Cabrone

'If only we had a new manager' etc etc etc. Understandable frustration and loads of suggestions for a new sticking plaster on the wound but it won't make a jot of difference, if the adequate but unspectacular Sparky was to be replaced by A.N other we'd all be back here in 3-4 months time calling for a new messiah to save us because the last one wasn't good enough. We have a board whose height of ambition is to make sure they get their premier league payout. They don't see the club the way the average fan does, they are happy to 'sweat' the asset and their idea of a perfect season is not spending a penny more on what is needed to achieve 17th. A bit like buying a house, renting it out for as much as you can get whilst spending a minimum amount on it and then flogging it when you think you can make a bit of a return. There's no love here, no passion, no fun. Even in the unlikely event that we managed to get an energetic ambitious manager in this board would drain the life out of him in 3 months tops. When the wood is rotten no amount of paint is going to improve it.

The club is drifting, the lack of leadership from a distant chairman who looks happy with 17th is seeping through the entire structure. Can't blame Sparky, the whole place has lost it's mojo and he's no miracle worker. The rot starts with Gao, I'd love for him to go now and get some energy in the boardroom but that's not going to happen. Depressingly we could have a long spell under his stagnant leadership.

The PL would be improved by more relegation slots IMO, even of it means we go down. More clubs involved in relegation giving fans some value to the season - stagnant PL clubs would suddenly have more competition to stay up - a greater churn of hungry champ clubs coming up - virtually the whole of the champ fighting it out for promotion. The sterile prem needs a bigger shot of fresh energy every season and an increase in pressure on the lower 75% of clubs to up their game and stop aiming for 17th (us for example).

The whole club from top to bottom has developed a losing mentality. It starts at the very top with chairman who only cares about 17th place and manifests itself in a playing staff that don't give it their all because no-one above is too bothered. A takeover is the only way out of this malaise - as long as it's to a chairman with some fire in their belly.

Changing Hughes won't make much difference. The bad old habits have returned throughout the club and it starts at the top. Sparky isn't a bad manager, not the best but certainly not the worst but in this culture even a good manager would be thwarted. The Guardian article was spot on, we are the new Villa, boring, bland, tedious, we don't care about losing or entertaining just as long as we scrape above relegation. That is now the height of our ambition because that is all the chairman cares about. The guy has no history with the club and no connection to the fans. Doesn't even spend much time here. Just take a look at the championship, 6 points separate 15 teams. That's a decent league - not the dysfunctional premiership. We may have to take a step down to change the culture.

The Guardian is bang on the money, we are magnolia and it will send us down sooner rather than later if the club can't find it's mojo. Trouble is with this current owner I can't see that happening. On a wider point I wonder if the prem wouldn't be greatly improved by a lot more relegation\promotion spots so it gets regularly refreshed with optimism from the champ. Far too many fearful prem teams who just want to cling on (us for example). Maybe 6 relegation spots to provide lots of fresh blood each season. We'd probably get relegated but then we'd have a good chance of getting promoted again, got to be more fun than the current set up.

Wolves should be odds on for the win, they have all the energy and belief of a freshly promoted team whereas we look a bit Villa'esque of a few seasons back. 1-0 to us it is then.

Fully expected loss and didn't really learn anything other that we are now an also ran in the prem, along with 75% of the rest. How very boring. Don't like the defensive mentality, pretty much hands the points to Pool on a plate. At least have a go and get in their faces, give the supporters something to get excited about and who knows you might just get lucky.

If you can't beat a bang average Brighton side at home then it's not looking good. Bottom 6 performances at home so far, too damn fragile.

2-0 to us, Brighton are no great shakes. We should win this one.

As long as the club tries to entertain - and we all know that they have failed miserably in the last 2 seasons - then that's all I want. The money on offer means that fear rules the roost for most and football becomes sterile. Better be careful though because fans won't continue to pay exorbitant prices for dross. That all said we are at least looking a lot better this season than the last 2. Hughes will be fine IMO.

Hughes in for me, we look miles better than the last 2 chumps. Frankly it's a relief to have a manager that generally makes sense and understands scoring goals is a pretty important part of the game.

