Badger

Where does that come from, this time of night ?

I wonder if they were given a picture of a train as a momento of their visit to Doncaster. If so it'll probably be on ebay tomorrow raising money for the club funds.

So will that have helped or hindered Eddie's audition for the Arsenal job?

I have read his name, and he has been identified as an outstanding coach but can you imagine the furore if we appointed someone of his age with limited experience? Some said Eddie Howe didn't have enough experience last summer, but a bloke of 29, with experience in England also.

Perhaps we should nip in for this bloke ahead of Celtic, http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38502272 just cut out the middle man as it were.

I was considering the Chris Nicholl comparison last week when talking about Puel although I hadn't considered it in the context of having hard act(s) to follow. I think Puel, like Nicholl sufffers from poor communication. After Lawrie's golden performances in front of a camera or microphone, Nicholl always seemed to stutter and struggle in this aspect. The main difference though is that with Nicholl you could at least see what he was trying to do on the pitch. The other consideration about the Chris Nicholl episode that always springs to mind is the lesson learnt over 'carful what you wish for'. Like many I thought by the end of his time with us he'd run out of steam, and wasn't motivational, so a change was required. Don't think any of us would really have swapped Nicholl for the calamity that followed.

I'm standing by my initial view that it should be reviewed at the end of the season, and voting "in" for now. Main reason being, I think we'd have a better chance of selecting the right person for us at the end of the season, rather than who is merely available now. That said, if results continue on a downward spiral it would be no surprise if he's out by the end of January. Good post Turkish - although I've fallen the other side of the fence and voted in, you've made some interesting pints there, and if true - esp losing the dressing room - then that would change my view,and I suspect Reeds.

Probably they know they might want, but that could be very wide of who is available, and willing to take it,

Great minds and all that.

I saw that article linked, and immediate thought was this it was a 'face saving' leak to the French media, probably for when he leaves by 'mutual consent'.

Nothing much has changed then. No proven goalscorer we can rely on, good job we signed Redmond, and an error prone defence.

Did the trick then Ralph. Unless you were telling them they were playing for Puel's future.

Wouldn't be so bad if it actually worked Claude.

Howe - might be good if we could entice him away. Only concern is that just as the club previously looked at continental coaches to see if there was any track record of working in more than one country, Howe's sucess is only at one club. Who's to say he isn't the new Alan Curbishley, "great job at Charlton" as was always pointed out, but a disaster elsewhere. Dyche - not convinced, although he is doing a good job at Burnley. Rowett - no particular track record, and sacked from a championship club. By comparison with the last two, Adkins does not appear such a bad or unrealistic option. (although personally I think that would now be a mistake to go back).

Dave Jones I think.

By which time the transfer window will conveniently be closed.

Wish I could share your optimism. A GK who is often rooted to the spot and always likely to concede the first shot on target, a defence with uncertainty over their futures, a midfield with little bite (Romeu aside), and a pitiful and toothless attack seems pretty ripe for a relegation struggle to be honest. I have been of the view, end of season and review it, and ideally I'd like to see that, unless we can attract an outstanding coach now (which I doubt), or things continue to plummet (which seems a more likely prospect after the Christmas-New Year fixtures, and displays).

Unfortunately Puel didn't have any option but to play him with VVD suspended. It does blow apart the suggestion that we could sell either Fonte or VVD this window, and cope with Yoshida and the remaining one of the two.

One unproven, the other unfit.

He might as well be as we've just about the same amount of confidence in the current back up.

or, rephrased as "but to be honest I just see a big culpable goalie" ?

Too early to change in my view, 8th in the table, SF coming up, he has given youngsters a chance. Would be absurd to change unless we have a proven candidate lined up to meet all the club's requirements including a more exciting brand of football,but such a candidate is unlikely to be available mid-season. i'd certainly give him the season before its reviewed, unless results spiral out of control.

Especially if its with the Keegan era shirt ?

Good selection of near misses there, I'm sure we could do with a few more of those to go alongside Long & Rodriguez. Takes a fairly weak and tame penalty as well. He'll clearly fit in well.

I think Poch's stock has risen amongst Saints fans since the end of last season for one particular reason - he isn't Ronald Koeman.