trousers

Actually, if we go on win percentages, then Carrick is probably the most attractive of the names in the frame...

Is that the same Paul Sturrock who has a much better career win percentage than the current front-runner for the Saints job...?

I'd definitely have him above O'Neil and Carrick...

Press conference at 2pm today (Players training at St Mary's today btw)

Oh well....

I can see the logic in going for Carrick, not least because he's the manager who Azaz thrived under, and once he starts ticking then other pieces of the jigsaw should start to fall into place. However, isn't Carrick another 'side-ways, backwards, possession obsessed' type of manager? So I guess it's a toss-up between 'dull and safe' versus 'intense and exciting'... And, on that, to reiterate that Spors categorically stated a mere 6 months ago that he wanted to instill the latter not the former approach at Saints, so would be a massive U-turn if he went for Carrick (or O'Neil for that matter).

It would certainly bolster my long held, and rightly mocked, conspiracy theory that Sport Republic is an undercover infiltration operation by a group of Pompey fans...

I'd always assumed that trait was top of Sport Republic's manager recruitment check-list... ✅

I had him more down as a Kanban man myself...

Aye, although he was part of Scott Parker's coaching team the season that Bournemouth were promoted

"Once a project manager.... " 😁

I guess it could be argued that the bit in bold alone is a "howler", given it's a fundamental goalkeeping necessity to be in the right place at the right time?

We all know by now that Ankersen's self-proclaimed approach is to 'read the room' and then do the complete opposite, aka "if it ain't broke, consider breaking it" Ergo, it's pretty much nailed on that O'Neil is top of the shortlist...

I initially read the title of this thread as: 'Your idle starting line-up' and wondered how the hell I was going to whittle that down to only 11 players from the squad....

No, that was @MindtheGab.... Whose only comment so far on the next manager has been:

How does Gary O'Neill's preferred playing style fit in with Spors' stated intention for the club to play "high intensity, full of energy, kind of football"...? https://www.tntsports.co.uk/football/premier-league/2024-2025/tyler-dibling-jurgen-klopp-football-new-manager-search-southampton-planning-relegation-johannes-spors_sto23183150/story.shtml Quizzed on whether Southampton will lean towards the archetypal models of a more possession-heavy Pep Guardiola team, or a more typical Jurgen Klopp style, Spors added: "If you take those great examples, I think it will be more the Klopp direction. "More the high intensity, full of energy, kind of football."

Random suggestion or heard something? Cheers! 🙂

Just watched the final. If that's not the best televisual moment this century then Sport Republic are the best football club owners on the planet. #superb

I've no idea myself but I'm sure others have mentioned on this sort of thing before that new manager betting markets are relatively miniscule and therefore even a few modest bets can cause significant changes in the odds? Probably one for @Matthew Le God to get his annoying little teeth into... 😁

I'm still holding out the forlorn hope that they've lined up Koeman for a return once he's had a crack at the World Cup Finals with Netherlands next summer... 😁

Shame Martin isn't the manager as he'd be just about ready on the fitness front...

Fair point. Give my regards to your fellow board members Chez 👍🏻😉

Doesn't that assume he wasn't being economical with the truth when speaking to this mysterious 'fan board'...?

I know... I try hard to be as annoying as those I'm replying to...