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Saint Chris's rumours posts with other poster's replies to Saint Chris's rumours posts

 

11 Feb 2018 18:36:13
Are the board completely mad? Every player out there today looked totally fed up and more or less convinced they couldn't compete in that game. They are much better than that perfomance, never ever looked like scoring . The board will leave it too late if they don't sack MP tonight, should have happened 2 months ago. That game was painful to watch. No passion, no will to win and led by an inept manager who is with the greatest respect useless.

Saint Chris

1.) 11 Feb 2018 18:45:00
The players looked like they have accepted their fate today. Yes the manager does have to go tonight and we can only hope the bounce of a new manager will save us but it looks really grim. Worst performance I have seen for a long time.


2.) 11 Feb 2018 18:55:20
Problem is we've known this for months. It's not worth the energy wishing this fool out the door. Why would you substitute your best player who completely out shone any other player on our team.

Please tell me because I'm bemused frustrated annoyed and totally pissed of with this manager. I will probably get abuse from a few on here but why oh why is he here it's unbelievable they've stuck with his methods for so long. There's enough points for us to scrape out of this but other teams are pulling off surprise wins against tougher opposition:

Newcastle today
Bournemouth, Chelsea
Watford, Chelsea
Swansea, Liverpool and arsenal.

We're like rabbits in the head lights no belief at all. It's all about belief and making players feel 10 feet tall and have the desire to dig in and nick the points.
None of that shown today last month at all this season. March will be our defining month all in or around us and all away from home we've shown no pressure away so God help us.


3.) 11 Feb 2018 18:58:23
Just watched the interview with MP saying we dominated the first half and missed some great chances 😳.


4.) 11 Feb 2018 19:24:53
How can so many quality players produce such a poor display? Answer. they have no faith in the manager and they don’t seem to understand what he wants from them on the pitch. Carillo looks poor, MP must be a hypnotist persuading the board and recruitment team to pay 19 million for Carillo. Monaco must be laughing all the way to the bank!


5.) 11 Feb 2018 20:09:38
Pellegrino has walked the tight rope for to long now
He's managed performances away to Liverpool
Not a single shot on goal
Tottenham away embarrassing performance
Leicester at home battered
Palace in a winning position second half we sit back and lose
In between these we have seen us get draws against Man U away
Arsenal Tottenham at home
After every bad performance they've produced a make up for it performance
If we had been battered by Tottenham at home I think he would have been sacked
One of his interview he spoke of board meetings till the early hours
Wonder what time tomorrow evening they finish this board meeting.


6.) 12 Feb 2018 02:33:01
Who do we get it though?


7.) 12 Feb 2018 22:02:51
Tim Sherwood.


8.) 14 Feb 2018 22:49:59
At this point anyone other than mp.


 

 

11 Jan 2018 16:33:32
Been looking at other sites discussing our beloved club's options during the transfer window and discussing which players to bring in. Most seem to think we need a bit of quality up front and in central defence which I agree with. The problem the posts bring up is whether anybody would really want to come here given our lowly position in the league. I have a different take on this, do you think the club have put themselves in a very tricky situation over this. If we do bring quality in it will cost an arm and a leg in transfer fees and wages and I think the latter is the stumbling block. If we sign a couple of players on big money but still get relegated the financial burden will be crippling next season. It has happened before at QPR and other clubs so I can see the board making a couple of hope for the best signings rather than go all in with the chips. Just a theory guys.

Saint Chris

 

 

29 Dec 2017 10:13:05
All this talk of Walcott coming back here doesn't make sense, spends most of his time injured and isn't actually any better than what we have already. Other players being mentioned are interesting but what we really need is a new manager and a PL goalkeeper. I reckon a quality manager that knows the PL inside out could get the players we have operating to a much higher level. Our defence was one of the best in the league with literally most of the existing players. They are being coached poorly, in recent games none of them were staying with their man and creating huge gaps in the box which made scoring simple. Any money we spend in January needs to be spent with the knowledge of a new manager. We will not get out of our situation with MP it is just pretty obvious he is not the right man for the job.

Saint Chris

1.) 29 Dec 2017 11:52:21
Agree with the above I would have van gaal here he knows the league
Has contacts scouts all over Europe and would get the respect from the players
We have the money now use it on a top manager for a change and stop getting these cheap options who aren't up to it
Only stumbling block Les.


