Gorgiesaint

What's Carlo Ancelotti up to these days? He's available, even if on a short term basis until the end of the season which is the way we need to go. He'd certainly get the respect from the players. We can then make a longer term appointment in the summer, and if successful, maybe even Ancelotti might consider staying of it works both ways.

You obviously weren't there on Saturday. MoPe also tried doing nothing and it didn't work.

Don't know Hugo personally at all, but I know he was highly liked and regarded at the club. Really disappointing to see him moving to West Ham, it's one thing losing talent on and off the field to bigger clubs, but to West Ham!? Perhaps nn indictment of possible off the field turmoil over the last 12 months?

Was going to save this for later in case we all needed cheering up, but it's too good to wait. I see Jose Fonte made his debut for Dalian Yifang in the Chinese Super League today. Gave away a penalty in an 8-0 defeat to Shanghai SIPG !!!!

That would get my vote. Last Saturday before Christmas. Driving back up to Edinburgh up the A1 in driving snow after the game, and found out they closed the road about 10 minutes after I went through. All I can remember was the wind was blowing straight into the corner where the away fans sat in those days. 5 layers and still baltic. Jay Bothroyd was the big thing in L1 those days, but he was awful that day. I think SKD saved at least 3 one on one's with him. Threw his toys out of his pram when he got subbed, sadly Snodgrass came on and curled one into the top corner for the only goal of the game.

There's no obsession with 4-4-2. I live out of the area so I don't listen to Dave Merrington's gems of tactical nous. But you admit that the players we have can't / won't / are unable to get and support a one up striker. So if after 18 months of that, and being that we can't change any of the players until the end of the season, the question is what does the manager do about it? One option would be play a second striker, and whilst I've only seen the MOTD highlights, it seemed to have an effect yesterday when Sims came on wide right with Gabbi & Carrillo up front. 4-4-1-1 might be an option, but I don't think we've got the players to make that system work. Would you expect Gabbi to play as the support striker and track back into midfield to win ball? That's not going to happen. At least if you know Gabbi & Carrillo are up front, the midfield 4 can be organised and know what they need to do, and that's whether you play as a flat 4 or a diamond. Final thing, I certainly wouldn't go 4-4-2 against any of the top teams. Against those, we need to win as much ball in midfield as possible. But against Stoke at home next week when we need to win?

What that comes across as and I'm not sure if I'm right, bar the lucky goal, Dyche is to Burnley pretty much what Puel was to us last season? Here's my thoughts. We looked so much better when Sims and Gabbi came on and we attacked Burnley. However that requires a switch to 4-4-2 rather than 4-2-3-1. Do we play that because it's the Southampton Way? All the teams from the youth teams onwards all play the same system, presumably under Reed's direction, so that players are supposed to move on seamlessly up the ranks. Does this link in with Puel getting the sack because he wanted to change the system? I suppose what my ramblings are trying to question is would MoPe play a different formation (eg 4-4-2) if he had a free hand, or is being instructed that he has to play 4-2-3-1 from the board to maintain the Southampton Way despite we haven't had the players to play that way for that last 18 months?

Whilst he may be a fantastic prospect at youth level that still doesn't guarantee he'll be succesful when given the chance to step up. If you've not seen BT Sports documentary 'No Hunger in Paradise' then I suggest you might want to watch it. It features a former West Ham trainee (who's name escapes me) but who was a wonder-kid through their academy system, got academy player of the year and captained their youth team. He never got a pro contract and ended up going to university in the USA. Anyway, even if he turns out as good as projected, there's nothing wrong with having two young star centre backs.

It's an interesting point, one I would agree with. There's very lttle difference in squad strength, although all have various strengths and weaknesses. I would say making the difference comes down to a few factors: 1. Fitness. We've conceded far to many late goals and that's a sign of a lack of fitness. Given that we don't even play particularly quickly, it is even more disappointing. 2. Attitude. Interesting reading the book on Pochettino, the first thing he does every day before training is to watch the players arrive for breakfast and see what mood they are in and what their attitude is. Too many of our players don't look like they're enjoying their football in comparison to some other teams (e.g. Brighton, Huddersfield & Palace spring to mind), although there are others in the same boat e.g. West Brom. 3. In-game Management. I'd include the lack of consistency in team selection as well, Pellegrino seems to have stopped rotating as much as he did before Christmas. His substitutions have also improved but he still needs to more attack minded.

Have been thinking for a while that we are just not fit enough as a team. Problem is, even if MoPe thought to address it, how do you do that mid-season? Correct, we've had loads of shots over the last seaosn and a half, and at times haven't looked close to finding the back of the net. Maybe (thinking this as I type it out) the lack of composure in front of goal is a direct consequence of the lack of fitness?

Well here's the answer to the 'who'? It's everyone's favourite ice cream salesman! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43055733

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43047113 So West Brom's owner takes some decisive action given the position they find themselves in. And that's having already changed their manager. Our incumbants have taken no action so far....

I see the PFA have released their latest accounts (year ending June 2017) which reveal that Gordon Taylor's income including a bonus of £777k was £2,290,276. This compares with the £100,000 that the union spent on research into head injury and concussion. Not sure how accurate these figures are as they're from Twitter but if you break down that income weekly, Gordon Taylor earns more than the average salary at 11 Premier League clubs (his does include his bonus and I assume that the clubs average salaries do not) Gordon Taylor £44,023 Southampton £43,679 Crystal Palace £43,286 West Brom £42,717 Stoke City £39,700 Swansea £32,940 Newcastle £32,889 Bournemouth £30,333 Watford £28,036 Burnley £26,375 Brighton £25,893 Huddersfield £19,693 Just another one riding the Premier League gravy train. How many other industries does the union leader earn more than the majority of his members (given the lower league players he supposed to look after)? And what does he do that deserves a bonus?

There's been plenty of dithering from Les, but not sure this is one of those times. Arsenal weren't agreeing to the deal on 1st January despite the player supposedly agreeing to the move.

Except that's not what the US are doing. Oversea's games, such as the London series & the Mexico City game in the NFL, and the London game in the NBA are regular season games where one team has to give up a home game. So Jacksonville, who have committed to the London series for a number of years, only play 7 home games a season in Florida. I believe that as the league operates a franchise system, they are compensated for the loss of gate revenue through the leag I agree with bringing forward the League Cup and getting that done and dusted before Christmas. That's how it's been done in Scotland for a few years now, this year's final was before the end of November.

There was an update on a Twitter feed Red Bull Hub https://twitter.com/RedBullHub/status/960498330148237312

Nothing showing on their official website or English Twitter feed.

Merse on Soccer Saturday gave Hoedt an assist for taking the ball off Boufal to give it to JWP to take the free kick!

Looks like Slimani might be heading to Newcastle on loan. Whilst I'm okay with Carrillo coming in, we really should have been after Slimani instead.

Except when you're buying a used car it's generally up for sale first, which Promes isn't. Spartak don't want to sell. Unless you buy your cars by going round your neighbourhood, seeing a nice car on someone's drive and knocking on their door offering to buy it. Most people will tell you to eff off.

The other thing that happened (just after the cup final) was Redmond got called up to the England squad with JWP for the Germany game in March. He wouldn't be the first Saints player to have his head turned having been called up to the national team.

Pellegrino's press conference didn't exactly inspire confidence that the deal will get done.

We probably did enquire when we sold VvD, you can imagine the conversation: L: We'd like VvD please S: That'll be £75m then. Any chance we could get Sturridge from you? L: Sure, you can have him & £25m for VvD S: We'll just have the £75m thanks