doddisalegend

Seems to fit here http://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/23/blog/post/3072732/premier-league-faces-a-problem-with-midtable-teams-like-stoke-stuck-in-frustrating-limbo

Except if you look around at football clubs owned by far eastern business men and you don't find to many good stories. Here's just a few comments that me think err no thanks For Chinese businessman Tony Xia, it didn’t matter whether he bought Aston Villa or Southampton, as long as he bought an English soccer team. mmm inspiring stuff “Now that we have control of Villa, we will leverage this opportunity and use it to further our business in the sports industry.” notice the use of the word we/our not the club In the narrow world of English football where loyalties are fierce and traditions passed down through folklore, Xia has also challenged what he calls soccer’s*cultural "rigidness.”*“Of all the industries I’ve operated in, soccer is the one most resistant to change," he said. there is a reason for that its called the fans other industries don't really have that Typically chairman and owners of English teams steer clear of getting involved in on-field matters. Not Xia.*He’s a regular on Twitter, sometimes sending multiple messages a day to share his thoughts on player trading and the team’s performances. The plan is to one day help support President Xi’s dream of building a winning team. oh yeah a chairmen he uses twitter...no thanks "Now I probably know much better than most when it comes to being a coach of a club, how to arrange training and match tactics," he said. "I’d like to figure out one day how to help Chinese soccer.” oh dear god the tracksuit chairman no thanks

Saw this article "If Man Utd could take one player from each Premier League club". I have to admit I didn't see the Saints one coming... http://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/if-man-utd-could-take-one-player-from-each-premier-league-club/ss-AAnI1cE?ocid=spartandhp#image=13

Easy done. Still there's 6pts in the bag, you didn't account for, to add to your 15pt prediction

Teams our size always seem to struggle when they have europe to contend with. I'm sure I read that Puel said that he was set objectives this season of getting out of the europa group stage, reaching a cup semi final and a top 10 league finish. He missed out on the first, exceeded the second and I still think the third is do able so not a bad season if we achieve the latter.

Is it 11 games? We've played 25 haven't we so 13 games left have you missed off Man u and Arsenal?

Harry Redknapp slams Liverpool star Sadio Mane for subdued display in Leicester City defeat Mane was on the end of a bad tackle in the first five minutes and that was him done for the night. You could almost see him say, “I don’t fancy this today”. He disappeared for the rest of the game.’ Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2017/03/02/harry-redknapp-slams-liverpool-star-sadio-mane-for-subdued-display-in-leicester-city-defeat-6483571/#ixzz4aAgvM6g1

Nathan Ake? We are "keen" apparently think he be a good signing myself. http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/03/02/report-nathan-ake-may-leave-chelsea-this-summer-southampton-keen/

Interview with Villas Chinese owner not inspiring me with the thought of Chinese ownership.... https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-02/chinese-soccer-investor-wanted-an-english-club-any-english-club

yeah but for 30,000 people spontaneously bursting into song that was probably a bit to complicated Seven Nation Army versions of players names are a bit easier to get going.

Artur Boruc: Bournemouth goalkeeper announces international football retirement http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39127627

I think we could well see Jrod gone in the summer, a shame, but I just don't see him getting back to his best here maybe at a new club but not here. Long will stay as he is useful as an impact sub/ back up striker but he won't be first choice.

I think he has improved this season so credit to Puel for getting more out of him.

Yes you would....

Who knows seems like a spectacularly foolish thing to do if its true. Could be a new portsmyth in the making though the day the plucky blue few saw off an invasion of 1000s of scummers at Fratton

Southampton fan ejected from Fratton Park after fighting erupts http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/our-region/portsmouth/southampton-fan-ejected-from-fratton-park-after-fighting-erupts-1-7844364

I think people who were expecting a top 20 greatest football songs on sunday were asking to much. To get that many people singing together ( especially as most don't make a peep at home games) you need either really simple or really well known songs which meant inevitably OWTs and some derivative of seven nation army which is what we got. I loved it personally.

Well generally you can predict a goal will be scored in the 45+ minutes before and after the half time bit....

I see the Cedric to Barca rumours won't go away...

It doesn't help that Puel has come into a club where fan expectations are much higher than they've been in many, many years. Koeman was lucky in that most people had surviving relegation as success when he joined. With Puel people expected europa success and another season finishing best of the rest all with a team arguably weaker than the one Koeman had. It was always going to be tough for him to win people over.

Every chance after the way the final played out that this will be an after the lord mayors show style performance

Luke Shaw enjoying the EFL cup after party.... http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/592110/Manchester-United-Luke-Shaw-ripped-Twitter-video-EFL-Cup-Southampton-eating-football

Nothing has changed they say similar things every year.

I have lost count of how many matches I have been to this season were we should have got a result with the chances we created but didn't Gabbi makes a massive difference. Yeah Puel has made mistakes but lack of a mobile goal scorer has hampered him all season Austin was our only regular scorer but he horrible slow and immobile for the way Claude wants to play.

Exactly