saint1977

Or we could agree that unless Hughes wants to carry on with 5-3-2 that he continues his development at a side pushing for promotion as Targett did? Certainly, whilst Jan has made some good progress, the pathetic back patting article in the DT after the Swansea game on buying him and Hoedt (!) looks horribly premature. Surprised Les could put his fork down long enough to dictate some copy to Jeremy Wilson who seems unable to develop his own.

Not too disappointed, sounds like a good player but very recent emergence and also Norwich thought he had done his ACL at the end of last season. So element of risk there. Also, I feel Saints need express pace more than another 10 which Tadic covers.

This, unfortunately. Thanks for the info LeG but it just doesn’t correlate with the last 4 transfer windows which have been gross misconduct poor. The money wasted on Forster’s contract extension should have ensured Reed’s retirement alone. That DT article post Swansea took any gloss off the window for me and as for trying to justify keeping someone clearly severely suffering in the managers seat until March when he was the worst in PL history! 2014 and Mane, Pelle, Bertrand and co has been and gone, and Reed now has no trust left with the fanbase. He needs to get this window right for Hughes. What I find frightening is that recruitment is a huge department - what the f uck are they doing with their time? Not productive, successful work as in the rest of the world know it.

Going down if it’s another poor window. Come on Hughes, let’s play the press and make Reed actually do some work, put him under some pressure in public. He even might ask his wee YTS intern to submit some email offers for him

It’s appalling if true. Escaped last year but big favourites for the drop next season if there isn’t a busy rest of June and July. You’d have to be looking through a seriously strong bottle of alcohol to think that first team is good enough to compete for anything other than a dire relegation battle. In which case, only just putting some effort in now - if true - to sort out transfer targets - would be astonishgly unprofessional. Tbh, even aim struggling to believe Les and Ross would be that bone idle.

At least Les had some good years before the last two diabolical ones. Don’t know what Giles White’s excuse is, other than his record in the last 4 years is appalling and as a player he was part of the worst Hampshire side in my lifetime. Astonishing that Adams still opens, was clearly past it four years ago and longer in D1 terms. Rod needs to sort it out, plenty of good DoC options who could sort it out and have the knowledge from at least being a quality first class player at least.

If there isn’t = relegation battle. If Hughes wants a better CH and a leader, he may have to do what Puel and Pellegrino didn’t have the guts to do, but Ronald did, and put pressure on the board via the media

Saint Lard’s mick up is superb, so it won’t look like that. If it did, definitely buying. Tbh, with kits it’s about how Saints perform then in them. The Pony chevron kit was hideous but MLT’s spectacular displays and goals is what it is remembered for now.

Don’t hate it but don’t love it either. Not one I’ll buy, will see what the away is like. Bought both this year as really liked them.

Good interview by Ryan, Ralph and Les watch and learn in how to talk football with the press, our skipper knows his stuff. There’s probably things he could learn from Ralph on the commercial side but rather than have someone articulate like that on the sidelines when the club is in a transition phase, give him that player liaison role with the board. Kelvin needs to focus on his coaching.

Sounds like you are describing Portsmouth Football Club, or whatever the latest post-administration variant is called. I'm sure Trousers or Rallyboy will tell us what they are called now ;-)

I was thinking that. Could work out for them like Martinez or Rodgers, but equally another season in Sweden wouldn't have done his stock any harm and perhaps found a club here on the up in the Championship without the seeming tension between owners and fans. Swansea will have the parachute payments and don't seem to have piles of debts so if they accept the first season as readjustment whilst Mawson etc leave, season two could be better for them.

That's a sensible way of looking at it. It's why we need a clear out, including a large number of frings players, some of whom are rumoured to be on good money, especially academy products, as well obvious candidates likely to move on such as Boufal. We aren't in European competition next season so don't need as big a squad.

Would agree with you Nick, grateful for MCCarthy’s contribution but has been injured quite a bit before that. Still would offer Fraser a free if it gets us off that idiotic contract given by Les Reed as well

Is Jake Hesketh still alive?

That contract extension was clueless by Reed. Very simple solution to the Echo article. Better to offer Fraser on a free - to get rid of the wages, might help one of the top 4 hit home grown quota and they might never have to play him. That would mean the club admitting another mistake by their doddery Vice Chair/DoF/Head Tea Marker or whatever Les is now, so no chance of it happening.

I'd sell Targett. I like him as an all-round football (sweet left foot) but also remember Zaha terrorising him and going past him like he wasn't there. McQueen has a bit more about him for that position, so that's who I'd keep and replace Ryan if he goes with a LB of a similar age but a bit more experience than Sam whom he could feasibly compete with now if he carries on developing.

