S-Clarke

So you've basically discredited the point you made, by yourself.

Weird signing for Stoke. He's on his last legs, WBA fans wanted him dropped.

I think the argument is that he lost the board, not as much the dressing room. One of the key instigators was the re-arranged UCL game after the bombing, he apparently didn't feel he was consulted by the club before they agreed to the hastily rearranged fixture. I would imagine any player discontent would be coming from people who didn't play and wanted to play etc.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/3687981/southampton-new-manager-thomas-tuchel/ http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/811325/Thomas-Tuchel-Southampton-Claude-Puel

I think that's fair. This is the world we live in now, clubs connected to the fans 24/7 via social media, gossip columns going mental. It just forces fans to think we're not doing anything if we don't hear, but it's probably quite the opposite. It's a big call and the club have to get it right, they know that much. It would be a lot worse if we just ditched Puel without any plan going forward in terms of replacements. I'm sure the club have their favored candidates and will want to make sure we have all our stuff lined up and ready to appoint them before we officially dump Claude. The fact all the talk is still about Claude being off is probably quite a strong suggestion that we're confident of getting the replacement we want. Just my two cents anyway.

I saw that. Bit odd, must have been some sort of falling out behind the scenes. I saw that Inter wanted him as well, maybe that's where he's off to. But that is a harsh sacking, fans critised the hell out of him for not playing Totti most of the season, whilst it actually benefited them as they scored shed loads of goals in a mobile attack. Go figure.

The hipsters choice of 2015.

I'll miss those wet and windy Tuesday nights up at Stoke.

He came out at the end of their Cup win yesterday and said he's staying with them.

Delighted to see them up in the big league. They pushed us so hard back in the L1 days, every week we won, you'd check the results to see they'd won as well. As other's have said, our old L1 promotion pals - brighton and Huddersfield, both in the big league. Much better than seeing the empty Reading club return, they're a fine example of such a non-club. Plastics.

Jack Rodwell. Now the comedy player at Sunderland.

Yeah, looks like Steve Wright our head physio.

Rule 1?

Why everton want him is odd. Glass ceeling and all that.

Yeah, he's quality. Now all he needs is some capable help alongside him...!

It might just be his walking style, but he always looks like he's limping around his goal when we're attacking/have a corner etc. Looks like he's stretching something out. I've heard numerous people say he has had a hip problem, which is why he can't get down as low. But you'd have thought if that was the case then he wouldn't be playing.

To be fair, I don't think any manager could have made Forster look decent this year....he has had a flaming disaster.

Wouldn't have thought so. He's retired anyway if his statement is to be believed.

So...that's Mazzarri gone at Watford, Allardyce gone at Palace - if we want to make a change, we better get on with it quick otherwise the talented options out there will be sniffed up.

Let's not re-write history here. When Lovren/Toby left, they were only decent because Fonte carried them etc etc. Now Fonte's left, he was only decent because VVD/Toby carried him etc etc. He is better than Stephens, he's a Euro winner and was a huge, huge part of our success over the last 3 seasons. It's folly to write him off. The club still failed in the January window to address that. It's good that Stephens got his chance and I'm more than happy with him, but I don't think it should have happened like that.

Nah, he lacks the yard or two of pace to be that sort of threat in my opinion. His delivery is also pretty garbage. Don't get me wrong, he's a reasonable player and more than good enough to come in and offer competition and cover, but there is no way he should be our first choice if our aspirations are to do anything other than tread water. (and struggle)

This was my horrible fear.

If anything, it kind of adds more weight to the belief that the decision on Claude has already been made....

To be fair, Wilson has been a mouth piece for the club in previous years. Would take more note of him over others. The 'want to avoid major player sales' and 'the club is now financially stronger'' sounds like club planted lines, to be honest.

We don't have a target. There have been times this season where we've hit it long and you just say to yourself...wtf is the point? It's aimed at Redmond, Tadic and co - they're not going to win it. The team needs to remember that Pelle has gone, we don't have a focal point up there anymore. I think the club have tried to change the profile of the side into a smaller, tricky, technical kind of team - but in my eyes, that's what you get in Spain, that won't work here. I'd love to see us get a towering powerful midfielder to partner romeu and a tall, powerful centre forward. We'd instantly become more of a threat with crossing then, and we probably wouldn't miss as many balls in the middle of the park as we do now - Romeu is kind of doing the work of two DM's.