trousers

I'm with Bednarek on this, in principle. If Ralph goes on to manage one of the biggest/bigger teams in world football then it'll be due, in part, to him ending up doing a great job here. I'd rather that than him having done a poor job overall by the end of his tenure and thus not attracting the attention of said big clubs.

Indeed. Leicester were able to "Do a Leceister" not because they realistically thought they could win the league that season, but because they set themselves the target of a solid top half finish. One of the main factors in them winning the league was due to the traditional 'big 6' having a perfect storm below par season. Semmen's "solid top 10" strategy puts us in the best position to pinch a place in Europe, or a cup win, every now and then, ergo it's as ambitious as we can realistically expect to be.

Don't think so. He was talking about a manager who is currently in his first full season as a premier League manager.

P.s. what's the prize?

29,739

Indeed. You could tell Mark Chapman and Michah Richards were totally enamoured and enchanted by Semmens' approach to running a football club. At the end of the interview Chappers said: "for any young footballers out there, if that hasn't convinced you to sign for Southampton then what has?" (Or words to that effect) Its a great time to be a Saints fan right now.

Listening to it now. Wow, what an impressive interview, on a national radio station to boot. The 5live panel/interviewer were so impressed with his pragmatic approach to running a football club. I think we're pretty unique in our player (and manager) pathway approach. Long may it continue. Listen link here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0014lb5

Which is exactly what I said to the lady that made our wedding cake

First of all you say that a player shouldn't shoot from range (if another player is better placed) "continually", thus implying that 'sometimes' it's OK, and then you say that they should "never" do it. Which is it? Make up yer mind me ol' mucker....

I wasn't talking about the weekend game specifically, just in general / philosophically.

How many times out of (say) 10 would you say it's reasonable for a player to have a pop at goal from 35 yards versus passing to a team mate who is "better placed"? 2? 4? None? p.s. bearing in mind one of those "better placed" players could be Nathan Redmond.... #banter #onlykidding

Are you suggesting that I'm suggesting that we should continue to shoot more often from 35 yards?

How many players were "better placed" when Armstrong scored against Coventry?

Awww.... what a shame....

Is that a long-winded way of saying: "the geezer that ordered the new screens didn't check first to see if the structure of the stadium was strong enough to support them"...?

Why not? It spells as it sounds: P.e.r.f.e.c.t.l.y A pretty easy one if you ask me.

Not even us needing a win to seal our Europa League qualification...?

I like this reply to that tweet....

Was he not also picking the best 11 available to him when we were the 4th best team in the league in 2020...?

My dad bought me that album on vinyl from a charity shop two weeks ago. True story.

Yes, but I'd much rather they hadn't left the webcam on to be honest. #frottage #MentallyScarredForLife.

Yep, that definitely makes you less sad than them...