Badger

Except he’s currently in a job. Hopefully SR will break that mould. Poch aside (which won’t happen), Svensson from what I’ve read, or Frank (who I can’t see leaving Brentford for us) would probably be the most ambitious choices.

If Ankersen has a list then hope they are attainable targets who we’ve already sounded out. Under previous management the list has taken weeks to sort itself, before eventually stumbling across someone (who’d always been our number one choice) after presumably other talks had broken down. Am fearing we still have some Les DNA in our management.

I didn’t think the coach appointments could be other than SR or board choices. Seemed unlikely that Ralph would have scoured Europe to find a Spanish coach working in Copenhagen.

Had hoped SR to be better organised than we’ve been used to. Pretty poor if they dispense with Ralph and only then start fumbling around for a replacement. Martinez - aren’t Belgium in the WC ? So probably wouldn’t be available as soon as we’d like.

Would be a bit arse about face to bring in a manager to suit the existing backroom team. Should be the other way round. Although does seem possibly ‘Saintsy’. Agree. Think Lowe tried this when replacing Hoddle. We missed out on the then highly rated Moyes and appointed Gray instead.

Mention of Bo Henrikson above. Just googled him. Scarily looks like Ralph’s rocker younger brother with the hair:

Worked with Selles at Copenhagen.

Wolves friend said today that word up there was Lopetigue. Interesting names you’ve listed. Bo Svennson is a name on the up. Of the others though all have been sacked from previous clubs, possibly a couple of jobs even,some (Kovac and Tedesco) in quick succession or after only a short period at their last club. This doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be good for us (think WGS and Poch) but have a chequered track record. Marco Rose - clearly too late.

Management by rumour? Float the rumour and measure the response before deciding to take action. Man Utd were accused of this with the potential signing of Arnautovic. I was also told it was a common practice at British Leyland in the 80’s. Shame no fucker explained it Kwasi before his budget.

If true that it is imminent then it’s poor if this is being leaked midweek ahead of Saturday’s fixture. Make a decision in good time, after Saturday and act swiftly if at all. Will be annoying if they do act then go into type of vacuum we’ve been used to under earlier regimes of posturing for weeks before an appointment. Hope Ankersen is more dynamic than the predecessors .

Bellowing touchline instructions calling them mush all ‘mush’ and ‘nipper’ for 90 minutes ?

That would be a predictable response from a mindless sap. But I don't know many true supporters of any club that can change the team they support like a new pair of socks or underpants. I've lived in different parts of the country and watched the local teams with friends at the time, Newcastle, Sunderland (when both were pretty crap) Cheltenham, and on a couple of occasions a village team. Bit of entertainment perhaps, but when they score you just go through the motions, no great feeling of joy, which contrasts with the ecstatic feeling of a Saints goal that matters, think Stokes 1976, or Moran , 1984.

Some advive given to me by a good friend who is a Reading fan . I'd moved away from Southampton many years ago, and we were talking baout children and them choosing their team to support. His comment was, most boys will end up supporting the team their Dad (or Grandfather) take them to watch. This was sound advice and mine have both followed the family tradition despite growing up miles away (although having WGS and Beattie at the time helped). He soon realised that this was a real football club , with a tradition,and not something taken off a bubble gum card (as we had in our day). That was a good observation from my mate as we queued up outside a frozen Elm Park in January 1996 (I think) to see Reading beat us in the FA Cup. One of the few things to come out of that day, other than seeing Benali as a liability (for a needless sending off,) and Souness a bit of a twat for confronting the ref at the end.

Your first paragraph sums up my feelings as well, but too much time and emotion spent on Saints to give it all up as tempting as it is. Still make regular visits - two hour joutney each way - with my sons, and will call in to see family in the area. Lost count of the number of times I've concluded it as a good day out, ruined by 90 minutes of football. Looking back is sad, realising that the current generation of player isn't fit to wipe the arse of Channon, McGrath et al.

Fair point, does seem a bit distant as to why the scouts wanted to sign him.

I think we’ve both been around long enough not to believe all the trite guff and rent-a- quotes that are trotted out and recycled by managers and players alike after a signing. Whether Adams & Armstrong were Ralph’s as opposed to the signing committees choice we’ll never know, although he will have had an input. Either way, the manager isn’t going to attend the press conference on the signing to say “ well, I’ve never really heard of the cunt but sure he’s a good lad …”.

Wonder if Ings would have coped with the demands Poch imposed for fitness and training.

On the topic of Tedesco, he’s young and has a decent record of improving things briefly at his clubs. Worrying thing though is that it has tended to be short term before he’s on his way again. But most of us would be pleased with a short term improvement between now and the end of the season.

I wonder if we will still be looking in the free and available list this time or whether SR have moved us on from that. I’m hoping they have. It came as a surprise that we were prepared to shell out £30m on Gakpo. From that it seems SR are prepared to spend, and they - rather than the existing board members - might realise this is the most critical appointment they make.

Interesting but isn’t RB Salzburg his first job a ‘first’ division (and not a particularly strong one) in a bit of a one horse race ? He probably could go on to better things, but bit of a gamble as young and not great experience. Would prefer a bit more experience coming into our league.

MacDonald ?

A player we should have picked up from Hibs. For all the talk of signing young players we seem to have overlooked north of the border. What did Hickey leave Hearts for, £1.5m ?

Forest are just biding their time until the January window opens. Then watch them go after signing a few players.

Question arises though, if we sneak a point there (big if I know), how long does that give him ? Wonder if this board will be as ruthless as Cortese seemed sacking NA after our 2-2 away at Chelsea.

Think we’ve got Che to thank for that to some degree.