Badger

Ake is not really a like for like CB though, would prefer Christensen from what I've read of the two.

Are you assuming De Boer was our preferred option then, or is Pellegrino suddenly in line for Palace ?

Not mutually exclusive though. I'm probably in these camps to be honest. Disappointed we didn't snare Tuchel, even if had only been for a season or so as I think he might have elevated the club, and attracted some decent players. At the same time though we have to hope whoever else comes in does a good job, and one that is better than we might have expected had CP remained in place.

Future England captain in the making obviously.

They think they know every trick in the book for an orchestrated campaign. No surprise that some scouser urges someone to go on strike though is it? Hoping VVD has a little more self respect and dignity than to follow this 'advice'.

Like you, expected someone lined up as a vast improvement, although that may not now be the case.Time will tell. Intrigued by your assertion of both Weizierl and Pellegrino on the limited info we have on both. I mentioned it in an earlier post, and you demonstrate it here - why is Pellegrino seen as a better option after a single year success at Alaves, than Weinzirl who had four good and steadily progressive seasons at Augsberg ? Not pointing this at you specifically, but interested in the observations.

Let's reserve judgement shall we ? But of course it may head this way. (Toby, Koeman leaving, Puel, Fonte & the CB situation, doesn't bode well.)

Interesting point about Weinzierl perhaps, don't know the answer. Howe - don't think he's been at a "big club" though to draw any conclusion. Are we big enough to worry about this though ? I don't know the relative standing of Schalke in Germany to make a comparison.

No sign of the new owner coming over the hill on a white charger to fund anything though is there?

This was posted the other day, and makes for a more favourable read. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/europe-calling-how-markus-weinzierl-became-germanys-most-promising-coach It seems to me that he had four good seasons at Augsberg seeing progress there but eventually left for a bigger club, where it didn't work out for him with a few senior players sulking. His four years at Augsberg is perhaps a little more of a track record than Pelligrino's solitary year at Alaves. Can't make too much of a judgement over either Wenzierl or Pelligrino's style of play though.

We could probably do better for half of that fee.As for Sakho, ridiculous to suggest even £20m. Personally I don't think we should look to deal with either of their clubs. Wonder if we'll go back for Schar.

Interesting read, and looks to be a good prospect, but would Reed regard him as sufficiently experienced even as an up and coming manager? Seems doubtful that he'd have the experience to command the respect of the squad, and we know how that ended with Puel.

Roger Schmidt was an interesting possibility, until he p!ssed off to China. Said earlier, with some of the names being linked, Jokanovic becomes a more attractive possibility.

or #DanceswithWolf

Gut feeling - rather go with Jokanovic

I think most of us would have been happy bringing Martinez in after Swansea or Wigan tbh. I'm not too swayed by his time with Belgium as he's probably dealing with their best crop of players for a generation. His time, or at least his last season at Everton tarnishes his reputation but if you look at most names there is a blemish somewhere. Tuchel for example has left Dortmund under a bit of a cloud for off the field reasons. I googled Weinzirl mentioned on here today, and rather like Puel there are the usual recriminations re 'losing the dressing room' (in his case from a disgruntled loan player https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/konoplyanka-weinzierl-a-coward-and-will-relegate-schalke - hardly a ringing endorsement).

Nagelsmann would be seen as a great choice based on publicity surrounding him, and his achievement over a season and a half at Hoffenheim, but he's less likely to be interested than the currently out of work Tuchel. Agree with the last two comments. Was hoping the groundwork for a new manager was being done whilst delaying CP's severance etc. Hope to be proved wrong but it does have the making of another Les summer clusterf^ck of planning. Many of the names touted are uninspiring, Pelligrino for one looks band average, and I hope we're not limiting it to those immediately available and out of work. Seems ridiculous IF we won't look at paying compensation to bring the best person in, but can fritter it away in terminating a contract.

Looks pretty indifferent from what I've read about him, but then again Poch didn't 'stand out' from his CV.

Have the good sense to bring the "replacements" in before selling them though.

Home kit is what many have hoped for, and been crying out for over a few seasons/decades, me included. It's the dog's b0ll0cks of Saints home shirts, one I associate with a period of great one touch football, just hope the new manager and team do it justice. Only criticism from me is the sponsors logo, which would have been improved as an outline as per the away shirt rather than the blob. Away shirt - will reserve judgement until I see it, first sight good, but would have like the 1980's classic of navy blue and sky. Improvement on last seasons effort no doubt. Perhaps the club are giving away free 'negative specs' to watch the matches its worn in. As a third kit perhaps a yellow effort in case we reach a cup final.

His name was mooted last year, if only on here. I was looking at the names on the betting odds posted here yesterday. Obviously any list containing Adkins, Pardew and even Puel, is unreliable and with barely a modicum of credibility, but a name I'd not seen before was Rene Weiler. Did some googling and found him to be Anderlecht's coach whose career seems to be on an upward trajectory. IF, as with Poch, we're looking at a young unknown etc, I wonder if he might be under consideration. Downside to that of course is that he's already under contract, and doesn't fit with the theory that we're looking at a German. Not too sure of either's tactics though.

And a manager of similar status ...

We're too busy playing spot the managerial candidate.

Would be preferable to some of the clowns mentioned, Giggs being a prime example.

Given that a parting of the ways was always likely you would have hoped/thought the key targets were in place and sounded out, but perhaps not knowing how previous summers have drifted.