Saint86

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 ^_^

You are chronically incorrigible.

If only the fanbase could do the same. Still recent posts on the Leslie thread defending him. You couldn't make it up.

The thing is Glasgow, if he at least had the balls to acknowledge he has failed and has learnt from it that would be something... But no. He's just been happy to receive praise for the work of others and then disappears from sight the minute his work hasn't remotely lived up to even the lowest expectations. Huddersfield have just had a cracking season.... And the first thing they do in the off season is improve their off the field team and hire a new DoF... And our fans think we should stick with Reed because we can't improve on him. Madness. When a newly promoted club, who've just had their best season in decades, are making off the field changes; then a saints team that have plummeted from one of the best in the county to relegation candidates should be as well.... wasn't it part of the Southampton way to always improve and look to new ways to gain the extra percentages? Obviously doesn't apply at board level! We just to be smiling because we won two games and stayed up ffs. The complacency (even after this season) is staggering... and has been since Koeman and even Poch.

Eh... Le tissier is one of the most prolific and gifted players in premier league history? I assume you never saw him play to come out with this comparison. Boufal is a arrogant little turd that thinks he's too good to be here and turns it on once every 25games for 5min in a match. Boufal is worse than Tadic, Lallana and Mane in terms of his contributions, chance creation and goal threat. He's been here two years and he has two highlights... get rid, and spend the transfer fee and wages on someone who contributes to the team. No brainier.

The thing is, what he actually did was take the credit for work that wasn't his. Whilst simultaneously lying about his predecessors work and blaming him for anything bad. The signs of a true brown nose floater from the start. Is it any wonder he's turned a top 6 side that just missed champions league football into a relegation side... Found out and not facing the music. I'd actually have some respect for him if he came before the fans and held his hands up. The fact that he won't is just another nail is his coffin... though I am amazed there is any space left tbh. It is literally beyond me how 42% of the fans were backing him when this poll was done. Would be shocked if he got over 10% now.

Personally, I think the loss to chelsea drove the team that little bit more.... and we scraped survival. I'd love to win the fa cup. But in reality we would not have won it and we would likely have gone down for the distraction of being there. There will be other years. Lets just focus on being a top half premier league team again. I have zero interest of getting a dodgy owner, winning the cup, and going down and imploding.

For some reason, I have a sneaky feeling he might get a look in under Hughes.

Your defence of the board at all costs is becoming very boring now Fry. Reed in particular is past his best, and we've been heading where we are now since he got primary control of footballing issues. Top 6 and just outside of champions league football.... to relegation scrap in 2 seasons. That will take some beating, especially without any financial constraints. Quite possibly the worst performance in premier league history. This man gave Forster a 6year contract, and spent £20m on dud CF for a manager he sacked 2 weeks later... In comparison, west Ham got arnautovic for £18m... You need to get on with the programme mate. Anyone tolerating the sub standard management we've had in recent seasons is just another voice helping it to continue.

I think saints fans need to get over themselves. Yes, we would nearly all take RB and AM over Pope and Rose, but every call southgate has made is at least arguable. I was at first puzzled by the 3 right backs, but the fact is it means he us going to use Walker as a CB. The team and tactics are good for a knock out tournament. Pack the defense and hit hard and fast. Don't like it? Then look at Hughes since he came in... It's solid tactical picks on the whole. But I like most saints fans would pick RB and AM. Oh well, non of us are experience ex England players or managers. Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

I thought that was actually a very good interview from RK. He has learnt a lot from when he first joined and he is a man that loves sport and competition. The total absence of Les Reed is telling, as were the comments from RK saying he is not happy with how this season went. I actually find myself trusting him with the club. I also think that Les will find his wings clipped within the club at least, if not publicly. I certainly hope I never see another Les Reed interview whilst he is still at the club.