UpweySaint

Actually he is meant to be very close friends with Nathan Redmond. Just finished reading Michael Calvin's latest book and he makes mention of this as well of praising the character of both. Not strictly relevant but as an aside Prowsie has been interviewed for the book and our club come out rather well in terms of how we treat and develop young talent. Chalobah would add a bit of dynamism from our midfield and would appear to have a lot of potential. If the right deal can be put in place this would be excellent. Lewis Baker is another on the Chelsea fringe worth keeping an eye for though imagine they may be reluctant to part permanently with either without a silly offer.

De Boer I would be happy to give a fair crack. Did well at Ajax and Inter were a bit of a basket case when he took over - hard to say exactly how good he is. Good reputation for youth and comes with a playing pedigree which can't hurt. Pellegrino, not sure I would be excited, record stands fairly well all things considered. Don't know enough about him but trust the board - sort of - if Puel is their worst hire we really aren't doing too badly. Dyche I would be very happy with but shocked to see him rock up. Burnley play decent football at times and he has come through as a respected coach. Good experience of the league, well liked by his players, good with the media etc. Not too many others amongst the names doing the rounds I would be too keen on (assuming we think Tuchel is a no!). Would love Howe but just don't see that happening. Jokanovic could make sense, Fulham played some good football and did well. Whichever direction we go in it would be good to be things sorted so we are up and running for next season (aware a lot of what happens at sfc happens coach or no coach!).

Skybet appear to be too ... have mauricio pelle'o instead of manuel pelle'i top of the betting for palace ...

rene weiler current anderlecht manager not too far down the betting, must admit had to look him up! Though they did play some good football in Europe this season and is Swiss

Dyche, Howe, Clement, Rowett, Heckingbottom, Brenda ... none of them?

http://www.eplsite.org/stream12.html

Deckchairs at the ready ... largely since EFL cup final out season has sort of just fizzled out. We are rarely terrible and occasionally decent but just seem to be bumbling through the rest of the season. Everything just seems to have lost a bit of sharpness and urgency with the odd first touch seeming to take our play from promising to frustrating. Do hope this is a end of season blip on account of sod all to really compete for rather than a permanent decline in our quality of play.

Quite possibly but, if he believe the Fulham based opinion, he will leave for the right club. Can only assume that means real pathway to first team. Should we lose Bertrand we could have him actively competing with McQueen and/or Targett. Though he does seem more like a Baines replacement at Everton and they seem to be trying to reel in young English talent.

There is constructive criticism face to face then there is hanging out to dry in public because you're under performing and looking to pass the buck.

Okay fair point but he is still 21 and has already came back from an injury that can easily end a career. I would suggest Jose is not treating him in much the same way as others. Has Pogba been up to much this season? No. Jose praises him to the hilt. Has Rooney? God no! Still gets treated with respect. Rashford has not scored since September and is still golden boy... If he really thinks Shaw is lazy, inept etc and would benefit from being called out then show some class and do so behind closed doors. A bit of decency is not too much to hope for. No matter what Shaw is earning, which club he is at or how good Jose may or may not be there is no need to be a complete c*ckwomble.

Not meeting standards maybe, plenty in a Utd shirt aren't. He is a young man being used publicly as a punching bag, rather pathetic from Jose (no matter how much success he has had).

Yeah because we have spent most of our history gloriously winning title after title up till this season when Puel ruined it all ... Honestly, maybe we are not hitting the heights we had under Poch or Koeman but we are hardly sinking like a stone. Cup final (which we probably should have won!), a hit and miss european campaign and a good chance at a top half finish. If this is mediocrity I would take it. Just ask the blue few down the road!

Pretty much this though I think a little harsh on Rodriguez and Long. Like many I haven't warmed to Puel and have not been thrilled with his tactics at times but he has had limits to what he could do. I think he deserves another full season (unless we are looking like relegation fodder come next Jan) and a chance to do things his own way. With a full pre-season, more reasonable schedule and a chance to shape his own squad then it is a case of living and dying by the sword.

