Christophenburg

I don't see the point in appointing a manger for 6 games if they're not also the manager for next season, so absolutely don't believe this rumour at all

I'm probably alone in thinking that the majority (though not all) of our signings under SR have actually been pretty good, they've just either not ultimately lived up to expectations, fallen out with a manager, been completely mismanaged, or just not got enough game time. Some will leave, but under different circumstances I think most will come good! Problem is some of the deadwood we can't shift and the fact that they're repeatedly selected (*cough* Elyounoussi *cough*)

I thought Paul Jewell was statistically the worst PL ever? In 07/08 Derby didn't win a single game and were relegated by March with just 5 points

I think we'll probably lose around 7 or 8 players, something like JWP, Lavia, KWP, Salisu, Tella, ABK and DCC, maybe Adams too. A season in the championship with Edozie, Livramento and Alcaraz doesn't seem too bad with good re-investment back into the squad - big test for SR and the laptop though

Surely there's no way Selles stays at the end of the season, particularly with relegation is confirmed as early as it's likely to be. I'd probably aim for Cooper if he's sacked soon - his Championship record is 3 for 3 on at least getting into the play-offs. If Middlesbrough don't go up then Carrick has to be on the list, what he's achieved there has been phenomenal. We'd be an attractive squad in the Championship - there'd be a degree of rebuild in defence and midfield as I expect we'll lose a lot of our squad there, but if we can hang onto some of the younger players and invest in experience, there's something exciting to work with there. It's going to be hard though, real hard, and we need to be proactive, decisive and quick as soon as relegation is confirmed (if it's still in doubt for anyone at the club already)

In fairness, had we lost with that starting line-up and those subs and you'd all be up in arms - rode our luck a little bit. Elyounoussi and Bednarek must have a heck of a unused sub bonus in their contracts!

The fact that DCC and Orsic can't even make the bench, let alone the starting line-up, raises lots of questions

Having started Elyounoussi and Bednarek, and subbed off Sulemana, Onuachu and Lavia for Walcott, Adam Armstrong and Mara, opinions would be very, very different had we lost. No doubting the energy, enthusiasm and passion from the whole squad today - they had real fight in them today - but lets look at this in the cold light of day tomorrow. I've been impressed by Selles so far overall, but I can't take another manager that sees Elyounoussi as a guaranteed starter

Thorup managed Tall Paul at Midtjylland and Genk too. I'm a big backer of Thorup, thought he'd be in the mix

DCC played for RB Salzburg, admittedly before Marsch's time, but he's built in that mould - he'll do well under Marsch (if he comes) Comparing win rates of various manager at the same club is pointless, there are so many other variables to take into account. At RB Salzburg Marsch had an identical win rate to Roger Schmidt (69%) who took Benfica on a 29 game unbeaten run - not sure we could compare them? Heck even Marco Rose' win rate at Salzburg was just a few percentage points higher and he'd be a phenomenal appointment!

That all said it'll end up being either a Rasmus overly clever choice, like Garry Monk or Shota Arveladze, or a proper odd Southampton choice like Franco Foda or Andre Breitenreiter

Yup - huge missed opportunity

Think we need someone who is prepared to use a pyrrhic relegation battle to get to know and develop the squad ahead of a genuine promotion push next season (assuming we don't stay up) - they have to have relegation built into their contract. Who? Well assuming we won't pay compensation to anyone, and assuming the likes of Poch, AVB etc. are completely for the birds, there's a few good names available: Gerardo Seoane Gollardo (assuming he doesn't go to Leeds) Jess Thorup (my personal shout) Bruno Lage maybe even Marsch? We have a good team, Man City in the cup and the first half yesterday showed that, we just need someone who can use the assets we have much more effectively, consistency and sensibly then Jones did.

Another non-stripe enthusiast here, they're so ubiquitous and boring, could literally badge it has half the clubs in English football and no-one could tell the difference Case in point...

It just shows that when we play the way the squad was built and coached for - 4 at the back, pressing etc., then things go ok. We pressed well, Armstrong very much so for that goal, and the defence looked more comfortable in a 4. Lyanco was tantalisingly close to a classic moment of madness but maintained his composure pretty well and kept Zaha off the scoresheet, and for me DCC showed he should be a regular starter - a little time and confidence and he'll be a strong CB for us. Hopefully something for Jones to learn from, and helps build the lads' confidence. On a side note, I really enjoyed the proper captaincy from JWP - he loves playing against Palace! He needs to find that edge in more games

JWP played like a captain, we pressed (Armstrong very much so for that goal), and the defence looked more comfortable in a 4. Pleasantly surprised with Lyanco at RB, particularly keeping Zaha relatively in check, and though he was tantalisingly close to a classic moment of madness maintain composure pretty well. Some real bravery and strong save from Bazunu. Hopefully a big boost to the lads' confidence even if there is still some real fragility there behind basic mistakes, but overall a good win!

I really don't think is is Jones' tactic at all but rather a reflection of our squad's defensive fragility and complete lack of confidence

Sticking with a back 3/5 despite it consistently and repeatedly not working, picking Lyanco over DCC (despite DCC being our oldest and most experienced CB and experience being something Jones bemoans a lack of), Elyounoussi being a guaranteed first name on the team sheet over Stu Armstrong, hoofball when our entire squad was built for the high press (and pressing actually paying off when we do it) - it's just a complete shambles. I have never seen Saints so unsure of how to do even the fundamentals of passing, let alone having confidence in a game plan. This feels much, much worse then the 2004/05 season

Tedesco was my pick when Ralph was sacked and was completely baffled we didn't go for him - he's so Saints-y!

Che scores that 1-on-1 and it would have been a different game, BUT it's Jones who started and stuck with a back 3/5 despite it consistently and repeatedly not working, it's Jones who picked Lyanco over DCC (despite DCC being our oldest and most experienced CB and experience being something Jones bemoans a lack of), and it's Jones who seems to have decided Elyounoussi is a guaranteed start over Stu Armstrong. So yeah we might have won that had Che scored, but we were set-up to fail from the very start

Play like the Fulham game (excluding the formation change when Edozie went off) and I think we could scrape it, say 1-0, but all signs point to a leaky draw, maybe 2-2 I reckon. I actually think Forest are in more trouble then us, but we so devoid of confidence our fragility is off the charts

The only thing I know about Alcaraz is that he scored the winner in the 117th minute of the Argentine Cup Final which resulted in a massive melee on the pitch and 10 red cards - seems perfect

Not every circular badge is based on the City Group, Aston Villa's was first circular in 1973. Though in fairness City's was first circular in 1960 (and indeed as was the original St. Mark’s crest back in 1880)

I thought it was interesting how quickly things improved with a back 4, particularly how much more offensively Perraud played going forward then with a back 3/5. I just don't think a back 3/5 works for us, hopefully Jones-y realises that pretty quick. We seem much more comfortable in a 4-2-3-1. ABK and DCC seem the best CB pairing at the moment, but I love Lyanco's jeopardy - he'll either do something absolutely spectacular or completely disastrous, and nearly had a heck of an assist! Mara seems to still need time, but Edozie really impressed - he needs to strengthen in the final third a bit but there's a heck of a player in there! Still think, as heretical as this may be, that Prowsey needs dropping for a while. He's not showing anything in performance or leadership to guarantee his name on the team sheet each game, maybe Jones-y will be brave enough to look at the captaincy.