S-Clarke

Sadly we gave McCarthy a new contract, he's going to be here next year. We just have to hope we either sign a new number 1, or a young keeper who is Tino levels so he can oust him straight away. I'll be so, so bored if we start with McCarthy as number one again next season, there is no point.

I dunno, not sure about him. Seems very inconsistent and injury prone, not sure we need another of those. I'd be more inclined to take a look at McNeil if we are shopping at Turf Moor. And obviously Pope, but he's off to much bigger clubs than ourselves.

It seems to be what everyone is hearing, and it needs to happen. We can't keep standing still, we've been somewhat forced to in recent years due to Gao but I'm really hopeful that this new takeover changes that. Like you said, these are smart people in charge. They're not going to be content with us sitting still every year. Rasmus himself knows from his experience at Brentford that it requires investment, and clever investment at that. I think we are on the path of being a development club, but we need a bit of help to kick start that process because we don't have a squad full of much quality to re-sell at the moment. If we have that initial investment, sign sensibly and smartly, we will hopefully have that conveyor belt of developing/selling for big bucks/going again in place over the next few years. It's the model clubs like us have to use if we want to be successful and I'm happy with that. Bigger clubs follow very similar principles, notably Dortmund and the RB clubs. Whilst it's probably disappointing for them to lose Dembele, Werner, Dayot, Halland etc after a couple of years, they replace well and go again. That's what we've got to do and that's why scouting is so important for clubs like us, as we can't repair our mistakes. (as we've seen).

Please stop.

I don't think that theory is correct at all. When we had that good run after the takeover was announced, he was being linked with Man Utd and other top clubs. What has happened since the end of Feb has been disastrous, but somewhat expected. Howe joined Newcastle at the end of Oct/Start of Nov I think, so long before our takeover was even a thing. I'm ambitious as a fan and I want to see winning teams and progression, but at the same time I'm realistic and I realise at the moment we are nothing more than a lower mid-table/potential relegation candidate team due to the lack of quality in the team and investment over the past years. So on that basis you have to say that Ralph is doing what is expected, but he's doing so by getting us overachieving at certain points before returning to type. We've had many managers since Koeman. Pellegrino, Puel, Hughes, Ralph - and all of them have finished in and around the 40 points mark. Only Ralph has achieved over 50 points with this group, but average wise we finish mid-40's most seasons. What more do we expect with the players we have? Honest question. We no longer have no consistent goal scorers, no one who can get 10 goals a season. We have no goals from the attacking midfield areas, we have no pace out wide. We have a terrible centre back and an aging DM with no replacement for him. When you look at it like that you have to say we're doing well to be where we are. There are bright spots in Tino, JWP, KWP, Salisu which gives credence to the scouting over the last few years, but christ they need some help sooner rather than later.

If Pickford, Ramsdale, Henderson and Pope are fit he won't be anywhere near.

Little little piece on the BBC Sport home page - National League Play-off: Southampton FC battle Wolverhampton Wanderers for promotion - BBC Sport

That's an interesting view point and certainly something that may ring true. This is someone who wants and has control of the playing style of all age groups, the plan he developed was intended for club wide not just for the 'first team'. It feels as if this approach has littered the club with lots of 'yes men' coaches. I'm not saying it's all a bad thing and I feel the younger age groups have certainly picked up this year, but it does sometimes cause a problem when things start going bad and as a club they are so invested into 'one man' at all levels, that's why it's almost impossible to sack him. The club have backed him to the hilt in the sense of the club wise philosophy, now they need to back him financially.

It's the 'Southampton Way'. We did exactly the same with PEH, Fonte, Bertrand etc.

When you're proven to be wrong, you scuttle away and never come back with anything like a normal, well balanced individual would. This little post is an example of what you do. Fraser Forster - keep or let go - Page 5 - The Saints - SaintsWeb

He wasn't our player, so not quite fair to include him.