2.) 29 Dec 2017 12:23:07
Agree with original poster re. walcott and seemingly poor coaching.

diggy, I really couldn't disagree more.

a - why would Van Gaal come to us?
b - why would we want him? He'd be a short term solution since he's close to retirement and he doesn't really know the league, he's had one short spell here and it was a complete failure. His biggest criticism at Utd was how dull and uninspiring his team was, exactly the problem we have at the moment. He didn;t have the respect of players there from the sound of it, and is exactly the type of manager we should be avoiding.

We need someone to come in and change the culture in that dressing room, and Van Goal is just not that type of manager. In fact, I'd say the only criteria he fills is that you've heard of him Diggy, so let's hope the board has a more sensible approach than hiring the biggest possible name regardless of record or style.


3.) 29 Dec 2017 12:54:40
Said it a few times 123 why not get Gordon Strachan back here, there wouldn't be any chance of going through the motions with him. Straight talking manager that tells it how it is, he knows the PL and football in general back to front. Why not try him he is available and would definitely get support from the fans.


4.) 29 Dec 2017 17:35:18
The board have a more sensible approach? Really
Like the last 2 appointments have worked haven't they
Short term appointment who's stayed longer than 2 seasons in the last 10 seasons I don't think we've had anyone who has
So it's difficult to image saints having this type of luxury with the board we have
They either get sacked or move on to bigger clubs
Van gaal is a proven manager and if he could get our players motivated who knows
It just needs a big name for a change to get our players back on track.


5.) 29 Dec 2017 19:23:18
"let's hope the board has a more sensible approach" - read.

Why are you so convinced that Van Gaal is some master motivator? That's not his style at all, he's a tactician and one who seemed out of his depth/ over the hill during his little poem experience.


6.) 29 Dec 2017 19:36:57
Strachan? Van Gaal? Really? . strachan is wayyyy over the hill. I agree with 123's comments regarding van gaal out of his depth
there's not a great deal of options out there that I think would come to us. i'd take Sean dyche but I don't think he would fancy us.

We need someone who can motivate the team and, importantly, knows the premier league. A bit out there, but what about Roy Keane?


7.) 29 Dec 2017 20:50:07
To easy 123
I'd rather have tuchel but he's never going to come here
As for Roy Keane he wouldn't fit reeds requirements which are yes men tactics
Can't see us changing anything reeds running the show I'm hoping we don't get relegated but it's going to be a year where we're constantly nervous about who's winning around us leagues so tight.


8.) 29 Dec 2017 23:51:53
Strachan way over the hill? 60 years old, great experience and about 10 years younger than Hodgson, Wenger, Ferguson when he was at his best. Sometimes over the apparent hill works pretty well.


9.) 30 Dec 2017 08:51:54
I'm not just talking about age, Chris. Strachan has done nothing of note or achievement since leaving us over a decade ago. He was poor at Middlesbrough, even worse with Scotland. He's dated. Ferguson has retired, remember, Wenger should have retired by now, And if we'd appointed Roy hodgson in the summer there would have been riots lol.

At least someone like Keane is a bit younger, fresher. Still withna point to prove after both success and arguable failure too in previous jobs.

I'm just brainstorming tbh, but we can all see that we need a gaffer actually knows this league, knows how to fire up and motivate the players, has clear ideas on how to play and won't take any shit. Our last 2 managers have come in and spent half a season trying to figure out their best players/ formations etc with varying degrees of success. the difference between puel and Pellegrino is that at least the players appeared to follow puels instructions. Unless Pellegrino has told his players to "walk on the pitch like they don't care amd wander about aimlessly" it looks and feels like the players have downed tools a bit.


10.) 30 Dec 2017 11:33:58
I take your point Milky but Strachan actually did well with Scotland with a poor player base to pick from. Roy Keane has a pretty poor record as well and I would worry about punch ups in the dressing room and even maybe the boardroom as well. 😄.


11.) 30 Dec 2017 15:49:14
As a diehard scotland fan Strachan was rubbish, yes we did go on a 7 game unbeaten run but Strachan had his favourites and was very slow to bring players in.
We have players that are coming through, such as mcburnie, Oliver burke, ross mccrori, Jason cummings, jamie walker Barry mckay, scot mckenna. Under Strachan they would not get a look in.


12.) 31 Dec 2017 12:10:15
Saint Chris maybe a punch up in the dressing room would do us good. I want see some heart and passion in the players. This manager is not instilling that. And a manager not taking any rubbish from the board wouldn't be a bad thing either, considering some fans accuse MP of being a yes man to les reed.


