the saint in winchester

I would imagine there will be a "post-season review". It is likely to result in Puel moving on by mutual consent, the announcement likely to be around "allowing the prospective owners to put in place the structure they choose." All just IMHO, of course. The club could equally elect to back him to the hilt.

We've all had the stuffing knocked out of us recently. Even a game against relegated Boro fills us with dread and trepidation. I'm a consultant in the office, just finished deadlines, but haven't hacked into the NHS computers. And yes, the traffic jams are now Thu night. Friday is a piece of cake on the motorway.

Sacked after 6 games in Spain, now in first season with a Mexican club. Can't get excited about this option. #wemoveon

We defo need someone animated, with passion, a motivator. If you tell me this Paco Jemez is that type, then I will get behind him.

Ah, that would explain why Talksport are running live commentary on our game. Even as a Saints supporter, I thought surely there's a more exciting game you should be covering? Obviously there isn't. Adrian Durham creaming himself over a nil nil, it is then.

Two key quotes in this long thread stand out. "we are playing poor, Whether it's down to Puel or poor players, we don't know." AND, yes "we are turd in the final third"

I wouldn't be a fan of sacking him without having someone lined up.[/QUOTE] How about we put him on a 2 week sabbatical? I really would like to see what would happen in the final 3 games with another coach. We all suspect Puel is the problem. Can we test it by asking an attacking manager to coach the final games? If we perform well, indicating Puel's coaching is the issue, then Puel has to go. If though it is clear the players are just so low on confidence they don't play to instruction, then Puel isn't the problem. I know this isn't reasonable, sadly. We have to fire him to see if he is the problem ... or stick with him and just hope the players' confidence somehow clicks into gear.

This should be a golden thread as every post analyses the problem rather than insults other posters. I agree with you all. Gabbi was making the runs last night, but the other players were failing to reach him, in a lot of cases, even failing to try to reach him. Instead they were going for the easy option of playing it out to the free man, and then back inside to the free man. Sidewards crab football. I genuinely don't know if Puel has instructed this safe style of play or the players just lack the confidence to play the incisive pass.

LOL yeah,I'm in now!

claude talking up rotation again as it improved our players this season....... no evidence that it "improved" the players, just gave more game time and recovery time we achieved a clean sheet against a great opponent at the weekend .... one we have beaten before but didn't try to again we want to show our qualities against Arsenal .... please tell me you mean attacking qualities it is very important to finish as high as possible .... then stop playing for goalless draws, its 3 points for a win we aimed this season to give more time to young players ... good, you did that, injuries rather forced your hand we have played good football this season .... you must have a good memory, Claude we were good in the last game and it is important to have good possibilities against arsenal .... possibility of winning would be nice we must keep possession better next season...not a major objective. Leicester won the title with average 30% possession we now do not play for relegation or Europe.... true. Is that what you wanted? we must try to keep a good attitude and compete .... agree with that. A shot on target in a game would be nice there is a good possibility to keep a good motivation ... we are motivated, motivated to win? we have improved this season compared to last year as we have given more young players a chance - hell no, to the first; we have had to to the second, due to injuries the squad is in a better place, many have improved. Redmond and JwP for example - have they moved from Ocean Village, most of them?

Just re-read your message and you're a bit of a tout "looking to make money" then why should I help. Sell them at face value to a poor Chelsea fan (are there any?) or give them to a hospice.

Regrettably....I fear he will be heartened by today's result and go for that again. It's tedious. The most we can hope for like that is a 0-0 blankout. Let's try for 3 points and if we fail we may get 1. Yes, we may get 0, but I would like to see us take it to them. 4-4-2 Gabbi and Long up front.

Any chance of Wilfred Ndidi? He has it all.

Probably the latter, 76er. He can see new owners circling and has said "what would you give me to push off?"

Attack attack attack!!!

It wouldn't be fair to set him a performance target of 6th and then conclude he has failed. External factors like VVD injury, Fonte sold in Jan, Charlie injury have blighted this season. I'm not excited by his brand but at the same time bearing in mind the hand he has been dealt, it's been an acceptable season. I'm sure the club will have an end of season review but coming into a club that sells off its talent, and in a new country, I would mark his appraisal as "performance meets expectation". Next season will be make or break. Maybe Jan 2018 is decision time.

Thanks for posting, Les. HR will be in touch about that course over the summer.

Need to get ChazAustin back if only to take the penalties. What do Peach, Channon, Beattie and Lambert all have in common? They all hit their penalties with some venom. "Just blaaaast it", as Mick Channon famously said.

"Reacting to this" or indeed affecting the game once 'in play' doesn't seem to be Puel's strongest point. All he ever does is replace like for like. When a change is needed it's a change of shape to confuse the opponent...but he just doesn't do that.

Why do we have to rank them 1-4. Some clubs rotate. Yes, I would have VVD as a preferred starter when available, and use Yoshi, Stephens plus one on a rotation basis,

We have a Hull fan in the office (born there.) They have been targeting this one as a winnable game. They are up for this one. Are we?

What if ..... bear with me .... he's actually as good as VVD. And we aren't playing him? I assume he isn't showing any aptitude in training as this is a hell of an expensive insurance premium,

I think we are all agreed - and wording our comments in different ways - that we should offer him a new contract. After that, let's see the in and outs over the close season, making a decision before the season starts on whether he stays on as part of our playing squad, or is loaned out for next season. Either way, we need to retain him at this stage. Definitely not release him or sell him.

Thank you, Sue and especially Kingsland Red. We would also be flying into Olbia so your comments are invaluable, so I will research those two areas you mention.