vectraman

Playing one up front and the midfield 30 yards behind did not help with scoring goals either. That WAS the manager's fault. He was too inflexible in his approach. A bad workman blames his tools. The squad is decent, and I think the majority of Saints fans knew we should have had more points last season with the squad we have.

Two experienced players that would in my opinion makes sense (wage dependant):- Chris Smalling - would be an excellent straight in the team proven pl player. Samir Nasri - a definite upgrade on our midfield, also proven quality. We need to get some players in who have played in the pl, so we can get off to a front foot start for a change...

Agreed. Feel a bit sorry for him, but style of play was his downfall sadly. All the best for the future Claude. Next...

We need to come out of the traps on form, first fixtures up to November all winnable (maybe manure at home excepted!) Conversely we don't need to be struggling for points the last couple of months - real toughies! If we are as good as our 8th place suggests, we should be right up in the top six looking at August/Sept/Oct fixtures. Come on Saints, let's have a good start to the campaign, and start off on the front foot for once

Who cares? Can't get upset about someone I've never heard of, never seen, not joining Saints!! Will we ever sign someone I have heard of again..?

Agreed.

I hope we are better at it this summer than last.... Hoijberg, Boufal and (and to a lesser extent) Redmond have been less than wow last season. I know they can still get better, but underwhelming would be a fair description about last summers dealings.

Can't exactly blame him though, I'm sure we'd all do the same?!

And I don't think he is great. Not in the in the premier league. I'm not sure competent would be a word I would use. Either. With the squad he had at his disposal, imo he should have done better. Much better, especially in a terrible Europa league group. Playing for a 0-0 at home to Hapoel is not, imo a sign of a competent or better coach. That was the game when I had real doubts about him as a coach, with his European experience. Coupled with poor recruitment, last season was poor. If we took Puel on because he wouldn't question our recruitment policy, and would go with what he was told and sold, it also reflects badly on Saints as a club. I believe Puel was never our no.1 option, but we got him because he would go with the flow. This summer is critical for Saints. If we sell some of our top players, and replace with average/ poor like last season, we will really struggle under Puel. Just my opinion of course

It's a forum, people have opinions. Just clearly not the same as yours, but nevertheless entirely valid. A cup final we lost, and 8th place 20 points behind last year. I genuinely believe that MP or RK with our squad from last year would have exceeded that points total. The football at home was boring, his absolute insistence on safety first was boring, and his substitutions throughout the season were at best safe, at worst boring. I haven't renewed my season ticket until I know what's happening. If he stays I will pick and choose my games, no point watching the big boys because the games were dire. You clearly have watched us at home this season, and I say this year was absolute gash at home. Started cr4p against Watford and Sunderland, ended cr4p against Stoke. Lots of ****e sandwiched in between. Call me entitled. Call me not a fan. Call me what you want. I have my own mind, and what my own eyes saw was gash. My two kids wanted to go home at half time on more than one occasion- they are the future Saints season ticket holders, and they were....bored. Our opinions differ, but I can accept someone's differing opinion, can you?

I can recognise a superb coach, and Puel isn't. Easy. Next...

Claude, okay with you if we practice passing the ball backwards and sideways from corners back to our keeper? Oui Cool. ;-)

Love it! I'd buy that, unlike this season's awful effort. It's a yes from me

You would like to think so, but just like in the classroom, you always have the stupid ones who are sadly lacking in brains, so spend their time acting the fool instead. But a poor teacher doesn't stamp down on it and put a line in the sand. Remember koeman dropped Mane for his lateness, sets the standard.

I guess it depends how many of our decent players leave this summer, and if we replace them with mediocre players as we did last close season. We do need to clear some dead wood out, and get better quality in.

Keep him. On his day (admittedly few and far between this season), he is a fantastic player capable of leaving any defender for dead. I think it's our set up and formation around him that has nullified his effectiveness this year. A change of manager could well give us the "good" Tadic back. I hope.

When he stood in last season when Bertrand was injured, quick pacy forwards/wing backs had him on toast. He doesn't have the pace to be a decent pl quality left back. He did look much more at home playing as a left midfielder, and delivered a decent cross. Man U played very defensively and didn't really try and get down our flanks, so he didn't get tested really. I would be pretty miffed if Bertrand was sold and we didn't replace him. Better still, we keep him

They've got Election Day pencilled in to announce VVD and Bertrand's move to Liverpool

And let's not forget, we could be watching a record 5th goalless Saints performance in a row! What's not to celebrate

Bingo! Someone else who can see that playing two strikers TOGETHER is the solution to our ineptitude upfront. Gabbiadini and long playing off each other could work. It is just that our manager will not try it. Ever. Also correct about our below average midfield. We need to get a couple of tall quick players in who are willing to get forward quickly to support the attack. Think we may need a new manager for that to happen too... Puel seems to not want the midfield to get forward. We desperately lack some height and bite in midfield, we must have the shortest midfield squad in the league! Davis, clasie, jwp, sims must all be no bigger than 5'8" I know messi is tiny, but these players are not him Romeu needs a cdm partner too. A yaya toure type of player and stature. J rod will go, I hope we keep Long though, played as part of a strike pair his pace and tenacity causes problems, which can bring Gabbiadini into play.

And it is down to the manager to inspire and motivate, to ensure the players perform to a high standard, which we did not see on Saturday. If they are injured, they should not be playing as we have plenty of squad players not getting a look in. If they aren't performing because they don't buy into the manager, well that's a different problem...

We won't finish 8th not with Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal to come. No chance. We won't get as many points as Poch did either. No chance. The performances this year have, on the whole, at home been sh1t. 17 goals, 9 of which in 3 games. So many poor games this season. Poor as in boring. I don't mind losing to good sides with a fight, but there is no fight. Against the top teams we've rolled over and had our tummies tickled. That is down to Puels tactics. Two up front? Never. Not once has he tried it, even though we can't score. Long - his stats look poor. But how many minutes has he played? What run in the side has he had? None. Play one game, sub next. How does that help confidence? Down to the manager, boring bloke, boring team to watch. Get rid of and bring back some excitement. Season ticket with Puel next year? No chance. I've never been so bored as watching the turgid crap this season (with a few exceptions). Also poor recruitment. We could all see goals may be a struggle without Mane and pelle, but we did sod all. Lost fonte. Bought nobody. All on the cheap, all depressingly predictable. I dread this summer, expensive exits, cheap replacements. Sorry Saints, a **** poor season. Yep, Wembley was great, but complete luck we got there playing reserves v reserves for first three games. **** in FA cup, **** in Europe. Bye bye Claude.

No shots, no excitement, kids are bored, I'm bored. Sort it Claude, it ain't working .

Sat here in the family centre, it's just sooo dull. Zzzzzzzz

Well, based on the thread title, I'd be happy if we picked up Fabianski from Swansea if they go down. If Hull go down, maybe their manager.... But realistically, whoever we sign will be unheard of, well by me anyway!