SKD

Not sure there is anything to suggest there is, is there?

I suppose he has to watch something whils he pins his badges to his saints hat and let's his carer paints his face, in preparation for every home game.

Shut them out? over the 2 legs they had 24 shots (8 on target).

I assume you were away or asleep for the first half of the season. The fact he has given them an opportunity of survival (along with his style of play) will have raised his stake.

Want Fulham and reckon it'll be them. Can't beat a London away day, and they it'll be a big allocation as they have neutral end.

Said it before, I wouldn't be surprised if next season is the lowest number of ST sales since our return to the PL.

You're making stuff up again. At no point have I labeled him as a 'genius'. I, and many others I'm sure, think he's done a great job with Hull. He's got them playing good football, and achieved some fantastic results (mostly at home it has to be said) with the limited ability he has in his squad. Do I think he has done a better job than Puel? Yes. As I have said previously, based on this season, his (Silva's) stock would have risen and IMO would be a more attractive proposition to clubs looking for a new manager this summer.

The thing is, we have something to play for... the difference between finishing 14th & 8th could mean and extra player, or a top players wages for the length of their contract.

As you can probably tell, I meant latter. I should really proof read before I press send

When have I said we should cut and run?

That's exactly my point what do you think next season, where he'll be demoted to 4th place, will do to his confidence? Surely we should be preparing for next season and MC could possibly be our 1st choice CB.

Wasn't my question, and didn't directly relate to us. Given this season, Silva would be more sort after than Puel. Even more so if he keeps them up

In such scenario, Yoshida would step in.

Ake (22), Bruma (25), VVD (25), Stones (22), Keane (24), Koulibaly (25), Dier (23), Zouma (22), Phil Jones (25), Nastasić (24), Andreas Christensen (21) are all a similar age to Stephens (23). I'm sure those that watch a bit of european football could name many more

If you were looking for a manager this summer, would you chose Puel or Silva? I'd suggest 90%+ of chairman would go for the latter.

You said that Hull's up turn in form was due to 3 others getting worse You're not impressed by someone who can turn a side guaranteed for the drop, to having a good chance of survival (with an awful squad at his disposal), yet you seem to think someone who can fail in Europe and take a side from 6th - mid table is god. Fair enough.

In all seriousness are we going to benefit out of this? He's been okay, probably hasn't helped playing next to Yoshida tbh, but in reality, JS will drop back to 4th choice next year and won't get a look in (other than the odd FA/LC game). 4th choice won't benefit Jack, and if he does drop down the pecking order, he should go out on loan to continue playing. However this does beg the question, if he doesn't make it next season, will he ever? I'd suggest not. I can't see a bundle of PL clubs coming in for him either, which to me would suggest he'd drop down to the championship. I'm all for playing youngsters, however you should only do so if they're good enough (something I'm not 100% sure Reed understands). As for Caceres, who knows how he'll perform, but we've shipped a fair few goals as of late, so I'd be tempted to give him a go.

From a personal point of view, this season I expected entertaining football (we've not seen enough of that this season), get out of that group in EL (failed on this front), given the early exit, to challenge top 7 of PL to go again in the EL the following year (failed on this front). Not a fan of Puel, as a manager, however accept that he's been unlucky with Injury to VVD & Austin (who knows how the final would have ended with VVD), got us to the final (strange we celebrate getting to the final as success but hey ho), integrated some of the younger players who didn't get a look in last year and finally changed formation to make us better in the final 3rd. On the whole, I feel like he deserves until at least Christmas to prove me wrong (which I really hope he does as he seems a decent bloke). From what I've seen this season I'd say Puel is a average mid table PL manager. As a fan I find it astonishing that some appear to see mid-table meritocracy as a success, but each to their own. We used to be 'best of the rest' (which I don't feel is unrealistic to ask given our recent history) however this season we're not, so you can only say we've gone backwards / stood still and been overtaken, you take your pick (but have to take in factors mentioned above). Not all of that is down to Puel, as Reed / the recruitment team need to take some of the blame. It was obvious to everyone that going into the season relying on Austin (guaranteed 1 injury a season), JRod (not really played since injury) and Long (10 goals a season at best) wouldn't be enough. That combined with the failure to bring in a preferred CB in January probably cost us the cup. Puel needs to be backed this summer, not only in bringing in players he wants, but also keeping hold of most of the current squad. Reed also needs to get this 50% of the team coming from the academy dream out of his head as it simply will not happen (at the top level anyway).

Given their league position and form when he took over, the squad they had/have and lack of investment from the owner, who wants out, it is a miracle they aren't already down. Obviously there is no guarantee he would have / would do well at saints, but given his philosophy (which would suit 'the Southampton way') it's a shame we choose Puel over him, IMO.

Have said for a while Davis isn't good enough defensively to play in a 2 in midfield. Priorities for the summer: CB (2 if / when we sell VVD) DM to play alongside Romeu No.10/Attacking midfield

Can't imagine it'll be long before Gabbi gets frustrated if we continue to play the way we have been. Isolated up top, feeding off scraps and not getting a look in. Teams have learnt to man mark him, we need players (Tadic/Boufal) in and around him. We've gone back to having 10 men in our own half again second half.

The only thing I've taken from this is that you used to support Lyon when they were successful. No doubt this coincided with us being in L1 / Championship

Expalin...?

No it's not, completely different set of circumstances. When Poch took over as manager at Espanyol, they were 3rd from bottom he guided them to mid table that season, and then again mid table the season after (granted they had a drop in form the following season, which he and others have put down to the financial situation at Espanyol, however given the 2 prior seasons, he clearly improved the team). When he took over Saints we were 3 points above the relegation zone. We comfortably avoided relegation that year and the finished 8th the following season. It's a similar story at Tottenham. He's taken them from Europa league qualifiers at best, to potential champions. The main difference being.... Monaco, Lille and Lyon are expected to finish around the top of Ligue 1. Espanyol, Saints (at the time) and now Tottenham have overachieved with Poch in charge.

Jack needs game time. If he's not going to be first choice next year (which he won't) he should go out on loan.