West end Saints

Nothing special from Pearson in last 10 odd years suggests he would be better. I wasn't huge fan when he was here, mixed record since and currently at a level below Martin. Fair enough though, an option, not one I would choose before Martin, but at least you suggest one, most of those moaning can't.

I do fear that we may start the season with them, knowing they are likely to be going at end of the window. (ridulously far into the season!) Wish, although not realistic, every who is going all go next week and we can move on.

Who would be the options you feel are safer? I get what you say, but I'm not left with the feeling that a stand out option is slipping through our fingers. As Ive said before, managers generally fall into two categories : Failed & sacked at our level of higher, experienced but with the negative of failure On their way up, less of a name, maybe risky but with potential. I would generally lean towards the latter but with exceptions in both groups. At least Martin has solid knowledge of this league, winning more than he loses with very little backing. At least we are not getting Fat Sam (I wouldnt renew after life of season ticket) So who is better? I've seen a few names, but to be honest they either seem unrealistic or would have less fan support than Martin. I'm not totally convinced, more a 'OK could be good' than a 'wow'. But reasonable happy that it makes sense.

What is experimental? He's a manager from this league. Managers are either from a lower team, supposedly on their way up, Or Failed at higher level and sacked. Which is why, for all the criticism there people are struggling to suggest a realistic and better option. But somehow he is, doing it on the cheap, not experienced enough or not successful enough.

Who? Bearing mind we don't know which managers want a break, who would or wouldn't want to come here, I haven't seen many realistic better options.

From Swansea fansnetwork: "When Martin leaves for Southampton he will want more than the support of his closest allies within the coaching structure. The dressing room for him will be key. Any rubber stamping of his appointment at Southampton will revolve around at least two players. Those players are Matt Grimes and Joel Piroe. We can leave Ryan Manning out of that for now, he’s out of contract soon. And don’t be surprised if Joel Latibeaudiere doesn’t feature, although he is also out of contract. Martin will want these players purchased and this is where the majority ownership will smell big money. Anyone who thinks Piroe will go for a few million pounds isn’t reading the script. If Piroe and Grimes are a part of the agreement as was Flynn Downes coming to Swansea two years ago then they will go for top dollar. We have our own feelings on this but with Grimes, Piroe and possibly Nathan Wood added after Martin’s compensation package is agreed, the Swans could bank fifteen million pounds. That will very much depend on the Saints desire to negotiate at a high level, but of course if they don’t then those players won’t be Martin’s eyes, ears and support in the St Mary’s dressing room. "

Or, now likely IMO, no where near either of those extremes. Not seeing many better realistic options suggested.

Ben Wilson Coventry City Connor Roberts Burnley Anel Ahmedhodzic Sheffield United Tom Lockyer Luton Town Ian Maatsen Burnley Alex Scott Bristol City Josh Brownhill Burnley Nathan Tella Burnley Iliman Ndiaye Sheffield United Chuba Akpom Middlesbrough Viktor Gyokeres Coventry City Thats the Championship team of the year, if we can keep a few, sign a few, should be able to be competitive. Not many of those were seen as stars 12 months ago.

Didn't know much about him before we were linked but he seems a reasonable suggestion. Many of the negative posts on here seem, to me, to sound entitled and lacking credible alternatives. PV seems to be a common preferred option, who just got sacked after leading a team with decent attacking players to something like 4 games without a shot! I want a decent man manager, who can reset the negative mentality, ideally with experience of this league and to play decent football. All the media reports, and most fan reports suggest he fits those. Any manager is a risk, I don't see this as playing around. The other really key thing is to act quickly, and we appear to be doing that. (although couple of posters moan about that!) Can't say it excites me more cautiously optimistic. And it's rubbish to say he won't attract good players, the club and salary will take care of that.

Rubbish, we are badly run but the owners haven't been slow to spend, throwing money away.

Personally Leeds and Everton, but for Saints it's got to be who will be weakest / in the most mess / broke. Not sure who that will be?

And again, ffs

What was ABK thinking??

