SKD

I don't listen to his press conferences / interviews... I'd rather watch paint dry for 30 minutes than what watch or listen to that dross. But thanks for answering my question...

On the basis I pointed out above... Inter were a shambles, as were Sparta, for half of it and we should have picked up at least 4 points from our games against Be'er Sheva....

I agree, and this is the stance that I took with Fonte. However the players that want out (from what I know of) aren't usually one to act like this. You could understand it with Tadic for example, but not when it comes from Bertrand and Long (and others). It's more than just 'player power' if they generally do not respect / like playing for our current coaching staff.

Not sure Koeman would have had much choice but to play McQueen and Stephens with Targett and Bertrand both injured and the sale of Fonte. Sims made an instant impact on his debut, but has hardly featured since (similar to Hesketh under Koeman....). Genuine question, is Hesketh injured? If not, why has he not featured much this season? especially given Puel's incredible record with youth players....

They need the takeover, those in charge can see it but i'm not sure those who invested can (I really really really hope they block the sale ). At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who does / doesn't approve the takeover, it'll happen.

I agree - I would say a lot of that down to lack of game time. Personally, I would start him next to Romeu for the remaining fixtures, to try and bed him into the team for next season.

Do you think Tottenham are happy with their performance in the CL, because they weren't expecting to win it? Do you not think we could / should be able to compete against the likes of Celta Vigo, Genk, Rostov, Gent or clubs a similar size? Obviously success in that tournament relies on the draw you get and we got a very weak draw (Inter were a shambles as were Prague for half of it and be'er Sheva...). We should have won that group and then in the later stages, who knows what could happen.

Exactly. People seem to forget how ineffective Schneiderlin was, at a young age I must add, when he first signed. It was only when we went down to L1 and he seemed to 'man up' a bit when he started to fulfill his potential. I like Hojbjerg, he is younger than JWP and IMO is a perfect replacement for Schneiderlin. He seems a similar sort of player, but obviously isn't the finished article, yet.

Agree. Would personally prefer Ake as he's tried and tested in the PL, however would not be disappointed at Christensen at all - perhaps we could squeeze them for both .

When has anyone claimed they expect to win every week and compete against Barcelona? Why is it so difficult for you to understand that fans aren't happy with performances, especially at home and in Europe, and the style of football the manager plays. To call this season a disaster is a bit extreme, however it is very disappointing that we've lost ground on the top 6/7. In fact, i'd go as far as saying we are as far away from being a top 7 team, since our first season back. Ultimately, I think it's been a below average / average season, with more bad than good (a lot more in terms of performances, IMO). League position alone wouldn't warrant him getting the boot, however, players and fans aren't happy (granted fans opinion will change based on results), Our performance in Europe was totally unacceptable, FA cup was very disappointing and for the majority of the season the football has been dull. The only positives are a couple of youth players, although i'm not really sure he had a choice than to go with McQueen and Stephens due to the injury to Bertrand and sale of Fonte, and the cup final. However I cannot accept getting to a cup final, then losing as a success. A bit tin pot that some do in all honesty (it makes it worse that it's the EFL cup, in which teams don't even try until the semi final).

Always said Wanyama was better than Morgan, people laughed at the time, but it's really showing this season. The bloke is class, a player we really miss. To think some used to say Cork was better

We've not had Europa Leauge football since early December.... have performances really improved since? Overall, other than the odd game, I wouldn't say they have.

Just to back this up with stats. compared to last couple of seasons: Long - gone backwards 14/15 - 7 goals 7 assists (41 appearances) 15/16 - 13 goals 6 assists (34 appearances) This season - 5 goals 3 assists (42 appearances) Tadic - gone backwards 14/15 - 5 goals 8 assists (37 appearances) 15/16 - 9 goals 14 assists (40 appearances) This season - 3 goals 8 assists (40 appearances) Between those 2 alone, we've lost 14 goals. It'd be unfair to compare Jay (hardly played due to injury), Redmond, boufal & Gabbi as they didn't play for us last year.

I honestly couldn't give a sh!t what he done in France. From what I've seen, he's a bang average manager in the PL.

Bull****. Poch is a fantastic coach who gets the best out of players (Dele, Kane, lallana, Jay Rod, Shaw, Chambers to name a few). Players are going backwards under Puel, especially the forwards. If you honestly believe that Puel's getting the best out of this team, you're deluded.

If you suggest Ranieri you don't really deserve an opinion. Awful manager who got lucky last year with a very good assistant and very good defensive midfielder. Monk not much better and wouldn't have Howe either, not that I think he'd come here anyway. Would take Silva and would seem a natural fit and easy choice, but think we could do better. If we were to go English, It'd have to be Rowett AVB, Jokanović, Dardai (at Herta Berlin), Nagelsmann (Hoffenheim), but he's probably above our level, would all be on my shortlist. However, I'd be going all out to get Emery.

Please can everyone stop using getting to a cup final as a measure of success. We ****ing lost for christ sake. Do you think Birmingham or Wigan fans think they had a success season the year they went down, because they got to the FA cup final? In reality, we played 3 reserve teams to get to that final anyway. Before someone mentions how many / lack of finals we've seen... don't judge success on previous failures.

Does puel have any fight in him? If he does, then he certainly doesn't install that into his teams...

The club have had concerns about the quality in the youth squads for some time now, this is not just since Puel's been in charge. I know they were looking at younger players outside of the acamdemy, so the quality may have improved since. Unfortunately you're not going to get a Bale, AOC, lallana, Theo or Shaw come through every year and the club (Les) really need to understand this. Also, I'm not certain it's the first team manager that sets the style on which the academy plays. I believe the clubs (again Les') preferred formation is 4-3-3 and this is generally what they play. Ultimately, its Puel's job to bring in and get academy players ready for the first team. Which I have to say, he's done well. Some things Puel has done well I.e bring through the youngsters, however IMO everything else (style of play, performances and league position) has gone backwards.

Cheers pal, much love x

Just trying to lighten the mood of here!

Martina Gardos Isgrove J Rod Clasie (may as well take some money for him as he's clearly not part of managers plans, but I like him FWIW) The coaching staff

Great post. Puel set us up to play for a 90th minute penalty (which he let the worst penalty taker I've seen take it), it's clearly not his fault we didn't create **** all for the rest of the game as it was in the game plan to get that last ditch pen. It's all the players, the players aren't good enough. Puel sets us up to attack (gung-ho is how I'd descripe is philosophy) but the players clearly don't fancy that, so decide to pass sideways and clearly cba to make a run Forwards. None of yesterday's performance was the mangers fault it's the players who seem to lack clarity in what they are doing, lack inspiration and motivation, oh and lack belief in the man in charge.

If Puel had his home record I don't think half the people would be on his back. Also, you have to take into consideration that our squad in much, much better than Hulls. I like him, would I have him over Puel? Yes. Are there other managers I'd have over Silva? Yes. I think the reason people mention silva is because he's out of contract at the end of the season, Plays decent football, has done very well with a poor Hull team, we looked at him (supposedly) before Puel and would suit the 'Southampton way'.

Except we have, well for the vast majority of it. Oh and yes, I've been going since the 90's so have seen sh!t before. But because we were sh!t 20 / 10 years ago, doesn't mean we should accept being sh!t now. especially given recent success.