BallBoy

In previous responses people have questioned my conclusions and how I reach them. Fair enough. Unless we are genuinely "in the know" then we are all just using informed guesswork. In my job I have to disseminate information and then make decisions. Some of that information is correct and some is simply false. I have no way of knowing which is which unless there is actual evidence available. What I can do though, is look at the information and the evidence, if available, and try to figure out what conclusions "fit" the best. In the current scenario with my beloved football club I have come to the following conclusions: 1) Koeman was "nudged" aside because he no longer fit with Southampton way. He wanted us to be "ambitious". 2) Koeman did not think our current crop of youngsters are good enough to be blooded in the upper reaches of the Premier League. 3) We have now been in discussions with several candidates, including Manuel Pellegrini. 4) We have decided that Claude Puel is a better fit. The above are just my conclusions based on the drip feed of information available to us. It is also my opinion that all of this constitutes a cheaper option and could therefore be interpreted as unambitious. I am not in favour of throwing money at the club to buy success. However, neither do I want us to be approaching the new season with no Wanyama, no Mane, no Pelle and an untested manager but money in the bank. I repeat, that I could be wrong and hope I am wrong. Les Reed has been instrumental in all of our recent success. I am happy to give him credit for that. However, I just wonder if we have now reached a stage where we need to adapt the plan. If we fail because we did not adapt then he should take responsibility. I doubt that he will. All speculation but based on facts and a gut feel for the situation at my club.

In our working lives I suspect that we have all seen senior managers like Les Reed. They are very good at taking credit when things go well but go missing when things do not go well. They ride on the backs of the staff who actually get the results. I have no doubt that Reed is a very capable, intelligent man but I think his luck will run out eventually. Unfortunately that means the club will suffer. So I hope I am wrong but my gut feeling is that we are unlikely to progress from where we are now as long as we are relying on the academy continuing to produce as it has in the past. Koeman was realistic enough to deduce that the tap has run dry for the moment. Unless we suddenly produce another golden generation then the "Southampton (Reed) Way" cannot take us forward. It looks as though we have rejected Pellegrini in favour of Puel because he "ticks the (Reed) boxes". That is a massive gamble. As a fan I hope it works and Reed lives another day. I just can't see it.

I hope the rumour that we have put a £40 million price tag on him is untrue. Cortese had the right idea on this. If we wanted to keep a player then they were not for sale. Full stop. I think if we do sell (for any price) then it just proves RK to be correct. We (the club) lack ambition.

Nice message. All the more appreciated because he clearly wrote it himself. Nice tribute to Jose.

It all seems pretty nailed on now. There needs to be a clause in the compensation deal prohibiting any sale of Saint's players to Everton within the next 12 months.

I think Koeman gave the biggest clue to all this at the end of the season and before his contract talks commenced. He said that Saints needed to "show ambition" or words to that effect. I don't think this is a done deal yet but it is looking ominous. I would find it very sad and even a little humiliating if we lost Koeman because we were not ambitious enough. The sad thing is that he is probably right. We are showing ourselves to be below the level that we should be aspiring to.

Stuart Ripley deserves a mention.

Clasie?

Love the Redknapp "quote". Well done shurlock.

Couldn't be happier unless it were Saints. It opens the door for all of us now.

Totally agree that it was the worst day of my football life and it has left a permanent scar. Another amazing coincidence is that Watford would have been waiting for us in the final that year. A distinct possibility this year as well. We would have been overwhelming favourites to win as United will be this year. A major difference for me though is that Martial scored a good goal worthy of winning a semi final. That horrible, bobbly, piddly, freaky little goal that Heath scored was worthy of nothing. I am not bitter!

You must have been watching a different game? We started with just 2 specialist midfielders so both Wanyama and Clasie had to work hard against an, admittedly, poor Newcastle side. I thought both did very well and were constantly involved. Clasie is improving game by game.

I just love it that Leicester are still going strong and still favourites. The big boys are being humbled and all true football fans are celebrating.

Sad that anything even remotely to do with religion can attract such immediate anger. Good to see that most fans on here are treating the post with the reaction it deserves.

Life was so different then. I started going in 1966 when I was 13. None of my family had ever previously taken any interest in football so I was on my own. Can you imagine parents of a 13 year old these days allowing their child to travel into town on the bus and then to go to a football match all by themselves. I also queued up from 12.30 and used all my hard earned pocket money to get in. The front of a "chocolate box" was the only place for a youngster like me. I even went to reserve games and tracked the career of my hero, Micky Channon, from his youth. I tried the very front behind the goal but soon realised you get a better picture from up high. I dreamed of having seat in the stand! They were innocent days and the game was played with a purer spirit but I still love it with a passion.

Have to agree that Adrian Heath was the architect of my worst moment in football but also agree he was just "doing his job". Having said that, it was a pathetic little header that bobbled on to and off of his head to creep over the line. Not much skill involved. Also agree Billy Davies deserves an honourable mention for his disgraceful tactics in the play off semi-final. His team were clearly instructed to give away as many free kicks as they liked as long as they were 40 yards+ from their goal. Bale was literally kicked off the park. It was the worst hatchet job I have ever seen in my life. And then, of course, he went on to justify it all under the banner of "professionalism". Odious little man.

I only care about what is best for Leicester. Draw or away win.

Had on fly right down my road, TWICE. I know nothing engines, aerodynamics or engineering but they are just a joy to watch. Special.

I know these compilations can be misleading but what I like is that he scores all kind of goals. He clearly has a goalscorers instinct. I know this is a different subject but Ralph Kruegers interview above was not exactly reassuring that nobody would leave in this window.

This sounds like an absolute bargain. I am surprised and delighted. Good timing. Gives the club a buzz again. However, I am surprised that nobody has mentioned Jay Rodriguez. Does this mean he is not coming back from this injury?

The game matters because it is now the only opportunity we have to get some glory this season. We need our best team out there. No experiments! It was only one game but the Arsenal result clearly showed we are capable. A good cup run will restore a much needed feel good factor.

The sad thing is that neither of them actually understand that they have done anything wrong. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Why did Bertrand not join in the celebration for the goal he set up? There is something wrong there. Humiliating result. Brave move to go 3 at the back with Vic in the centre. It didn't work because our whole team had an off day and Liverpool were brilliant. Everything they did worked.

Why are we having this conversation? Koeman may well go eventually but I struggle to see how we could do better. A couple of bad games and people a getting a bit carried away.

I "grew up" with Micky and was privileged to witness his progress from the youth team to Saints and England legend. He was my hero. All the best to him today. I am confident he is still smiling.