West end Saints

Is the deadwood the players who got us promoted last time or Fernandes / Ramsdale etc?

Did you see the squad two years ago??? Of the players who started at least half of our games with have lost Mara, Che Adams, Stu A, and KWP. We have gained Ramsdale, Fernandes, Nathan Wood, Kayi Sanda, wellington, Taylor, Sugawara, Archer, brereton Diaz, onouachu, Dibling breaking through, Edwards, Shea Charles returning as player of the season, edozie after ok loan. Players will go, but as will signings arrive. We will be stronger than last promotion season....is the manager better or worse?

I think we are half agreeing - CA does at times make an impact (in better sides tho) , but MF offers more,all round play and less like to have a brain fart and pass to the wrong team

I liked him and had flashes where he showed ability and tried things others wouldn't. I liked his character and enjoyed watching him. However, it wasn't him being adventurous which slowed his progress it was misplaced easy passes, mistimed tackles etc. He is still young and there is a player in there, but he isn't one that I feel we have lost out on. The RM argument fails when you see how a younger adventurous midfielder, who likes driving forward and passing forward has done so much better - in higher league, and worse team Fernandes showed more than CA. As he gets older, more experienced he may well be a regular starter, rather than odd exciting flashes. I have no idea whether we pushed him out or he wanted out but we have lost dozens of better players.

Reading this forum; Promotion is very hard and teams can't be expected to bounce back and may plummet Russell Martin was poor Our players weren't great last season Russell Martin can't organise a defence Bazunu is the worst goalkeeper in professional football And yet he played 41 times in a team that got promoted!

He was decent last season "Not the top 20", the most popular championship podcast, named him the player of the play offs (the 5 games). He, like many of our players has been found lacking in speed and physicality in the premier league.

First poster to have his name?

Works for me

Looking at this thread, twitter posts and polls it looks like Still is the fans preference out of anyone who has been linked or mentioned in betting odds - which is a good start for getting the positive feel back into the club. I'm more optimistic than I was this time two years ago. Not many against him (and suspect some of those are wind up accounts). No guarantees, and it is natural to have doubts but genuinely feel we are approaching next season with a decent manager and strong basis of a team.

His girlfriend is on 5 live now. Started broadcasting in Southampton at uni Any good appointment

Why? If you look at 15 players who played most in our championship promotion we have lost 2 (stu and Che). We may lose Jan, KWP, THB and Downes. We have added and likely to stay Sugawara, Archer, onouachu, Stewart, a more experienced Charles, BBD, wood, wellington, Edwards. We have young players coming through, Matsuki, Juan, etc who I know little of. So even if you assume we lose Ramsdale, Fernandes, Dibling, THB and Downes we are still around the level we were last season. And if those go, we will have best part of £100m coming in and certainly will spend plus loans. Whatever happens a decent manger should be competing for top 3. If we keep those players or reinvest we have to be targeting the title (as will a couple of others)

Disagree, he has had bad periods, scraped some play offs, had some good periods - just can't see how he guarantees success. I wouldn't mind him, but would personally be more confident going into the season with Rohl or Still

I do not care whether a new manager has championship experience, I don't think it has any impact on how they will do. For the last 9 years the only winning manager who had managed in the championship before was Farke - and the first of the three times he won it was with no championship experience. It is just not a factor. Only two others had managed in England. I think either Still or Rohl are very good options, for the level we are. We are in a better place than last time we were relegated as we have a championship squad already this time! I don't think an extra championship season prepares you better for premier league - it is investing when you get there. The biggest thing for me is getting a manager sorted before we start deciding who leaves / comes in

By "never learn" do you mean only pick a manager you personally approve of? Despite not knowing who would even be interested, what any of them are like to work with etc? I have my doubts but as already been proven most managers who win this league have never managed here before. We aren't going to poach someone who is currently a proven success in a top league. He looks a risk, but so is any manager.

Options are 1) manager on the way up 2) on the way down 3) at this level already so why come here I would prefer on the way up. The average life expectancy for a championship manager is about 1 year - so most don't gather experience. I think there would be a tiny advantage of knowing the league. Last few Winners of championship Benitez - not managed ch Nuno Espírito Santo not managed ch, first in England Farke - not managed ch, first in England Bielsa - not managedch, first job in England Faarke - Parker - been there 3 years Kompany - not managed ch Kieran McKenna - not managed ch Farke So only evidence recently that it helps are Parker and Farke who are at that level. And Farke did it in his first season. So I don't think it helps at all!