08 May 2018 22:15:21
Wow and Wow again.

Give Hughes a permanent contract!

He has got the best out of players and the board must show their appreciation.

This summer has to be a careful consideration of a way forward.

players have to go and some have to be bought in.

But this time, we have to show that we mean business and find goal scorers.

Out 6 ft 4 inch keeper has been amazing. Give him great credit!

1.) 09 May 2018
09 May 2018 06:42:27
We would've saved around 10 points had McCarthy started in Forster's place since the start of the season. Need more competition in that department.

2.) 09 May 2018
09 May 2018 20:42:26
Honestly I think we need to think long term rather than appoint Hughes just because he kept us up. Frankly he's a mediocre manager, at best. It shows no imagination or forward planning from Les that we would keep him. One of the big things of the 'Southampton Way' is supposed to be having a list of potential candidates and players that suit the philosophy of the club and that can step in when the time is right. Most of those candidates would have been employed in Mid March when we appointed Hughes, there is no way that Hughes was on that wish list of managers. Give him a pat on the back, pay the deal you agreed and get the next guy on the list that is going to take the club forward. #bebetterthanthatles.

3.) 09 May 2018
09 May 2018 21:18:31
Behave CanadaSaint, there isn't any proven manager better for our club. Mark Hughes is a very good manager. Look at where he managed to take Stoke from nothing to midtable. OK he didn't start well this season granted. We aren't a big club and there's isn't many of the same calibre of manager about. We had a few glory seasons and suddenly were expected to get there? Financial power of west ham, Everton, Leicester after their league win. It's that way of thinking that nearly cost us our Premier league status this season "we thought all manager wasn't good enough" replaced him with worse.

4.) 09 May 2018
09 May 2018 22:38:28
I totally agree that "we" need to know where we fit in the hierarchy of clubs and we are not a big club, I get it. I didn't mention anything about league position, spending power or expectations. I'm not suggesting managers will leave big club jobs to join Saints, not at all, but there are successful managers at all levels.

My point was that Hughes would not have been on a shortlist if Les had been recruiting from a fresh start / between seasons so he should stick to his plan, go back to the list and see who was on it to make the full time appointment. We took Hughes because he was available not because we really wanted him, that was my feeling on his appointment. Maybe i'm wrong and Mark Hughes was his No.1 guy all along and we just got lucky that Stoke sacked him. Seems unlikely.

5.) 10 May 2018
10 May 2018 06:41:59
What I'm saying realistically is for our status and wage structure, without taking a gamble he is a very very good option. The man deserves a lot of credit and he's certainly a very good option to move forward. We need to get into the mind frame that the glory days are over and he's one of the better managers for the level of club we are.

6.) 11 May 2018
11 May 2018 07:59:20
Well said Sfcphill.
Since the overwhelming success of the Poch and Koeman years are expectations were sky high but selling all our best players and the appointments of Puel and Pellegrino have been a reality check. Survival next season is a realistic target. let's face it the last two seasons we haven’t shown that we are anywhere near what we used to be in the league. Mark Hughes has the support of the squad which is something we have lacked of late. Give him some better players (centre back/ creative mid/ striker) and we will be alright.

7.) 12 May 2018
12 May 2018 17:24:04
Was a little disappointed with the boufal fall out he has great potential but Hughes needs players who want to play for him. I think personally his demise at Stoke was down to wrong attitude players. I don't know for certain but that would be my guess at it. I understand your stance Canada just disagree that there is much better out there that we could pick up at our level and financial standing. Sean Dyche start of last season could have be worth a punt but have no chance now. Could have been worse we could have got in big Sam. I think Hughes deserves a full season with performance reviews quarterly through the season. We definitely need to be quicker to react in crisis. Plenty of managers who can make a change in tactics and mentality about. Les Reed and the board could do with being ruffled up in my opinion. They're some great players to be picked up from the teams relegated this season which could be interesting.

8.) 12 May 2018
12 May 2018 17:27:39
Lawrie Macs comment in the echo was a good read and I agree with his comments.