croydonsaint

Have spent a bit of time now [you tube] getting to know more about him and his approach etc. and am changing my view from negative to why not. Something about him and if the players buy into him [and don’t see why not at all] we just could do very well next season

Have to say I agree with this. Although it’s being sold as Semmens is paying for us being relegated I would not be at all surprised if he was not in control of the Jones fiasco and all of the player recruitment decisions. Of course he couldn’t stay under the new regime so I just wish him good luck. I think he did a lot for the club the past 4 years or so and sure he will not be out of work for long. So the new owners no longer have any one to blame from now. Hope they do a better job next season than they have done so far.

Looking at this video I can’t say I’m being inspired. Will he be too keen to be liked? He doesn’t look a particularly strong character. Know he’s a decent guy and all that and am sure he’s intelligent but feels to me like we are making another big mistake if the rumours are correct. If we are wanting to bounce back up next season I doubt if this appointment can achieve that. If he comes I certainly wish him luck and will be very happy to be proved wrong but feels a risky appointment after 2 other risky appointments which failed badly.

First of all I have no call on being right on this but I am surprised how PV is being accepted as a decent option. I know a lot of Palace fans and for sure if he had not lost the players he had certainly lost the fans The big complaint was odd selections and very negative play ie. lack of goals. His track record is chequered and although his first season at Palace was decent he certainly lost his way this season. Look at how RH totally changed their results around and with the same players. To me the NJ experiment was pure arrogance and my main thought was why risk that decision for the win of Ankersen making himself look good if the gamble came off v setting the club back probably at best 2 or 3 seasons if it didn’t. It’s not hind sight here either I felt at the time [along with many] that it was madness and unfortunately that is how it turned out. We can not take any more risks at this time as if we fail to get back up in 2 seasons it’s going to get tougher each season. We need to pay for a proven manager with experience of gaining promotions. No messing around The manager recruitment is one of the very important decisions that need making. For the sake of the fans I hope they do not mess this one up again.

Sad thing is Leeds were the better team today No lack of effort from us and apart from poor goalkeeping we would have escaped with a draw Worryingly though we were never going to score were we. Enough games left but from today I do not see where a winning streak that we. Eyed is coming from. We need to invest in a goalkeeper in the close season as we have given Bazunu his chance too early [not his fault] Hope we are planning big time for next season as sadly I do not think we have enough to get out of this.

Got it …thanks

Thank you I had tried that earlier from a news site Odd it’s not on the Southampton web site

Has todays press conference been taken off the Southampton website … can’t see it anywhere does any one have a link?

So my thoughts for what they are worth 1. Our stated policy of buying young potential talents has backfired at this moment. The correct strategy for us but balance is key and we seem to not have good enough players around these future stars to give them time to come through. For instance Bazunu is likely to become a top goalkeeper [jury out still] but making him number 1 goalkeeper has weakened us this season and cost points this season. Edozie looks a prospect also but not ready to be helping us where we are now. 2. Hasenhuttl for me is a good coach. He did a great job for a while but in the end was beaten by lack of quality in the squad and certainly in hindsight now, the quality of supposed goalscorers/ striker signings. We can say he should have gone earlier but he deserved some time this season. Perhaps with a striker signed we would be in a slightly different place now although probably was correct to call it a day when we did sadly. 3. When Nathan Jones was signed my instinct was wow what are we playing at, what a risky decision, someone is either brave and knows something we don’t [this is what I was hoping]. Or cavalier with the future of the club and just plain naive. My thing is to respect the people responsible and closer to the situation and give them a chance but already to me too many red flags showing to believe Jones can be a successful manager with us. Ie. first game back after the break no material improvement, in fact we were rubbish. I put it down to the break and being rusty …but when Hassenhuttl took over I could see straight away what he was doing. Against Brighton you could see they were a big step ahead of us must have been one of there easiest results they will have this season, still no sign of progression or definable pattern. I have to say starting Lyanco yesterday was a massive red flag. Against Fulham he proved to me he should not be on the pitch with the situation we are in right now and sure enough he did what I actually expected. If I knew this why didn’t Jones? The training video saints PR department put out with Jones taking training with his whistle. I’m sorry but looked more like a school teacher with his young lads. Did he scream at one point and you can enjoy yourself Boys. If I was a professional player I can’t see I would be impressed with that bollocks. finally his post match comments, “I am here because we are where we are”, “I was surprised by the fans boos” “I am not a miracle worker” and reminding us we were losing games before he took over like he’s abdicating responsibility of results since he took over and many other comments I have noticed tell me he’s not right at this level. This is with out seeing him largely ignored by the players screaming his head off like a headless chicken on the touch line. I am sorry [and sorry for him genuinely] but he is not of the required calibre to be managing a premier league club. I understand the financial implications of sacking him immediately but this has to be weighed with the damage he is doing to the team and I am sure at some point losing our best players that do not need to put up with it and hindering our ability to attract the right talent under him. Apologies just venting as so frustrated. I think we are in deep trouble and I just hope we have the right decisions being made at this moment to minimise the impact of where we are heading. Will be watching the team Saturday at Palace with 2 of my young Grandsons coming to their first match. I would normally say in hope, but not sure there is much of that left right now ……

