James

May doing her usual, stumbling over her words and using generic sound bites to answer questions. She just repeats these stock phrases that are related to the subject area regardless of the detail of the question. Will be interested to see Corbyn later.

Maybe, but those that want Puel to stay say that we should back him and allow him to build his team with players he chooses. If that is to happen his future must be decided and it sounds as though it won't be for a few weeks yet.

No one has suggested we sign Begovic to sit on the bench (unless I've missed the post) they were suggesting we sign him to replace Forster. The OP said he wasn't good enough for an 8th placed team hence why he was signing for little old Bournemouth. My point is they only finished below us on goal difference so it's a bit rich to dismiss him as not good enough for us. We are a bigger club than Bournemouth hence why I for one am disappointed that our points tally was the same as theirs (bar goal difference).

They'll act decisively enough when it comes to accepting bids for VVD and Bertrand that's for sure. Shame that we are going to go into another crucial summer on the back foot. Whether Puel stays or not this dithering must surely put us behind in our transfer planning.

The same plucky Bournemouth who only finished below us on goal difference? Thought so.

Not sure what that's supposed to mean. If being 'entitled' translates to wanting a change following a season of watching some pretty drab football then yes, I suppose I am.

This and the fact that the season ticket price remains the same or increases slightly every single year yet we finish the season knowing that we'll be watching a completely different team at the start of the following season. I've renewed but going to Saints is a family affair for me so I wouldn't ever consider not renewing but I can completely understand why some people are thinking twice about shelling out £600-700 for another season of cr*p football if Puel stays.

IMO we won't unless we slip back into Championship/lower mid table PL obscurity. If we are to continue to be ambitious then we will continue to have our best managers and players taken from us.

Would prefer a yellow away kit but both pretty good!

I'm not sure. If he was going then why not get it over with sooner rather than later? IMO if he isn't gone by the end of the week he's staying.

A very big if unfortunately.

That's a fair point, was banking on the pull of the Premier League.

That would be a real shame. You'd have thought we could possibly compete with them? I'm starting to resign myself to the fact we are going to keep Puel. My major worry is that transfer rumours suggest the squad is going to need major surgery again this summer and I'm not massively optimistic about a tailor made Claude Puel Saints team!

We should immediately sound out Tuchel to see if he would even be interested in speaking to us. Whilst unlikely, he is by far the best out of work manager available.

See we've announced that our pre-season training camp will take place in France (and Austria). An indication that Puel is staying or is it too late to change plans irrespective of the decision on the manager?

Saw that Pellegrino has left Alaves. Wasn't he mentioned on here?

Agreed, not something I've ever observed or associated specifically with Southampton having grown up here.

Not sure I follow.

We didn't play Austin at the San Siro and if we had we might have got the goal we deserved that was, IMO, an error in selection. On the failure to replace Mane, Pelle and Wanyama and the injuries - yes that obviously had an impact but we have to judge Puel on the job he is doing with the players we have available. Will we suddenly spend big in the transfer market to replace the players we sold? No, not likely. Will we have VVD in our team next year? Most likely not. Granted we will have Austin back next year but query whether he will get a game ahead of Gabbiadini. On that basis, we have to judge Puel on the job he is doing with the tools he has available. Am I confident going into next season that things will improve with him? No. Do I think a better manager could have gotten better performances out of the team we did have for the majority of the season? Yes, even Silva would have gotten us more points and more goals at home I think.

If our best player and captain is happy to stay under Puel then I'd be ok with it. Not my first choice as I'd prefer a change but not a bad consolation prize to keep your best player.

Just commenting that he does appear to have lost a bit of confidence and it's down to the coaches to either keep his confidence high or try and restore it.

The problem I have is that in order to build this team we need the money to do it which will probably mean the sale of at least three of our best players. We could basically be bedding in a brand new core of the team and that takes time. If it doesn't click immediately, and this season suggests that Puel teams take a while to get going, and we don't make a fast start the clamour for Puel to go will become too big to ignore and we will generate a situation like 2004/5 where Sturrock was a dead man walking after 2/3 games of a new season. As for this "Puel doesn't have any finishers" - he has had Gabbi since January and since he's returned from injury he's looked as ineffective and short of confidence as Long and Rodriguez. There comes a point where you have to stop looking at the players and turning to the tactics and the failings in the coaching regime. The glimmer of hope I can see is that historically Puel teams have had a relatively uninspiring season (and last season wasn't even that bad) followed by a very good one so let's hope that happens for us if he is staying.

This is a fair point. Puel was up against it from the start as the majority of fans didn't want him from the beginning. Going into last summer I was pretty calm when Koeman left (although was disappointed it was Everton he was going to) as I knew we were an attractive proposition having finished sixth and with a very good team. We could, as you say and if reports are to be believed, have attracted a far higher profile manager than Puel but we chose the cheaper option. It's not fair to criticise Puel for what he isn't but that doesn't make up for some of his failings this season.

He's staying I reckon, what a shame, next season should be fun....

I cannot see us refusing a mega bid for Virgil this summer, just not our style.