2 wins on the trot should be good for confidence. Despite all the whining on here I believe we'll steer clear of trouble reasonably comfortably this season, we're certainly miles better than last season. If he stays fit Ings is going to be a major asset this season.

Southampton top scorers. Charlie Austin (1 goal @ 9 mins per goal), Ryan Betrand (1 goal @ 270 mins per goal), Danny Ings (1 goal @ 193 mins per goal). Looks like Charlie is taking off where he left last season. But he doesn't run enough apparently Link

Some positives in there but overall not good, heads are going to drop if we don't get some points on the board and if\when they do we will be in the brown stuff. First thing that badly needs addressing is goals so Gabbi on for 'no goals' Long please. When you need to dig yourself out of a hole the last thing you want is a 'striker' that never scores. Play him elsewhere but please put someone up front who knows how to score. 3 points dropped today.

2-1 Saints, Gabbi and Ings. Time to get the season up and running.

Solid manager who will steer us to safety this season. Compared to the last 2 appointments he's a breath of fresh air. He needs to stay for at least the whole season.

So much OTT negativity, yes we lost but it's Everton away. Is the pope a catholic etc etc.... Feel a lot more positive about this season than last - a few tweaks to CB'S and get Gabbi in from the off - and we'll be fine. For one thing we look actually capable of scoring goals at last and Ings looks like a very decent bit of business. Sure we aren't going to get a european place but I see us comfortably steering clear of relegation and that in my books is a definite improvement on the utter dross of the last 2 seasons.

I'd like to see Hughes go with a 4-4-2 and start building a good partnership up front right from the get go. At the moment I'd probably opt for Gabbi - Ings with Charlie as an inpact sub but that could change later on in the season if the combo doesn't work. Vital that we get our goal potential cranked up right at the start of the season. It's an area where we spectacularly failed on last year because of stupid selections and almost cost us. Get it right now and I think we'll have a comfortable season.

Fair play to Hughes, he changed it when he had to and it almost paid dividends. Compared to that one dimensional muppet last season he's a tactical genius. Hope it's a lesson learned, quit the negative crap and attack. Last 35 mins showed we have the players to do OK this season, just need to be taken off the leash. Gabbi and Ings looks like an interesting combo up front.

Plus if I remember (and I'm trying to block it from my memory) it took the fool almost half a season to realise that Charlie was a goal threat and when he finally selected him he got an instant goal impact. We have a lot of fans on here who rate running around more than scoring goals. Shane Long - who has a litttle fan club on here - could run around till his legs dropped off but still won't score but that doesn't matter because he runs a lot. BTW I don't dislike Shane Long, he can be a useful player still for us but he is no spearhead and that is what he was continually being selected to be. The guy is a mid\winger IMO. I don't care if Charlie is immobile (he is nowhere near as bad as is made out on here) - he scores goals when no one else was (Gabi was the closest - another player who was treated appallingly by whatshisname) . Why is that so hard to understand?? Give me a lump that scores (and Charlie is a lot smarter than a lump) over a runner that doesn't, at least you have a chance of 3 points with Charlie, you have no chance of a win with a guy like Long. According to this site last season he played 1029 minutes and scored 7 goals, more than 1 every 2 games he was selected\available and the mongs on here are still knocking the guy. Unbelievable.

Brighton, Cardiff and Watford but TBH there is a list of teams that could go down including Saints so bottom 3 could be anyone. 'Surprise collapse' nomination is Leicester under Puel.

Useful signing if he stays fit obviously. Finally a player that can challenge Charlie as a spearhead. IMO a fit Ings\Austin\Gabbi is not a bad combination to select from. I hope all 3 play prominent roles for us this season. The medical staff at the club are going to have an important job to do this season.

Burnley have just signed Joe Hart so let's hope he's playing this weekend.

Agreed except ..... Lemina for Hoj (assuming Mario is fit), he's a class act and needs to be on the pitch. If he's not producing then Sparky needs to kick his butt but at the moment he's the best mid we have. Also Charlie must be the spearhead. Goals win games and right now Charlie is the only one we have that is a proven scorer. Feed him and he'll produce.