Alain Perrin

That's what the HR people would like you to believe. More typically: 1) Create a Job Specification 1a) Speak 'off the record' with a suitable candidate. 1b) Re-shape Job spec to suit said candidate. 2) Follow HR process to satisfy Legal / Compliance (carry out some interviews to test the water) 3) Still happy with your choice? Appoint the guy you wanted.

If this is the case I fully expect the story to be in the Sun tomorrow.

Hmm. Not who you'd expect. Inspired. ... My money's on Pardew.

I think Saint's managers, and managers in general fall into three categories: - Motivators - who get the best out of a team through motivation and instill a will to win. - Tacticians - who can out think the opposition and make tactical changes to make a difference. - Transfer specialists - who can pick a player. I think Pardew has, on balance, signed good players. Yes he's had a lot of cash to spend, but that can always be spent on tatt. He's motivated the squad, not to a Gordan Strachan level, but got them out of a vicious circle of losing (we need to be careful that that doesn't embed itself again). I don't rate him as a tactician, we were too one dimensional and he was a 65 minute substituter (which I think marks out poor tactical managers - similar to Dave Jones and Strachan in this regard). Hoddle was a great tactician, you could guarantee that if we went in under the cosh, he'd change things at half time and we'd come out better for it. Hoddle though signed some right duffers and he wasn't a motivator. My point is Pardew wasn't all good, and wasn't all bad. At this level, without lucking out on a young manager, you're not going to get all three. Here's hoping whoever NC gets can score at least 2.5!

Wikipedia says "Meola is now coaching his son's U12 soccer club in Toms River, NJ." Sounds just what we need....

Conveniently there are two away games giving you a perfect reason to stand by your principles for the next few weeks....

Heard some gossip today from someone who met someone on Friday who was on the pitch for the Swindon game. Atmosphere in the dressing room was "like a morgue", many players disappointed that AP had gone. No one knows why, lots of rumours. But those rumours of a bust up / sex / drinking don't have anything behind them - the suggestion being they've been put about to justify the decision. It's an open secret inside the club that NC and AP weren't getting on. No news on the new guy but, judging by today, ASAP is necessary.

Agreed. We'll give him 3 games and then get on his back. It'll be a real test of character.

I agree with what up and away posted. What I don't get is why not wait another day until the transfer window closes? That way any signings in the pipeline would go through giving the squad a full complement. As it stands if I was close to signing on the dotted line, I wouldn't if I didn't know who the manager was going to be. Obviously the new man may not agree / want different players, but isn't having someone elses signings better than having none at all?

Rupert Lowe. Player manager.

Stand up.... if you've got a brazillian....

Great win although there are still times we seem asleep at the back (from the radio anyway - interested what those at the game thought). Perhaps understandable when it's such a one sided game but there's still a weakness there (corners and FKs). We're off though. COYS

Excellent point. Except there are two sentences. Two independent clauses. Unless of course you're claiming that we've played more than two league games; Orient and Bolton were drab, chance-less affairs. Then I suggest you shut the **** up.

Jesus. Two games iin. I'm not sure what's worse, 'doing a Leeds' and be top early, followed by months of you wrist slitters worrying about us blowing a lead every time we drop a point. Or dropping points early and having to sit through it now. Two games in. Two good and genuinely unlucky performances (Orient and Bolton). The majority of teams will come to SMS and park the bus in front of the goal. The team need to do what they're doing, keep plugging away, keep calm (ignoring you lot) and goals will come. With respect, the teletext warriors who don't / won't / can't make it to games just need to relax. We are playing well and the results will follow. .

Why did you spoil an interesting dig with an unnecessary post?

Obviously that was deliberate. However I salute your intention to detail.

Hold onto your hats then girls. I have it on the highest authority ("Se sai cosa intendo") that the club are considering renaming the stadium in memory of Markus. However I have heard that there is a proposal to recognise Rupert Lowe's involvement in the project. "The Liebherr Lowe Stadium" illiterates well but is likely to stick in some people's throats.

I think that football fans have problems appreciating central midfielders, regardless of how they play or, more to the point, the role they've been told to play. For an insight into how good a judge this forum is, I'll refer you to the learned opinions / bull**** spouted about Matt Oakley. Dean Hammond isn't the greatest midfielder in the world but then we're not Real Madrid....

Sod off you sad w****r

I can see what Cortese is trying to do (maximise revenue, limit liability) but I think this is a battle we could do without at the moment. The free advertising point is moot as we don't have a sponsor at the moment, but it will become an issue if we seek one. ... But there's a part of me that likes sticking it to journos who, in the most part, are a hypocritical bunch who'll say whatever sells (or whatever their owner tells them to).

What planet are you on? NC is an employee. The club will remain in the ownership of ML's estate and ultimately transfer to whoever he bequeaths it to. Not being a billionaire I don't know how these things work but I suspect the ownership may transfer to a trust with interests from a number of his family.

Anyone who thinks Paul Telfer is a bad player loses respect from me. Telfer was a useful utility player, not a specialist. If you don't think there's a need for that type of player in every squad, you clearly don't know what you're talking about. My opinion, Seabourne is good in patches; a bit of a hoofer but strong in the air. I think that, like most of the team, when under pressure he hoofs more, and it's that that we need to stamp out.

I don't doubt about the £0. However the flip side is they won't have to pay a press photographer to come to Southampton (hotel), have a sandwich at Membry Services or pay his/her fuel costs. In fact it's a great example of Southampton FC helping the battle against climate change.... and, by reducing the cars on the road, making fans journeys easier. How's that for spin?

I rang 6 other clubs and they said, "Who are you and why are you calling so early...." I don't know your background but forgive me if I doubt that you have 'contacts' at four other clubs. Therefore I doubt if they'd give this information over the phone to someone they've never met.

If someone wants your pies you can price them accordingly.