Saint-Armstrong

I suppose the most important question is are the club working on their #1 target, really? If they are, I'm cool with that decision.

Interesting. I would imagine Howe is fairly high up but seemingly not interested in the move. Which from our original few leaves...? Emery (going to PSG), Flores (gone to Espanyol), Pereira.........? Or someone to bolt out of left-field. Hmm...

They said that our transfer business had been put on hold by Koeman's departure, in the Echo I believe. Juanmi didn't want to be here and his return to Spain had been on the cards a pretty long time, I'm sure.

Hard to argue with much of that.

Pereira on his philosophy... “I like my teams to have total control, of the ball, of the game,” he said. “I like to see my teams pressing very aggressively, very high up the pitch. “The important thing is the balance between the attacking and defensive elements, but pressing high is the best way to defend. We have had the best defence in Portugal for the last two years.” “There are two parts to our job. One is to find the young players before other clubs do. “And then the other part is to help develop them. We look in countries where players tend to have creativity in their game, and then the coach’s job here is to teach them the tactics, the organisation, that you need to thrive in Europe. The players who move on take most of the credit, but for the coaches it is proof that we are doing our job. “It is an honour for me to have worked with so many fantastic players. It is a point of pride to see them move on, to a better league, because it is a mark of my work. He's also a fluent English speaker.

Pereira on his philosophy... “I like my teams to have total control, of the ball, of the game,” he said. “I like to see my teams pressing very aggressively, very high up the pitch. “The important thing is the balance between the attacking and defensive elements, but pressing high is the best way to defend. We have had the best defence in Portugal for the last two years.” “There are two parts to our job. One is to find the young players before other clubs do. “And then the other part is to help develop them. We look in countries where players tend to have creativity in their game, and then the coach’s job here is to teach them the tactics, the organisation, that you need to thrive in Europe. The players who move on take most of the credit, but for the coaches it is proof that we are doing our job. “It is an honour for me to have worked with so many fantastic players. It is a point of pride to see them move on, to a better league, because it is a mark of my work. He's also a fluent English speaker.

Just read the Liverpool Echo article, sounds promising and like a Saints kind of manager.

He likes a dance... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08ooxIVXBzk

So, Vitor Pereira...

He's the perfect Ronald replacement! They've even both snapped their achilles in training. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQGerNQQ7A

Juventus making their move for Graziano: http://www.alfredopedulla.com/esclusiva-morata-salita-la-juve-pelle/#dLPGGcWffz4p6b6w.99

This is well worth a read if anyone has a spare couple of minutes: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2006735/Andre-Villas-Boas-How-got-Chelsea-job-33.html

Would be very happy with him. Think his background is really interesting and would interest Les, too. Could see him fitting the club's way of doing things well.

Sky Sports will LOVE it. Kevin Keegan style.

Wouldn't surprise me but the Echo says Saints are taking their time and speaking to multiple candidates over the next fortnight. No doubt the De Boer hype machine will get fired up with ex-pros, his brother and everyone else saying how wonderful he is. Again.

Worth paying attention to... the Daily Echo say Saints will take their time appoint Koeman: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/14541926.Why_Saints_will_take_their_time_replacing_Ronald_Koeman/?ref=rss Key Points - The deal for Ronald, Erwin and Jan is now done - Saints waiting for Everton to tie up loose ends and announce - The search for a new manager has already started - In the process of contacting managers on the shortlist - The Euros come at a good time for Saints, not much transfer business to be done before they're over - No signings will be made without the approval of the new manager - Likely to be an appointment in the next 14 days - Club deciding between another 'stepping stone' manager and someone to commit longer-term - Wanyama still has a contract offer on the table but can go if we get an acceptable bid - Reports of Mané being unsettled or putting in a transfer request are false

Worth paying attention to... the Daily Echo say Saints will take their time replacing Koeman: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/14541926.Why_Saints_will_take_their_time_replacing_Ronald_Koeman/?ref=rss Key Points - The deal for Ronald, Erwin and Jan is now done - Saints waiting for Everton to tie up loose ends and announce - The search for a new manager has already started - In the process of contacting managers on the shortlist - The Euros come at a good time for Saints, not much transfer business to be done before they're over - No signings will be made without the approval of the new manager - Likely to be an appointment in the next 14 days - Club deciding between another 'stepping stone' manager and someone to commit longer-term - Wanyama still has a contract offer on the table but can go if we get an acceptable bid - Reports of Mané being unsettled or putting in a transfer request are false

It hasn't, as such. Lewis Coombes of BBC South Today got in touch with Guido Albers (Koeman's old agent and FdB's agent) and asked and it was him who said 'no'.

Fair point. Horses for courses. I think Koeman, for better or for worse, had a lot more experience and managerial nous. Who knows, we'll see if De Boer comes here won't we?

I'd argue that he is. Only won trophies with one team, in one country. Koeman won trophies with a couple of different teams in Holland, took Vitesse into Europe and won the domestic cups in Portugal and Spain.

EMOL in Chile reporting that AC Milan's prospective new Chinese owners have lined up Manuel Pellegrini as their next boss. Not sure he was ever a serious candidate for this job, but another name to start crossing out.

EMOL in Chile reporting that AC Milan's prospective new Chinese owners have lined up Manuel Pellegrini as their next boss. Not sure he was ever a serious candidate for this job, but another name to start crossing out.