lethallee

I am hoping Puncheon will benefit from new manager. He has the ability but now needs the belief to go with that. Because of the type of player he is there will always be that element of frustration watching him but he does provide a spark. With Lallana injured this is a great opportunity for him to be 'big' player for us. I actually think we have more of a problem in central midfield which to me is far to pedestrian. Hammond only offers threat from set pieces (can't recall last goal he scored from open play) and his assists tally is probably not good either. Morgan good passer and tackling improved alot but is not going to score enough goals. I would drop hammond and give Guly a go.

I would say a manager who has experience of getting a team out of league one is exactly what we need right now ! Gaining promotion to championship will then increase clubs profile and attract bigger name players.

It won't be Keegan. He is out of touch with the modern game and will not suit the continental structure being adopted at club.

I agree he has the experience of guiding team out if this league whilst playing good football. My only concern would be whether he can handle the pressure of managing 'big club'. But i guess only one way to find out !!

Can't of been that honest if he actually thought we played well !!

To me that performance tonight was that of team who not happy with AP's departure. If i was supposedly unhappy with man mangement skills of my former manager then I would of shown a lot more enthusiasm and effort than that. Unless of course NC insisted cup games are low priority and minimal effort required. But surely we would of played squad players without risking injuries and suspensions to key players. I was quite suspicious of that BBC blog yesterday about AP sacking even before tonight's game but now I am definately thinking that it was proof read by NC !

It won't be Paul Hart

It will be interesting to see if NC will get someone in for the long term or someone purely to just get us promoted this season. Either way I can't it being o'Neil, hoddle, sven etc.... Personally It may be a short term placement someone who has been successful at this level perhaps someone like Paul Jewell.

Pulis and Wotton in midfield surrounded by youth players not exactly getting money's worth but I will let AP off due to the injuries !!

Not that i am condoning there utterly **** performance but there is a difference between being away for 10 days with club team compared to up to 6 weeks with national team.

Simon Francis has been released from his contract with Southend as wants to play higher level and club keen to trim wage bill. Would be good back up to Richardson. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_6252024,00.html

There could be less season ticket holders with more fans instead paying for individual tickets and for select games only. The less attractive games will prob have lower attendances than last season I fear this may come back and shot us in foot. We will be one of the favourites to win league so most teams will come here and park 11 men behind ball making it very difficult for us to break them down. So a near sell out of every home game next season would of made SM a far more intimidating place to come for opposition whilst enabling us to get right behind our team.

We have plenty of experience in the team so it is good to have younger players like Antonio who offer youthful enthusiasm and that element of unpredictability. Plus it's unlikely we will get a decent loanee with 'experience' that will be better than Antonio imo.

Lallana is one of the most talented players outside PL. His goals and assist count last season proves how vital he was to the team.

No matter how much of a legend MLT is with Saints Fans I think he has a slightly tarnished image after lining with a joke of a consortium. We are much better off with NC and under his leadership I am confident we will return back to the Premiership. Yes NC does come across arrogant but then again alot of successful business people do !! Now we all know how he deals with the media we should lay off him and let him get on with job. I am glad my faith towards NC and the club was never swayed despite the rentless rubbish posted on this forum. This epsiode again proves that the so called ITK'S actually know nothing. Quite laughable people on here speculating about Mark Hughes etc... Looking forward to next season with same manager but new hope !! coyr

The amount of rubbish on this forum is unbelivable. There are no genuine ITK people in regards to AP's position at club. Everything is pure and utter rumour based on very little facts. Personally I'd like see AP stay and think that he will. Really can't see Hughes dropping down to L1 management. He far more likely end up at Villa or West Ham.

Fans will be very unhappy if NC sacked a manager who is ''Southampton through and through'' Clever tactics by AP !!

I would to see gillet or James start instead of wotton and barnard up front replacing Antonio. Antonio, Papa, DC to come off the bench if needed.

Paul Wotton is rubbish and we as a team are pretty poor when he starts !! I would actually start with James (if fit) or Gillet in centre plus Barnard upfront against Oldham. If we end up needing a goal later on in game then i would change it with hammond and Puncheon in the centre with Antonio and conolloy making impact from subs bench. Simple !

Bale has potential to become one of the best left backs in the world.

He was nowhere near as dominant in the air as most other games this season.

Don't know how people deemed it an entertaining game, it was more like volley ball with both teams guilty of hoofing !! The game was really poor quality not helped by the fact the stakes were high for both teams and the ref not allowing game to flow. Both teams were very nervous. We had to really grind out a win today which is all we can ask at this vital part of the season. Ratings: Davis 7 - Made 3 great saves but kicking was poor. Ostembor 6 - Good first half but wimped few tackles in second half. Fonte 8 - MOM. Far too good for this league. Seaborne 6 - Not dominant in the air but done ok. More comfortable on ball than jaidi Harding 7 - Very Solid without being spectacular. Puncheon 6 - Played pretty well 1st half and set up goal. 2nd half poor very selfish at times when passing was better option. Prefer him to play wide. Morgan 6 - played ok works well with Hammond. Hammond 6 - Was more involved today and as above for morgan. Lallana 5 - Did not notice him especially 1st half. Antonio 6 - Not really involved but took goal well. Lambert 6 - Didn't win much in air but the poor distribution big factor. Not many chances unlucky with header though. Barnard 6 - Didnt see too much of the ball but he is good team player. He provides an outlet and streches opposition defence well. Team much better when he plays imo.

We actually played more of a 4-4-2 for majority of game at Wembley but with Lallana, Antonio and Papa switching positions. We went rigid 4-5-1 when Gillet came on and struggled to get posession of the ball and invited pressure. AP finally realised this and brought on DC which then gave us an outlet upfront. 4-5-1 is a negative formation unless you complicate your tactics to get success from this formation. Football is a simple game especially outside the premiership so you do not need to complicate tactics. With the players at our deposal we should be able to play 4-4-2 in every game and win most of them. We do struggle without Morgan and Wotton is pretty awful. I think James or Gillet would be better options.

I totally agree. Whether 'true supporters' or not there are only a handful of clubs who would have 44k fans making trip to wembley from outside of London. To be fair i thought Carlisle done well to take over 20k thousand fans considering distance.

I agree