Saint_lambden

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/819373/Southampton-Next-Boss-Mauricio-Pellegrino-Claude-Puel-Frank-de-Boer

Ralf Rangnick (RB Leipzig Sporting Director) was mentioned somewhere. Interesting 1-2-1 with him in the latest FourFourTwo which looks at the success he's had in his career, including: -Managed Hoffenheim from 3rd division to Bundesliga -Got Schalke to the Champions League Semi Final -Played a big part in getting RB Leipzig to where they are now - from 4th division to 2nd in Bundesliga last season, including one year as manager the season before last when they were promoted from Bundesliga 2 The article talked about how he was a big part in bringing about the pressing game in Germany adopted by Klopp/Tuchel and the like. He was interviewed for the England job after Euro 2016 and was Dan Ashworth (FA Technical Director)'s preferred candidate. Eventually of course we went with Allardyce.... He states at the end of the interview that it would take a lot for him to leave Leipzig after all he's achieved there and because of the level they'll be playing at next season, he wants to see the project through which makes sense. To complete the loop - he was RB Salzburg Sporting Director when they sold a certain Sadio Mane to us... I doubt he is the mysterious 'third candidate' but was certain I'd saw his name linked with us somewhere.

Linked with bringing in Emre Mor on loan from Dortmund: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-transfer-news-southampton-mor-10640292

Well either one of the Echo or Independent are wrong. The former said Tuchel didn't make the shortlist, and the Independent say we 'sounded him out'. Still hoping this 'third option' Jeremy Wilson talked about inspires a bit more than Pellegrino.

Tuchel or Jokanovic please.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/manchester-city-shelve-virgil-van-10598432

https://twitter.com/Ajarvis8/status/872893104860385280 "Alexander Jarvis‏ @Ajarvis8 Another Chinese owned football club in the English Premier League from tomorrow. Surely more to come. #LanderSports #SouthamptonFC"

Agent: Tuchel not joining Leverkusen and may take a break from football, but managing in a foreign league is of interest: http://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2017/thomas-tuchel-will-not-coach-bayer-leverkusen/

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ex-manchester-united-boss-louis-10553433 Don't think replacing sideways football with sideways football would go down well....

Had a quick look on the Saint Etienne forum to see what's happening at their end. Interesting post on there (have no idea if this guy is ITK or not): "Tuchel will sign at Southampon, both sides agree. Puel has already said yes to Sainté (Saint Etienne), it's a matter of hours but behind the scenes it's already all done, Puel must even be starting the transfer window. 99.99% chance that he signed this morning with us, Tuchel's negos (negotiations) yesterday were productive for Southampon and ASSE."

I highly suspect at least 2 of those will be leaving in the summer. Even if they don't however, the latter two hardly set the world alight this season when they did play and arguably both regressed in their professional development.

He did play that combination against Hull and it was f_cking dreadful. Tadic and Boufal together just doesn't work.

Bit of a strange one, as it's not really clear why he's left. Tuchel exiting Dortmund story seems to be gathering speed but we've got no chance getting him here.

West Ham

Whoooooooooosh

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4519956/Southampton-set-axe-Puel-clashes-players.html Sorry for posting a M*il article. Sam Cunningham suggests Puel will be sacked.

Seb Haller, who we were linked with in January/the summer, has just signed for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Hoddle in

And yet we all have 11 men back in the box defending from every opposition set-piece. Would be interesting to know what the figures were under Koeman, as I seem to remember him making reference to how little goals we had conceded from corners at some point last season.

Would take him back. Has been one of Arsenal's best players in the past few months (not hard I know) and he's versatile. Suspect they would want more than we sold him for (including add-ons, £15m) but I think he'd thrive under Puel.

His kicking is abysmal. Was a couple of times yesterday, even when he was under no pressure whatsoever, he kicked it straight out of play. Something's not right but it hasn't been all season and we can't afford for it to continue into next. Give Hassan a go until the end of the season - what's the worse that can happen?

It's a balance thing. If you like upsets and the 'romance', Premier League teams making several changes to their line-up quite often enables those upsets to happen. But if the FA want teams to take it more seriously, why not introduce a rule along the lines of the one the JPT has - you have to play X amount of players that started in your last league game. I know every club has a squad of players to use in a season but when we and teams like Bournemouth, Watford etc. make 10 changes to a line-up, it makes you wonder why we even bother turning up. Teams like Arsenal, United etc can make 10 changes to a line-up and still be very strong, we can't.

Probably a bit of a risk to play someone without a work permit.

4 of us, including one Sunderland fan, travelling up Friday morning and making a weekend of it. Weather forecast looks horrible, which will probably be fitting of the game. Can't see our defence keeping Defoe quiet - will go with a 1-1.

Seems to suggest that we've offered £14m/£15m for Gabbiadini plus add-ons, Napoli want £20m but as we get closer to the end of the window, they're more likely to accept a lower amount: http://www.alfredopedulla.com/retroscena-gabbiadini-sempre-pole-southampton-la-cifra/#HrCI0fij0Usw4TVx.99 "Manolo Gabbiadini has chosen the Premier League from time should happen something sensational to put on the track different club. And as we are telling from days the Southampton is beating more than other companies to get to the squaring of the circle. Quadrature that however is far: offer of 14-15 million with minimum bonus, request above 20 to abut possibly to 20 million. Missing a week at the end of the market, the feeling is that you go to the last days, if will suffice."