SaintN14

It's been 10 days since Will Still left. Is it unrealistic to expect the club to give fans an update on the process? When are the Fan Advisory Board next due to assemble?

Great post. I hadn’t considered the delay being indicative of how close we were to O’Neil but I think you might be correct. I find it unlikely we’re waiting for someone currently in a job to be sacked (I understand the norm with managers is to take a break post sacking, reset and don’t need to rush back into work as they get paid for 12 ish months of notice).

I would be happy with any of that top 3. Corberan Is an exciting young coach, did ok at WBA, but would he have the energy/motivation to get cooking with us the day after being sacked by his current employers? I like Carrick a lot, but Rodgers would be first choice, if he’s interested we should be going all out for him

I have been inclined to give SR the benefit of the doubt on a number of things over the years. There have been mistakes which I could at least see logic in, weve been unlucky at times, but I’ve always felt they were trying to do the right thing for the club. That said, I can’t see how SR could land on GON being the best candidate for the situation we’re in now. It’s not just about his Pompey past (although that isn’t great for PR). I don’t think he has a track record of success which the players/fans can buy into. Our defence desperately needs organising/leadership/coaching (as mentioned many times on this thread) and there should plenty of other managers available with a higher probability of achieving that (eg Carrick). I wish GON every success in his career (unless he becomes Pompey manager), but I’m hopeful the club finds a better fit

The team have been vulnerable (terrible) in defence for 3.5 years. Improving this has to be the priority in the short term for the next manager. I don’t think we have the right type of fullbacks to play a back 5. There must be a combination of 2 CBs who can play well together and form a partnership in a back 4, with protection from our decent CMs in front (Charles, Romeu, Jander, Downes). O’Neil’s recent record at Wolves was heavy on goals conceeeded (40 goals after 16 games last year), and I’m not convinced he’s the man to do this. I don’t think as much can be coached in the forward department. We need a number 9 that can consistently put away the chances that have been created so far this season, and for me that has to be a priority singing in January. Someone like a Sargent at Norwich (whatever the German division 2 version of that is). If I think about our more successful managers over the last 5 years (Ralph/Russel) we’ve had a playing style which the players (and fans) have been able to identify, understand and get behind. Ultimately winning games is what matters, but it gives you a plan/direction to fall back to. For me, Carrick would be the best at this from the names linked. Also there’s something around consistency in our play that’s been missing recently. I.e In games where Quarshie was playing we’d do the long throw at the beginning, then would give it up after the second/third attempt didn’t work. Not sure if laziness (or indeed if I’m missrembering) but think it comes back to having a plan/identity. UTS.

Wolves going for Edwards. O’Neil going to Boro would make more sense than coming here

Dull 2/10 for a half (we’re not losing) In other news, I may be wrong, but I couldn’t see Lallana amongst the coaching staff?

This is a worry…

New name klaxon Rene Maric is mentioned in the article below. Austrian who is currently assistant to Komoany at Bayern, and previously an assistant at Leeds. Also ex assistant to Marco Rose at Dortmund. Linked to his first managerial role at Hajduk Split in the summer. His profile feels similar to Will Still ie young (he’s 33), former asssitant, not really an ex pro. Maybe one to watch. https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/managers-southampton-fc-must-consider-from-germany-miron-muslic/

Agree Terzić seems out of our league, but he’s been out of work for over a year (?) He’s also been linked with Wolfsburg if/when they sack their current manager

It’s only 2nd Nov but I’ve been singing this all afternoon…

For my two cents’ worth, I think we’d be shopping in the available managers market rather than poaching from another club. Russell Martin would probably be the preferred choice of the ‘leaders’ (lol) in the squad — Stephens, Downes, Manning, Armstrong, THB, etc. He’s clearly got his mates within the dressing room. However, I think he’d divide the fans and be on the back foot from day one. Ralph is available and was spotted at the Bristol City game, so I’m not surprised he’s being linked. I think he’d improve performances, but I doubt he’d want to drop into this league. I’d be interested in seeing a poll on how popular this would be. As Steve mentioned on TSP last night, I don’t think Gary O’Neil can even be considered given his Pompey connections. Tony Mowbray would be a pretty uninspiring option after his stint at West Brom last season, but he knows the division and would at least get us organised. Given Spors’ links to the German market, Marco Rose being available is interesting. Ex-Leipzig, Gladbach and Dortmund, he’s got a strong pedigree. It’s very doubtful he’d come down to the Championship, but he was linked with Rangers recently, so maybe he would? That said, Michael Carrick feels like a really good fit for where we are right now. He did an impressive job at Middlesbrough given the budget there, playing possession-based football that was affective for us last time in this division, but hopefully with a bit more balance and pragmatism. He’s shown he can develop young players (Archer and Azaz) and is a name that’s played at the top level and would hopefully be respected by the squad.

Would love it to be Ralph Carrick seems most likely option

Who are the commentators on Sky? Dare I say it, they actually have been decent tonight and seem to have done some research on both teams.

Did Wilder just get sent off?

Morning, this feels more of end of the window option that became available and we decided to upgrade. He was previously linked to Everton, so presumably his agents were seeing if a PL move materialised

Three great signings today and I’m starting to feel excited about the season. On potential striker incomings/outgoings, it seems to have gone a bit under the radar that Ross Stewart is in the last year of his contract. It would be particularly surprising to see anyone paying a fee for him with his recent injury record, but maybe one to keep an eye on over the next few days

Isn't Roerslev the RB replacement? With Bree/Edwards/Stephens as cover?

£10m is a lovely bit of business for Fellows. I appreciate attack isn't viewed a priority area for upgrade (with Archer, Armstrong, Downs, Stewart, and BBD), but if I were Spors, I'd be trying to move on BBD and one of Armstrong/Stewart and try to get Sargent. I presume wages with Prem teams sniffing around (and a £15-£20m fee) make that tricky for us.

Long (the GK from Norwich) is a loan. Is there a limit on the number of loan slots we have? I think in the PL it was 2

Yes I posted about this, on this thread last week. They do have quite a lot of players on their books, but does feel we have a strong link there. A couple of potential clients that may help us: 1) Harrison Reed who certainly-CDAJFU but unlikely he'd want to be "cover" for Downes/Charles. 2) Grady Diangana an attacking mid/right winger (formally of WBA) who is a free agent with 25 goals/22 assists from 172 games at Championship level. Valencia linked in June, so might be unlikely...

Still have quite a few that need moving on in the next 10 days or so. Didn't Still say yesterday there would be some movement before the weekend? Presumably one of Edozie or Aribo?

Hello, Long time reader of the forum, first time poster.... There seems to be a slight pattern in Saints' recent transfers...I noticed with that Finn Azaz is represented by Unique Sports Group, an agency which also represents Will Still, THB, Archer, Quarshie as well as recent players such as Adams and Cornet (lol). TransferMarkt lists other players represented by Unique Sports Group https://www.transfermarkt.com/unique-sports-group/beraterfirma/berater/4142 I am not ITK - but maybe something to keep an eye on re other potential targets for this window and next? Up the saints, SN