benali-shorts

If we go down, there's got to be a chance that Ankersen goes for Dean Smith, having had him as Brentford manager in the Championship. At which point, I may just reach for the cyanide pills.

Hope you're better soon. I agree wholeheartedly on the recruitment process. It's worrying that those responsible considered him a suitable personality, and that those same people will be involved in choosing his successor and other key roles within the club. Ankersen has far more influence with us than he had at Brentford, and the Jones appointment leaves a large question mark hanging over his judgement.

Yes. Imagine the atmosphere at training this week. And imagine how badly he’ll come across to the players. Completely out of his depth.

His naivety in saying this stuff in a press conference is staggering. He’s totally ill suited to this job in people-management terms. How this wasn’t apparent when he was interviewed is a total mystery.

Back to 5 at the back then….

He’ll never forgive salisu

There’s a significant risk that we do feel obliged, and overpay for a player who is 6th/7th choice and nowhere near the requisite level. We really have managed the last two windows appallingly to not rectify the key positions of GK or CF (yet, in fairness - ever hopeful….).

Obafemi to Burnley for £3m. We had a sell-on clause. We might get £300k, which may prove the difference between us not getting a centre forward and not getting a centre forward. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64413302

Interesting summary on Bree, thanks for posting

Angus Gunn statistically the best Championship keeper on their analysis.

Ryan Dickson and Dan Seabourne had slipped from my mental net.

#Striker link alert# Karl Toko Ekambi linked from Lyon, €4m.

One bit of good news in the Athletic article - Vince Bertram, goalkeeper scout for the last 12 years has left. Boruc aside (and arguably Forster at times), our GK recruitment during his tenure has been questionable at best.

I think Dawson wanted the Wolves move in the summer to be back near his family so probably rules us out

Selles at Saints? Ralph at Everton?

Still available at 50/1 to be next Prem manager to leave (Fat Frank odds-on)

Selles will be given the gig until the end of the season presumably as a fop to the players (and cheap option). We really are fucked. Thanks Rasmus.

This is on Rasmus. He's been very quiet for a bloke who clearly loves the sound of his own voice.

Beto is much better than this guy

Sorry, hadn't seen previous.

Are you not entertained?

Alleged interest in Ryan Fraser https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/12/02/newcastle-open-offers-ryan-fraser-want-keep-another-big-signing/

Ralph on Sky Sports: Could Southampton recall Tella from Burnley loan? Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has been impressed by the progress of Nathan Tella while on loan at Burnley and refused to rule out the possibility of cutting short his stay at Turf Moor. Tella, the 23-year-old winger, has scored six goals in 16 appearances this term, while his parent club have struggled so far and are just three points above the relegation zone. “I’m very pleased," said Hasenhuttl. "I know that some people say it’s only the Championship that he scores goals but I must say it’s still a big achievement for me and this is exactly what we wanted to see – that he gets a lot of game time and can show his qualities. “I mean he has shown it also in the Premier League so far. For him, it didn’t look like he would get enough game time this season. But I think it was the right decision to take (to loan him out). “We will see what we do. We have our eyes open and we will definitely look very detailed into what we will do with him.”

Oh my god, I suddenly wondered if they're going to wait until the WC in the hope of appointing Southgate after we're knocked out.

From the Times. Marsch seems improbable. Southampton eyeing replacement for Ralph Hasenhüttl Southampton have drawn up a list of potential replacements for Ralph Hasenhüttl who may only have two matches to earn a reprieve. Southampton are one place off the Premier League relegation zone having lost three consecutive matches and 14 of their last 20 matches in the league stretching back to last season. Among the managers of interest include Jesse Marsch, the Leeds United head coach, and Steve Cooper, who is under pressure at Nottingham Forest following a run of five defeats that has left them bottom of the table. Both are under contract so compensation would need to be paid and it is not clear whether Southampton’s owners would be willing to do that, having tended to appoint coaches who were out of work. Southampton were booed off after losing 2-1 to Everton on Saturday. Some of their players have lost faith in Hasenhüttl who was given a lifeline by the club this summer, sacking three members of his backroom staff and spending £50 million on six new players. Although they would be expected to lose away to Manchester City on Saturday, a heavy defeat could spell the end of his four-year tenure. If he hangs on, his position would be in serious jeopardy if they lose at home to West Ham United a week on Sunday. “I’ve been here a long time,” Hasenhüttl, 55, said. “We’ve had tough times and good times and I don’t have a different feeling than every other Premier League manager. You need results and wins and you need to concentrate on them. “We’ve had better periods that’s for sure and we’re facing Man City [next]. We know what team we’re facing but I know we drew twice against them last season and were one of few teams to take a point off them at the Etihad. That’s what we’re concentrating on, the rest is up to you guys [the media].” Cooper, 42, gained praise for his work with England Under-19 and Swansea City but there have been tensions at Forest, whom he led to promotion from the Sky Bet Championship last season. Marsch, 48, was appointed by Leeds in March and helped them secure Premier League survival on the final day of the season. The American has three years left on his contract. Southampton have informed season ticket holders that they will be closing a block of the Itchen North Stand due to “unacceptable behaviour” in the defeat by Everton. A total of 27 missiles were thrown across the segregation line by both home and away supporters. “We’ll also install new CCTV cameras to identify and deal with any further anti-social or unsafe behaviour in these areas,” the club said.