Bewildered

But how many would go beyond simply not promoting them and decide to criticise them wholesale in the press?

RK may be a fan of James Ward Prowse, but is the opposite true? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3520912/Dusan-Tadic-pondering-away-Southampton-Ronald-Koeman-s-abrasive-management-style.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490 I mean the part about Tadic seemingly ended up being accurate...

Emery - PSG De Boer - Lazio Howe - Reportedly wants to stay loyal to B'mouth AVB or David Moyes it is then.

I wonder why you think Pellegrini would be a lousy choice? Would he not work well within the structure of the club or is it more the principle that the club would have discarded their planning and resorted to a knee jerk appointment to appease the supporters rather than an appointment they were confident would work out? Personally, I think Pellegrini would be a great appointment. But obviously it is more important that the board have made an informed choice rather than a seemingly desperate one that appears good on paper but ends up being a poor fit for the club.

To be fair, most of the names you mention had either a CL victory, a league title in a major league or both to their name when they were hired by PL sides. Mourinho - Won Champions League in consecutive seasons with Porto Ancelotti - Won Serie A, 2 Champions League trophies with AC Milan Mancini - Serie A winner 3 times Pellegrini is the exception, but even then he had a spell as Real Madrid manager under his belt and reached the Quarter finals of the Champions League with Malaga, which is further than Emery has taken either Valencia or Sevilla.

Emery Moyes AVB Howe. That's the shortlist? Only one of those I wouldn't be happy with (Moyes)

Emery is also used to succeeding at a club where the best 2 or 3 players move on every summer.

Emery would be a great appointment and would surely settle some of the nerves after Koeman goes. I fear he might be out of our reach though. Howe is meant to have a lot of control over things at Bournemouth and a strong link with them due to his playing career. Could be a risk if he doesn't like Les and Ross Wilson trying to direct things on the transfer front.

Yeah, CM who can play AM. 10 assists and 4 goals last season in a poor Werder Bremen side.

Source of the photo 25 minutes ago roughly.

Les knows how to treat 'em!

Photo allegedly showing de Boer, his agent and Les Reed amongst others outside St. Mary's. Very blurry and not close enough for earlobe analysis.

Press officer keeping himself busy.

Mirror saying De Boer, Giggs, Howe and Martinez are in the frame.

Adam Blackmore ‏@bigadamsport 36s37 seconds ago Koeman was happy with new contract offer from #saintsfc & key players signed new deals, 5yr plan agreed - then he got a new agent #nuffsaid

Koeman doesn't need to meet with efc personally until Saints give him permission, the question that should be asked is whether the agent has been talking with Everton.

Lots of experience managing in European competition, won trophies, hates Neil Ashton. AVB would be a good choice.

Yeah, that is the main potential downside.

Look forward to speculating all weekend.

Did he? If thats the case we should approach him if he is a free agent.

Gary Neville's attempt at the Valencia job suggests he perhaps needs to learn the ropes in the Championship or something before having another go in a top league. Howe would be a good fit IMO, though I suspect that convincing him to break his contract or convincing Bournemouth to let him go could be difficult and take ages. Flores might be ok, but Watford's drop in form in the second half of the season suggests he might be a bit of a risk. De Boer? Done well in Holland, appears that he wants a job in England, but untested outside Holland. Sampaoli? Could be brilliant but I'm not sure we are big enough to tempt him away from international management.

When was the last time the DE had a Saints story that wasn't fed to them by the club?

Didn't Guan say KBilly told him about this new strategy then remark that it was up to KBSS to talk about it?

Laudrup would be a huge gamble IMO, the last months of his stay at Swansea suggest he crumbles if things aren't going well. His time at other clubs suggest he is always quick to breakaway and take a time out.

Let's stall until David Moyes has something new and Steve Bruce commits to Hull, just for the sake of safety. I would include Tim Sherwood but I doubt any PL club will give him another shot for a long time.