Dangermouth

And another one: Some proper negativity on this thread. Extremely valuable point against IMO the best team we've played all season bar Bayern. Thought we were extremely resilient and solid as ****. Their goal was a worldy finish and I have to hold my hands up and say fair ****s to osvaldo. Other than that they didn't get a guilt edged chance to score despite a lot of possession. They threw a variety of situations at us and we handled them well. Annoyingly we had 3 chances at 0-1 to finish the game but were wasteful. This has cost us the 3 pts. In the grand scheme of the season a point at st Mary's is and will prove to be a very respectable and significant point. They will finish top 5 and are a very very good side. I fancy Everton tomorrow. Chelsea dropped points. Utd are hilariously ****. A decent weekend in my book. because not all Man City fans are as blinkered as those belonging to other clubs.

From the city thread: "How the **** do Southampton seem to have more players attacking than we do defending and they have more players defending than we have attackers when going forward. The mind boggles.."

Most businessmen are greedy, stupid and scared; not innovators/entrepreneurs, but they will jump on a good idea and copy it. Think about how many people now speak almost entirely in business-gibberish to see how they can only follow the 'good' and 'successful' as told to them by someone else. IF someone can bring in a different way of getting attendances high and money in, others will copy it. Not the likes of Man U, L'pool etc because they have their own way of doing things but the lesser clubs will - depending on their availability to do so e.g. if standing terraces are allowed back in. Businesses copy others all the time - it's called 'benchmarking' (or copying).

This is what some of the Wigan fans think: http://thisnorthernsoul.co.uk/index.php/matches/match-articles/match-reports/1410-woeful-wigan-scrape-undeserved-draw

First half they had about 3 real attacks. Superb save from Boruc and nothing he could do for either goal. We dominated but didn't really pressure them and that was disappointing. Would say they didn't deserve the lead based on gameplay but they did make the better chances. 2nd half and we were much better. Needed to either try and get into their box more from wide positions, just like J Rod did for the 2nd goal because that would cause anyone problems and Shaw was doing very well at that and the midfield need to learn or have the confidence to pass the ball to feet or through the middle sometimes or just take someone on, just to make something happen when they're facing the ranked defence of the oppo. Man City will do that to us next week. Also need to learn to move it quicker still. Get that right and the possession we have will lead to much better chances and probably a good few high-number wins with teams getting demoralised as we hammer them. Cork is actually more skillful than I thought he was and could be much more useful in breaking down teams if he was allowed to push up. Overall though definitely 2 points lost.

Apparently McLeish is still there and happy to argue with the owners when he loses players and doesn't get any replacements. No point Hatpins going there. Does this mean we don't get riquelme because the transfer window won't open for another few mongs then? Heard he was on his way to us on the cheap and because we've got rid of SDR there's room for a left-whinger? That's nothing to do with WBA player ofc cause he's in another thread.

Reckon we'll end up 12th / 13th. Possibly just behind W Ham but next year we'll be far stronger and an outside bet for Europe. That's without strengthening overly too. That could make us even more of a force. MP does look a good choice and once he can do his interviews in English we'll have a better idea of what goes on in his head e.g. 'More tapas please, love'.

Only saw 2nd half. Based on that, 18 points for us from next 6 games.

Actually, I think MP will do well and I agree NA must have known for some time. His demeanour and press 'presentation' definitely changed a number of times in between the usual stuff he gave us. In fact his last one post-Chelsea was interesting because he highlighted how it was that the team had followed instructions and that this was important in Saints gaining a point at that time, although he would have preferred three. He was not on the firing line at the beginning of the season, however, because his post-match interview after the City game included him talking about needing to obtain a certain number of points away from home in order to qualify for Europe and that is what he was trying to do, hence leaving RL on the bench. Tend to agree with DP about MP's tenure being potentially short-term as well. Probably until Guardiola moves on, and despite the laughs I can definitely see NC trying to persuade him about this 'proyecto' of his: bringing through the youth, 4-3-3, etc, etc. And it's all good publicity which NC probably misses because we're not getting loads of positive press (for footballing results) as we had been in previous years. Interesting to see MP 'says' the squad is premier league class (i.e. he may not directly have said that, but that is what we are led to believe). Hope MP improves his English sharpish: am looking forward to his press conferences. Anyone know if NA is likely to have been tapped up for Leeds as was suggested, him being in Dubai and all?

