, and they eventually were relegated - They are now a third tier team - He took Norwich to the play off semi final last season, and was then sacked in the summer when they didn’t make the final to play us - this season under new manager, who they have just sacked, they fare finishing lower mid table Hope this helps!

Will Still section on Sky was an interesting watch. Comes across as a little less “polished” than most top flight managers, but given only 32 and managing for three seasons that is unsurprising. However things I think most Saints fans would have enjoyed hearing: - I want to play forward - I don’t just want possession - I always want an angle on every pass, harder to press that way - I don’t believe in sticking to one philosophy, and if promoted from championship to Premier League you can’t expect to play the same way. Some times you have to win ugly Clearly is doing a good job at second club in Ligue 1 and you can see why he is being courted by clubs. Fluent in three languages and knowledge of Belgian and French markets useful too.

Mourinho

In terms of credible targets I would be very happy with any of Dyche, Cooper or (if not promoted) Manning. Manning never gets mentioned, has done an outstanding job at both Oxford and Brizzle Shitty

This game will comfortably sell out, last away game of season always does and many want to see last game at Goodison. Very sorry for your family’s loss Kitch

Agree that “fuck all” is far from fair. He did an outstanding job taking them to safety last season, after appearing dead and buried. However, it must surely be a concern to you, and all of us, that since January his team is literally BOTTOM of the championship form guide. There is not a single team producing worse results in the division that we are playing in next season than his side over the last three months. As has been documented, he has been operating in tough circumstances and delays in player wages. But the collapse in form, since being linked with us, is a worry.

Been an excellent player. But worth remembering that we signed him on loan and he struggled to get in our team first season. The point being he was playing with better players and was given time to adapt.

Rusk has two points from three Premier League games, and we have conceded just two goals from open play. I also recall we put a decent performance in for his League Cup game in charge against Liverpool

Fully appreciate there is lots of context, delays in salaries being paid etc, however……Sheffield Wednesday have collected two points from a possible 18 in their last six games. Hardly great marketing for Danny Rohl

Neither Lampard or Gerrard would be high on my list. However I cannot deny that Lampard has a good track record in championship. Took Derby to play offs and has turned Coventry season around looking good for play offs.

He was appointed late in the season to try and keep Newcastle up. When he didn’t succeed, he stayed on and won the championship. So wasn’t appointed into a championship team from outset.

Am guessing you thought this about Thomas Frank?

Liam Manning

The interview, which was a good watch, only reinforced in my view the limitations he had managing us in the Premier League. The complexity and detail with which he approaches things, with such an onus on passing patterns in and around our penalty area, is utterly dependent on having better technical players than opposition. So he needs to be managing a side which starts the season expecting to be in and around the upper echelons. He isn’t going to get that chance any time soon in the Premier League, but may do in a less challenging environment overseas or alternatively a Leicester or someone next season in the championship.

I assume Rambo, KWP, THB, Fernandes and Dibbling all get moves to Premier League clubs. It may be that one or two don’t, which is great, but that is my assumption. What I think many of our fans don’t recognise is that every one of the following would all be picked up by top six championship sides, every one, a total of 19 players: McCarthy, Bree, Sugawara, Stephens, Edwards, Wood, Bednarek, ABK, Manning, Downes, Smallbone, Aribo, Charles, Kamaldeen, Edozie, Tall Paul, BBD, Armstrong and Archer In addition there are others who could still be valuable squad players for the season, fitness permitting, such as Baz, Taylor, Larios, Fraser and Stewart. Clearly you cannot rely on these five as core players. I think our main aim should be to retain as many as we can, and minimise the number of purchases we need but spend it on real quality. A goal scoring winger, another holding midfielder and another number ten would be on my list. Then if we go back up the majority need to go, for reasons vividly played out this season.

As someone who payed to watch tonight I am as pissed off as everyone else. And I agree with your Koeman and Poch choices. However…….….…..I firmly believe we would have been relegated this season with either of them at the helm. Just think back to the players they had (and the careers some had away from Saints): Poch had Clyne, Fonte, Shaw, Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Jay Rod (pre injury), Lambert, Davis. Koeman had Bertrand, VVD, Alderweirald, Romeu, Davis, Tadic, Pelle and Mane The gulf in quality is literally incredible

One of my all time press conference answers!!!

Assuming no desire to move from 343 I would pick: Rambo Wood, ABK, Stephens Bree, Downes, Aribo, KWP Fernades, Tall Paul, Kamaldeen I think Bree and KWP right now are our best full backs (Welington has promise) and yet Juric has not seen Bree play right wing back. While every one of the centre backs has question marks, at least play players in their natural positions

Fairly or unfairly, there would have been wild complaints on here if Rusk had have been given the job at the time. This feels like 20/20 hindsight

I am not saying Jurić is the planet’s best coach but he has managed for about eight years in Italian top flight, in my opinion has made us more competitive and creative than Martin, and has been handed both an awful squad and then no support at all in the window. There is some real crap spouted on here. In recent years teams have won the Premier League playing 343 (Chelsea), 442 (Leicester), 433 (Liverpool), 4123 (City). It isn’t the formation, it’s the utter lack of top flight quality. He gets stick for playing Smallbone, who he now will see isn’t up to it, but he hasn’t started under him until yesterday and needs to be given a chance and now he knows. We have only two holding midfielders in the squad, and one is on strike. We have two centre backs injured and a third that doesn’t want to be here. And we have two fit strikers, neither of whom are Premier League quality. What the fuck do people expect from him? As some have said we need to stop the endless carousel, back him and new Technical Director, get Sport Republic out of the way of football decisions and build something. I watch us home and away and have more cause than most to complain based on money shelled out but I can recognise when someone has been handed a hospital pass and this really is one.

You are far too sensible for this place