Gorgiesaint

You can look at it like that or you could look at it that he's a manager coming to a country where he never played, and doesn't speak the language but now does his press conferences in English and has developed his skills so that the team he managed last season gained more points than anyone else from losing positions in the Premier League. Not forgetting a semi-final in the major cup competition (so also one visit to Wembley). Managers sometimes need time as well to develop.

Damaged goods... Look at his record at Dortmund, in two season's, he finished 2nd & 3rd, reached the final of the German Cup both seasons (won one & lost one), and reached the quarter final of the Europa League in his first season & the quarter final of this seasons Champions League. At Mainz, in five seasons they finished 9th, 5th (their highest ever finish in the Bundesliga), 13th, 13th & 9th which is pretty good for a club that traditionally finished in the bottom half of the top division or top half of the second division. Does that mean that Jose Mourinho is damaged goods by being sacked by Chelsea and Real Madrid? He would be an amazing appointment, whether he will fit in with the board is the issue.

And should we become available, we'd be the biggest club open to him as the top 7 are now all sticking with their current incumbents with Arsenal sticking with Wenger.

Pleased for Huddersfield as they're a well run club. Certainly one Saint who'll be happy for them is Ross Wilson, given we poached him from them.

I wouldn't count on Puel going to St Etienne. He's a previous Olympique Lyonnaise coach and the two clubs detest each other. Not sure the fans would accept him - bit like Redknapp becoming our new manager. You only need to look at what happened when they tried to sign Anthony Mounier from Nice in the winter transfer window to see how volatile the fans are. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/02/01/fans-force-player-out-saint-etienne-after-four-days

My initial reaction to this season was that we need a change of manger, but on reflection, it would be a harsh decision. Finishing 8th (however that is achieved) together with a cup final was what many were asking for, however the downside was European elimination at the group stage and the general defensive nature of our play. If you compare Puel with both of our previous managers, who nearly everyone believes did a better job than Puel, had areas that needed improvement. Pochettino never had an in-game plan B meaning that we never recovered from going behind with him in charge, and Koeman had that awful run around Christmas. Both have improved since, Spurs under Pochettino turned around more games than anyone else in the Premier League, and Koeman's worst run was 3 without a victory (2L 1D). If Puel stays then hopefully he can learn in the same way. Not having European football should mean less rotation this season, and with a full pre-season working with Gabbi and Charlie Austin (plus any forward signings) then hopefully we should see more attacking football. At times, the team has shown that Puel can put out a team to play entertaining football. The Premier League is very unique in its demands, and Puel has not worked outside of France before, so it would be interesting to see how much he's learnt this season. And if he stays, we as fans need to get behind the team, and if after 10 games, they're still serving up some of the dross we've seen this season then push for a change. That said, if Unai Emery becomes available and we can get him in, then cut Puel now!

Keep. Seemed to have built a good relationship with Gabbi, until Puel decided to mix things up a bit and play JRod and Long. Would be interested to see how he gets on with another manager actually providing some motivation.

Spot on. We've finished 23 points behind 6th place, and a woeful 17 (I believe, might be wrong) goals at home in the league this season. Simply not good enough. We need a change of direction back towards the high intensity pressing that we had under Pochettino, not sure who is going to give us that as a manager.

Fair play to them getting out of Division 4 at the (what is it) third attempt. Not bad for a club with by far the biggest budget in the league. Actually good job they got promoted with Coventry being relegated, they might not have been considered the biggest club down there next year.

Really? Given all that the Liebherr's have done for the club. We really do have some very strange fans.

Man City v Man Utd now confirmed for Thursday 27th April - giving Utd 9 games in April! That almost certainly means our game with Utd will be in May.

For those saying they would take Hart perhaps want to look at his ability (or lack of) in dealing with crosses. This was Inter's 2nd goal today...

But would he play the majority of games at Liverpool or City? Unlikely IMO, he'll probably get less game time than he does at Arsenal. Bertrand came to us because he knew he wouldn't be first choice at one of the top clubs. If Oxo wants first team football enough, he may consider taking the pay cut. Then again, he may get a word in his ear from his father to stay away from us!

You need to watch the incident again then, as after Mings jumps over Zlatan and Rooney, he is the first person to touch the ball. That is why I don't think Mings intended to stamp on Zlatan.

Nice to see Luke Shaw going to the referee to remind him that he'd booked Surman twice. His ex-Saints mate will thank him for that!! Was that a deliberate stamp by Mings, or just clumsily trying to get back in position? Def elbow by Zlatan though.

According to the Express, Stoke looking to offload few players in the summmer including Giannelli Imbula, who was mentioned on here before Stoke signed him. Could be worth looking at in the summer to help support Romeu?

I agree, but didn't Leicester lose their Head of Recruitment, Steve Walsh, to Everton in the summer. Certainly they've been much weaker defensively this season - Huth and Morgan are average at best, both reaching the end of their careers, and not been adequately replaced.

Completed folded in such a way that the goal they conceeded from there was Ibrahimovic tripping himself to gift United a penalty. And that is having dived to earn the free kick for the first goal. What worries me is a similar performance from Zlatan at Wembley. The media will continue to fawn over the complete professional, when Wednesday showed him up as no more than a cheat. Shame as he's a very talented player, but I lost a lot of respect for him after that performance.

For those who didn't see it, here's a clip from the BBC website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38986206?intc_type=promo&intc_location=sport&intc_campaign=russiahooligan&intc_linkname=news_fac_article1

And now he gives away a penalty! 4-0

So Sakho is so desperate to get playing again that despite being on £105k per week, he apparently wants a pay rise when he moves on. Says everything about him, greedy mercenary bar-steward. And obviously already at the right club if Liverpool believe they can ask £2m more than they paid for a player who's basically been suspended for the last 6 months

Be some good exposure if we get some Saints branded deodorant in the same way as they did with the Williams F1 tie up, not sure that'll sell so well nationwide mind!

Matip has 'retired' from international football and did not want to be selected for the AFCON. But that needed to be ratified by FIFA to allow him to play for Liverpool because Cameroon wanted to select him. After all he is only 25 so a little young to be retiring from international football. Boufal has not been selected by Morocco due to injury, but not sure if we can play him whilst they are still the tournament. Morocco play Egypt tonight in the last quarter final.

So would I, just so that he can't score against us again! That said, I did read in the Scottish press on Thursday that he was after £80k per week wages so on that count, no thanks. He's good but not that good.

And why did we sing "Come on You Reds" when we're playing Liverpool, Come on You Saints would have been better! Know the feeling, got several lumps and bruises on my legs. But so worth it, the whole end went mental.