cambsaint

As an over seventy year old with a relatively mild underlying health condition, I sometimes wonder if I'll see it through. The other night I was reminded of a story my Mum told me about when my Dad was stationed at Netley Royal Victoria hospital (now the country park and Hants police HQ,),during the blitz,they lived in digs in Netley to be with each other. Every night when the sirens went off,she and the landlady would sit under a very solid oak dining table until the all clear. They survived, as it was thought that the massive and very distinctive hospital was a very useful landmark to the bombers lining up to attack the supermarine factory and the docks. One night however a land mine hit the pub at the end of the road and it felt like an earthquake, next morning nothing was left of the street corner except a large hole and debris. Needless to say they both survived the war and begat me. I feel the same sense of helplessness, wondering whether it will pass me by.

I started watching the Saints in the 62 season. I remember George O'Brien well. To me he is still the consummate penalty taker. No messing, everyone including the keeper knew where it was going. A run up, and he hit the ball very hard and itUnsavae arrowed into the top stanchion,I think it was invariably the right hand one. Unsaveable, and remember this was with heavy boots and a heavy wet leather ball and often a penalty are that resembled a ploughed field. I think Osgood's penalties were similar, but with a better ball. I chatted to a fellow fan walking down Hills Road who played golf with the retired George, and he told me that George was a really nice bloke, who said that Terry Paine did all the hard work and all he had to do was arrive in the right place at the right time and stick it in. something of an understatement but the two together got us to Div !, although Chivers had taken over at the end. We used to enjoy a few real hammerings if the two were on song. RIP my first football hero.

You can get post coincussive syndrome which is very unpleasant and can last for some time. I had headaches and felt between 75 and 90% normal,for a good three weeks. It varies in severity. I know two other people who have had it after very bad falls. It would affect match fitness.

It's probably going to be foul weather If its high winds and heavy rain, the game will be a lottery anyway. We nver seem to play well in those conditions.

Winnie the Pooh could probably afford to buy Gao out with the royalties he has earned over the years. Any Southampton fan with £300 million to spare could probably buy him out The totally pointless calls for Gao to go irritate me almost as much as the fact that he owns our club

IMO he isn't a manager or a coach. A manager's duty is to get the best out of what you have and try to build and improve on it. A coach must motivate and sort out the best tactics. I've seen absolutely no indication that he has the slightest idea of how to do either at this level The comments he made in the Telegraph after Everton were disgraceful, blaming everything on the players when good managers take the flak and responsibility. If he hadn't lost the dressing room before he certainly will have after that. Needs sacking as soon as a replacement can be identified. Many years ago I played rugby under three different coaches (I'd grown too heavy and slow on the turn for football). One was English, one Welsh, and one a New Zealander. We all realised why Wales were better than England and The All Blacks best of all in those days. The motivation and will to win of The Kiwi inspired us all, before that we had thought the Welsh guy pretty intense. Managers do make the difference between a set of players playing well or badly. Another example Mike Brearley at cricket, hardly the best player but an inspiritional tactician and captain. However when all said and done the biggest problem in staying in the Prem is that we can't attract or afford the best players.

For the first time in 60 odd years I'm expecting relegation. I think its either us or Newcastle for third relegation place I think we are inferior to most of the other teams Those with similar talents are either better organised/motivated/ or coached. I have never seen a Saints team that is so vulnerable to a quick counter-attack and where the management seems incapable of organising the team to avoid disister Apart from the top teams possession usually slow and ponderous doesn't seem to be a problem, making a quick attack seems aproblem I know that due to age and health I'm dependent on Sky replay but that helps a rational analysis. Im not sure the manager can adapt to the Premiership in time. I hope I'm wrong and we avoid relegation by the skin of our teeth again, but I doubt it As a final depressing thought who of genuine premiership class is likely to join us.

I wonder if heading the old heavier ball was a causative factor as he isn't very old. An awful illness, particularly for his loved ones who have to watch the decline like I did my mother.

Over the past twenty years or so goal difference has usually mirrored league placings over the whole season on this basis I think we'll just about be ok, barring important injuries or suspensions.

Everybody agrees that the top six are way out in front. As for the rest, I can see no point in guessing yes guessing, not predicting the final positions without evidence of how the squads gel and how the managers perform. After half a dozen games then it may be possible to make a reasoned judgement. One thing is certain imo and that is that any of the 14 are capable of beating each other. Personally I think that MH's experience and the squad depth will ensure our safety this season, although I hope for better.

The problem is that Chelsea had several top class international players, we didn't. Have we anyone approaching the class of Giroud. Hazard, Willian, Alonso and many more. Our problem early in the season. at was down to gross mismanagement a team and board level. The tragedy is that even after losing all our best players we still had better players than most outside the top six to eight clubs, It was leadership that was so sadly lacking.

Two possible reasons: They have discreetly approached a preferred manager(s)and been turned down. They don't fancy any of the others available. I tend to agree that it's probably too late now, and the best option may be too hope for the best and replace in close season, thus allowing new manager a whole year and the opportunity to sign his own choices and rebuild. Even if we go down, then with a good new manager, and parachute payments we would have a good chance of returning next season. I am however extremely disappointed with the situation and though heart says sack him immediately, head says only if there is a good replacement willing and able to come immediately.

