20 Jan 2018 09:37:17
Crystal ball time. its 1st February . how does your saints starting 11 / bench look?


1.) 20 Jan 2018
20 Jan 2018 13:33:12
I would imagine there won't be much difference
If pellegrinos still here but I won't expect him to be if we lose tomorrow.


2.) 20 Jan 2018
20 Jan 2018 15:13:11
It does feel as you said. lose tomorrow and manager could very well be gone, gives some time for incoming manager in the window. not as much as perhaps they'd like and the board would have to move fast. something they aren't renowned for. On a different subject listening to tiss talk about Walcott and the package he was offered, seems like we did do everything we were prepared to do to get him but shows the gap of our financial power compared to others.


3.) 20 Jan 2018
20 Jan 2018 20:16:57
Why have they kept him so long? I have tried to think of a sensible reason but failed miserably. CP would still be here now if it wasn't for the VVD saga which many of you have described as the reason for the poor form this season and the current managers problem. The problem with VVD started whilst CP was here but we sacked him, crazy. Look where Leicester are now, got a feeling the main problem we have is not just the manager it goes above that to board level.


4.) 21 Jan 2018
21 Jan 2018 09:38:26
So you weren’t among the huge group of fans (it was most of this forum) calling for Puel to be sacked and booing the team at the end of last season Chris?


5.) 21 Jan 2018
21 Jan 2018 10:26:11
Absolutely not I think he was treated shabbily. We spent along time after RK went appointing a new manager and when CP came in to the frame I dug as deep as I could and found that he was a well respected and capable manager. I actually put forward on this very site the idea of appointing him. Ed 002 responded to this and suggested he was a good choice. I never called for CP to be sacked. I rated him.


6.) 21 Jan 2018
21 Jan 2018 10:46:10
And re. the sensible reasons, here's a load for you Chris:
-The board seem to feel that they hamstrung MP a little bit during the first half of the season with the VVD saga. So if you think that's the case, it makes sense to give him the rest of the season to prove himself without that hanging over the team.

-Regardless of whether you're after Strachan, Keane or whoever, it seems clear there is no obvious replacement and not an abundance of options out there to replace him, and all the experienced PL managers you turn to in a relegation scrap are gone. It makes sense in that scenario to wait until the summer when you can properly assess the options.

-MP has only had 6 months. How many people, in all walks of life, struggle when they first start a job and take some time to get going. However bad we've been, he's only had 6 months and that isn't enough time to stamp your mark on a team. I know that doesn't usually save managers, but it's still true.

-Let's remember the problems started under CP last year. It's not like MP is the cause of the bad football we're playing, that started under RK in my opinion but certainly last year under Puel. It shouldn't ALL be blamed on MP.

Personally, I'd have fired him. But if you can't see the above reasons why it might be logical to keep him around, that's testament to what I said about the people on this forum being steadfast in their pessimism, to the point of it just being moaning and scapegoating. And these were just off the top of my head quickly!


7.) 21 Jan 2018
21 Jan 2018 12:22:28
In reply to Rayzer’s post for Saints team for 1st Feb, I’d predict this:
Hart
Cedric Smalling Hoedt Bertrand
Romeu
JWP Davis Mata/ Wilshere
Long (Austin plays when not injured) Ings/ Sturridge

So that’s me signing:
•Joe Hart from Manchester City (end his loan deal with a West Ham IF he not their first choice ‘keeper, and I’m not sure if loan rules allow another club? But if able, we should take him on loan for rest of season - to play and improve both Forster and McCarthy’s ability and form)
•Chris Smalling from Manchester United (he doesn’t play enough and needs game time ahead of World Cup to make England’s squad, maybe a loan deal)
•Juan Mata (from Manchester United possibly on loan as he might not play for them so often now Sanchez arrived and we could do with his experience and a player of his calibre to kick on) or Jack Wilshere on loan from Arsenal again just to provide first choice action ahead of England World Cup duty)
•Daniel Sturridge or Danny Ings from Liverpool (on loan, again as they’d need more action and could be possible)


8.) 21 Jan 2018
21 Jan 2018 16:20:09
Think a lot of that is quite unrealistic Etienne. For starters I’d be shocked if we got 4 in, and they’re all players on high wages. I think Smalling could be an interesting one, would actually quite like him permanently. Mata would be amazing and exactly the creative spark we need, but even though I can see your logic of him not being needed with Sanchez, I don’t think Utd will let him go since they’ve lost mkhitaryan as part of that deal. They’ll want mata for cover I presume, and even if he did leave I’d imagine he’d have better options than us.


9.) 21 Jan 2018
21 Jan 2018 17:15:21
Aye 123, you’re probably right with that response. I’m hopefully signing all four of them on FIFA anyway! Get in.


10.) 22 Jan 2018
22 Jan 2018 15:36:42
Haha mate I got Moussa Dembele for 7 million on FM - why don't the board just do that! this running a football club lark is easy!