 

 

 

Saint Chris's banter posts with other poster's replies to Saint Chris's banter posts

 

23 Jan 2019 15:51:53
Very interesting posts listed on here over the past couple of weeks. I have purposely not posted for a while so as not to give a knee jerk reaction to recent events at the club. I personally believe that the appointment of RH has been a stroke of genius but I like others remain reserved in judgement until the current improvement is cemented a little further down the road. The one thing that is pretty obvious though is that he has the team playing as a TEAM and instilled the passion in the players that was sadly lacking before his arrival. The way he has got Nathan Redmond to another level and Ward-Prowse actually tackling and fighting for the ball is amazing. As I say early days but the signs are there, however, if he does become the success that apparently seems likely we will only have one problem. Keeping hold of him may not be easy, so if all we can get out of him is for the short term so be it. The big boys will be circling but for a change one of them won't be Liverpool. My faith in SFC has never wavered but I must admit it was becoming very tested.

Saint Chris

1.) 23 Jan 2019 16:45:16
If we can keep him until the end of next season, and a successful season with it, I'll be happy. It's the way football works. He was very honest and open about "wanting to get his name known" for the bigger roles that will inevitably come his way if he does the business with us. As long as we line up an equally good replacement that keeps us on the right path once RH goes then I'll take it.


2.) 23 Jan 2019 18:54:02
I agree with you MilkySaint. If he gets chased by the bigger clubs it means that he's done well at Saints. I would personally like to see him here for a minimum of 2 seasons after this one and if we've continued to progress during that time I wouldn't mind if he decides that it's time to move on, however I would hope that the board would then look for someone who would continue to having us play a similar style.


 

 

26 Aug 2018 10:13:15
All I will say is that things have certainly gone pear shaped since they sacked Claude Puel after finishing eigth and reaching a cup final. Just don't think they gave him enough time. I know we didn't finish our last season very well under his leadership but look what happened next. We can't score goals so the squad is lacking something and has been since CP was here. I personally think Claude got a rough deal.

Saint Chris

1.) 26 Aug 2018 14:06:37
You're not wrong, but I feel like it's time to move on from that - long time ago now!

Also, I think it's easy to forget that as harsh as it was, things weren't looking great and I think it's fair to say some of our current problems seemed to start under CP. If Pellegrino had come in and done well, then we'd be praising them for having the stones to make a bold move like that. The last time they did, it worked out pretty well (Poch for Adkins) .


 

 

10 May 2018 15:59:10
Excuse me for being confused about the reaction to the result at Swansea and as to whether Mark Hughes should stay on as manager. The turn around in our performances since he came in shouts out loud and clear BELIEF! He seems to have motivated the same players that were just going through the motions into professionals showing passion and fight. All the talk of who should be our next manager is quite baffling, considering we would be in the Championship now if we had stayed with MP2 . I am no rocket scientist but do we want to play Russian Roulette with the club again and appoint a foreign manager with no experience of the EPL? MH has been here about 5 weeks and saved us, yes saved us. The reaction shown on Tuesday night portrayed a person with passion and commitment and at the final whistle the players embraced him as though he had been here for years. Give him a chance we might not sweep all aside next season but one things for sure the dressing room will be a much happier place with players that have their confidence back . The players have respect for MH whether it lasts who knows but the man deserves a shot at it. In my book he is a bit of a hero right now, just a few weeks ago we had just about given up hope . We march on but only just about. Thanks Mark Hughes I truly believe you saved us.

Saint Chris

1.) 10 May 2018 17:13:09
Here Here! Give him a long term contract and let's see what he can do. I personally think he's a good manager, yes it went a little sour at Stoke, but he was there for 5 years! How many other top-flight managers perform consistently for that long? (Apart from Fergie or Wenger)