Best one I've found is this: http://www.eplsite.com/ which was recommended on here actually. No stutter, slowdown etc.

Well Houghton got another crack at the Prem after leaving Newcastle and not exactly setting Brum alight and so did Pards, so don't see why he shouldn't get another crack at the Prem tbh. I agree with those who say wait and see what happens in the summer or maybe go abroad, even? Someone said Paolo Sousa (or w/e his name is, ex-Swans manager) is lined up for one in the States and if that QPR defender can get one, don't see why he can't. Going abroad didn't hurt the current England manger, did it? And NA's better than him. Leeds could be a good shout as well. Not Huddersfield. Agree Wigan would be a good opportunity for him too.

If anyone has to query whether or not AV are bigger than Saints they're either a WUM or a complete and utter moron. End of. Get back to Skatesville.

2-1 to Saints. Provided we get fit enough to last 90 mins and not 60.

Ah. Nice to see how already we now sound like Chelsea with our plastic this and plastic that and suddenly waking up to splashing the cash to buy league position. In the first piece I read about NC it was said that he looked at the bare trophy cabinet and said that it would have to be filled. So the ambition was there from day one. That said, people can't read/think/adapt their own shortcomings and 'opinions' and so would always just spout the guff they come out with, so of course as they can't retain information and can't process it what was effectively a direct quote, and might even have been that, was ignored for "I hope we can survive in the fizzy pop league". Again, it is patently obvious that NA is every bit as ambitious as NC, if possible more so; again you actually need to take notice of what is said and not simply hear/read/see what you want or can, but perhaps his failings are that he is 'too nice' with it and you have to be a bastard to succeed and success is all that counts so that 'we' can crow and laugh at others less fortunate than ourselves because they don't have money to spend. To repeat what so many have said, what chance does anyone have when you look at your bench with the aim of improving your team's performance and SDR looks back up at you...? Margaret Thatcher RIP, your work is done ... . I think that MP will get rid of a lot of dead wood in the summer and we will have a good squad with which to challenge for a CL place next year. No one wants the Europa because it's crap and second-rate, even if people talk it up - people (including parents - see the BBC today) apparently 'lie'. I would like to see the likes of Isgrove and Chambers and others tried out or moved on in the next 2 years, however, because otherwise the academy won't be doing its job and we won't be anything other than a clone of other PL clubs. We do also need to produce players of only LS' calibre or above really or they won't be good enough for a top 4 side. That won't happen quickly or easily. Finally, MP has already come in line with the way of thinking of everyone else (e.g. those in the press) and said that survival is this year's goal and next year the push for progression will be the emphasis which leads to another set of questions. Nice to see Turkish has a new avatar; the old one needed changing.

Didn't he say he essentially went with what was in place but just wanted to change a couple of things. No time to do any more: that's what Barcelona's for. Disappointed in Gaston: he really should do much more with his talent. Spiderman should be in the France squad (useless f-g French manager), but at least he'll have a beaut of a black eye for a week or so when it comes out. Guarantee we stay up.

Hear, hear. Second time you've not spouted complete cr@p. I'm getting worried....

SDR's Zambian?!?!?!?!

Obvious point. The situations are different. ***************************** Had this happened in November, perhaps it would have gone down better and seemed 'rational'. On Friday it didn't. It still won't unless and until we end up a top 4 side with the new manager and existing team. If it turns out we do with a large number of expensive imports/new players then who's to say that's up to the manager rather than him being just Mancini-lite?

