eelpie

Some names from the past there, like Egil Ostenstadt and Marian Pahars. I know Marian has management experience, but does Egil? I'm wondering if none of the 'fancied names' land the job if the job will eventually go to complete outsiders. It would be interesting to know about these twos' managerial credentials - if only because they are true Saints.

You know how critical Saint Webbers are when young players get their chance in the first team, expecting the finished product from go, and blaming the lad when we don't get the result we might have got if so and so wasn't injured. Even Targett was compared unfavourably with Shaw, yet he did well. It certainly is true that Koeman became only interested in playing his best first teamers, especially after the bad winter run was spoiling his reputation. But I agree, the academy fringe players should be involved in training. Otherwise the whole Academy project is blunted.

Nothing like cool optimism

I'm beginning to wonder if Brexit will affect our employing a European manager and players?

I hope the new manager likes Long enough to extend his contract. I think that with the right coaching to further improve his accuracy, which isn't too bad now, he could become a Saints great.

'Black box, give us a wave' I'm not sure

That's so interesting to hear it again, SS, and well worth it's own thread. Cheers.

Saints terrace chants might even go upmarket - that would be a treat Is Rudi Spanish or Italian? 'Rudi, Rudi, give us a wave ' to that tune

Very interesting to hear Les's words again from two years ago. He talks a good upbeat talk and one can't fault him for that. Due diligence is such a lengthy process for us fans to bear, though it has to be done. I wasn't so calm then, I admit. Thanks for that, SuperSaint

....while PaddyPower has Koeman 6-1 for the Arsenal job! So much for bookies

No thanks

Koeman has been instrumental in Long's progress since January. But Long must also have been frustrated for a long time beforehand when RK was not giving him starts. So I am not worried that Long will follow him to Everton.

I agree, and the point is that the incoming manager has to be involved in the selling of players, not having to watch the best players being sold whilst negotiating his own contract, as happened with Koeman, which must have been pretty frustrating for him at the time. With money from a Wanyama sale the incoming appointee would be able to pinpoint the replacement he wants, and one at least as good. Redmond would be a sensible acquisition and the club has to take advantage of the market when opportunities arise and we can't wait for what could be a lengthy process before appointing our next manager, but I repeat, the club must not sell our best players before the incoming manager, whoever he is, can have his say. Equally, if a very good replacement for Wanyama comes on the market before manager contract is completed, then the club should go for him, and hopefully with the knowledge of favoured managerial candidate.

It matters if you don't want the 'Saints are always a selling club' tag, which is an issue when negotiating with potential managers.

Sorry, the discussion has veered away from the potential signing of Redmond. My point has been that this potential signing could be a positive signal to a top managerial candidate that we are an ambitious club.

It's not an ideal world that we are in. It's the hard world of convincing the manager that we want that we are ambitious. The Wanyama situation - if there is a gentleman's agreement - should be handled by the new manager.

But that precedes RK's official going, and Koeman had already recommended selling Juanmi. Now it is about convincing a prospective manager that we are not selling his potentially best squad. Otherwise we will not attract the best candidates. It's obvious.

That is why Les Read and Co need to stand firm and keep our best players. Buying Redmond would be a positive, but selling ANY players before a new manager has decided who he wants to retain and purchase would be a disaster. It musn't happen again as it did pre Koeman's arrival.

We've never needed to sell our best players, and we don't need to now. The addition of young and promising Redmond could tell the new manager otherwise. Over the years we've always improved the quality of the squad, which is why so many clubs want ours. It's time Saints Web started beating the drum for SFC, and ceases encouraging media gossip trolls.

It's started, well done -and he hasn't even signed. Dreadful post

True. Each manager in the Liebherr era has taken us forward. The same goes for star players who have done their bit and moved on. The king is dead. Long live the next one. Save us from the mediocre characterless managers (and players) who overstay their contracts

I'm a big Klinsmann fan. He would be a big draw recruiting and keeping international players.

Tbf he was generally given more space to score by Belgium than he usually has had against tight Premier League defences. But he certainly played brilliantly last night. We gotta keep him.

I agree he needs to learn his trade at a club low down the pyramid first, but ManU did do quite well after a poor start, and who's to say that Giggs was not influential in their good late season run?

Apart from the fact that they almost certainly will be joining RK soon, appointing assistant coaches has always been disaster for us.