2.) 10 May 2018 23:30:19
Hi guys,
I totally agree with your posts MH has done a fabulous job in a very short time scale. To contemplate other options who are relatively unknown and relatively unproven is a huge, huge gamble! MH is our fourth manager in 3 years, we have had enough gambling and let's have some stability. Questions have been asked about his transfer dealings at Stoke but again let's not forget our vaunted black box is not faultless and again two very recent acquisitions Boufal was Puels choice just before he was kicked out and Carillo MP's shortly before he was outed. For me the main factor is he has united the dressing room and let's face it this club needs some stability plus don't forget a new owner only 6 months ago. The majority of players have publicly stated that they have enjoyed his managership and he must stay. Also players have been publicly stating that they have underachieved this season and taking responsibility for their actions. let's not forget football managers are a rare breed and we are not in the top echelons and so we need to cut our cloth accordingly. MH was at Stoke a very similar size club and previously kept them in the top half of the table, possibly he made mistakes there but who doesn't, I am sure he has learned from them and wants to put his stamp on Sfc and prove the doubters wrong. Re the squad we need to take a long, hard look at players and address our inability to score goals which has been the root cause of our problems, and if certain individuals cannot improve then hopefully better replacements can be found. I do feel that Sfc are caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place, labelled a selling club but if your best players can go and play at a higher level and double or triple their salaries who can blame them? We as individuals given that opportunity would do the same thing. We have to accept that unless we can do a Leicester we are not competing for the Premier League, but we can do a Burnley who with a limited budget have achieved Europa league football. We have a magnificent training setup and let's maximise the youth setup and ensure that our future acquisitions are the right fit regarding temperament, character etc. This season we have tendered on the brink of relegation and we all know it's a crap place to be, so next season if we improve all over the pitch cut out stupid mistakes learn to close out games when we are winning 1-0 we can look back at this end of season as a pivotal moment in the club's history. So Sunday let's go and put in a professional performance and get the 1 point needed or more to totally negate Swanseas result. ps I loved the club's Twitter feed 're the Marriott. COYS.


3.) 11 May 2018 11:46:13
My concern is that firstly, he has not saved us yet. Some people seem very relaxed about this but relegation remains a possibility if Man City fly at us and Stoke don’t bother against Swansea. Further, wearing the rose-tinted glasses of believing we’re now safe, some are praising MH but if you rewind to the weekend after another chance slipped against Everton, I doubt there were so many so vocal in their support of the impact he has had. I therefore assume Saintchris that the difference of opinion over whether he should continue is down to those judging his ability in the short term, perhaps even as brief as what has happened in the last few days, and those who are taking a slightly more long term view and remain concerned about his previous track record.

MH has made a difference in pulling the team together and yes, he has faired better than MP2, but he has not improved us defensively and we remain very fragile which causes genuine concern ahead of a match against Man City with their tails up. He has given the team greater licence to attack which has benefitted the likes of Tadic and Redmond but its not a tactic that can work every game. We’ve lost 4, drawn 2 and won 3. We’ve conceded 13 goals. Its not been great.

The team are all pulling in the same direction at the moment with a very clear short term goal of staying in the premier league. Their motivation is strong. What happens at the start of next season - what is our goal then? What is the long term goal? What happens under MH when results aren’t coming together? Do we see a repeat of Stoke or will he be able to make a difference?

I disagree with the suggestion that retaining MH is not a gamble. Of course it is. He will have been in charge for 10 games at the end of the season, in a very unique set of circumstances, and to say that is enough to assess whether someone will be a long term success is ridiculous. We can look at his previous track record at several clubs and its patchy.

I have set out my view in more detail in the article I posted on this site yesterday, but in short, the club needs to first sit down and devise a long term strategy for the next 5 or so years. Each season over that period should have its own clearly defined target with a detailed plan of how that will be achieved. The managerial appointment in a way is secondary to this. Look at the clubs who started this season without a long term plan, ended up in trouble and got in an experienced premier league manager, only to see it make little difference. When you exist season to season only, you are only running to keep up with everyone else, rather than looking ahead and being the one setting the pace. This in turn leads to the desperate payment of large sums being for players because of name or reputation but failing to consider whether they truly fit in the team. I disagree with VS that our signings have been as woeful as the likes of West Brom, Stoke, Swansea, Palace, West Ham, Everton, Newcastle.


4.) 11 May 2018 13:08:54
All posts here on either side of MH have their justification
I think the club do need to analyse and put a plan together but perhaps not as they have done and look at a shorter term philosophy than 5 years. MH should be given the opportunity of a window and a pre season.
It’s a love in at the moment and to tamper with that would be folly. What he brings is knowledge of the division and passion which was for all to see on Tuesday.
He cares and the players get it.
If it’s going peared before Xmas then make a change but give him a chance. He deserves it.


5.) 11 May 2018 23:27:48
If we were to give away this 10 goal margin I honestly couldn’t live with that and probably wouldn’t have the desire to go and watch them for a long time
But 10 goals!


