CheshireSaint

Didn't Bielsa want to change Everton 'root and branch' when they were looking for a Lampard replacement? I believe he was happy to go down on the basis that he would get rid of the dead wood and instead, build a young and hungry new squad ready to come back up in a season or two, thus rendering the team, overall improved, admittedly after relegation. This wasn't what Everton wanted to hear and so it went no further. For me, this sounds like a great plan. We are down anyway, Bielsa getting us playing aggressive and bright football whilst marching up the league sounds just the job. Bielsa wouldn't tolerate fidgeting and BS from Rasmus either so double whammy.

Anyone that picks Moi is a dick. Those people will point to the fact that successive Managers have done the same, should also reflect on those Managers have all been sacked, largely because they've been dicks. Selles could have been a breath of fresh air but nothing has really changed. it is madness that someone in authority cant see and have the wherewithal to insist anyone new actually try something new. Despairing.

Or 'stuff' and 'things' like 'that'.

Seems fair enough at this point but largely depends what sort of contract we agree to. Positives - Knowledge of the Premiership so doesn't need time that we have not got to adjust. Knows Leeds inside out and we have still to play them. Will have some knowledge of our current players, including the new ones as Leeds fish in the same transfer pond as us. Allegedly plays a similar system as Ralph and it was a good system when implemented well. Doesn't make a tit of himself in interviews. Very 'up and at 'em' which whilst short term, maybe exactly what we need. Willing to come to us in our present position. Probably relatively cheap. Negatives - Not a fancy name that some would like. Has a sketchy CV. 'Failed' at Leeds although apparently he did have them playing well. Overall I don't think it is as crazy as some think. Some Managers fit with some clubs and not others. He may well be a decent fit. With Jones, it was abundantly clear that he would never work. So much so that RA must truly have something missing not to see it. At least with Marsch, there is some logic and potential to work out. Fingers crossed.

I largely agree with the above but one thing of concern for me is his inability to use his left foot. Couple of opportunities to shoot with left that he chooses to open up his body and fails with his right. When he does 'shoot' with his left (at 3.18), he makes a pigs ear of it. Same with his left footed cross near video end. Are their many successful footballers that are so one sided I wonder? He does look a right handful though and wouldn't be easy to defend against.

I said to my missus prior to the draw that Newcastle (3rd in league) and Man Utd (4th in league). will be kept apart and both will have the advantage of their home ties in the second leg. Cup draws seem entirely predictable these days. Between now and the home leg, likely to be Tuesday 24th, we will have played Everton away and Villa at home. Positive results in those games and we will be in the ascendancy. Newcastle in comparison have Fulham at home and Palace away. Negative results against those and Newcastle will probably be in league position more akin to their level. They are third currently and fair play to them but they are not the third best team in the league (I reckon they will finish 7th). Their 3 results prior to their Quarter final victory have been draws against Leeds and Arsenal and a loss to Sheffield Wednesday so we shouldn't be too alarmed. Will be down to who plays well on the night(s) and if we can replicate last nights performance, we should be grand. Newcastle are not suddenly some elite team. They are entirely beatable if we play to our potential. Up the Saints!!

Indeed. Back in my Army days, someone strong was known to have 'Arms like Garth' in homage to said cartoon character. I have used the term in civvy street only to be faced with some quizzical looks.

He is at his usual nonsense again. Quote from this week's Team of the Week - Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) This can't be happening. Granit Xhaka, once the most unpopular player ever in an Arsenal shirt, is scoring goals, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are playing out of their skins, the Gunners are still top of the table and I can't see anyone stopping them at the moment. It's like a nightmare unfolding in front of your very eyes. Thank goodness Arsenal are having to play three games a week including European football matches. Fortunately the Saints played the Gunners at the right time. A fresh Arsenal would have destroyed Southampton. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63368172 This is after Saints played 3 times in a week. Bloke is stealing a living.

I agree. This 'natural position' nonsense is exactly that. When a player runs and turns and jumps etc., the body uses limbs to compensate and maintain balance. During this activity, arms especially, can be all over the place but they will always be absolutely 'naturally' positioned. We don't decide where our arms go as we run left then right and then jump for a ball. If you break your arm and it is hanging backwards at a right angle, that would be unnatural. Stupid rule and another one that was introduced to make things more simple and instead, has created a monster. Back in the day, 'ball to arm' was considered accidental and 'hand ball' was considered to be deliberate. The only grey area was judging if a players hand / arm went toward the ball as a conscious decision or whether it was a natural, subconscious movement. Unfortunately, that grey cannot be sanitised into black and white and we have to accept that, but in a bid to make everything black and white, we are off down another rabbit hole where neither black or white exists. Still, decision makers get paid to review and introduce new interpretations to laws, additional refs get paid to monitor VAR and so there is a market for this shy-terry to be further exploited. We could go back to basics but the gravy train would have to come to a halt. Mike Dean by the way....where do I start? The Tony Blair of refereeing.

Chester here. Walked into a tool hire shop this morning in Ellesmere Port (about 5 miles from Chester) and on the counter, was a Saints mug. The chap behind the counter lives up here but was originally from just outside Southampton. I shall use that branch more often as a result. I used to always go to the local away matches and some home but admittedly don't bother so much nowadays with the dodgy box showing all games.

Thanks KW. So possible but still not probable. And the same for the previous round please if you'd be so kind. Then perhaps in combination. Thanks in advance.

I think Everton need to be brought into any equation too, as the 4th biggest team in the draw. Then please add into the equation, the chances of 8 of the 9 premier clubs in the last draw, all being drawn against sub premier opposition. Genuinely interested in the odds of that happening. We drew West Ham but only because there had to be at least one all premier draw. Personally I find this really hard to believe from a genuine, random draw. The way the draw is conducted too, with the presenter and GS with no indication as to it being live. Someone mentioned earlier that GS wouldn't be involved if it was dodgy but I don't buy that either. He is employed by the same organisation and quite frankly, owes them absolutely everything. Where else is he going to get a gig like that? He is nothing if not a 'yes' man for the FA.

No idea mate and I am far from a conspiracy theorists but it is hard to believe something isn't amiss

It's utter bullsh1t. Include Everton too as the 4th biggest team in the draw and they all avoid each other again. Just like the last round when 8 out of the 9 Prem clubs all avoided each other. They want all of those 4 clubs at Wembley. The refs will make sure that happens too, I have little doubt.

Not to detract from the humour in any way, and I don't mean to be pedantic but the is no prison in Chester. Greenwood certainly doesn't live in Chester either. Chester is of course the ceremonial city of Cheshire , where many north west footballers do live, so whilst they may indeed have their day in court at Chester Magistrates / Crown Court, they would not be serving any time in Chester. There is a prison in Chester, Pennsylvania (I have just learned) so perhaps that is the cause of any confusion.

I went to an after dinner gig about 20 years ago in Birkenhead and Frank was the main speaker. I sat there waiting specifically for Frank to wax lyrical about his short time at Saints. Anyway, waffle waffle waffle until he got to the Southampton bit. I'm paraphrasing here but basically he said 'then I went to Southampton and Lawrie Mac. It was like signing for Saddam Hussein'. That was it and then he swiftly moved on. I was gutted. That said, his pass in the build up to the Danny Wallace overhead kick was sublime and he is still a reminder of when football had a certain freedom of spirit. RIP Frank.