SaintJackoInHurworth

So, according to what I have read above Bednarek does worst when he partners Salisu, yet some of you are suggesting that our best partnership is Salisu and ABK. Also, ABK is better with an experienced partner and again Salisu is being touted as that guy! What about DCC? Surely he is a better and more experienced partner for ABK?!

It's notable that Che Adams, Romeo Lavia and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are missing from the training pictures but good to see Dom Ballard there. While I am hoping that Lavia will be fit to play, I susepct his omission from training would suggest he won't play on Saturday. I would therefore suggest that if those three are unavailable then our line up should/could be as follows: Bazunu KWP ABK DCC Perraud JWP Alcaraz S. Armstrong Sulemana Edozie Onuachu Formation: 4-2-1-2-1 flexible into a 4-2-1-3 or 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-2-3 or 4-2-2-2 formation!! (Or maybe even more variations if the full backs play as wing backs!!) Subs: Caballero/McCarthy, Salisu, Bree/Lyanco, Diallo, Orsic, Armstrong/Elyounoussi, Mara, Aribo, Ballard (assuming a full set of 9 subs) It's actually really hard to work out who is going to miss out. I have suggested Bednarek and Djenepo will miss out, but potentially they could be in the squad and someone else could miss out. I've put Diallo in as he is the only other central midfield cover if Lavia is injured, though Elyounoussi could cover there. Will Bree be on the bench as he is the cover full back.. or will Salisu and/or Lyanco provide cover for that position? Surely we would be likely to have at least two defenders on the bench? Then in attacking midfield we are also spoilt for options and surely can't pick all of them! I reckon Orsic must be given his chance now, but what about Armstrong, Elyounoussi, Mara and Aribo? And if Che is injured will we just rely on Mara and/or Armstrong as cover or will we give Ballard his chance as I am suggesting?

It is interesting to look at the gallery pictures from training yesterday and today. It is interesting to note who was and wasn't in those pictures... Coaches - Selles was assisted by Martin, Gross and Sparkes as you might expect. Interesting to see Dave Horseman working with the first team too. There are maybe a few others but the pictures are too blurry to work out who. There is one interesting picture yesterday of a guy with bald head and reddish beard - no idea who he is! Players present - most of the squad seem to be fully involved in training including Duje Caleta-Car, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Kyle Walker Peters and Alex McCarthy, so presumably any injuries those players have had are no longer preventing them from being involved in training. Youth Players - Dom Ballard and Ollie Wright were both involved, so it's good to see that they are continuing their development. If Adams is injured (see below) I wonder if Ballard might get a chance to come on as a sub on Saturday. Players missing - As well as Livramento and Larios, it is notable that Che Adams, Romeo Lavia and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are all missing from the training pictures. I am particularly concerned about the absence of Lavia.

There are now several of us who keep mentioning his name. I have not yet seen anyone suggest he would not be a good option, so I find it strange he has not been mentioned as an option that we are actively exploring. Of course, there may be good reasons why he is not being considered (or maybe he IS under consideration!). My concern is that the club maybe steering clear out of some misguided fear about how the fanbase might respond to a manager without Premier League experience following the negative reaction to Nathan Jones.

So, how come we have not heard any news of the club approaching Thorup? Do you think maybe they have spoken informally to him and he has said that he is not interested? Or might it be that the club are scared of approaching a manager with no Premier League experience after what happened when they appointed Jones? Personally, I think the lack of Premier League experience is less significant than his tactical nous. If he is the sort of manager that plays a high-pressing, fast-countering game and who already knows Selles then wouldn't he be an ideal candidate bearing in mind his stats?

