saint1977

Says it all, fanbase, squad, management, board and owner don’t give a toss. Needs new ownership and spark, no point wasting time at St Mary’s until that happens. Protests won’t matter, best impact is stay away from home games, attend away games only in numbers and loud support as Coventry fans have. Leave home games for the corporate bootlickers.

Yep, I’d thought that as well. Can’t think of another club that has done that and been so ignorant and inward looking that it hasn’t clocked it and addressed the causes. Newcastle also struggle to score but don’t concede many. One goal could win it on Saturday, imperative Saints score first assuming there is a goal. Despite his appalling record, I’d play Long with Ings, they may force a mistake. It won’t be a classic but frankly if it leads to 3 points - and to stay up it needs to - that’s sufficient.

Interesting - fans forum indicated how totally sick the fanbase is of Bunsen and Beaker and how badly we want them gone along with Gao and Wilson but I hadn’t cognised how far this had transferred to Hughes as well. What kind of stuff did you hear directed at Hughes on Saturday if you don’t mind me asking? Results have continued to be poor but on Saturday we weren’t that bad and at least a clean sheet.

In which case, it is Exeter Chiefs, Exeter City, Torquay Utd and Plymouth Argyle games for me until we have new owners, minus the vile Kreuger, The Pensioner and Pensioner’s wee care assistant, who are interested in the club itself. Beyond this season, if people want line Gao’s investors pockets go for it but I and most other fans really, really didn’t want him as an owner and I can see the 08/09 14k gates in the Championship again. Will happily return to SMS once they are gone irrespective of level - League One, Two, non league etc.

That’s like saying we’d be worse off under Ian Branfoot when Pellegrino was here last season. Trump and Hillary were both garbage but at least she isn’t far right scum. Although if was American, I wouldn’t have been overly happy about Hillary being President either. Both main parties there need to get their act together, a bit like here as well.

Agree with you, not least when the record signing played 11 games for the club’s worst ever manager and then shipped off to La Ligament minnows with us covering most of the wages no doubt and he doesn’t always start either. Vestergaard now dropped. Moi yet to really produce anything tangible. Our recruitment used to identify the pace of Mane, power of Victor, potential of VVD and pedigree of Bertrand and all of the League One gems - Fonte, Lambert etc. That was meshed with quality youth products. As of 2016, it was very clear what the strategy was and it should have maintained. Instead, the pensioner stuck his oar in with his wee paperboy and the mess will take many years to recover from.

This, and Cabrone’s post above it. Gao takeover just odd and no benefit to SFC, only to KL. Club has no direction from top to bottom, with the appalling players on huge wages, not least Fraser, we will be in administration within two years of relegation even with a reduction clause. Fans have been totally disenfranchised. Only two things would re-engage me: - Gao selling - but can’t see it happening for a decade - Phoenix club set up as rival or replacement, would definitely drive up from Devon to support that

Wasn’t there a similar incident before the Leicester game last year when Pellegrino dropped him? I just posted on the Chelsea thread about the story on the UI about Hughes and Hoedt having a bust up and now not speaking. Don’t know if true but seems to be a lot of smoke. If he is dropped from the squad or at least the first XI for a committed player like Yoshi it could give the club a real boost tomorrow. The recovery pace will help Vestergaard. I think starting Hoedt this season has been a goal start to the opposition - let’s cut the gifts out and sack the c unt/s who signed Hoedt

Probably BS but reported on the UI that Hoedt and Hughes had a bust up after the Wolves game and now not speaking. We will find out after the teamsheet is announced tomorrow but it would be a big boost to everyone bar Chelsea and Hoedt himself if he is dropped from the squad.

He's made those mistakes when he hasn't been a regular though e.g. Man U home under Koeman. When he was playing week-in, week-out, they were less frequent. He is capable of a loss of concentration certainly, but would help Vestergaard out with his recovery pace.

Ditto, Yoshida made a big difference Weds. OK, was a bit rusty but still miles better than Hoedt. Want to see Vestergaard and Yoshi in the same backline. Shurlock - must admit I was being a bit tongue in cheek by calling Hoedt Wessex League but he is appalling! The weird thing is that we only have a core of outfield players good enough to consistently start yet 2 very decent PL calibre goalkeepers, Gunn looks tidy and calm. McCarthy has continued his good form though from last year.

Fuller potentially a good signing, would have to check on his injury record but bowls with healthy pace and hits the deck quite hard. Steve - would echo your comments on Topley. I think the club thought that he might gain pace and become that mid-80s left arm option that Sam Curran is becoming for England. Sad about his injuries but wasn't much cop when he did play, slower version of Chris Wood and less able with the bat than Chris is. I thought the bit about him wanting to leave was a bit tacky and unneccessary from Giles White, he's been taking lessons from Les Reed clearly. The boy is trying to rebuild his career. Barker is probably a better bet even though a lot older. Need batters now though, big time.

Did Saints actually just win at Goodison Park for the third time in 35 odd years? Good character from our penalty takers. Yoshida might have been rusty and got tired but his recovery pace made a difference. Gabbi link up play with Ings very good. Hoedt and Charlie can have some bench time.

Had hardly played in his defence. Tiring towards the end. Hoedt is far worse and has played all of the league games. Mind you, the fact Yoshida is now our best CB highlights the extent of the sell off

Not if it’s a repeat of his powder puff effort at Palace. Played much better tonight, Yoshida and Gabbi should have been playing regularly. Stupid substitution, this side are no good at sitting back and Davis is too old for a holding role. Romeu is off form but at least use him if Les is screaming in your earpiece to go all out Pellegrino defence.

