West end Saints

Not totally far fetched to say we could be outside of relegation zone, and closer to those above by opening of window. Home to Brighton, (win 13/5) Wolves Everton playing each other Notts For away Man U (10/1) West Ham a way to Arssenal (6/1) Leeds v Man City (19/2) Bournemouth away to Chelsea (10/1) Aston villa v Liverpool (18/5) We are far from doomed yet! A confident player will surely think he is able to assist catching up just two points over 2/3 of a season. I'm not saying we are staying up but the battle has hardly started. Can't believe soamy have written season off so early when it's so close. Not quite the spirit of 20 odd years ago and great escapes!

We were sloppy, particularly in the first half, but looking at the other games it sounds like we were not alone. The changes were positive and made at good times. I have criticised Stu due to his work rate and giving the ball away in our half, do was good to see him further forward. Like NJs interview, clear answers.. https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/nathan-jones-southampton-theo-walcott-7952916

Not really, not with two thirds of the season left. We are at risk of relegation but with most of the season left, two points off safety and 7 off top half too early to start thinking about dog fight. You normally have a good idea after Christmas but with the world Cup it will be nearer February before you can really see who is going to be battling to the end. I'm pretty optimistic we will slowly ease out of bottom 3 with out Jan fixtures, but let's see. I have no idea what Crocker adds to the club, so have no opinion on him going but could be new owners trying to improve and be positive... Just maybe?

Apart from signing the worlds most expensive goalkeeper, world's most expensive defender under Klopp through to £80m (?) for Nunez. Just another one of their moans when they can't match City

37 ARMEL BELLA-KOTCHAP 2 KYLE WALKER-PETERS 15 ROMAIN PERRAUD MOUSSA DJENEPO (73′) 22 MOHAMMED SALISU 24 MOHAMED ELYOUNOUSSI 45 ROMÉO LAVIA JOE ARIBO (60′) 8 JAMES WARD-PROWSE (C) 9 ADAM ARMSTRONG LYANCO (86′) 27 IBRAHIMA DIALLO 10 CHE ADAMS My cut and paste struggled, but this team played great against Chelsea - can a fresh start, and fit Lavia get us back to that level? And hopefully for more than one game? Ive got a feeling the new manager will get more out of Edozie and Mara. I'm at the optimistic level, not as far as confident, but even without any additions it is possible to pull away from the relegation area quite quickly. If we get a couple of early wins I think we will be fine.

The break may also been seen as an opportunity to seperate the two regimes. They have had a lot of negativity, pressure and low confidence recently. Maybe it will be easier to get buy in to a positive new era with a gap and coming back refreshed

I remember this Poch appointment was ridiculed, on here and by likes of Lawrie (very strongly). Any appointment is a gamble. I can only think of maybe a couple appointments which would have been possible and met with wide spread confidence. There are many moans who then say their preference, which others would moan about. We have lack positivity, energy, and togetherness recently - maybe he can add these

Sky now reporting that two members of his back room staff also joining. Just formalities and confirmation in morning

It's unsure for me, as I have no idea what the other options are, who is possible etc. I would prefer Poch, Gallardo sounds bit wow, but would we stand a chance? I would prefer Jones to Gerrard, Dyche, as at least I can see potential which, for me out ways those who have experience but maybe are not great. I do think loads of those criticising would have been more positive if he was coming from abroad. The championship compares with a lot of more trendy European leagues, and he was manager of the year

So people don't want him, but the best alternative suggested in recent posts was dour Gerrard who did shit and apparently would see us as below him! Any manager mentioned below Poch would be risk. We all regularly see managers with decent track record fail and vice versa. I can see the appeal of him, and the risk and choose to be optimistic with the fresh start, but who knows

Gerrard wouldn't excite the whole fan base. Benitez hasn't been great for about 10 years (not checked dates, but must be about that). Gallardo sounds great manager, but is being linked with top European sides, and apparently doesn't speak English. I certainly didn't have a wow feeling but who would be at all realistic and would excite all (or most) fans? I honestly don't know. Maybe Frank? Certainly not Dyche, Gerrard, Parker. Poch would... I can dream for now!

BBC 5live going to be playing an interview of Nathan Jones after 7, they said it is few months old but insight into his approach

Think Thomas Frank could do very well here

So, only need 4 points from these next two and he is safe, easy!

By underperforming, about 1 point lower than this predicts. Pretty much shows hardly anyone is far off their money spent, interesting but no real surprises.

This must be the strongest 4 CBs we have ever had. Maybe we have had better first choice, or even 2nd choice (although both the young CBs have huge potential) but we have never had as much quality in 3rd or 4th choice.

When did Stu last play well? Last two seasons he has been a liability. Although he wasn't great thought Aribo showed more, Ely is better and works harder, Edozie did more on Saturday than Stu has for a while, Djenepo has been better. Adam Armstrong a lot better. Stu should not start. Looking at that list and lack of quality you can see why we are struggling.

Think that's the most sensible stsrting 11, if AMN is getting sharper. Hope to see Edozie get a decent amount of minutes. Hopefully more commitment from midfield with AMN and Ely rather that Diallo and Armstrong

https://www.footballfancast.com/southampton-fc-news/stuart-armstrong-premier-league-southampton-manchester-city-performance This sums up what I have been saying for the last year, and it felt like the emperors new clothes with people moaning that Stu wasn't given enough chances. Unless he plays better than he has for the last three seasons we will lose if we play him.

I don't know what the Board think, but, Blackmore seemed to be under the impression that Ralph is definately in his last season, and the board are likely to assess at world Cup break. I wonder how many points will be his safety threshold? We will then have played 15 games (currently 7 from 9 games). There can't be anyway they would consider keeping him if we lose the next 6 (or sack him if we win the next 6!). Style of play, whether defeats are close etc will come into in but I'm thinking 6 or less surely they will change? 9 safe?

Is anyone else struggling to find 11 players they want to start? Has Aribo played effectively at CM? If not we are probably stuck with AMN or Diallo alongside JWP. Maybe Aribo and Ely either side (poss Djenepo) Upfront likely to be Che plus one - if fit is Edozie ready to start?

https://www.footballfancast.com/southampton-fc-news/stuart-armstrong-premier-league-southampton-manchester-city-performance Their second goal is an example of why I have never been a fan. A rare time he had the ball, he drops his head and drives forward (which is why some seem to like him) but then does his usual of giving the ball away cheaply, in a dangerous position, no determination to recover and they score. Passively watching games with a couple of unsuccessful runs a game is not Premier league standard. 5 assists over theast three seasons for an attacking midfielder. He is not good enough and starting him will get us relegated! Sorry to rant but struggle to see why anyone is defending him. Someone on game thread had him playing well??? Even Ely did more in his short time yesterday (not saying that's the level we should aim for, but he is a better player!)

Player ratings? GB 6 KWP 2 BKP 6 Salisu 6 JWP 3 Diallo 2 Stu 2 Aribo 4 Che 3 AAdams 3 Ely 4 Djenpo 4 5 adequate

And classic Stu, pick the ball up, head down, run, lose possession, opposition score. Predictable. Not good enough for Premier league, absolute liability and lacks guts to at least work hard. However, except our CBs everyone out classed as to be expected.

I've always thought Frank likely since our new owners arrived