Jesse Marsch or Jess Thorup?! I am happy to get behind Marsch if we are indeed about to appoint him, but I can't say I am excited by his appointment! I am hoping that this is all based on a rumour that sprung from someone hearing the name 'Jesse' mentioned by someone on the board. I am hoping that rather than appointing Jesse Marsch the board are planning instead to appoint Jess Thorup: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess_Thorup Jess Thorup is (I have read) known to Ankerson and has brilliant stats in terms of wins - over 50% in most of his managerial career. He is also currently without a club. Please, please, please, let our imminent appointment be Jess Thorup rather than Jesse Marsch!!!

Gallardo or Jaissle would be good, but like many of the best options, I don't know how likely it would be that we could get them to join a side facing relegation. If Saints beat Chelsea, why would we want Potter? Surely that would suggest we stick with Selles at least until the end of the season?!

It looks like I was right - Jones, Cohen and Sheehan all sacked; Selles appointed in the interim. It does beg the question who is going to help Selles with the coaching. Anyone any idea? In terms of permanent manager, Poch or Koeman would be amazing but doubt we would get them. I like the idea of Gallardo or Jaissle. Bielsa would also be a good possibility. Forget about Kompany, Corberan or Carrick - they are not going to quit a Championship club pressing for promotion to join a relegation fight!

To attempt to answer my own questions: Cohen & Sheeahn: would expect them to leave with Jones, but we shall see. First instance manager: I expect Selles. Hopefully not Allardyce, Pulis or Bruce, though I guess Allardyce could do a job. Not Bruce. Wilder..? Coaching: Potentially Horseman will help out; I guess one of Cohen and Sheehan might be kept on. Involve Walcott maybe? Permanent Manager: Selles if he keeps us up; Gallardo would be great but doubt he would come to us. Jaissle could be a good option. Championship managers: Why would they come to us if they are being successful in the Championship. Otherwise why would we want them?

There is obviously a lot of talk of sacking Nathan Jones - especially if we fail to beat Wolves today; but what will happen if and when the club do finally sack him? Will Cohen and Sheehan also get sacked with him? Who will become our manager/coach in the first instance? Selles? Horseman? If Cohen and Sheehan are sacked who will do the coaching until the club replace them? Obviously there is then the longer term question of who will become permanent manager/coach. Might Selles be an option for that position? Without wanting this to become a thread that solely discusses that issue, what options are there for our next manager/coach in the short term and long term? Might we take on a chief coach on a short term contract with the sole purpose of rescuing us from relegation? Or would we seek to make a long term appointment straight away? If we did take on a short term coach, who would be the options for that and who would we as the fans accept/reject? E.g. Would we be happy if the club appointed Pulis as coach to the end of the season? How about Chris Wilder? Allardyce? Steve Bruce? Finally, of course, there is the question of long term coach. Gallardo? Bielsa? Poch? Koeman? Nuno? Benitez? Matthias Jaissle? Kjetil Knutsen? William Still? Postecoglou? Corberan? Adkins? Hughton? Bob Bradley? Tuchel? John Terry? Steven Gerrard? Frank Lampard? Solskjaer? Or how about Ralph Hassenhuttl? Or Selles? Would it be realistic to tempt one of the Championship managers who are doing well at the moment and would we want them? FWIW, I suspect they wouldn't be interested!

Can I suggest a question or two that can be asked to the panel which couldpotentaiily be implicitly linked to the question of whether Jones should be manager or which members of the panel still think he is fit to do the job? How about: "Do the panel believe that the opinions of fans should be taken into account in making key decisions?" and/or "Which of the panel believe they are in agreement with the broad feelings of the fanbase at present and are you prepared to do anything to represent that viewpoint?"

If KWP is fit I would consider going with something a little bit different, assuming neither of our new players are ready to start just yet: Bazunu Bree ABK DCC Perraud Lavia JWP Alcaraz KWP Edozie Adams/Mara If KWP is not fit and assuming S. Armstrong is also not fit yet, I would move Edozie across and play one of Djenepo, Armstrong or Elyounoussi as the other winger (but S.Armstrong if he is fit!). I have no real preference between them: Djenepo has more flair to go past players but zero ability to make the right decisions or to make a telling pass, Elyounoussi has limited flair or ability but does work hard and similar can be said for Armstrong. In terms of subs, I would probably go with Caballero, Salisu, Orsic, Sulemana, Onuachu, Djenepo, Mara/Adams, Ballard and Diallo assuming the new signings are fit enough to be on the bench.