I sh*t you not, tried to select two seats together and that is what I was offered .. to be honest I had no idea we had restricted view too but apparently it is so. £50 a pop if you fancy trying them out for a bit of consumer feedback.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39425301 Here,for anybody curious.

Had a look at seats, £50 for restricted view, I know it is considered by some (at least in the media team) as a derby but seems rather pricey! Worth noting Bournemouth have won their last two, hopefully the international break will negate any momentum they might be carrying. As you said hard to see goals but then I would argue Long or Jay are just as capable as King as getting goals - again only real difference is a patch of form.

Just because you use the word 'factually' does not make it any more than the opinion of a man who 'factually' has an inordinate number of posts dedicated to slating JWP. We get it, you don't rate it. Some on here do and others do not. Either way a lot of those with experience of the game at a top level rate him and his dead ball delivery. More than welcome to disagree but maybe keep from conflating your opinion with established and verifiable fact. Personally I think he had started to show the potential we all hoped he might fulfil as this season has progressed and believe he might develop into an international class player (hopefully while still playing for us!).

Most likely. I had him down as a Glasgow alter-ego personally.

Well you would. Nobody is surprised. Have you ever posted anything remotely positive about the club you allegedly support? Try and cheer up, we are currently in one of the better periods for saints in recent history. It's been a hell of a ride. We lost a league cup final in a closely fought contest and, in no small part, down to one dodgy decisions and a crossbars width. Is it really oh so bad on the good ship Southampton?

Good point but you could argue we had good returns on those you mention and were able to replace fairly adequately. Should VVD go (though I hope/believe we might get one more out of him) I can only imagine it would be for a serious amount of money!

If we had a game every two weeks throughout the season then yes, you are right, it would tell you 'all you need to know'. As we played an absurd amount of games over a short timespan with a considerable number of injuries then you're comparison sort of falls down. If Puel still rotates this much next season I will gladly rescind my words but you are talking out of your backside here.

Hate to be a total sucker for such things but the club does rather good PR videos. Gutted not to be going to this one but will have it on at work in a bookmakers in Portsmouth and my word will I be shouting about it should we beat the odds again and get a result in this one!

Le Tiss (had the pleasure of meeting him at a charity game as a nipper) Niemi, Beattie going back a little. Current lot either Tadic or VVD (though Boufal is an exciting watch!). Plenty of likeability amongst the squad mind. Honourable mention for Billy Sharp. Class act all around, scored against Pompey and played a big part in our final promotion push. Genuinely smile every time he flashes up on soccer saturday as having smashed in another.

Very good post. It may sound awful but, EFL cup aside, I am wishing this season away. I have fears but believe there are at least three sides worse than us but expect a bottom half finish (even if we have some kinder fixtures coming up). As others have suggested this season has felt like an unfortunate waste and, while we can't expect continued improvement, the season has promised much but failed to deliver. Not sure if I am alone but already thinking about the summer and how things could look next season. The optimist in me says only VVD leaves, we replace well with two good CBs,find a driving centre mid (think Davis with power and goals) and Puel has more time to develop his ideas with the squad. I don't know if I believe Puel can do better but I really do hope he can. We might also see Stephens, Sims, McQueen, Prowse and more as established, and effective, players in the first team.

Agreed on Clasie. Shows flashes with his ability to pick out the occasional top class ball but so rarely does he dictate play or the tempo of a match. Hate to say it but was enviously looking at Leroy Fer last night when he took the ball and drove forward with purpose from CM. I don't think Bertrand is the best solution, largely for the reasons you say, but I would not be against us using him at CB should it be required. I hope Gardos and Stephens can fill the void but have little faith in Gardos and feel that Stephens is going to be under a heavy burden for such a young lad. Targett does lack the pace of a Shaw, Bertrand or even McQueen and is unlikely to play the same sort of role of quickly overlapping and directly running at oppo full backs but the lad can cross, reads the game fairly well and can tackle. Understand you say right now he is not the answer (his injury obviously means as much either way!) but we may well find ourselves looking at the 'least worst' options should we have another injury at the back etc.