6.) 12 May 2018 03:37:08
Dear figo

I appreciate your comments but are you seriously proposing that MH who has been in the job 2 months is let go? after barring a total catastrophe keeps us in the Premiership and then we appoint another manager! The third in one year! Please tell me who this outstanding candidate is because the names I have seen bandied about are not guaranteed sure fire successes. Our credibility as a club is rock bottom to follow that path would deservedly make us the laughing stock of the footballing world! And what if your candidate can't win over the dressing room? Do we go back to MH in January 2019? Please are you serious? Your comments about our recent transfer policy is not as bad as Swansea, West Ham, again please do you really believe Boufal and Carillo were good acquisitions? How low are you setting the bar?
The club, players need some stability perhaps MH is not everyone's first choice and his record is not perfect but was he to blame that we didn't beat Everton? No the players have accepted responsibility for their failure to close out the game. This has been a rubbish season and we look we will survive by the skin of our teeth which was the primary objective. As I wrote previously MH has been criticised by the Stoke management saying they should have sacked him earlier but Paul Lambert had 18 games and failed to keep them up! MH is also blamed for their transfer failures, well that's an easy comment to make as he was sacked 5 months ago, it strikes me these are cheap shots for Stoke to make. This whole situation has come about because the Sfc board failed to take action about MP soon enough so our options were limited and MH has done the job he was asked to do. He has the support of the players and hopefully followed by an objective appraisal of the squad and suitable additions/ replacements. Regards vs.


7.) 12 May 2018 09:44:29
Dear Figo 2
He hasn't given them a license to attack more, he has changed the structure of the team to allow our wing backs to be just that, wing backs, instead of the odd rare sortie across the half way line.

As for the number of goals conceded. he changed to a three CB formation that included Bednarek who had never played a single PL game. So we have three CB's who have never played together! so it was going to take time and yes there were going to be mistakes. In previous posts you talked lack of confidence in the squad, need a manager who can inspire . well we got one!1 MH hasn't just fired them up, told them all how much he loves them. He has inspired a team of broken players, broken in spirit and confidence, into a 'band of men' who are fighting for the ball, fighting to win.

And yes he has been rather more technically astute that people would give him credit for, including me. The perfect example of that was when we played bournemouth and how we counteracted their wing backs, which played very high up. The clever interchange passing that looped over and bypassed the backs was clever. The positioning of redmond and tadic was very fluid, with one or both or neither playing a highline; you could tell Swansea didn't know what to do!
when Bednarek was injured against Swansea . even Gabbi didn't think he would come on! replacing a CB with a striker was a very brave move, but the team adjusted immediately.

As for Gabbi . watch that goal over and over again, while all the players were chasing the ball, gabbi was chasing the space. Adjusting his position and stance repeatedly, waiting for that one chance. he took it! he really is a great player.

that's all folks .

MH for President.


8.) 12 May 2018 10:39:55
I am not proposing he is simply let go, but I am proposing that his contract is not simply extended without first defining the ambitions of the club and then considering whether he is the best man to achieve them. I don’t think its enough to say the only ambition is mid-table safety next year. Right now, we’d all snatch at that given we’ve been fighting relegation the last few months but ‘guernseyboy’, the precise problem is with the club giving someone the job and then changing their mind and sacking them by Christmas if it doesn’t work out. If they are going to do that with MH, why not consider trying someone else?

The club may well give MH the job and I’ll support that if its married to the club having a strategy to improve the team in the long term. But I will be disappointed if his contract is renewed as it’s the easy option and one less thing to worry about going into next season. That is short-termist and the clubs I have cited have given colourful examples of what happens when clubs go into a season without a clear strategy, a manager who can build a team and have them play with a clear purpose and identity. The football team must be a project for someone looking to mould the team into something tangible. Those are the teams that succeed and play beyond the sum of their parts. Why would we settle for anything less?

If we’re honest as fans we would like gradual improvement season on season. Does that come from following a long-term strategy and recruiting players that fit the identity of the team or spending the summer signing players who on paper look like they may have better attributes then the player already in your squad? Do we want to follow the Spurs path or the West Ham one? VS, you are trying to distance MH from Stoke’s failings in the transfer market but he must have had some involvement. He hasn’t come out and said that he was just the coach and the club chose the players without his input. But as I say, I suspect the reasoning behind poor transfers are clubs trying to buy success/ improvements rather than achieving it through excellent coaching and a long-term strategy.