Interesting perspectives there. I am particularly interested in your view of Ballard and Dibling. As it happens, I went to the Middlesbrough U21 v Saints B fixture last Friday and saw the two of them play. Ballard played from the start and scored two goals; Dibling came on as a sub late in the game. I was also keeping an eye on other players to see who caught my eye. I would say that I could tell that a lot of the players had bags of potential but were clearly a long way from being ready for the first team just yet. The only player that in any way stood out was in fact Dom Ballard. His touch on the ball, technical ability and awareness seemed much better than other players and while I wouldn't say he was a dominant force in the game (he actually drifted in and out) you could tell he was one who could potentially be getting close to ready to make some appearances for the first team. Dibling on the other hand didn't have much time to do anything, but sadly didn't really show much in the few minutes that he was on the pitch, apart from one chance where he went close. That is not to judge or criticise or suggest that he doesn't have the ability of course - just that in this particular game he didn't show anything special. For me other notable players included Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Kamari Doyle; Jack Turner and Luke Pearce did ok too, so it is interesting to see that both have now gone out on loan. I also took note of Leon Pambou - though more for his immense size than for any partticular outstanding play - he is quite a unit!!

I'm still hoping we are secretly in negotiations to sign the leading scorer from Argentina's Primera Division in 2022. I won't hold my breath! I also won't say his name in case someone from another club cottons on to the idea!

Not been linked - just a bit of fan research!

I'm going with Mateo Retegui - top scorer in Argentina last season on loan from his Boca Juniors to Tigre. He outscored the strikers from Boca Juniors! Only 23 and looks to be well within our price range.

I know we are all here looking for news of actual rumours - especially about a striker. Hopefully we will get some news soon! In the meantime (and in the absence of the old HCDAJFU thread), I was thinking like others have done about players that we could sign and, having seen how well Alcarez played last night (for a debut at least), it caused me to reflect that in some ways there is a similarity of style between Argentinian football and what we see regularly in the EPL. Consequently, I was wondering if there were any quality strikers we could sign from Argentina and on researching this I discovered that the top goalscorer in Argentina in 2021 was a guy called Mateo Retegui who was actually on loan from top Argentinian side Boca Juniors to Tigre, yet actually outscored the strikers at Boca Juniors! He is only 23 years old and was previously an under 19 and under 20 Argentine international. I wonder whether HCDAJFU? Here is a YouTube video of his skills and goals:

Djenepo was one of our better players tonight and when he is at a his best he is great. I do think Jones is beginning to get the best out of him, so I would like him to be given a chance. However, with AMN, I think you are right - now that we have Lavia back, have signed Alcarez (who I thought was great tonight) and could also be signing Hjulmand and with Diallo also showing improvement, I don't think we need AMN. As we all keep saying the priority has got to be a striker. Are there no 'outside the box' options to explore? Someone signed a striker from the USA the other day didn't they? Are we keeping an eye on the US Soccer scene? I'm sure we are! What about Australia? Japan? India even?! In fact I just did a quick bit of research on up and coming Indian international strikers and came across the name Lallianzuala Chhangte. He looks pretty decent and prolific. No idea whether he would be considered good enough for the Premier League though!! Which I guiess is the big issue with a lot of these players!

Most of them will play left back or right back - left back in the changing rooms or right back behind the goal.

