Fitzhugh Fella

Whatever the truth of the matter one thing you can be sure about the club will not be open about it. It took over a month for Rohl's departure to filter out. It's the way the club is run these days.

I tried to but the article is twice as long as the forum would allow

Our most talented player as you put can't pass though

Carl's doing a good job and he talks to the right people. I think he irritates some bodies at SMS and the fact we no longer have a vibrant local paper to question what goes on it is important journos like Carl flourish.

Heard last night that Gao is not letting the Board get on with things and is interfering without having any clear objectives.

Nope I don't feel any better this morning either. Totally unacceptable. We have let down all those thousands of ex-players who over the last 134 years haven't managed to be that inept and spineless.

Sometimes you come across as incredibly pedantic or incredibly argumentative. Is it a good message to announce to the world that when we buy a player it is with the main purpose of making a profit on him? We might as well go into banking or real estate if all we want is to make money. Yes I know modern football means it is hard to hold on to your Manes and van Dijks but let’s not hitch our skirt up too high and then boast about it. If you don’t understand the negative vibes that statement elicited then you need to get your head out of the sand.

My assumptions are not unfounded. I have known one or two instances he has not done what he was tasked to do

But do you have any evidence to say he is? The worst defeat in our 134 year history would suggest something aint right at SMS.

that's exactly what I heard plus the players really respected Rohl who was far better at communicating with them.

He's only on loan don't forget. Feel a bit sorry for the lad, he has been horrendously treated by the manager

How about ditching the "we are a buy to sell club" mantra too?

Can I say I was very impressed with Ralph Hassenhutl's appointment last season - for once we appeared to have unearthed a manager capable of stopping the rot. But then early in pre season I was told that Rohl had departed. The players said their had been a rift between him and Ralph but that could have been just player gossip. Nevertheless it was strange the club didn't announce it until about 3 weeks later though. This season, however the manager has been as unimpressive as he was impressive last year. So I have "asked around" and been told that the players have no liking for Ralph mainly because he is very arrogant. Apparently Rohl was "the brains behind the coaching" and was also the one who did all the communicating between the management and players. Something is definitely amiss up there, Charlie Nicholas alluded to something wrong behind the scenes. I hate to say this but I can't see a future in Ralph staying. He looked completely isolated last night as all of his assistants remained glued in their seats. We are probably going down and I would rather bed in a good young manager now, if I had some faith in those doing the selection - which I haven't. Talking about the Board, they have hardly covered themselves in roses either. Publicly stating that "we are a buy to sell club" is stupid and an insult to the fans (even if it is true). Plus it hardly sends a good message to the players who care more about what they look like in the shop window. And then we have the biggest problem - our owner who sees us as a nice commodity to put on his company's CV. Long term we will go nowhere with Gao in charge, but how the **** do we get rid of him? All in all very depressing we need leadership and a backbone two qualities visibly missing last night in abundance.

Yep sort of agree. There doesn't seem much point in football these days.

And replace him with who? I must admit I am losing the faith a little but we must stick with him until at least the season's end. The departure of Rohl lies behind this slump I reckon. Ralph looks like a lonely figure on the touchline, something is not right.

‪Saints tactics, fanny around with the ball in midfield, pass back to Gunn who hoofs it to Chelsea player on half way line, slick 1-2 then ball in net.....and repeat.‬

Ralph said after the game that wasn't true. I can't believe the coach would not have updated him by 5pm?

I don't think the knives are out. I also don't think there is one Saints fan who would want him gone, but that doesn't mean to say everything is hunky dory at the present. Something does not quite feel right. The Soares incident has not been fully explained yet and there was the kerfuffle with Bertrand plus the departure of Rohl. Hopefully Ralph has the ability to ride the storm like someone says we must remember we are a work in progress and have a long way to go to erase the influence of Lou Reed (sic).

Facts aren't always easy to come by when it comes to our club

through Fratton the Saints train came a-puffin' Southampton four, the Pony Punchers nuffin'

Holding pen for the Jeremy Kyle Show - that made me laugh.

He is the admin of a Saints chat group on Facebook. His name is John Titheridge

Wow strange opinion. Yes we dominated the 2nd period but only because they sat back and let us come onto them without us ever looking like scoring. First half they were streaks ahead and looked so much coherent than us. A positive for me was Boufal who worked his socks off and tried to be creative but we have problems all over the field at the moment. Shaky keeper, long-standing central defensive issues, a turgid midfield (Romeu excluded - he had a stormer) and a forward line who need introducing to each other. Our one asset, the manager has had a brain storm in the selection department and seems to have developed a stubborn alter ego. Other than that everything is hunky dory.

Carl Anka of the Athletic has published an excellent article on the rivalry and completely trashes the dock strike myth, in fact it was the Portsmouth dockers who were scabs. Check the article out, its behind a paywall but I think the Athletic is doing a weeks trial

Once spent a very interesting day in his company when Saints played at Doncaster. There was no doubt he was a fan first and foremost but he also dug very deep when the club were in trouble and lost a lot of money too. Certainly deserves to be recognised as a true supporter of the club in hard times. He was without ego too - for him the survival and the welfare of the club was the most important aspect.