This was the 'performance' that had some worrying signs looking looking back. I thought we were pretty ponderous in attack most of the night, and only through Norwich's ineptness did we get the win. We flagged through that game, and coasted. We could do that because Norwich were so, so shit but sadly we carried that costing/flagging in the following games against better teams and there our season ended.

It's probably the optimal summer for both club and player should he leave, his value will never be higher and if CL clubs are going to be interested then you'd imagine this summer would be the last they look at him due to his age. But that's all I think will turn him, CL Football. And if I'm honest I don't see him as quite that level, he's more in around the Leicester/WHU/Wolves level i.e pushing for Top 6/Europa League. He may think he could achieve all that here rather than moving slightly up and sideways.

Will we have this all summer? You just making up random scenarios because you are so convinced everyone will leave.

He just seems a little bit too weak for me, lacks physicality. The Watford away game stands out for me, he was very busy and 'alive' but he missed at least two absolute sitters which almost cost us. Seems to need lots of chances to score a goal, same as Adams sadly. (although Adams physicality helps him)

The kids can hold their heads high, they were up against one of the best young teams in the world. Gave a good account of ourselves by the sounds of it. Certainly lots of positive from the under age groups this year, so it's not all bad.

It is getting a bit daft. Did you just see the Viera incident? An everton fan approached him on the pitch, and Viera pretty much floored him. Not sure that ends well for either.

Vestergaard was truly shit, so no one was ever going to miss him. We missed a trick in not replacing him though, we went for a cheapo squad filler rather than a first choice starter.

I see the downplaying of JWP's quality is in full swing as he 'may' be off.

At HT Everton were staring down the barrel, but Palace absolutely dropped their balls in that second half. Their fans must be fuming for that second half effort, they were horrific. I think Burnley's result is a good one for them, being above the line ahead of the final day is always a phycological boost. They're at home too, whilst Leeds are away. Odds are against Leeds, you'd have to say. I never thought I'd say that at the start of the season.

As following us is about as fun as watching paint dry at the moment, what's everyone's thoughts on tonight's games? A couple of huge ones which could all but relegate Leeds if they go the wrong way. Everton could save themselves with a win at home against Palace too. I reckon that Everton will blow it tonight and Palace will hit them on the break, just a hunch. (and maybe a lot of hope too). I didn't realise Leicester played tonight, so at least when they play us they'll be absolutely knackered and we'll get the benefit. (yeah, of course it never works like that for us)

My bad, good point!

It depends if he's really unhappy, it may be a player decision as opposed to a club decision. Who knows. From what I've seen of him, which granted is limited, he doesn't seem to have a great deal to his game. Would I like to see more? Yep, for sure. Is he going to be the fix for us and the superstar goal scorer we need? Absolutley not, he's just another average player to join the list of average players we have. We still need better than Adam Armstrong if we want to move away from the swamp of this league. I agree on JWP, I don't think he'll go anywhere. The main reason is because there are probably no takers for the fee we'd want. There are players like Rice and Kalvin Phillips on the market this summer who clubs will probably see as priorities ahead of JWP, younger, more sense in a big investment etc. So I'm not too worried about that. How we are able to buy players if that's the case is the question though. It's obviously daft to criticise the new ownership for a lack of ambition and investment in the team when they haven't had a window, so I will wait and see their intentions. We have supposedly scoured the 'market' for investment for many years, turning down several people with 'bigger' pockets because we wouldn't have liked it, so if this new 'investment' doesn't actually provide investment then I think we'll all wonder what on earth the point of it all is.

Great effort by Rangers, to even be there is incredible really. Probably the first and last European final most of their fans will ever see, so a great experience. Just a bit gutting. Of all the players to miss it though, the player brought in as the coup. He has been absolutely terrible for them. Davis top, top player, top guy. We miss him more than any of our 'defectors'. What I'd give for someone like him in midfield right now, even at 37 he'd walk in to any of the 10 positions.

That's how I feel, especially with the low mood at Leicester. I just hope if we do turn up it doesn't fool the club into thinking everything is right. I don't think it will as I don't think they're that short-sighted or reactive, but we'll see.