Your opinion. Can you name a player who has been worse value for money comparatively than Hoedt? Dixon, Speedie, Boufal territory maybe. Cedric - look at the PL stats for last season, he had a stinker. Agent constantly links him with this club and that club yet no one has seriously bid for him. As for a number of our squad being better than Championship standard, how about 63 odd points from the last 64 games? A pitiful 5 wins from the last 38 league games. That’s more than a bit of leadership lacking fella. All the arguments and ‘pony’ in the world doesn’t change the fact that is relegation form over a sustained period of time. Either the last managers have been abysmal and holding the players back by 10 points each season or the players are just total ****. I vote the latter. Reed and Wilson brought them in so they take some responsibility as well. The only thing that is top 10 is the wage bill fir that shower.

Sorry, Jakobsson a similar level of ability I meant

Seems to be reflected by performances on the pitch, although a mystery to me what 'power' any of the squad could hold really given how way short of PL standard most of them are. If they were playing at their natural level in Championship or League One, or say Jupiler League/SPL, fair enough. The only ones with any standing should be McCarthy (through performances), PEH (through attitude), Bertrand (pedigree), Gabbiadini (ditto) and Ings (pedigree and attitude). Cedric could join that group but suspect he's sadly one of the players Eric refers to. The rest just need to run their balls off, get super-fit, and then they'd have a chance against opponents that with the exception of Cardiff and Huddersfield, are miles better than them in terms of technique and attitude. Most of them wouldn't get into top half Championship first XIs = wake up call. Get fit, work harder and they might improve or at least compete. As for Hoedt, Wessex League at best. In terms of all round attitude, ability, fee, wages, impact etc, worst SFC player in 35 years and possibly. Whoever scouted and recommended him deserves a life ban from the game. Jakobsson was a similar attitude but at least he tried.

It is not even attitude any more, I just don’t think 90% of them are ever good enough to play for Southampton Football Club. McCarthy, who saved it being more, Bertrand, Ings, and I’m struggling after that. People can say ‘Hughes out’ but you can’t have a PL team with four players who are good enough, although his obesession with our worst ever player (Hoedt) is really resting my patience. Time Wesley got booed. His attitude is rank anyway and he can’t play football so no harm done there. Too early to definitely say on Vestergaard, Moi but early signs not good and Armstrong cheap and not cheerful. Austin would struggle to get at game at Exeter in all honesty, Lemina decent maybe in the Championship but such a rapid decline from this time last year, JWP solid Championship, Soares ditto, Stephens more League One level. Targett, feel sorry for him that Wilson and Reed messed up his move to a better club. Romeu bottom half Championship. Gabbi not sure, don’t think we play to his strengths. Long League One player. Hoedt is Wessex League.

Pathetic - at most clubs that would lose the trust of your fanbase and rightly so. Can see gates dropping to 08/09 levels eg 14000 next year unless we get a decent takeover which benefits the club this time and sweeps away every single trace of the current regime. We know what happens then.

This thread has dengenerated into a Puel thread, which I kind of get, but actually you were either pro or anti, and in the end it didn't matter from a fans perspective because it seems Claude's relationship with some key players and senior boardroom figures (rumoured to include Les) did for him. This is about Hughes, but what all the Puel arguing tells you is that as fans, we don't feel that the recruitment approach has supported the managers since 2016 sufficiently and if you don't get that right, at PL level you can't get away with it and hide weak links as you can further down. I think the background to the takeover and then takeover itself was very destabilising with no positive benefits for the club, only individual bank balances. The signings this summer have been a bit improved (Ings, Vestergaard good, Armstrong and Moi will take more time) but it'll take a few windows to improve the shocking mess Hughes inherited. If the club sacked him and brought in someone else, are they going to far much better working for Wilson, Reed, Kreuger and Gao? I'm not saying Hughes is the best manager ever but keeping a squad of mostly PL squad/Championship players up, when other teams have significantly strengthened and we were trying to undo 2 years of disasters, would be an achievement. How many of that squad are genuinely PL quality? Alex, Bertrand, Cedric (maybe?), Vestergaard, Ings, and Gunn looks decent. You could make arguments Lemina, PEH, Gabbi and JWP look PL standard on their best days, but below that some of the time.

Do you think Adams and Ervine retiring will free up that much or has much of the money gone on the two SA and Northeast? Donald and Barker will have eaten some wages but doubt if they are top end like the above. So should have enough for one opener and a three but will have to let some bits and pieces go on the fringes.

This should be wheeled out every time of the Puel bores - an appropriate turn of phrase given the utter turd we had to endure - stats up. Has as much chance of being world class as Andy Awful. The club were right to sack him but wrong to replace him with someone horrifically incapable as opposed to dull as dishwater. The common factor is the old bloke who appointed them, sacked them and has left Hughes a hospital pass. Woefully underperforming goalkeeper? Give him a contract extension and a big pay rise.

Agree. Can’t believe people moaning at him already when he has been playing alongside the worst player I have seen in over 35 years of supporting Saints e.g. Hoedt. Worst when you compare size of fee, expectations, attitude and just as all round dreadful player. I support Hughes but the ignoring of Yoshi is odd. Vestergaard and Yoshi would be fine, with Jack as a 5 in some games.

Harsh on Vestergaard, even VVD looked terrible next to Hoedt, half arsed or not. Put him with the more mobile Yoshida, or someone that can run or play football, you’ll see the difference.