If MH manages to keep us in the league, we’ll all be very grateful and his achievement should not be undersold, but nor should it be oversold. We have by far the best squad of players in the bottom 8 – 10 teams in this league so the potential for survival was always there if the right man was here to get the players playing again. MH has done that and its to his credit. But its not quite the miracle some are portraying. In addition, this achievement sets a benchmark for next season in terms of expectations that may be skewed if not considered objectively. VS, you may consider MH blameless for the Everton draw but its always a gamble to use all your substitutes early and MH was forced into one at halftime as his original line-up wasn’t working. As a result, when Yoshi was sent off, we had no option to bring on a sub and alter our formation to be more defensive or plug the gap Yoshi had left. Yes there were mistakes by players and the ref in addition and you may also argue bad luck, but the manager is not blameless. You make no mention of the other 4 losses or the other draw against Leicester so I presume you do not excuse his role there.

VS, you also put forward a number of ‘what ifs’ should a new manager come in, but those same hypotheticals are applicable to MH. These 10 games in such unique circumstances do not really tell us what will happen next season if we sit comfortably in midtable. Will the players find the same motivation to play when relegation isn’t threatened? Will they achieve better each season under his stewardship or will we simply sit midtable and ultimately tire of the stale football without achieving anything other than comfortable finishes in the Premier League? Will the fans demand more? Will the players? Can we achieve that with MH? Will the players stay without a long term ambition?

VS, you’re very selective with the transfers you are considering. You have condemned Carrillo having seen him play very little football. Boufal is a fringe player but there is no questioning his ability and potential if he applies himself professionally. He is not a failure in so much as he has scored a number of key goals in his time with us, including a match winning goal against West Brom that sees us now sitting outside the bottom three rather than in it. Can the same be said of the failed signings at the clubs I listed? Not in my opinion. But even if you think Boufal and Carrillo are abject failures, that is two players in comparison to the list of players from the clubs I mentioned that could probably make up a whole roster by themselves.

I think its fair to add that you seem to assume MH staying or going will be entirely down to the club. But if another board share your strong view of his achievements here, who’s to say another team doesn’t come in for him and he decides to go there? He is not tied to us beyond the end of the season. Everton, Leicester and West Ham are all teams that could well be looking for a new manager in the summer.

You support your earnest view that MH should be kept on with reasoning that is very selective. Your judgment about him is as rash as your decision that Carrillo is terrible. Criticising our own transfers and putting us in the same hat as Stoke is not an argument for keeping MH on, rather an argument against keeping him. At least a manager with a better track record of finding and developing players would balance the selections of the black box and Les Reed.

But as I say, I do not disagree with MH staying on at the club if he has a long term vision, together with the club, that will see structured and informed team recruitment and sales, improved coaching at all levels to promote individual and team improvement and improvement each year in terms of achievement.


9.) 12 May 2018 14:12:06
Yes South Hants Rich, by changing our formation he has given us licence to attack more. I was not overlooking the change of shape. However, if you disagree that he encouraged attacking football in some games and its simply the change of shape that made the difference, please explain the Leicester and Everton performances, or Swansea for that matter. Rampaging we were not.

I have no idea why you say the inclusion of Bednarek in the back three has been an issue. He has been a stand out performer when in fact Hoedt and Yoshi have both had their moments of culpability. It was certainly ballsy to change the defensive shape and stick with it despite conceding three goals a game. The gamble appears to have paid off but its by the seat of our pants.

MH has got the players playing better going forwards, but there is no discernible style to our play, performances are up and down and our defence is as weak, if not weaker than it was under MP2. But I do balance these views with my general position that where the plus points of this 10 game period are very much in the context of this relegation fight, so are the negatives. As I have said, who knows how the team will play under MH if they’re in a more settled position? I for one don’t.

That tactic has been used against Bournemouth by several teams as their wingbacks are a major attacking threat so MH was smart to pick up on it ahead of the Bournemouth game. As for Swansea, we didn’t play well and no action was taken to manage the direct/ long ball game they were playing. The second half was more balanced but it was not a comfortable performance. There have been several games as well where MH has made tactical errors, such as changing our shape to a flat back four in several games after taking the lead, not reacting quickly enough to the change in momentum in the Chelsea game…

In short, there are arguments both for and against MH staying on and differing views on how good he has been. We all agree he appears to have achieved the number one target and that deserves credit. This 10 game period has done nothing to address my concerns about his management and coaching as it is too concise a period of time in very specific circumstances. I therefore do not believe the club would be justified in giving him a new contract and saying he’s earned it if he does not sit down with them before hand and determine the long term strategy of the club. Failure to do this, with or without MH at the helm, is likely to see us drifting again as we have this season and I would be surprised if the consensus among Saints fans would be anything other than avoiding that at all costs.


