Saint86

I think its probably time the mods got a grip of this. Its the 25th May and already people are being driven around the bend.

Why, what is your issue with that phrase above all the others used on this forum? just curious ta

You're not comparing the same thing though are you? Technically MoPe should achieve a 33% win percentage to hit bang average (i.e. law of averages would be a win, draw and a lost out of 3 games.) Darlek is predicting league finish, so has a 5% chance of a correct prediction. By predicting it right once in 15 years he has outclassed average expectations and by default achieved a higher success rate than MoPe.

#Man City Retirees incoming?

That is the opposite of the Southampton Way mate. Apparently anyway. We march onwards down the pyramid. Don't lose hope though. We will appoint him and make some BS statements. We'll just do it at an excruciatingly slow pace and waste weeks. In reality, a championship and premier league level contract should have been drafted weeks ago. So many clubs that we have regarded as worse run than saints are so much better organised.

Okay Les.

On the basis that he isn't doing that. Are you voting stay or go? Because you are in fantasy land if you think that interview will happen.

Announcement sweepstake anyone? If so, I'll take tomorrow at 2pm

Where? That shirt is not for sale under Southampton on the Fanatics website that I can see? https://www.fanatics.com/international-clubs/southampton/jerseys/o-31097911+t-21993605+d-42318+z-8-2017141119 Likewise when filtered via Under Armor there is nada: https://www.fanatics.com/international-clubs/under-armour-jerseys/o-20432411+br-692414+d-7599013+z-9-1156633190?pageSize=72&sortOption=TopSellers

Olomola has signed for S****horpe on a 3year deal. More academy players either not good enough, or not being given the chance they need. Our academy really has been struggling in recent years.

Absolutely agree with that. I am interested to see what Hughes brings next season with the pressure off and a pre-season to work with the players. What he gave us in the last 8 matches was a significant improvement over his two predecessors in terms of attacking threat and balance. I would like to see what he can do when he can afford to be a bit less tactical with the game management (i.e. not just playing to keep it tight until 65min and then going for it). I think he is a good manager who is being unfairly criticised by something of a harsh popularised view of him. His track record is very good and similar to what Saints have been in recent seasons. And the fact remains that we should be a better platform for him that Blackburn, Stoke, QPR etc. If he can achieve 6,7,8 finishes with those teams I do not see why he can't with saints. Plus he has the majority of the fans behind him already.

Very good!

Exactly this. I would also say that Yoshi is a leader, and defence has looked more solid with him in it this year. We'll all akowledge that he isn't the best technical player in the world. But his reading of the game has improved and he always gives it his best.

Jack, thank you for the discussion but you can take a less defensive tone you know I never said that it will cause an increase in football hooliganism, only that I fear it will. I take the safety point of view, but frankly that is neither here nor there because "no standing" should be enforced. Rules are rules. Although, that said, if these rules are to be abandoned then the safety argument is the only grounds for introducing safe standing that stack up - Although I can't think of a single crush in a seated stadium? Boredom over "sit down/stand up" is not a valid reason... And as for people who act up inside or outside stadiums. This happens year after year and has been on the increase in recent seasons. Flares for example are now everywhere, fans have punch ups inside and outside grounds, missiles thrown on the pitch and at other fans etc. It is very naive to think that football hooliganism is not a growing problem currently. Just look at Roma fans, russian hit squads, Marseille fans having riots at Lyon stadium and outside their own ground last week for example... Saints were effected when we played Viittesse Arnham or Wigan away a few seasons back. My fear is that this trend will continue and be even easier to commit inside stadiums with fluid movement across rows.

Fair enough. So basically it will increase atmosphere only (based on a different set of fans buying the tickets presumably). But have zero impact on capacity or ticket price for the vast majority of UK grounds?

He was noticeably better and more like his old self under Hughes... Go figure, the first manager since Koeman that attacked teams... all of a sudden, our main chance creator looks better. Keep him for me.

I don't see how it is supposed to increase capacity either?

I have an issue with safe standing. And its related to widespread increases in football hooliganism. I fear safe standing will just further fuel this atmosphere inside grounds and take the game back decades.

Fair enough, looking forward to Hughes signing this week. Some good ITK there.

I would have signed Tom Cairney for the past few windows. We also clearly need someone to replace Mane. And we need a mobile target man that can score and link play. Would certainly go for Shaqiri if he is on the cheap. Wonder if he likes Hughes or not.

What is the Kenyan take on it all?

Thank you for the poll. Obviously an out for me. Has been the case since that first summer and the lies over first team players being sold. transfer window closed. first team sold. rinse repeat for the next two summers. But not just that, losing Toby, losing Koeman, fiasco's over key players like Fonte and tarnishing every single leaving players rep with the fans through negative PR (except Rickie - even les knows some limits). The 2 year nosedive since we finished 6th. Let alone the fact that they were quite happy to slate Cortese's financial operating of the club, and yet NC's last 6 months show the first operating profits ignoring player sales.... The man simply has to go. If he ever had it, he's now certainly lost it. And the club needs to move forward under a fresher approach. Yet even after the last 4 transfer windows and two disastrous manager appointments he is trying to stop Hughes getting the job.... Also please can people stop crediting him with "over seeing our rise from league 1" - its either Cortese's legacy and his apparent mess - or Les Reeds.... and we all know damn well that everything pre koeman (who he still fell out with and dumped when he realised he could get paid...) was not Les Reed's doing. He wasn't even at the club when the core of our double promotion winning side was signed ffs.

Its a tough one for the fans. You either agree with Ducky. Or you agree with Alpine and Glasgow

I think a poll is certainly required. He is the most divisive issue amongst the fan base.

You've missed the part where he set about dismantling every vestige of the house he moved in to ^_^