James

Sadly this is right. Can't believe that we've got ourselves into this state.

Well clearly no one wished for a manager as Pellegrino to be inflicted on us.

Shambles. That clueless, spineless Kruger interview and then an equally gutless performance orchestrated but the worst manager I can remember in my time supporting Saints (and I include Poorvilet and Wotte in that). Fans need to be vocal at Fulham - he needs to go whilst we still have time to sort this out. If he’s still here at the end of January we are toast. Well done Big Les and Kruger for well and truly screwing it up.

Completely agree. Fans need to be vocal to oust Pell against Fulham.

Hate to say it but can’t see us surviving this season.

Paid the price for sitting back as we’ve done all season.

What was that from Long?

Surprised to see Long starting again given he's played the last two (oh and given he hasn't scored for almost an entire season's worth of matches).

I don't understand why he thinks that no blame can be attached to a manager who took over a side that had finished 8th last year (although MP mentions the gap between 8th and 17th being small in almost every interview, to basically equate our current position with last year) which is, on paper, better in certain areas than it was last year (Gabbiadini, Hoedt and Lemina although minus VVD). If Puel was sacked for what he achieved last year then it is completely unfathomable that Pellegrino is under no pressure despite leading us into a relegation battle. I guess we just have to hope that we somehow survive by the skin of our teeth this season and then undergo drastic change in the summer.

I just don't see how a member of SFC senior management can credibly say that, after a decision was made to remove the manager, we had a good season last year. Just makes them look a bit silly.

Completely agree - in a bizarre interview the point re 8th and a Cup Final being used as a positive for how we haven't gone downhill was utterly ridiculous. Maybe there was more behind Puel's sacking than we first thought, the comment about "Mauricio fully buying into the way we do things" says to me that he is far happier being dictated to by the management than Puel was (probably adds more credence to the theory that he was asked to change his ways and refused).

Worrying thing for me is that he's decided to give this interview now ahead of what is probably our most important game of the season so far. For me it does three things: a) indicates MP is safe even if we lose tonight b) dampens everyone's expectations for the transfer window so that when a couple of "never heard ofs" come in, they can say that they always anticipated it being a difficult window, never intended to invest all the cash etc. etc. c) started a new "we are a small club" narrative to take the light off RK and LR's mismanagement since finishing sixth and if it looks like we are in real trouble we will get even more "we are a small club and are fighting" style articles. Completely re-writing the messages that used to come out of Saints.

Exactly - VVD didn't force MP into his bizarre team selections or his negative tactics when we could really have gone after teams (Brighton Away). Suggests to me that he is in no immediate danger which is a concern. As well as we did to get a point at Old Trafford we are a defeat tonight away from possibly 17th. Hughes is under huge pressure at Stoke and they've actually won more games than us, unbelievable that it appears MP retains full backing.

Not exactly inspiring reading is it?

Totally agree - needs to follow it up by keeping McCarthy and Hoj in on Tuesday.

He’s dropped Hoj multiple times after he’s been the best on the pitch but yeah sure it’s just prejudice against the manager...

But Long was way better when playing with Mane in the second half of the second Koeman season. Can’t see how you can really refute that!

Unclear what, if anything, qualifies Kelvin to act as an assistant first team coach. Nice guy and I’m sure he will give his all but smacks of doing things on the cheap really.

Not sure Walcott, being a local boy, would lack motivation to be honest.

Yes, without question. Survive and rebuild in the summer.

Walcott and Sturridge are underwhelming?! Who are you expecting? Messi? Some fans have truly unrealistic expectations.

If we lose the next two and he isn't sacked post Palace then I don't think he will be sacked this season. I can't see him surviving a defeat at home to Palace.

Has also been very poor by his standards this season.

As far as I can see all they’ve done is repeat what a few blokes on the Saints Not606 have said. Hardly conclusive.

Totally agree. Can see a mauling here. We will get a conciliation goal in stoppage time and MP will say that for 3 minutes we played exactly how he wants us to play.