HarvSFC

Very good interview, thank you for sharing. Admits his mistake with the high line at the beginning of the season, another sign that he's the real deal as a lot of managers would have tried to be stubborn with the tactic, rather than dropping it immediately. A few digs at Hojbjerg and confirmation that we are trying to extend Ings' contract, as that has gone quiet for a while, alongside Bertrand. Also confirms at the end that he is happy here, due to the amount of power he has here, which he is not likely to get at a bigger club than us. His working relationship with Semmens is also strong, so hopefully a core remains at the top when the eventual takeover does happen. Like Poch and Cortese. One final thing, do Sunderland get pelted with losing 8-0 to us in 2014 in every sentence they are mentioned in?

It sure is strange how the Football League clubs, who are also playing Saturday-Tuesday/Wednesday-Saturday most weeks are not crying for five substitutes. It’s almost as if the rule would massively benefit the big clubs and the big clubs manager’s who are crying for it!

Man City made just one substitution in yesterday’s game, while Liverpool made the two, one being forced by the injury to TAA. Calling for five substitutions because three isn’t enough when not even using all three to manage their squads appropriately.

Southampton have only played the weak teams, like Aston Villa...

Yep, pulled off great saves to help win us the three points in both of the last two matches.

Manchester United already did this with Pogba. They got the one who played for Partick Thistle and Crewe, while the one who played for Juventus retired.

A good summary of the Salisu situation.

I don’t think we’ve relied on Ings so much this season, as we did in the last. He is still a top player, who would be well away from our team if he didn’t have these injury issues and will be a miss. But, we did beat Chelsea without him last season and now have a decent finisher to step in for him in Walcott, rather than just Long and Obafemi, who can hopefully still remain as alternative options. Additionally, let’s hope this puts off some of the bigger clubs who will undoubtedly be circling and he uses his downtime to sign a new contract.

He has developed an edge to his game now, which I think has helped him, a slight touch of the cockiness you see the top players have also on the pitch. Off the pitch he still seems like a thoroughly decent lad, but on the pitch he doesn’t get bullied anymore. The Zaha windups a clear sign of this, which he would not have done in past years prior. Even on Sunday he had a few words with Cash after he left a tackle on him before slotting the free-kicks. Long may he continue.

Was dropped after the Burnley defeat on the opening day last season. Came back in following some match in October which I cannot quite remember and seemingly never looked back. He impressed me a lot at times last season, may have been because the previous standards were so low, but I genuinely didn't think he looked out of place in what was a good team in the second part of the campaign. I was hoping to see the more of the same this season, but he has seemingly reverted back to the old player we all knew. Now, Vestergaard is seemingly going through the same process, of previously looking quite abysmal, dropped out of the starting eleven, brought back into the team to replace another following a heavy defeat and now is not putting a foot wrong. It's quite strange. Maybe they will cycle through the process now, or Salisu is being turned into a rock with whatever Ralph is using when they're on the sidelines that is making them improve.

Thank you Matt Targett! Don’t see Bertrand giving fouls away there and KWP had already put the ball into the box!

I can see where they are coming from, if Klopp had been able to make five subs and used one to bring off Van Dijk before 11 minutes against Everton, then Pickford wouldn't have been able to clatter him and he'd have avoided that injury. Alongside this, Aguero, Mendy and Matip are usually playing 38 league games a season. These players never miss matches in normal circumstances and it is really quite surprising to see them suffer muscular injuries and now having to spend time on the treatment table. If only they could have two more substitutions. We of course have also suffered two known injuries this season in Djenepo and Salisu and that's really quite the increase from last season.

Agree with the posts above. When he was here, he was given chances, even under Ralph, but he did not have a single impact in the majority of his appearances, even against Derby and just looked a level below the quality required. I know there is the occasional gem at Celtic, as we more than most have found in recent years. However, it wasn’t too long ago that Scott Sinclair and Patrick Roberts were the star wingers at Celtic, also scoring in Europe, so I don’t know how much we can read into Elyounoussi’s performances currently. We also saw Forster become the star in Scotland again last season and he too helped them overcome Lazio in the Europa League, but now he’s back on our bench and looks to be there until his contact expires... But, also if his performances help make a club come in permanently for him then I am all for it!

Bielsa’s work with the Leeds team has been brilliant and continues to be so. He is what you want in a manager, given how he has improved the likes of Bamford, Ayling and Dallas massively. However, he does also have his weaknesses in that his players usually tire out at the back end of a season, the lockdown break possibly helped him greatly last season. Chris Wilder also, is the only other manager barring Bielsa and Ralph in this league, who I believe can coach limited players to play at a much higher standard. His work prior to Sheffield United was just as good and isn’t a purple patch in his career. Although, they are being found out at the minute. You could also make a case for Nuno Espirito Santo and Sean Dyche, but watching Wolves and Burnley is just so boring and more focussed on being solid as a whole team and defensively, rather than taking the game to the opposition. Overall, to answer the question, no I wouldn’t swap Ralph. He isn’t the best manager in the league, but like you say he is perfect for us at this current moment in time.

Had the match on in the background prior to Gunn coming on. A mix of poor defending and Gunn being too slow to come off his line was the fault for Swansea's second goal. Gunn ended up catching Palmer, missing the ball completely when coming for a punch, Palmer just had to get the ball on target. He also almost gifted Swansea a goal earlier in the match as he had to stop a back pass from going in with his hand after slipping up (indirect free kick given in the box, blocked by the defence). Had a search of his name on Twitter to get Stoke fans' verdict of his debut and they're writing him off already. Won't have helped with his confidence.

Red card downgraded from a three match suspension to a one. Bizarre. It must be okay to mistime tactical fouls now.

Which is the main worry, really. It took us four times to appoint a worthy successor to Koeman, almost costing us our Premier League place at the same time. Hopefully we can blame Ross and Les for that fiasco, but I'm not as confident of us finding a replacement for Ralph if and when he does go, as I was when we seemingly had a top scouting pool - and Paul Mitchell.

West Ham?

They’re diving in all over the pitch. Worrying.

Ben Godfrey at right-back is their noticeable weak spot too. Hopefully Bertrand keeps making attacking runs.

Is everyone trying to one up each other with the shit ideas in football at the moment? “Government requirements are that players coming to play here should be internationally established at the highest level; making a significant contribution to football; and not taking the place of already settled talent.“ We can’t afford such players. We would not be able to sign Diallo under such rules.

I was surprised he had to drop down to League One level to be honest.

Already had a go at Ings previously - https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/16505157.southampton-manager-mark-hughes-sides-2-1-defeat-everton/

Next week, Liverpool and United will be in talks to merge as one, as the two “super teams” in England, becoming Liverchester United and they will play in their own one team league with no relegations.

Release clause is bad. Hoped he would now look to end his career here as a Southampton lad. Someone would surely look to activate it, if his scoring form continues. Goals are most definitely the hardest thing to replace in football, and I don't back us in being able to replace him whatever the fee we receive. See us with the VvD money and were that went and also Spurs with the Bale money.