kwsaint

Just spoken to Francis Benali. Reckons there's nothing wrong with this tackle and that he got the ball.

Going up on Saturday. Any good suggestions on where to park or pubs to get food?

Yes

kwsaint jr. responding to kwsaint sr.: does this explain why from when I was 4 all other football clubs were banned in the house bar a moderate interest in Winchester City?

Make that three. Summer 1969 as well. I was 7. Wanted a man c shirt as they had just won the cup. Dad bought me a saints shirt instead. After my first visit to the dell 18 months later i was glad he did.

Maybe I'm old fashioned but I was more than willing to deal with the music being played before kick-off instead of chanting. But what the **** was that? The players walk out to some sort of trance light display. No doubt people thought it was 'cool' but it's quite hard trying to drink a cup of tea when the lights look like they're being controlled by a 9 year old on a sugar high. I suppose this is the sign of things to come...

Expect lots of movement in the transfer window. RH has had a good look at all the players now - which was partly what todays performance was about. Expect a very weak team at Derby next Saturday. There are a number of players whose days at SMS are clearly numbered - Cedric, Elyounoussi, Hoedt, Gabbi, Davis, Forster. Thing is that RH will know about players in other leagues - bit like Koeman did when bringing in Pelle, Mane and Tadic for not much money. Big problem is Lemina. There is a good played in there somewhere and he will have to play the next three games. Think that we will survive - just.

In the great escape of 1998/99 (is it really 20 years ago?) we had 10 points after 16 games and lost game number 17. We were in the bottom three the entire season until three games from the end. Finished on 41 points. So it can be done. What made the difference that season was after Christmas 1998 we started winning all our home games. Think that this is where we need to see the change this season. Plus I don't think that we will need 41 points to survive this season. My guess is that 34-35 points will be enough. But we need to see signs of improvement really quickly to have a chance. Be interesting to see where we are a month from now.

Meanwhile back on thread. Has anyone actually watched any of his teams play? Or are we just going on his having a good reputation at Leipzig. (Starting to get slightly irritated by posters hijacking threads to discuss the merits of Puel. Three managers ago now and ancient history in SFC terms. Bad as someone who shall be nameless banging on about getting Glenn Hoddle back)

Is he bringing any coaches with him? Otherwise it will be him and Kelvin Davis. Part of MHs problem was his mates weren't very good

Meanwhile, back on the topic of the thread. Times today reporting that we are looking to sell players in January to raise funds for replacements, as there is no extra money. The only problem with this is that the players that we want rid of (Forster, Long etc) will not bring in much cash. Also reporting that we will not be looking at managers currently in post as we wont pay the release fees. So only looking at those currently out of work. MH clearly on borrowed time. Really cant see this season ending well (Any chance of a separate thread on Puel, so that I don't have to read any more about it?)

Really? Puel a genius? Did you only watch the League Cup games, as many of the League games were turgid. The problem was not with sacking Puel but with what came next. Can we get this thread back on track. Anyone hearing rumours about who we are approaching, because we definitely seem to be looking now.

Sounds like Saints are now looking for a new manager. MH will get the sack once they have lined someone else up. These things are best done as quietly as possible, but it does look as if the message has finally got across and MH is on borrowed time.

Just hope that Saints have a new manager in the wings when Hughes gets the boot. When Hughes goes his two sidekicks will go as well, so we are replacing the key coaching staff.

Been announced that Premier league will use VAR from next season. About time given the events of last Saturday. Your thoughts?

Saw the Michael Jackson statue when Saints played at Fulham the first season back in the Premier League in 2012. It was truly dreadful. Apparently it was removed in 2013 by the new chairman and in 2014 was installed at the National Football Museum in Manchester. Why they would want it is beyond me. Al-Fayed blamed Fulham's relegation in 2014 on the removal of the statue, You couldn't make this stuff up. Fulham now have a statue of George Cohen outside the ground, which seems far more fitting.

The real problems will start with relegation when Gao realises that the club that he has borrowed loads of money to buy has suddenly plummeted in value. Guess where the parachute money will go. Then the only way will be down. The only hope is that we somehow survive this season and then there is a management clear out and Kruger and Reed go. But I can't see that happening. And having come round to the view that Hughes has to go, I really dont know who we could get to come here that would improve things. Think that things are about to get really messy.

Just find a friend or relative who lives outside Hampshire. Order the tickets in their name and get them to post them on. Simples. Fulham is usually a good day out. Just a pity that the prices are so high.

It's only worth getting rid of Hughes if we can get someone in who is a clear step up. NA was very unlucky to be sacked, but there was no doubting that Pochettino was a clear improvement. Anyone was going to be a step up on Pellegrino. But unless we can line up someone who is clearly going to be better, then I would stick with Mark Hughes.

I don't remember the relegation scraps of the 90s being as dire as this season and last. I don't suppose that the football was any better but at least we had players who were prepared to give it a go, despite their limitations. I think that we will stay up this season (just), and then next season is likely to be just as bad.

Just watched the highlights(?) on MOTD. The players should be made to watch it and listen to Jermaine Jenas's comments. He actually made some really good points about their decision making and lack of composure. There are clearly communication problems between players.

Think that we will be bottom 6 but not go down. Huddersfield and Cardiff look poor. Fulham, Newcastle and Palace don't look much better and Ashley has already said that Newcastle wont be spending any money in January. Think that they will be joining Huddersfield and Cardiff. Going to be a long season though. My guess is Saints to finish 16th.

For me it was walking back to the car, and someone stopping to ask me the score. Telling them that Saints had won 8-0 was completely unreal. Still not sure whether they believed me or not.