03 Dec 2018 10:03:23
'Southampton Football Club can today confirm they have parted company with first team manager Mark Hughes'.
Kelvin taking charge on Wednesday; Cardiff away on Saturday maybe in mind for that new manager bounce. just hope they've got someone lined up.

1.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 10:14:05
I hope so, and seeing that a number of managers have had their 'odds' significantly drop recently on replacing Hughes; you'd like to think that conversations have started in the background - Who's your money on?

2.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 10:38:28
I can see someone like Flores coming in - him and Monk I think are probably the most realistic targets considering their moderate PL experience, they’re who I’d bet on.
Jardim and Hasenhüttl are the dream contenders but I can’t see one of them coming in.
As long as we avoid those with little to no recent success - Sousa, Moyes, Allardyce, Pardew - I hope we can stay up because I like our squad and think it’s more than good enough to keep us up.
Just pray that they have an idea and they can get them in quickly because there’s a lot of important fixtures coming.

3.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 10:21:04
Sanchez Flores seems to be favourite. I'm 50/ 50 on him. Not Sam, O'Neill or Moyes please. The ones I'd be most excited about would be Bosz, Rogers or Jardim, although they don't seem likely and I saw something saying Jardim has gone to Qatar.

Eds, any insight?

{Ed001's Note - no mate sorry none from me, though Jardim can't speak the language and has rejected offers because of that.}

4.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 11:30:14
word from itk’s seems to be the club are after bringing Paul Mitchell back as DoF and Hasenhuttl as manager.

5.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 12:01:10
That would make perfect sense, Hasenhuttl seems to have good credentials and while at RB Leipzig played a very high-press attacking style - Bring it on!

6.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 12:22:28
Hasenhutti for me (out of the realistic names mentioned), for 2 reasons. High press return and he is NOT MH.

7.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 12:26:09
Would love that if true.

8.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 12:31:15
Hello Mr Wenger. Welcome to the office

I’ve quickly come up with about a dozen names off the op of my head. Maybe I’m off my head, but I’ve no idea who’s be interested or who would be approached. But from what I know of them, I’d be quite happy with anyone like this:

Wenger
Allardyce
Moyes
Martin O’Neill with his guard dog Roy
Jokanovic
Quiche Sanchez Flores
Laudrup
Rodgers
Bruce
Hazelnut will probably get it

Actually, saying that, Sir Alex was spotted at the stadium yesterday afternoon. So too was Mourinho. Apparently.

I’d like to say a massive thank you to Mark Hughes for all his hard work and effort he put in during his brief spell as Saints manager. Leading us to survival last season will always be deeply appreciated. You’ll be fondly remembered by myself. Gutted to see you go Sparky, all the best in your future!

Come on you Saints. Get it sorted and stay up!

Saint Etienne.

9.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 12:34:50
A bit harsh, sacked having only drew with the almighty Manchester United

Guess it was throwing away yet another lead which nailed it. Unless of course it was already decided before the match and Hughes wanted to finish off against his old club. Anyway. Mixed feelings. We need a big boost. We have the players. Ronald Koeman please come back!

10.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 12:49:57
I would hope that it wasn't the Man United result that has brought Hughes to the end of his career with us. It's the 10 games without a win, not winning any home games that his made him lose his job, not just the result against Man United. I would hope that the board have already decided who the replacement is and only now need to get that man to put pen to paper. I hope for the sake of the future welfare of the club that it is Hasenhuttl. He did an incredible job at Leipzig (a club who have an incredible youth academy) . We'll see what the future brings.

I'm ideally hoping that the replacement has already been decided on and will be announced after the Spurs match on Thursday morning. Let's be realistic, Hughes was never going to be a long term manager and my opinion was we should have never given a contract for this season.

Looking at other places there seems to be mixed feelings around the fans, a lot backing up the sacking others saying it was harsh. The result on Saturday was good. However, we can't look at just one result to deem the future of a man who is managing a sinking ship. There's also a lot around "it's not the managers fault, it's the players". Which I can't get my around, since pretty much the same squad finished 8th in the season 2 years ago. The only player that has left since then is VVD and he missed out on half of Puel's season and didn't look at all interested in the few games he played last season.

11.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 14:14:35
Zidane?

12.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 14:38:20
Anyone who can bring a decent CB with them!

13.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 18:00:54
Hasenhüttl now appears almost nailed on having had positive talks with the club - very, very excited about this if it comes to fruition, would hopefully be a step towards the Poch days of old.

14.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 18:40:06
Hi SE. Would definitely take RK back but less so most of the names on the list. I think moyes had a good 6 month spell at West Ham United but would excite me about as much as the Hughes appointment did.

Talking of which, he was our manager when we stayed up but I don’t think the whole 2 wins in the last 4 games implies he came in and did a great job, reality is we were one place above the relegation when he came in and finished their top. I believe it was an unbelievable collapse of Swansea that kept us up. Either way though I can join in thanking him for his efforts, I’m sure he tried his old fashioned best.