Well his English mutterings were one of the first things he's likely to have been taught as you'll know if you taught English and depending on the syllabus used. It's not that hard to have a grasp of what happens in another language provided you have some pointers and you extrapolate, which you will do anyway as part of your sensemaking function. Again, highlighting the similarities between languages and those with common roots is one of the things that are done to help persuade people that it's not as hard to learn a foreign language as they think. Also, if he's been studying the players for weeks, probably with access to club records he might well have been taking the odd sneaky lesson. No need for him to have done so before as he was working in Spain. You would also note, having seen the press conference, that some of the questions put to him were not only translated but 'amended' by the translator - specifically that regarding the fans' view about the sacking. As to the question of whether or not he CAN (not my emphasis) speak well enough, unless the OP of that comment knows it, then it's speculative. The need for communication is more than simply derecha = right and izquierda = left, for example. But the comment about people filling in the gaps/extrapolating also applies and it won't be precise. Drills and the like, however, given the coaches have the same licence to manage are likely to be the same. From a personal point of view, the sooner he can communicate fully and properly in English the better - I want to see how he comes across and as one of the Spanish journos who was asked to comment on him said that he will likely end up at Man U or a big club (does this mean he's using us as a stepping stone?) then that for me is a concern IF we're looking at stability rather than Chelsea mk II.

Been watching videos of his old team. They look like Wigan. And play like them, too.

Guardiola. Wouldn't talk to a club with a manager in place. Not quite sure how that worked out in Bayern's case, but ... at least he didn't go behind someone's back. I'm with Barry/dune on this one. Anyway, the OS photos show him talking to the squad. He must be a quick learner.

Nope. The OP didn't do that; someone else did. HTH

Well. As someone said elsewhere, Pink******** (that one'll never catch on) likes to use 4-2-3-1; keep possession of the ball, create goal opportunities, press high up the field and bring youth through the ranks. For Pinocchio or w/e his name is (I havent' learned to spell it yet ofc), read NA. What they have to bring to the table are one and the same, BUT: NA spoke English (sometimes); was liked by the fans and the players (allegedly) and when you could get sense out of him showed he did actually know about the game. He had also come through his 'rough patch' and the team were doing ok (own goals from Guly aside - sorry, Mr do Prado). But he's gone and Pocahontas is in his place, so ... look above to see what GS had to say regarding what ****ed-Argio (thanks for that Bearsy!) and take it that maybe he's not so great. Ok, he won manager of the year but NA should have got that at least once but didn't. As to 'overreaction'. As those of us who have a few morals (er...I'll name the two or three of ya later ) would say, this is in many ways like a betrayal of our principles as a club and an entity. We would like to think that we're better than, e.g. Chelski, because we treat people with a bit of dignity, etc. Yes, I know that there are 'previous' with NC - getting rid of traditional programme sellers for numpties - but some of us (not regarding that, though, I must add) can see the worth in doing some things to adapt football to the modern age while considering that maybe the reasons we like footy/SFC so much is because of the emotional investment which is a very human way of looking at things (no spreadsheets here) and because we value these things because they are human, emotional and thus are things that raise us above 'animals' (no Leeds fans here, are there? ), blah, blah, blah, sociology lecture over. In short, we and the thousands of posters on the BBC website who are in support of NA (surprisingly high numbers) are showing our class and not overreacting. As of next week, however, we will be positive and make sure we remain a class above. And whoever Nige goes and manages next might well become a 2nd team for some - they won't know what's hit them if Turkish and Co go and visit - poor souls!

Romanian women. They're not money-grabbers, etc are they? Avoid like the plague.

Never seen the comments section fill up so quickly on one of these: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21079956 Glad there's a lot of support for NA out there. Now you can understand Forren's comment about not signing yet and waiting to see if he's wanted by the coach (look on that thread -comment from a Norwegian journo).