I agree that with Hassenhuttl we would have had a few more points than with Jones but something was clearly not right and liked him as I did his time had come …. I am now totally certain we have made a massive error with this appointment though as certain as I was lyanca should not have played today. It’s not his fault but he is demonstrably out of his depth Looking at him on the touch line is slightly embarrassing He should be put out of his misery The next week or so will be very informing all be it what ever we do now I can not see us staying up this season

Wondering will every one stop slagging off our manager now Great win and unusually good start to the season Enjoyed that

On the Crystal Palace saying they have put a bigger offer in than ours for Gakpo apparently Vieira is a pull. Hopefully rubbish

Just my opinion. Football is a team game after all and for me he adds to the team in a positive way whether on the field or i would think also the dressing room. I can understand criticism of players from our supporters with dodgy attitudes and we have had a few of those in recent years but come on give Long a break

Haven’t posted for a while but just getting irritated at all these easy negative comments about Long. For what it’s worth I think he has been a good player for us. I’m sure a lot of defenders do not enjoy playing against him. As a saints supporter just feel the need to say it as he does nothing but work hard for the team. He’s a better player than a lot of people give him credit for and if he’s here for another season the squad will be the better for it.

Vestergaard has been a good signing for us. I wish him all the best, he deserves his chance at Leicester as far as I’m concerned

Funny you should mention that you feel it’s not a happy camp. I too have a feeling something isn’t quite right.. Confusing though as from the outside Hasenhuttl looks like he is liked by the players and I thought the team spirit liked good didn’t. I like him and he certainly comes over well to me. My concern is that if the payers do not buy totally into his playing system it is not going to work and is this the issue. I feel Ings going to Villa was as much about not fancying the club [whether that’s the manager, the system we play, who knows) as ambition. Could have felt differently if he had gone to one the top 4 teams. Is Hasenhuttl now seeing the reality of his situation regarding lack of funds and the players he has to work with and is feeling lost or even out of his depth. I am hoping I am over reacting and a few decent signings and wins and things will feel better but …….

As we stand we will be relegated…… not enough goals in this team and can see us leaking goals I would say we need at least 4 new players in…… at least to be able to compete… imo

Think 30 million is too good an amount for a player that would have only played half the season and then left for nothing…Good move for Ings as he would certainly earn significantly more than we could pay him. Sorry for him he couldn’t have got to one of the top teams playing in Europe but they don’t need to risk buying a crocked player. at least he will have his money to look back on when he stops playing. We need to be clever with his replacement Armstrong will strengthen us but we do need to replace Ings as well would really not like to lose Prowse as he is a fantastic player but if he wants to go and went for 50 million you would hope 80 million would give us a better season.

Hoedt sent off

Hoedt just received yellow card poor late tackle

Pies?

Does any body know. Will VVD be collecting his massive wages while he is undermining our pre season. Whether he is or not will be very angry if we cave in to his petulance.

If Saints can identify perhaps 2 or 3 top quality players we can sign that will demonstrably improve our first team, [that we can't sign with out selling VVD] then if we get the transfer fee we require, let him go. Other wise regardless to any pressure from the player he must be made to stay. I am sure he will sort himself out once the transfer window closes. This is very tiresome and unfortunately is a situation that will happen again and again. I can totally understand him wanting to leave for a bigger club more money etc. but we are in the driving seat because of the long contract he has recently signed so I hope we do not cave in to the player on this occasion.....

I think Puels management of the squad has been inspired. Very interesting. I think we have more to be looking forward to under him than to be fearing.

I think that was the best debut from a young Saints player I can remember. Thought his decision making was very good. I do not think any one can doubt what an inspired selection Puel has been now. Do you think Koeman would have made that selection. Another player we have that can hold down a place in the premier league.