If we get a decent manager and a couple of decent replacements we should be competitive: Keeper, I think Bazunu could be OK with another year experience and hopefully less in the firing line. RB we have two who I think both are good for this level. (Bree and Liv) LB - prob need to sign CB - we have 6 and I can't see them all leaving, so not likely to be a panic area but may need some balancing. C Midfield I see as one our priority. I would like to see Alcarez as our more advanced in a pair (although need to remember his age and will have dips in form), with Smallbone as another option. That leaves an controlling, prob experienced, captain type midfielder. Attacking options Tella maybe here Sulemana Edozie Dibling Maybe Aribo at that level, and a manager able to find his role? Maybe Djenepo within the squad. CF New?! Mara Ballard Not seen enough of Onuachu? Che would be decent and may stay, if those both go will need to sign a couple. Both Armstrongs need to go. Stu has been very poor for at least a couple of seasons, Adam needs a complete confidence reset. Orsic, God knows what's going on but can't want to be here now. Diallo, Ely, Walcott go. I wouldn't be against Djenepo within the squad I don't think the squad will be as big, so prioritise few key signings 1) CM 2) goal scoring forward (a new concept!) 3) more experienced attacking midfielder to compliment Edozie, Sulemana 4) LB

Wasn't criticism of you, just that think we need to buy in more balance

The CM looks unbalanced to me. Stu is liability unless he is further forward, too weak/lazy and gives the ball away in dangerous positions. He only works in a more attacking role, and tbh not very well there for the last two years. Alcarez looks best, for me, in a attacking AM role. I'm not sure how smallbone plays now but we look two players light in CM or DM roles.

I couldn't give a shit if he keeps them up or not, I would never want him near our club. I would rather get relegated and have some ignorant optimism that things will improve, than have to sit behind that on our touchline.

Smallbone saying today how he wants to come back, and if we go down how useful his, and Tella's experience would be.

Walking out of the ground we were talking about who we wouldn't be upset to see go. We so need a reset and this team is so hard to connect with I hope we have a big clear out. For me, it would be a shame to see Alcarez then less so, ABK, Lavia, Djenepo, Sulemana, JWP or maybe Mara go. Maybe Che for a lower league. I hope both Armstrongs, Ely, Walcott go. Most of the others I'm pretty indifferent. Tbf, never had as little attachment to the players.

Not 100% convinced Lavia will go just yet. He is clearly going to be a very good top tier player, but he isn't yet. Still only 18, his passing has been erratic lately so wonder if may benefit from more experience before inevitable move to a top club. He is unlikely to be a regular starter for a top 8 side just yet

Our championship promotion midfield was Schniederlin 21, Cork 22, Lallana 23, Hammond 28. Our apart from Fonte and Lambert don't think the rest was amazing. Surely the remnants of our squad and reinvesting if we sell, should be able to get at least a competitive side? If we get decent manager!

Liked Ralph as person and manager, but he had to go, we would have been relegated under him as well. He was stale, team was stale, the last 12 month period of his tenure was 100% enough to sack him. He should have gone sooner. The problem was the appointment of Jones. Many other managers could have easily kept us up at that stage.

Think there are some good contenders for both good and bad in this post and below. I know Mohamed Elyounoussi is not great and fans love to slag him off, but objectively think he was about 15m?? Not fortune at the time, and has played 71 times for us in prem. More than pelle, lallana, cork, mane etc. (albeit not as well!!) but for a player with some value still, not a waste of money

Clutched straw... 10 game current form (decent sample) projected for next 10 games. Palace 32 Wolves 40 Leeds 35 Everton 36 Nottingham 38 Leicester 33 West Ham 34 Bournemouth 32 Saints 33 Still in it!

Bizarrely, when looking at other fees not much. £22 million. Not in the top 100 fees for Premier league players. When you have other clubs paying 3 or 4 times that for players (Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man C, Man U, Spurs, Newcastle) he is not anywhere near a premier league luxury level player. Even lower in the league many clubs pay more, or in some cases a lot more (Villa 33m, Bournemouth 25m, Palace 27m, Everton 45m, Fulham 27m, Leeds 36m, Leicester 35m, Nottingham F 43m, West ham 45m, Wolves 42m). Clearly has decent potential and for his age, and natural pace doesn't seem over priced in the current market.