So, I'm going to put this out there again! It appears that we have been linked with all of the following - most of whom are strikers or wingers. Have I missed anyone? How many players do we think we are going to sign before the end of the window? Just one forward or a winger and strriker? Will we sign anyone in defence? Name Club Position Terem Moffi Lorient (France) Striker Daizen Maeda Celtic Striker Nicolas Jackson Villareal Striker Danny Ings Aston Villa Striker Mystery Striker(!) ? Striker Beto Udinese Striker Oscar Estupinan Hull City Striker Antoine Semenyo Bristol City Striker Jérémy Doku Rennes (France) Winger Kian Breckin Man City Winger Carlos Borges Man City Winger Rory MacLeod Dundee Utd Winger Michael Keane Everton CB James Bree Luton Town RB Rick Karsdorp Roma RB Also, any ideas whether the comments made about a 'Mystery Striker' are anything we should be excited about? Might we suddenly hear about an exciting signing just before it goes through? Or was this just a reference to one of the other strikers/wingers that we are rumoured to be looking at? One final thought is whether there is any substance in the rumours that we may have decided we don't necessarily need to sign a striker? I'm dubious about it myself, but I am also wondering what signing another striker is going to mean for Sekou Mara, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Dom Ballard and Tyler Dibling. Might there be the possibility that we may give some of them more opportunities once the window has closed?

Just sifting through the transfer news for Saints that is out there, here is a summary: Name Club Position Terem Moffi Lorient (France) Striker Daizen Maeda Celtic Striker Nicolas Jackson Villareal Striker Danny Ings Aston Villa Striker Mystery Striker(!) ? Striker Beto Udinese Striker Oscar Estupinan Hull City Striker Jérémy Doku Rennes (France) Winger Kian Breckin Man City Winger Carlos Borges Man City Winger Rory MacLeod Dundee Utd Winger Michael Keane Everton CB James Bree Luton Town RB Rick Karsdorp Roma RB There may be a couple I have missed. For example, I seem to remember theer being another full-back that we were linked to earlier on, but I can't find the details.

Unlike far too many people on here I am not about to slit my wrists just yet! That's not to say I don't have concerns - of course I do! I am concerned at our lack of striker, at the failure of the squad to adapt their playing style to a way that will deliver a win or at least a draw against what is at best a slightly above average Brighton team, at the failure to replace Romeu so that we have adequate cover for Romeu; I am concerned at the training video which showed a manager with no rapport with his team. Yes, I am concerned, but things can and may turn around: Jones may yet build a good rapport with the squad and understand which players are good and which are inadequate; he may also get to grips with suitable tactics which will work with this squad and deliver the results and performances that we all wish for. Sports Republic may be successful in buying a decent striker and defensive midfield cover - maybe a decent, experienced defensive leader too. Some of our younger players may make the transition to the first team and deliver something new and exciting. Our current run of fixtures may allow us to get some decent results, which may allow us to build some confidence. Of course, there is no guarantee that any of these things will happen, but having seen what a disaster it seems to have been to sack Hasenhuttl, I don't think we need to rush into that course of action again in a hurry. Instead, let's get behind the team and manager and hope that things will improve. If they don't and we find that we are again in the same sort of situation we had with Pellegrino then obviously the board will have to act - but now is not the time to do that. One thing I would also say, though, is that we as supporters can be prone to believing every rumour and every comment about the worst things happening in the club. The fact is that for the most part we haven't a clue what is going on and actually things may be more positive than we fear. I, for one, hope this is the case. COYS

Surely, past record has got to count for something, as has style of football and ability to develop young players. On that basis Dyche cannot be counted - his style of football and dependance on older players is just the complete antithesis of a Saints manager!! Similarly, Jones record of failing miserably at every other club he has managed apart from Luton has got to count against him. Gallardo on the other hand has an incredible record and I agree with the earlier post that getting him would be a coup. Neevrtheless, if he really has been linked with Man Utd and Barcelona and turned them down then the chances of him coming to Saints have got to be pretty slim. Tedesco also looks a possible alternative. Beyond Gallardo and Tedesco, I wonder about Javi Gracia. He did pretty well at Watford and took them to their highest-placed Premier League finish, improving on the success of Marco Silva who is doing so well at Fulham this season. It was a total joke that he got sacked at Watford, just because they had a bad start to the following season. He would have turned that round almost certainly and I think he could turn Saints round too. I think he is also a free agent at present.