15.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 20:23:03
So then, 8.20pm on the monday evening and it seems like we’ve got our man

There will be many who won’t have the foggiest who this guy is, and I don’t blame them at all - although I do from a distance recognise his name as a player and am fully aware of his recent glories as a manager in the German leagues. This Austrian could prove to be dynamite. He could blow the whole league apart. I’m liking, loving, the idea of a Saints Klopp, a new Pochettino, a new Koeman. Oh yes, the top six is back within our reach

Anyway, somewhere at the start of this thread I mentioned not many people knowing him. Hazelnut as I call him, affectionately. Right now around the country, many a finger are going to Google doing a search for this fella

Ironic really, considering the latest blockbuster movie at the cinema

Yes, I’m going there, Ralph breaks the Internet

Goodnight!

16.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 20:33:14
And I reckon the first few signings Hazelnut makes will be:

Naby Keita - For all his hype and heavy price tag, he’s been a total flop at Liverpool so they’ll probably want to loan him to us to get him up to the standards of Henderson, Milner and Wjinaldum.
It was Hazelnut who turned Keita into the exciting all action midfield maestro at Leipzig. A move here, maybe just a dream, would make sense

Timmy Werner - banged in the goals for Leipzig under Hazelnut and could do the same at Southampton if he wanted to join the glamour and sparkle of the Premier League. Again makes sense in my head. Just hope it’s not the bag of dross we saw disappoint at the World Cup

A top notch centre back who will form a blistering partnership with the viking. We need someone with the organisation kills of Fonte and the slickness of Van Dijk. A modern day Ronald Koeman type of player then. I’m sure there’s a few options out there, maybe many unknown to myself and many of us, but who may already be on Haselnut’s radar/ wish list

The transfer window is coming. This is perfect timing for this new manager. Again, thanks Mark hughes and his staff for doing their job, but now we can kick on with some style, excitement and hopefully goals, goals, goals (less so in our own bloody net though, eh)

Another observation. I think Freddy Kreuger just gave Hazelnut the job because they share the same first name

Ralph’s Red and White Army!
Rock n Roll Ralph-ball!
Don’t wreck-it, Ralph!
Hashtag Ralph Breaks the Internet!

17.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 20:39:57
In hindsight, Hughes must have already known his fate kn saturday. Think that’s why he picked both Valery and O’bafemi (congratulations on your recent Ireland debut Michael! ) it was a shot-to-nothing against the massive force that is Man United.

One of the first things the new manager (which it appears will be RH) need to do is pick a match day captain. Either put skipper Davis back in the team, or give the armband to Hojbjerg on a permanent basis. As much as I love Berry, he ain’t no leader.

One other point - so glad the rumours of Paulo Sousa being lined-up we’re wrong.

Exciting times. Hopefully our dreams come true.

18.) 03 Dec 2018
03 Dec 2018 21:53:27
How come everyone is going mad about hassle whoever he is, before Hughes got the sack, no one had mentioned him. If it was your millions you were paying out, who would you employ.

19.) 04 Dec 2018
04 Dec 2018 00:33:10
I don't know how long you've been here Rick but his name has been mentioned here more than a couple of times. You seem kind of leaning to hughes and I've seen you defend him here from time to time (or as I see it) and I respect that, you make good points as welk, yet when someone tries to counter your argument you go into hiding, only showing up to make new statements every now and then.

20.) 04 Dec 2018
04 Dec 2018 03:08:24
Plus anyone would be buzzing if they got a manager who managed to guide his team straight to second place right after promotion from the season before, and successively retaining European football the season after that.

21.) 04 Dec 2018
04 Dec 2018 10:42:07
totally agree with Vick. 3 league wins in 8 months is dire and he simply had to go. credit where its due to the board for acting now!

I actually think the board are showing ambition and thinking outside the box.

22.) 04 Dec 2018
04 Dec 2018 11:31:17
I am well up for this guy coming in but don't everyone get there hopes up. if he does flop than there will be more angry people around. however I do have big hopes for the guy, and hopefully, while he does all his amazing attacking football, he can help us to defend as well.

23.) 04 Dec 2018
04 Dec 2018 17:47:21
Hi Vick, not on here long, but have been a Saints supporter for nearly sixty years. I haven’t been intending to back Sparky particularly, but over the last five or ten years I have the general feeling that the players (of any team), show little care about the manager, or the club they play for. I think the money has gone to their heads. We have been way up the charts in chances created recently, but apart from putting boots on (and he was a good striker), ;what else could MH do.
Their are many notable exceptions to non caring footballers, and in the past as we know, there have been a few players who would play for the club of their choice, no matter how much they were paid. I don’t think that exists much these days. I only wish luck you our new man (whoever he is), and hope the board put their money where their mouth is and support him, so that we can climb to a realistic position. By the way, I don’t go into hiding, and I love a good debate. Hopefully I have not been offending anyone. Regards to you all. Rick.

24.) 05 Dec 2018
05 Dec 2018 10:31:20
Not at all Rick. I didn't mean to come off somewhat harshly with the poorly chosen words in regards to how you reply but I apologize and do appreciate you taking your time for this one. Of course aside from the usual facebook armchair supporters, I do think any sensible person would realize that players are as much to blame as Hughes and should be just as in the crossfire. The demand to overturn our manager stems from the fact that he could be replaced anytime throughout the season, whereas players can only be moved on in a transfer window. Plus that managers control more of the entirety of the team in regards to tactics, mentality, man management and all that, it really puts Hughes in the firing line. I think hiring someone who's a serial promoter and twice saved a team from relegation, at least on paper looks like heading into the right direction. And I think that is what most people would point out when asked what qualities the new gaffer has over Hughes.