GGalpin

The ones with the ability often have the attitude problem, and the ones who come across with the right attitude generally aren't good enough to be in the starting XI.

But then what happens after that? He stays, it goes sour like it has with Hughes and we appoint another firefighter? Take a look at Swansea and Sunderland, that's how it ends up if you get into that cycle.

Get what you're saying, but the football side surely has to be priority? Can have all the hospitality packages and merchandise sales you like; if we get relegated they'll take a massive hit no matter how well they're doing on that side of the club. Think a lot of our problem has been trying to focus on the future (buying players for resale value, looking at soccer schools or whatever in China etc) rather than the present and what the team needs now. The best example of that is Ings. Surely he was bought for what he could do now, and not what we could make in 2/3 years time?

Obvious troll is obvious.

To be fair, I could definitely see us selling Gallagher and one of Austin/Long/Gabbiadini. Can't really see Dzeko being that keen on Saints if someone like Palace is interested though, given the location. Would 100% take Dzeko, and Cahill- but wonder if we're an easy link for agents as we're clearly weak in both boxes.

100%. Think a large part of the problem we've had is what Newcastle had after they thought they cracked the transfer market; they were buying players not to improve the team but solely on them having potential resale. Certainly a number of the players we've signed weren't needed or don't fit, but were bought for the same reasons. Interestingly I don't think Ings was bought for the resale value but to address a need in the team- and he's been our best signings for, what, the last two years? Could do a lot worse than signing 2/3 to benefit the team solely, and 2/3 with resale value but address a real need in the team.

Boruc, Lovren, Wanyama.

Oh yes, because Sofiane Boufal and Jeremy Pied were nothing to do with Claude Puel were they... and although Pellegrino never got 'his' pick in the summer, he more than made up for that with a monumental waste in the January window...

Oscar Garcia for me.

It was the issue then. The problem now isn't that we're not spending money, is it? It's that we're spending money on players who don't fit (Gabbiadini, Lemina to a certain extent, Vestergaard (IMO) will work out that way possibly) or simply isn't good enough (Carrillo, Hoedt etc).

Yesterday's opponents, for one.

Would say he's an £18m Jos Hooiveld, but that would probably be very harsh on Hooiveld who came across as a decent bloke.

I'll probably echo a lot of what has been said on here before, but here goes. A big factor, if not the main one, for keeping him after we stayed up was the fact it meant we didn't have to find a replacement- which made sense because of World Cup/shorter transfer window, but is also a pretty damning indictment of the state of our recruitment last 2/3 years in both players and staff. The fact is a year ago no one would've thought he'd be here or want him here, which is telling. The fact he's been here before preseason has also added to the disappointment- not only does he not seem to know his best team but he doesn't seem to really know his best system (which hinders the former even more). A lot of our football has been pretty tedious to watch, too; it was understandable last season given the situation we found ourselves in, but I didn't enjoy watching that football then and it's less palatable now. Having said that the quality of players we have shapes that, and so a squad far deeper in quantity than quality is reflected on the pitch. It just feels like we've got a sticking plaster at the moment- he doesn't play attacking football with young players, so he doesn't really fit what Saints supposedly want. This Southampton Way stuff might be a pretentious buzzword to a lot of people but having a philosophy and fitting staff into it is a far better way to do things than just doing what managers want; it's when we've deviated away from the whole 'southampton way' stuff that has been when the problems have come, IMO. In fairness, he's not all bad- freeing Tadic and now Redmond seems to bring the best out of those players so if he can make us solid first and then allow Redmond/Elyounoussi the freedom to create, perhaps it'll become more effective and maybe even become somewhat nice to watch. But I just hope we don't get stuck in the cycle Swansea and Sunderland did in appointing firefighters instead of builders, and that the next manager we appoint is there for the right reasons- not just because he happens to be available for nothing...

Do wonder whether it'll be the big boys who jump first, or whether it'll be the likes of Celtic, Ajax, Copenhagen, Benfica etc who are all big fishes in small, restrictive ponds and can see the gap growing between them and the elite, and wonder whether it's worth being part of an Atlantic League like has been mooted before.

Do wonder how well Bertrand has taken to having to stay another year, when it's been rumoured for the past few seasons he's wanted to go.

1 I wouldn't agree with (more he'd have arguments over being in the side, rather than him deserving a place..), but 2+3 are fair. I only guessed him as he wasn't in the squad and it's a strikers thread.

Gonna hazard a guess it's Shane Long, given he wasn't in the 18 yesterday.

If they could get rid of them permanently (and not at a stupidly reduced fee), do you seriously think they'd have gone out on loan?

Two different roles aren't they, really? He's been a firefighter this time, but you don't ask your firefighter to come in and redecorate the living room after the fire's all been put out... Maybe I'm wrong; certainly his track record suggests someone who comes in and builds over 2-3 years, but just have a gut feeling he won't be here start of next preseason.

Don't think Hughes is that bad a suggestion, to be honest. Felt like after keeping us up and the problems of replacing him coupled with a shorter window + World Cup, made sense to keep him to reduce any time needed to assess the squad. But it feels like it's a marriage of convenience; certainly if Saints were looking for a new manager, I doubt Hughes would've been right there top of the list ticking every box. So if it doesn't start well then, after being slated for keeping Pellegrino well beyond when he should've gone, perhaps the panic may set in...

Winners: City CL: Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea EL: Tottenham, Man Utd Saints: 12th Relegated: Watford, Huddersfield, Cardiff, Golden Boot: Kane First sacked: Puel (Gracia a close second..) Random pick: Mourinho to leave Man Utd by July 1st

GK-McCarthy LCB- Hoedt CB-Vestergaard RCB-Stephens LWB- Bertrand RWB- Cedric LCM-Lemina RCM-Hojbjerg LAM- Redmond RAM-Elyounoussi ST- Austin That front three

If we can sell Lemina for a good fee and get a replacement + a striker in, think that would've been a good window IMO.

But they're not your bog standard Championship club; they're coming down with big wages from the PL and have parachute payments. Guarantee most of the clubs who've come down last few years have had a fair few on £40k-ish; West Ham had Nolan on £80k when they came down!

Fair enough- I rate him personally and reckon he'd fit us well (and could even dovetail with Austin/Long if the situation needed it), but can understand your view especially pricewise.