egg

And clinging onto Van Dijk did us the world of good! On topic, we won't go up. A big chunk of the squad will move on but we'll be stuck with Forster and possibly others on massive wages. That will make signings difficult and create an unhappy ship. We'll languish in that league for a long time and with the current owners and board I can't see that we'll bounce back. We've had a disastrous few seasons off the pitch, but somehow got away with it. Our luck has run out and I can't see any easy way back sadly. We'll do a Sunderland for sure, and I just hope it's not a Blackburn.

Edited a little but nail on head. I was shot down in flames at the time for criticising the club for holding onto van dijk. With his treatment as a precedent, it was obvious that the likes of Bertrand would have seen their chances of a move as slim had we stayed up. Relegation will suit a number of the players sadly.

Throw Hart in too.

We got dominated by wigan with 2 up top, and 1 less in midfield. Playing that way against any premier league side we'd get overrun badly. 4231 is Hughes system and it works as long as the 3 get forward enough. For me the issue this season is that the 3 have sat too deep but if that's addressed we can get players forward without being a man short in midfield. Cedric popping up on the left wing against Wigan gives me hope that the players will have more freedom.

Iceland is magical. Kind of how I'd expect Mars to look if it was snowy. Walking between 2 parts of the earth's crust is an odd experience. It's a must go place in my opinion.

Andy Sinton wasn't in that squad.

Great goal, but what the feck was he doing there?!

To everyone shouting for 2 up front - this is what happens when we forego a midfielder.

Nope. Mr Clasie is the man.

He's one of the two...

Talking of stats. This may be well known but it surprised me when the answer was revealed. Which Saints players in, the Premiership era, have the best win percentage, apparently at 56% ? (And played over 38 games).

He wasn't described as interim, caretaker or temporary so they'd have paid out despite him getting the boot after 4 games. The issue is when someone described as an interim, caretaker or temporary boss manages for less than 10 league games.

Living in the past doesn't help. We are where we are and have to deal with it. Short term fix to try to stay up, and then take stock. I'm not sure what the issue is with that.

So you'd rather concede relegation and hire someone new once we're relegated? Explain why we shouldn't give ourselves the best possible shot at staying up, and then taking stock in the summer? Nuts.

Nicely said.

I agree with all of that and prefer 2 on the basis it's an experienced premier league manager. We cannot risk an unknown quantity, and whilst Hughes is not an obvious Saints appointment we're in a mess and his experience is likely to have more of an immediate impact than anyone else available, and it's impact we need. If we don't get someone in by the weekend we have decent enough caretaker options for 1 FA cup game. My money would be on a Craig Fleming and Jaidi double act.

Long overdue but cracking news. Wouldn't be surprised if we get Hughes til the end of the season, but given the mess we're in I'd take pretty much anyone with premier league managerial experience to get us through the season.

It's not about the players not getting it, but the fans not getting that the players couldn't care. Stay up and all is good. Go down and the players who want a move, get a move without too much hassle. Indeed, I suspect several of our best players would be quite happy with relegation.

Thanks, good article. His achievement there is phenomenal but working with the divas in the Premier league would be a whole new ball game.

Leaving just Mcqueen as left back with Targett on loan. However you cut it, we're exposed.

But just imagine how good MLT would have been with the fitness of a Poch trained player.

Good fantasy football thread. Manager = Poch Alderweireld, Case, Mane and Shearer for me. Would improve us all over the pitch.

I'm expecting a win today. Sims to play a big part, 3-1 to us.

He'd be a car crash imo. If we needed a caretaker, Jaidi, Craig Fleming or Danny Butterfield all have more coaching experience. Not saying they'd be any good mind.

24 teams - 21st is the new 17th.