Badger

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.

Will an incoming manager want a possibly heavy defeat at City as the starting point of their CV and time with us ? Doubt the replacement would be in place that soon anyway. But hope SR don’t follow the Les or Lowe route of “… quality of applications… making sure the right appointment…. No one’s ruled in, no one’s ruled out … “sort of bollocks we’ve had before. I expect they will be better prepared

I was surprised he stayed after the end of last season. Seeing him on the lap of appreciation at the last home game he looked thoroughly dejected and disinterested. It looked more than just a disappointment to a defeat. Having continued I agree that the international break might have been good timing for what has looked inevitable for some time. Shame, as he comes across quite well but can’t argue with continued results. Not sure about Benitez though. I felt he survived in the Premiership with Newcastle largely on reputation, and the goodwill of having brought them back up. That said, he knows how to organise a team, even when down to 9 players to avoid a defeat (albeit against our team of pussies)

Not sure if that post is calling out for MLG, or if you are him in disguise

Most there would have Nuno back I suspect

First read his name on here a few months ago, may have been your post. Everything I’ve read about him since is good. Danish as well so will no doubt have registered on the Rasmusomiter. But his profile is being raised, and with some of the publicity surrounding him now he may well seek something more ambitious than an immediate relegation scrap. Unfortunately we are a less attractive proposition now than we might have been in the summer when a new manager might have had the option of forming his own team from day one.

I’d expect this to come from the owner and Rasmus Ankersen. Suspect any decision will be taken above Semmen’s . I expect Ankersen would also be heavily involved in selecting the replacement. If this is the case then it leads to the question what role Crocker continues to play as DoF Operations

Thankfully Les is no longer at the club.