Super_Uwe

Extreme left-back? I like that a lot. Sounds like he will be making last-ditch tackles and bailing out our defence. Then he'll have to get a wriggle on and peg it back down the wing to put some crosses in. Presumably he'll be shot after 25 minutes but the crowd will love him.

I think you make a fair point. 10 years ago, our club nearly went out of existence altogether. We have been on an incredible run in those 10 years, but have lost our way somewhat over the past 2-3 seasons. It's not like we haven't been spending money, the problem is that money has gone on players who, by and large, haven't lived up to the standards of the classes of 2012-2016. Then you couple that with a few managerial appointments that haven't really worked out, and it's not hard to see why we have struggled. RH is clearly a decent manager with a plan, and we saw players like Valery and Obafemi break through into the first team last year. JWP was a mini revelation too, PEH took to the captaincy like a duck to water. Even Redmond had a better year last year. We just need to get one or two signings spot on this summer and I believe we'll do alright this season coming.

If fit and genuinely committed to the cause, why not? He's one of the best players we've produced in the past 30 years. Obviously the way he left wasn't great, but if he returned and put in a few performances of old, no-one would really care would they?

I think we have to look for a comfortable mid table finish next season, if nothing else to help stop the rot from the past few years. This season the top 6 were way ahead of the rest. Leicester and W Ham finished 9th and 10th, and they only lost one more game than us. But we only scraped nine wins all season, which is pretty dire. I would be happy with 12th or so next season, then hopefully we can build again and try and get near those Europa League spots. If City win the FA Cup then Wolves will get the last Europa League spot this season having finished 7th - that has to give encouragement to teams like us as I don't think 7th or 8th is completely beyond us, if we can get some momentum going. Big ask with the current squad though.

Yep, roll on next season. Hopefully RH will get the backing he needs and get some decent players in who will be able to play his style of football.

I agree with Mitrovic. Still young enough to improve and something different to what we currently have. I think what we all have to bear in mind is that we have fallen a long way in three years. We finished 17th last season and will finish this season 15th-17th. Someone like Mitrovic would improve our squad, in my opinion.

I do kind of agree with you here. The flip side is that there might be more players available from the big clubs for season long loans - OK, not great for our long-term revenue, but we might get the benefit of a gem or two for a season.

Some will disagree I'm sure, but I would like to see us try and sign Gary Cahill on a free. Yes, a big step away from our usual style of transfer. However we need to get our defence sorted and have a proper leader in there. He's won everything with Chelsea and barring any major injuries, he'll be good for a season or two. Wages might be an issue though - as they always have been to be fair.

Fair enough! I'm just saying that I have no issues with him staying on if RH wants to keep him (as that's what the words in the quoted interview suggest). Unless he is a money-grabber and happy to see out his contract, I'd imagine he'd want to prove to us fans that he's better than the player we've seen this year?

Based on those words as quoted, I can't see any massive harm keeping him for another season (unless we get a decent offer). He clearly has a point to prove, which I often feel is better for the club than having someone who'd rather be elsewhere. If RH wants him to stay then I'd have no massive issue with that.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Mane have a big old strop midway through 15/16, when we were going through a bad patch? Sure I can remember Koeman having the hump with him (Norwich away?). So not sure he deserves way more praise over the other players who've left us. Anyway, fair play to them all for last night's performance. If they don't win a trophy this year then they will feel mighty hacked off! Also...they'll still have won nothing since they left Saints

Long's recent form kind of highlights for him the margins of being a decent player, and being a really stand out PL player. He has all the attributes to be a top player in the modern game, but has never managed to keep any sort of consistency over a sustained period. He's 32 now, so we aren't going to see huge improvement in him. But I hope we persevere with him next season, if he can keep his recent form up and confidence remains high, we might be surprised with his goal tally. That finish against Watford was top class, so the ability is there - we just have never seen it regularly enough!

Another player thriving under RH. No coincidence IMO.

If RH wants him back, then I'd be more than happy to see Boufal back in a Saints shirt. Desperately frustrating player, but one who could be very special if we can get him firing on all cylinders. However I accept that might not be with us and he may well move on in the summer.

Not sure the attendance sounds that bad to be fair. A midweek game against Fulham is never going to set the world alight. Also, although we are in a relegation battle again this season, it doesn't really feel like we are at that sort of stage where we need a proper 90s Great Escape mentality. We are plodding along with reasonable form, and probably will end up 15th or 16th this season, barring a complete collapse. May sound like I'm being complacent, but it's more of a reflection of it being an odd kind of season - it feels like we are making progress under RH without really pulling ourselves away from the drop zone.

Just the result we needed last night. Takes a little bit of pressure off the games against United and Spurs. Hopefully we can play with a bit of freedom and get a surprise result or two. Worst case scenario is we will have 27 points from 30 games.

Win will hopefully put us back on track. Regardless of performance yesterday, I didn't really expect us to get anything more than a point. But we really have to beat Fulham, then at least we have a bit of pressure off against United and Spurs. Be amazing if we could nick a win against either of those two, not out of the question but would certainly give us a boost.

I completely agree that RH has come in and improved the team. He's done a decent job so far. And our situation is still looking more comfortable than last season, due to the fact we are much more in touch with the teams ahead of us. But the next four games are absolutely critical. Arsenal and United away, Fulham and Spurs at home; we will do very well to pick up 4 points from those four games IMO. And that would put us on 28 points after 30 games. So it is going to be very tight this season.

Great result, fantastic to see the team dig in and get the win. Hopefully it will be a huge confidence booster. Great to see the starting 11 + subs full of academy players, that's what we should be all about. Not throwing them all in like Rupert Lowe did 10 years ago, but giving them a genuine chance by introducing them gradually. More of the same please Saints!

Agreed. I'd be very surprised if he comes back and doesn't feature on the bench at least. But another loan isn't out of the question.

Well I made two mistakes - firstly I thought Sims was 23, not 21. And I thought he'd had several loans, but turns out it's only the one. There's still plenty of time for him to come good, he has all the attributes to be a good player for us. Clearly wasn't the greatest time at Reading, but they really are struggling and it's hard for a young player to shine in a failing Championship side. Think all of our academy players that got thrown in back in 2008/09.

Just hasn't worked out for him. Don't remember too many people complaining when we signed him though, in fact the general view was pretty positive as he was one of VVD's team-mates in the Dutch squad? Be interesting to know when he signed whether he was told he was specifically coming in to replace VVD, or whether the plan was for them to play together? If it was the latter then clearly that didn't work out. But if he doesn't want to be at the club then definitely best to for him to move on. We need to strengthen at the back big time, you'd imagine we could still get a reasonable fee for him which you would hope would be put into the kitty for Hasenhüttl to bring in some new players.

I like PEH, he's definitely upped his game this season. But he has to learn to make better decisions. I'm sure he's genuinely sorry like he said last night, but he's out until nearly February now, all through his own fault. Frustrating for the player, club and fans alike.

I really like Gabbiadini but if I am honest I'm surprised he's still at the club - really thought he was going to be sold last summer. So on that basis alone I'd sell Gabbi.

I'm really positive about Hasenhüttl. However to suggest he's a "big name already" is madness! The average football fan who doesn't follow the Euro leagues would never have heard of him, let alone consider him a big name. He has still got plenty to prove, though I completely accept the early signs are very good.