10.) 12 May 2018 19:42:56
Well put Figo. Another example of fans over-reacting to small changes of fortune. Les Reed, if you're reading, IGNORE US! Honestly, the hypocrisy of fans on here is mind numbing.

Short term thinking will, at best, lead to the fate of Swansea, West From or Stoke: a few middling PL seasons and ultimately relegation. Look at the teams who have built with a long term vision in mind, like Spurs, Liverpool, City, and frankly, us. These teams have all achieved great things in the last 5 years relative to where they were in the 5 years previously, us included (this season has come out of the blue and been horrendous, but let's be fair about how far we came as a club up until this year) .

So keep Hughes, or don't keep Hughes. I can see both sides. But if you keep him, it had better be as part of a renewed and amended strategy to move this club forward. That could mean he sells us on him being the man to do that, and shows he has a vision for how he's going to do it. It could even mean that we use him as a bridge for a year to maintain the momentum of the relegation fight, change the personnel a bit, and bed in a new generation with the players we consider culpable for this season's performance moved on. Or it could mean we simply thank him for his good, but hardly great job that he's done, and move onto someone else immediately who shows that they have a vision which could take us forward.

VS, you said who else is there? Well when we hired Hughes, there really wasn't much because of the timing. That was a particularly difficult situation, and Hughes made sense. That doesn't mean he's still the best man for the job. Fulham's manager Jokanovic, for example, was in the middle of a promotion fight and unavailable. If Fulham don't get promoted, he could be a great option at the end of the year. Even if not him, the board will not need to convince potential candidates to abandon their current clubs with 10 games to go in the season and move to a club on the brink of relegation. We effectively only had free agents to choose from. Now, we will be able to convince managers at other clubs to make a career change based on a long term commitment, rather than recklessly jump onto a sinking ship.


11.) 12 May 2018 21:06:24
As a saints fan of more than 50 years all I ask is passion commitment and honesty in our teams performances. If I see that then I can forgive anything. Good luck to next seasons manager, hope it’s MH.


12.) 12 May 2018 22:16:06
That sounds nice Saint Paul, and is the kind of thing fans love to say but hate to live by. Fans demand improvement and want to support an exciting club which gives them reason for optimism. For a long time, this Southampton regime provided us with that. How? By proactively taking steps designed to improve the club. Adkins, for example, could have provided the kind of relative success I think Hughes could - a decent run in the PL before the wheels come off. But we went bold, and tried to find someone better. That time, it worked and we found Pochettino. The next time we did it, it didn't and we got Pellegrino. I, for one, want to support a club that tries a third time.

To be clear, this isn't me saying we have to sack Hughes. I'm agreeing with Figo, whatever we do should be with a long term goal in mind. Personally, I don't think the man for that is Hughes, but I do accept that there are two sides to that argument.

If I had the decision, I'd look around at what's out there and consider Hughes plan B if I don't think we can get the right long-term solution. I would love Jokanovic though, personally.


13.) 12 May 2018 22:40:14
Figo
I never said the inclusion of Bednarek was 'an issue' . I said he went to a back three that included an untried player. Bednarek was excellent and of the three CB's made the least mistakes. Hoedt is a strange one, his passing can be perfection . but sometimes is either over hit or in the wrong direction . Yosh is an excellent tackler 18/ 20 times . but sadly the other 2 can be awful .


 

 

21 Mar 2018 21:34:04
Just a small question, why would we want Luke Shaw back? Good player agreed but not a patch on Bertrand and we have Matt Targett out on loan at Fulham to bring back if required. Shaw has injury doubts, always has had and also would cripple us financially so don’t understand why we would need him. What we do need is a centre half with strength and pace on him to replace VVD. Hoedt and Stephens are solid but lack that extra yard of pace. They are few and far between but we do have the money so we can get the right man if we put our money where our mouth is.

