the saint in winchester

So .... are we ready to eat humble pie and ask Claude Puel if he would like his job back (as long as he returns the severance pay)?

Well, we just gave Puel £6M+ to pay off his final 2 years, so we probably are skint now.

Let me help you. He is Argentinian, and his name sounds very much like Mauricio Pochiettino. As such, he is my favourite. The fact that his opposition is Ronald de Bore says it all.

Hope so. Some any mentioning Stam. Working in Basingstoke, there are a few Reading fans in the office. They tell me Stam's style is equally sterile and boring. To read they could get compensation from us excites them. Jakanovic please. Surely he's hungry and will provide strong and stable leadership.

That's my view too. Feel nervous tonight and will remain so until I know who is coming in. Assuming we go into next season with largely the same group of players, we will find out if a new manager can get more out of them. However, I dare say there will be some churn in the squad too, so it will be hard to compare. Even so, I will ask myself in May, did I enjoy the football on offer and hopefully I will be able to say yes.

Watching these quality French players outplay England ... and wondering why when we have a French manager that we haven't attracted any French players??? I guess the answer is "because Les Reed buys the players and he ain't French". Not expecting Mbappe but Umtiti type would do!

Yeah, I am going to predict 30th June as Announcement Day. Gives new owners time to get their feet under the table, Reed to find a new manager, new manager to identify targets, Reed to buy said targets .... I like to think it has all happened behind the scenes and will be unveiled to fans - "Behold the new club" - on 30th June.

Anthony Blair.

True. 'Hard Brexit, take it or leave it', has proved to be May's undoing. The country was asked to vote for Brexit not knowing the terms of exit, as in cost terms (divorce bill) spurred on by Farage saying we will spend the £350M annual savings on the NHS. That has proved to be an incorrect statement (some may say 'lie'). As Brexit is now going to be costly, the next step has to be to re-wind and re-approve Brexit when the divorce cost is known. At 52%:48% last time it was not a majority in practical terms. Sorry, Teresa, go to the Brexit Council, pick up the bill and bring it back to the country, who will then vote to approve it or deny it. Vote again on Brexit when we know the real cost.

Such humility is not the way we do things here. You need to start posts with "I know for a fact that..." or "I have a source within the club...." You'll get the hang of it. It's like poker - you may have a crap hand but you have to present it as 4 aces.

£50M cash plus Sakho. Any wages above £50k pw to be paid by Liverpool. That's my offer.

Are we still expecting St Etienne to make their statement tomorrow? Or do have to make our decision before they decide? I'm like 'meh' now. Just get 2 '20 goals a season' goalscorers in and we are set, regardless who the manager is.

That's somewhere between mistaken and rude. Ask SRL for highlights of his career and I would expect Saints' promotion years to come out on top. He thought/hoped the pinnacle of his career would be at LFC, boyhood dream and all, but it became a wet firework.

Surely it's an optional clause? If Saints (or anyone) bought KI but chose to sell him in the future, Man City would have a right to buy him back at a pre-agreed price? Or are you saying that Man City can take him back at that price even if the owning club don't want to sell him. That would be ridiculous. He's only £20M to buy, should fit within our wage structure, as I doubt a youngster was on daft wages, so I join the chorus of "why aren't we all over that deal?"

This is the most reasonable summary in nearly 3000 posts on here. There was clearly discontent before the end of the season and all parties agreed to leave it until the season was over. For some reason, Krueger made it a public statement. Puel may be interested in going back to France, we may want to let him go. Right now we need to let the St E link run its course and see if anything comes of that. If not, the club has to make a decision.

How would y'all feel about getting Boruc back to replace Forster? I'm up for it, and so is Irene, his alter ego.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40094392 Come to Daddy.

Fact. I work in Basingstoke, so a few Reading fans in the office. They love what Stam has done and fear a Prem side could attract him if they don't get up tomorrow. So, is it Stam we could go for ... or is it David Wagner of Huddersfield??? I'd give a progressive Championship manager a go rather than a European manager who is a risk.

I have a Liverpool fan in the office here and he told me months ago the price was agreed with all parties, but was conditional on Liverpool achieving Champions League qualification. He is sure they have the deal agreed.

I believe he is going to be at the England U21 group with JWP and Redmond, so hope they get chatting over croissants about how good life is at Saints.

Oh Lord, Joey Barton will be available again in 18 months. Don't tell me he's part of our dream team.

No more Moore?

I had expected a quick meeting and announcement, but as this is becoming protracted, I accept it could be any time until Christmas. They may now give him the reins until the new season and see how he makes out. Who knows? I sure as hell don't.

Michael Gray called Talksport last night, talking about the players refusing to play and those who did strolling round to avoid injury in case it prevented them being available for a transfer ...... owners wanting to sell .... the issue goes deeper than Moyes. He doesn't help himself, with his abrasive nature and sexist comments, but you can't just say "Allardyce, Di Canio and Poyet kept them up so Moyes is a failure". Not sure anyone would have kept them up this season. They won't be back soon.

Although most of us expect Puel will be going, let's consider : what would be needed if he were to stay on and be successful? For me: * VVD to stay * be prepared to change formation mid game * substitutions to change the game, not just 'fresh pair of legs' * learn better English to get his ideas across * coaching for press conferences - no more 'interesting possiblities' * a commitment to the Southampton Way of playing - try to win games, not avoid losing Yes, this list is getting ridiculous. Can a leopard change his spots? Maybe he will tell Reed this was his first year plan, but now he plans to be an exhuberant attacking manager like Antonio Conte