S-Clarke

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.

Let's be honest, it's no surprise. The guy is an absolute cunt. Stealing a living as a footballer as well. I don't think there are many worse out there, certainly should be in non-league.

This is why I fear we will give long a contract so we don't have to buy 'too many' new ones.

I think McCarthy is one of the worst ball playing goal keepers I've ever seen, but our persistence with him just sums up all that's wrong with this club and the constant persistence with average in the hope it'll turn good. Redmond, Moussa, Ely, Bednarek all fall into that category too. He may have 'worked' on his feet a lot more but it hasn't helped, he needs to focus on getting it gone as soon as possible. But sadly that doesn't work with the way we set up, that bypasses the portions of our team where we set up the play (full backs) so it just keeps coming back as we have no real focal up top. A good goal keeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet would change a lot if we are insistent on playing this way, it wouldn't fix everything, but I think we'd all notice an immediate difference. I even noticed a difference with Willy and he's a 40 year old bloke, his distribution is better than either Fraser or McCarthy.

You do wonder if part of the 'scared' attitude is just phycological damage from those historical record defeats. Players as well wouldn't be human had they not been scared by that, and for it to happen twice to a lot of them is enough to sink that feeling in even more. Yesterday, without doubt, was a damage limitation tactic. He was expecting us to lose, but wanted to ensure the score was respectable and obviously he succeeded if that was the plan, but it's sad that we were so scared that we'd be picked apart again - but it's probably no surprise. For me that team and the way we set up struck me as a bunch of players that the manager doesn't really trust anymore, so he has to protect them as much as he can. And likewise that doubt will creep in from the other side as well if the players feel a lack of trust from their manager.

So let me get this right. You're very pleased 'Redmond' may be staying and don't wish to put any blame on McCarthy. Yet at the same time you wouldn't mind if we sold one of our two actual PL players, captain and player of the season because he 'stops our attacks'' and slows us down. This is the sort of attitude that has spiraled us down to mediocrity. Happy to let the best players go by downplaying their importance, yet sticking up for and continuously trying to support the crap that is hanging around. Moussa, Armstrong, Redmond, Bednarek, McCarthy, Elyounoussi, Valery etc are the problems - not JWP. You build the team around JWP and get rid of the shit dragging his game down.