I agree, even with the home grown premium. Suggests to me that comes from Villa as a softening up piece for their fans after the Play Off final defeat. Tallies with their owner's statement as well about reigning in wages and spending. Cardiff proved you can still be competitive at that level without a Wolves-style spree. Would we want him? Yes, but past conduct would be a question mark. I also think Saints will look into the European market for that type of player for greater value, try to find another Mane shining in a smaller league with the attributes of extreme pace and taking people on. Does Grealish still play without shinpads as well, or have I just mis-remembered that? Would see that as an injury risk if so, but sure they have found a solution since I saw the original reports. Would be surprised if he went to Leicester. Sure, midlands club but if you want to play attacking football and be encouraged to express yourself, a Claude Puel team might not be the best option.

Hardly surprising when you look at the extremist dinosaurs who own and run these ‘papers’. Murdoch, the man whose newspapers hacked Milly Dowlers phone, moralising. Whatever Sterling had in his leg, which there are good reasons for anyway, could never be more pure evil than what the NOTW did. The fact that it’s reared up at the time the Grenfell Tower enquiry is going on may not be an entire coincidence?

Same for me on Monday Shroppie with Exeter City, real shame Chiefs lost yesterday but Saracens too strong for anybody to handle. Hope Shrewsbury win today, Hurst has done a wonderful job there after getting Grimsby back into the FL, one to watch. No offence to Rotherham but they’ve had a couple of goes at the Championship, would prefer Shrews to try. Love their kit and it’s also a lovely place. Mixed feelings about Monday though as see Coventry as a cousin club to us and had some friendly away days at the old Highfield Rd. Over 30k fans tomorrow too. Hate what SISU have done to them and there by the grace of God it wasn’t us. Delighted for Fulham and Targett yesterday, would think a permanent move is on the cards almost certainly. Fulham are a fine side to watch and Cairney and Sessegnon belong in the PL, reward for Cairney signing that new contract and not taking the easy option of a fat signing on fee to sign on a big club’s bench. Shame for Villa and their long suffering fans, although no sympathy for the vile John Terry. Depends how much of a hit Tony Xie can take in terms of a fine and whether they get a Forest style transfer embargo or not.

Great night and good day of sport overall. Pleased for Targett first of all at Wembley, probably joining Fulham now and might suit all parties. Then stunning appearance from Bale and unless Liverpool sign him (doubt it, I think a keeper and DMs will be their priority!) he’s given his first club great ammunition for whenever we play the victims. Was pleased for Mane too, no issues with him and might be a player Barca or PSG now target. Like most others, was delighted to see Lovren, Lallana and worst of all VVD get nowt. Unnecessary the way all three left, aided and abetted by Liverpool and their agents. VVD is going to have a seriously uncomfortable afternoon next season as Saints regenerate and have shaken off MP’s legacy, although I do thank Puel for the semi final victory over them. Lallana looked well off the pace and can see him being loaned off to Wolves or West Ham. Finally, Eisner’s tweet put a further bonus crown on the evening!

I agree with this. I posted on the other thread that I can see a lot parallels with the WGS appointment - football world sceptical but it worked out well. Players got fit, communication was straightforward and you knew WGS’s teams gave you everything they had. Effectively, this is Ronald’s replacement as the manager’s chair has effectively been vacant since, it never felt right with last two managers. I couldn’t identify with them and nor could the fans or seemingly players. Like WGS at Coventry, people only remember your last season but great opportunity for Hughes and the club to prove people not connected to SFC wrong. QPR was a mess for years, Warnock's book makes it plain. Like others, I note the lack of comment from Les, think the owners may have lost patience there and not before time. If he isn’t commenting of any of the transfer articles on the OS over the summer, even better.

I can see parallels with WGS - pilloried at his last club who were relegated but forgetting some good seasons prior. WGS built a connection with the fans after the managers chair was effectively empty post Hoddle (Dalek, hold that thought!), got unfit players fit (remember his quote on why Oakley couldn’t last 90 minutes in games) and gave us a team that punched above its weight. He was never going to be with us years and years but what we had was very enjoyable. Effectively, he’s a direct replacement for Ronald and feels like a fit to who the club are in the way Claude or Pellegrino never did. Someone will bring up QPR but those people should read Neil Warnock’s book as it makes plain how dysfunctional QPR was and he is clear neither he or Hughes had a remote chance of building anything there. Hughes isn’t perfect but we need to rebuild, and quickly too with the window closing early. Centre back who attacks the ball and communicates, beast of a CM, wide players with blistering pace and some strikers next please. Lots of deadwood to go, who to be fair to them will probably do well at their next club because their fellow squad members will have a better mix of attributes.

Glad it’s done. Right, now for the task of injecting pace and power into the first XI and offloading quite a few squad players. Should be a busy window, especially if Les has lost this latest battle