I've always been a defender of Hassenhuttl, but I must convince my support for him is beginning to significantly waver. Let me put this in context: I've been concerned for some time that there are too many fans too quick to sling dirt at our players and manager. I definitely feel that some of our poor support for the club has had a bearing on our many failings and that failure on our part has not helped the manager and players to gain confidence in what they are seeking to do. I've been supportive of Ralph because he has been so much better than what came before. Whatever anyone may feel about Ralph, he is definitely an improvement on Hughes and Pellegrino and the football we have played under him has until recently always been better thgan under Puel, albeit, Puel did achieve better results - in large part due to having a better squad. Our squad has had many limitations throughout the whole of the Hassenhuttl era and so it is hard to place the whole blame at his door. I have serious concerns about who we might get to replace Ralph - Parker? Redknapp? Allardyce? Pulis? No thanks to all of those! Benitez? Not really convinced. Tuchel? Maybe but doubt he would come to Saints - and there are many others who would fall into that same category. However... we have changed our coaches and we have revamped the squad (albeit with a failure to recruit a good goalscorer and we have lost our key midfield lynchpin of many seasons) and our results have not improved. This is beginning to undermine my support for Ralph. There is no question that performances and results need to begin to improve soon. If they don't I think the club will have no choice but to spin the wheel, sack Ralph and try to recruit someone else who maybe can do what he has failed to do. If Ralph manages to keep his job over the next few days, I believe the matches against West Ham and Bournemouth will have a significant bearing on his future (none of us expect anything other than defeat against City so, unless we avoid defeat that match probably doesn't make much difference unless it is another 9-0 or similar).

I think it maybe time for a reality check here.... Ralph Before he was our manager we were awful and he transformed the way we play so that we were able to compete in games more often. He has enabled the development of youth and a pathway for them to the first team like no other manager. He is, however, far from perfect and there are better managers. Recently, he seems to have begun to doubt his own methods - which is both a good thing and a bad thing. We have begun to be better at varying our approaches to games which can make it harder for the opposition to know how we will play. On the other hand, we aren't as good as we used to be at what we do well i.e. pressing. Better managers are very hard to attract to a club like Southampton Our transfers We have brought in more players than we have in many transfer windows including some players with real promise like Bella-Kotchap and Lavia. Some of the new players will take longer to adjust than others and we cannot expect them all to be instant world-beaters. Younger players bring an amazing potential and energy; however they also bring inconsistency and are less good at the basics when we need to graft. Maitland-Niles - it has been clearly said that he is not ready and that he will be used when he is ready. I don't hear too many people complaining that we did that with Salisu (who still has much room for improvement). He will have his day! The failure to land a quality striker or winger (or both) who is ready to compete at the our level is a massive concern. Last night's performance Was clearly awful. Is just one match, though it follows another inept performance in the previous game. Nevertheless, it is not time for panic stations yet. Elyounoussi I don't understand how a player who was so out of favour can suddenly become so in-favour. I understand that his work-rate is much better than it used to be and that is great - but it does not transform him into a quality winger. The fact is that he demonstrates less flair and ability to dribble and create opportunities than most other wingers we have had in recent times. Nevertheless, it would be unfair to blame him for last night - the whole team were hopeless with the exception of only a couple of players. Djenepo Was one of our better players last night (at least in the first half) and is one of the few players who have stepped up this season. Romeu Losing him feels like a massive loss and we could have done with him last night. Don't forget, however, that his performance levels were beginning to drop with age noticeably last season and we have got to move beyond him. Sadly, we only replaced Romeu with one player - Lavia. We still have the same issue of not having a backup in that position.