LuckyNumber7

I really don't get it with Hughes, he came in last season in a very difficult situation and although the points return wasn't great, he certainly galvanized the team and club as a whole and I was pleased when he got the job permanently. However since the start of the season he has morphed into Pellegrino mk2 with clueless tactics and team selections, constantly playing underperforming players. Austin has done absolutely nothing all season yet starts almost every game while Gabbi who looked so sharp in pre-season is left to rust on the bench yet again. Yoshi is nowhere to be seen and two of our summer signings aren't even considered good enough to get into this awful team. Hughes needs to go but at this point I have no idea who we could get as a decent replacement (not Fat Sam ffs). The squad is poor but there has to be someone out there that can get something more out of them, at least a game plan and an identity. Tbh the whole club needs a clean sweep from top to bottom, sadly it will probably take relegation for something like that to happen.

As far as I recall the ground looked full for both those Bournemouth and Chelsea games, not a chance in hell there were nearly 7000 empty seats at either. What a load of nonsense.

Long starts, no Gabbi or Gallagher

He is our most talented striker, it's criminal how he's been misused over the past year or so. He should be one of the first names on the teamsheet for me and build the attack around him, but bafflingly the clown and now seemingly Hughes only want to play him as a lone striker, which doesn't suit his game at all. He looked really sharp and lively in pre-season, I honestly don't get why Hughes has dropped him to the bench again.

I'm really starting to question what Sparky is doing tbh, he seems to be morphing into Pellegrino with the stupid and random team selections. Gabbi looked excellent in pre season and then once the season starts he can't get a look in and is kept out by rubbish like Long and Redmond. FFS.

I'm no fan of Redmond to say the least, not seen anything up to this point to suggest he is good enough to be anywhere near the team. But credit where it's due, he was good in the second half and caused Burnley a few problems. If he could play like that more often he'd go a long way to changing my opinion of him.

I'm no big fan of Ings but on a loan deal it is low risk and he gives us another option so I don't see what the problem is. Liverpool wanted £20m for him so have obviously realised their only hope was to loan him out, hence why it's last minute. Some people on here are only happy if they are whinging like an entitled six year old. Let's give Ings a chance and see what he can do, he can't be any worse than Long!

Sterling has been absolutely dreadful in this WC. Would rather see Rashford in.

Neymar is an absolute bellend.

2002 is still my favourite WC, but this one has been good. Incredible how few red cards there have been too.

He looked impressive playing for Atalanta against Everton in the Europa League last season, as a result I signed him for Saints on Football Manager lol. Does appear we are still after a striker which is good news.

That was terrible, Southgate got what he deserved for making so many changes. Colombia are a good side, can't see England beating them.

Often frustrating, but on his day a very good player and unlike some he actually seemed to care, particularly in the run-in last season. I'll miss him acknowledging the crowd every time his name was sung. Good move for him though and can't really blame him or the club, he's given us four years of good service. Thanks and good luck Dusan.

That's an old one. He's disgusting.

This, also lost count of the number of times he mentioned they were down on the coast of the Black Sea. We got it the first time ffs. He's an utter (skate) pillock. Not sure who's worse out of him and that awful screechy woman the BBC had the other day.

Have you actually seen Targett play for us? Yes he did ok for Fulham in the Championship last season but he has shown in his appearanaces in the PL that he is not good enough at this level. Yes he is young and may improve but his lack of pace imo will prevent him from ever being better than say a bottom third PL player. We also have two better left backs already in Bertrand and McQueen (who is also a local and academy product) so if we are offered a crazy fee like £10M for Targett the club would be daft not to sell imo. But hey by all means go and protest outside St Marys if we sell him.

Agreed, I was hoping these rumours weren't true as I've seen him play several times for Celtic and not been too impressed. That he can't get in Celtic's team and they weren't prepared to offer him a new contract says it all. Still if he signs I would love to be proved wrong.

If they are really offering £10m we should snatch their arm off.

I keep seeing this yet don't recall hearing anything of the sort at the time, other than a vague comment that we could rekindle our interest in the summer. As usual on here that has been completely exaggerated and is now taken for gospel that it's a 'done deal'.

Agreed, Armstrong is bang average.

Glad we're back in stripes, but I hate the way they stop at the chest area and the plain back. It's a bit meh.

Agree with pretty much all of this. The rich clubs will just get richer making the league even less competitive, whilst the fans are expected to fork out even more money on yet another subscription. Meanwhile the overpaid, overpampered players complain at having to sometimes play two games in a week and that they need another break. I despise this winter break nonsense and couldn't give a toss if it benefits the national team or not (it won't). And whilst I agree referees need help, VAR in it's current form is an abomination. All this added to the increasingly sterile matchday atmosphere and I really am falling out of love with football which I never thought would happen. That said I will probably still renew.

The 'big 6' can f off to their own league as far as I'm concerned, leave the rest of us to it and see how long the gravy train lasts then. It's the competitive nature of the Premier League and the 'lower ranked' teams that has made it the success it is.

Yes exactly how I feel. He's the right man at the right time.

Excellent post, can't believe the number of people getting their knickers in a twist at the small club comment, I can only assume they haven't been Saints fans for very long. In the grand scheme of things we ARE a small club and have been spoilt by punching above our weight for the last few years. Whether you like it or not, FFP means we have to be self sustaining with little investment from the owner, and that puts the big clubs in a completely different league to us. I still look back on the great escapes of the late 90's with great fondness as that battling character and the 'Spirit of Southampton' was what the club is all about for me. If you want to be qualifying for the Champions League and regularly winning trophies you need to support one of the big 6 as it's never going to happen with Saints, and I have no problem with that.