So if 90% plus of fans get their way and MoPe goes, who do you want. I can't see an immediate successor, but would make two points. I don't particularly want a foreign manager for the sake (and economy)of it. Only for the reason that there must be good young British managers to grow with. I'd like to see a young British manager appointed, particularly if we are relegated. An experienced manager just to try to avoid relegation on a short term contract may be an answer, but IMO we really need to start anew. Living a long way away and now unable to get to many matches I'd be very interested in your opinions.

I find the comments that we can compete with the top six to keep top class players totally unrealistic. We have a potentially very good young CB learning his trade, we don't have a reliable striker. The midfield and full backs are very strong. the best players will only go to the top clubs. we have been incredibly skilful/fortunate in finding excellent replacements in past years but perhaps other clubs have caught up. We've had a poor season, but hopefully we will stay up. Get real moaners , we were in the third division south when I and my schoolfriends started supporting.

Perhaps the nervousness and negativity of the home crowd is affecting the players. I know I can't go for a number of reasons but we must really get behind the team and stop all this booing unless or until we go down. I'm sure it does no good at all, and it's far too late to sack him now.

Self-delusion of fans who think we can keep or attract the very top class talent Hindsight is always 20/20 and totally pointless. The only way to rationally analyse this decision is to think what you would have done in the same situation at the same time. Most of our problems were inevitable, and don't forget the power of agents in players moving on, they all want their £5million or however much they can get from persuading a player to move to a richer club. There are therefore only really two or three questions to ask yourself. Would you have sacked Puel? Who would you have replaced him with (who would have come)? Would you have gone all out for a striker of proven quality? Would you have sacked Pellegrino at year end and who would you have replaced him with? Simple isn't it. My answers for what they are worth are: I would have given Puel another year, despite fan pressure. I would have tried everything for the very best striker. I wouldn't waste time trying to keep unhappy players. As for sacking Pellegrino at year end- yes but only if I could have lined up a better successor. I still hope and think we will stay up, many have forgotten that most of the nineties were just like this, but I do think that with Stephens still learning his craft and a new goalie, we should play all three centre backs when fit, and use a 3421 pattern of play. We definitely have the players to stay up, how many of our closest opponents players do you envy, very few except a couple of strikers and goalies I think.

Never forget that Sir Alex Ferguson was one game away from the sack in his first season. It is very harsh to judge a manager on somebody else's team. Goal diff suggests we will be safe, it is invariably an amazingly accurate indicator of final league positions. I have just one question to the Pellegrino out fans - who do you bring in that is a guaranteed safe pair of hands. I can't see anyone at the moment.

Due to poor health I haven't been to St Mary's for years and anyway as a pensioner cannot justify spending well over £100 on the round trip. However I was very gratified to hear a few hundred Saints away fans completely outsing about 65000 Man-Ure fans (well I suppose most of them are really away fans as well) on TV. That match was the first time I have been happy with a Saints TV match this year, and I was really happy. I was livid when I got saw the result against Palace. However a couple of reports I read suggested it was extremely difficult to play against the wind, and I remember from my playing days decades ago that it was usually best to have the wind in your favour when players started to tire.

He could stand in for the Statue of King Alfred in Winchester Broadway.

Agree, I've often thought he looks a little lightweight and too easily bullied off the ball, but he played well today.

Although I was extremely disappointed that we conceded late on, I thought from watching the match on BT that we played extremely well. To have kept out Arsenal so well for so long was exceptional. A lot of commentators forget that they are fielding exceptionally talented internationals, and although we only drew I thought that they looked a lot less dangerous than against Man U last week when only the brilliance of De Gea saved them. I thought that everybody played well, some exceptionally well and I really can't understand the criticism of some of our players it can only be down to personal prejudice imo. I really like the 3 at the back strategy, particularly against the better teams, and I thought for some time that with three excellent CBs it is entirely logical. The comments regarding VVD seem logical as well, he certainly has the ability and class to be playing for a top Champion's League team, and I would have thought he is a logical replacement for an aging Vincent Kompany. Too good for Liverpool imo, but after Lovren's display this pm they certainly need him. He appeared on TV to be well in the team, and enthusiastic.

Be careful of what you wish for. I was looking at a list of available managers and there were none that inspired any confidence, except perhaps Gordon Strachan Big Sam would be a safe pair of hands and probably prevent relegation, but he would be only a very short term fix. In reality sacking Puel was probably a mistake, but Koeman who most of us wanted to stay hardly set the world on fire even though the youth at Everton are supposedly some of the best in the Prem. I'm glad it's not my decision, but if it was then one would really know what's happening with the players.

when I started supporting Saints when the third division south ended, promotion and second divison football was considered an acheivement. Saints have come a long way since then and if I'm honest have done far better than I could ever have imagined.

I had a thought last night that Yoshida looks as likely to score as well as our strikers. I then wondered if we used his height and strength playing as a target man to get the ball to Gabbiadiani might actually work. We have enough cover at centre-back at the moment to try it. Obviously a training ground tryout first, it's a bit bizarre but he couldn't do any worse anyway.

A sensible CEO doesn't sack a manager without having lined up a better replacement. A sensible owner would be taking soundings to see if there was a better manager available in the New Year if results don't improve. If relegation looks a definite threat then we should try to go for Big Sam as a short term measure. Does a sensible CEO sack a manager who took the club to 8th place and a cup-final, even if the football was pretty turgid at times?