Farmer Saint

This is a theory as to what is happening - but no of course it isn't fair - and I would expect the Board would like entertaining football (TBF I think they lazily said "this is a Manager who's ethos is similar to Pep's, so if we bring him in we'll play like Man City" which of course isn't true). Therefore if we are losing in an entertaining way at least that would keep the fans engaged, so that could result in Russ getting sacked. The theory behind it is that it doesn't really matter which League you are in - one of the best teams in the Championship or one of the worst teams in the Prem - the up and down will keep the club making money and there will be constant drama, keeping the fans engaged.

And this is what happens when you enquire about available Managers and get turned down...

SR's aim for the next 10 years is to make money. Last year's relegation rid us of a number of high earners, which now means wage wise we are far more sustainable (in either the PL or the Championship). Our highest earner, Ramsdale, has a relegation release clause that means he will be sold with little loss and his wages removed. Buying young, talented, foreign players on low wages will enable us to compete in the Championship, and put them in the shop window without ever having to break the bank. Yes, we will probably need to be promoted once every 3 years to reload the parachute payments, but that is very achievable. As I said last Summer, the investment and management of the team points towards them wanting us to become a yo-yo club, and it makes sense - no huge investment and risk mitigating transfers by investing in youth.

Unless he makes a better fist of it he won't be here all season anyway, so not a likely scenario. Either we improve or he is gone (and if our talks go well with our preferred target(s) that may well be irrelevant anyway).

If he's sacked he will easily get another job in the Championship - he's young and rated quite highly outside of here (stubborn but rated).

Hassenhuttl shipped 9 twice to two much worse teams and survived...

For me it's more the Premier League - I cared more in the Championship.

Absolutely they would. Appointment will happen once we have someone that's happy and has accepted - this is where we'll have the issue 😬

TBF getting humped by Man City is not the straw that will break the camel's back.

I'm confused - do terrorists go to the bank just like you or I would - or would it tend to go through wire/online transfers? Genuinely got no idea - if I was to buy 100 drones from North Korea, do I pay cash or card? Or do Iran pay for them directly? Or is this to stop Hezbollah doing their weekly shop?

Don't disagree with anything you've written there.

We should have had a penalty to go 3-1 up for sure, that's what I mean.

Absolutely, he made poor decisions after Suga went off injured, but I would say we wouldn't have lost that game even with his poor decisions if the ref didn't also shit the bed. In addition to that, being 2-0 up against Leicester - is that on the players or the Manager? You'd also have to say the players fucked up as well to lose from that position. Cooper is a poor Manager at PL level and is on his way out at Leicester by all accounts, so we should not have lost that match even with the poor decisions made by the manager.

They'd be idiots if they used their own money.

We do seem to be obsessed with him on here. Usually if a club was doing this badly the players would also be getting pelters, but there seems to be a reluctance there (even though our players are clearly not good enough as well as the Manager). Russell has clearly rubbed a lot of people up the wrong way.

Well, for one, he wouldn't allow the players to defend a corner the way we have against both Ipswich and Leicester.

No policies pay out for suicide.

We need a decent defensive coach - we thought he had brought one in with CC last year but don't think he's any good (as we've been just as bad as previously).

Agreed - if we're going to get rid we need to bring in someone with experience. Issue is those that are available aren't interested, so any good ideas, put them on a postcard and send to: King Rasmus Southampton FC St Mary's Stadium Britannia Road Southampton SO14 5FP

Doesn't mean it doesn't exist though, does it?

Not quite sure what you mean?

This fits in with what I was told (and relayed) last week, that we won't sack RM until we have someone in place to take over.

Personally I think Leeds had the best team - any squad with Gray, Gnonto, Rutter, Ampadu, Summerville is hard to beat.

It comes through TV rights, commercial revenue increases and position awards - what are you on about? Are you saying that you don't earn money for it? Have a read: https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/championship-play-off-final-how-much-premier-league-promotion-decider-worth/17nz5miq9ytix1wkm1w5q2kozd

And twice in the League. But yes, in the biggest earning game in World Football.