Saint Chris

1.) 22 Mar 2018 09:40:21
Luke Shaw is a much better player than Matt Targett ( no disrespect to Matt) Yes he has had history of injuries but not the worst history of quite a few modern day footballers. He had foot surgery on June 30 th last year which he fully recovered from and is injury free since that. He turns 23 in July this year and still at a young age with plenty of years in front of him. He is contracted till July 2019 and currently on £70,000 a week. Not exactly financially crippling for Southampton F. C. If Manchester United would put him on the market there would be quite a few clubs interested. Absolutely agree about a centre half with pace but who is available out there? Give Hoedt and Stephens a chance for Christ’s sake they are young and learning all the time. Some of the best Centre Halves in the world don’t exactly have the pace of a winger but their experience more than make up for it. Any how flying back to Kiwi Land Easter so will watch Saints with interest . Oh by the way England cricket team got shot out for 58 runs by the Kiwis if any body is interested. Have a great day. COYR’s.


2.) 22 Mar 2018 10:09:32
My point was Bronnie that of all the positions in the Saints line-up left full back hardly seems the most important. When you say give Hoedt and Stephens time, we don't have it. We paid a lot of money for Hoedt, he didn't come through the academy . If you sell your top asset for 75 million I believe you can afford the luxury of a similar replacement it is not as though we didn't know he was going. If we get relegated the likes of Hoedt will probably be on their way anyway. Didn't say Targett was better than Luke Shaw but he is a dependable replacement for our first choice England left back if he is injured or suspended along with McQueen. To me this all paper talk and to be honest I just can't see any mileage in this story. By the way thanks for the cricket update I recorded it overnight so I will be deleting that. Rather you hadn't updated us though to be perfectly honest,


3.) 22 Mar 2018 11:35:44
Oh bloody hell sorry about the cricket. Never gave it a thought about people recording it. I remember once my partner was working a 2 to 10pm shift and asked me to record a football match on tele. When he got in he said not to tell him the score line, who scored and who won. Unfortunately I told him that neither side scored. He was not happy. Still say would like Shaw back as solid back up for Bartrand with plenty of experience. Unfortunately Mourinho is not exactly a fan but again couldn’t see it happening. You have your view where I have mine but let’s let's hope Bartrand recovers from a back problem in time for West Ham. Brilliant news that Charlie Austin is virtually ready to play again. Perfect timing for the run in. Have a great day Chris and sorry once again for the cricket score.


4.) 22 Mar 2018 12:18:46
I honestly don’t think there is much wrong with Ryan’s back if you can read between the lines. He will be fit as a butchers dog by the West Ham game which may decide our fate. We need all our best players available and if I was the new manager I wouldn’t want to risk injury to any of them, these are friendly international games . I may be wrong but I just got a feeling.


5.) 22 Mar 2018 13:21:52
I agree absolutely and don’t like the idea of any clubs international players risking injury in friendlies that are of no importance. Just money earners for the f. a. As well as Charlie it looks like Steven Davis could be ready for West Ham game. Gets better as time goes on. Win our home games and get 6 points from the others and this should be enough to survive. COYR’s.


6.) 22 Mar 2018 21:32:46
If we win our home games and get 6 points from the others we'll finish mid-table. Right now I'd happily take 17th on goal difference.


7.) 23 Mar 2018 00:47:48
Shortest reply ever Figo 😃.


8.) 23 Mar 2018 13:43:03
Right!? I had no idea I could manage it.


9.) 25 Mar 2018 00:01:51
We need 8 points total IMO. West Ham game is massive but we will get at least 8 more points I am sure.


10.) 25 Mar 2018 18:14:12
I’m not.


 

 

19 Mar 2018 11:28:11
Just a glimmer yesterday of a small amount of self belief. Lemina started very sheepishly but gradually realised that he was a class player and comfortable on the ball. We were playing a League One club it has to be remembered but eventually I think we just about deserved the win. I find it absolutely incredible that this talented squad of players have had nearly all their confidence taken away from them over the previous months by the recently departed manager and his associates and just hope and pray we haven't left the change of manager etc. too late. Unfortunately I fear we may have.

Saint Chris

1.) 19 Mar 2018 13:40:00
Hi Chris. We all must remember that Wigan are one of, if not the best, top teams in League 1. They also knocked out Bournemouth, West Ham and Man City. First half Saints found it hard going against a hard honest attacking team but got to the break level. In the second half ( don’t know what Sparky said or was in their cuppa ) Saints got better and better and wore down Wigan. Well taken goal by Cedric to kill them off. Now to get ready for West Ham and get the 3pts. Still mildly confident that we will stay up. Will miss that match as my partner and I will be going back to N. Z. Will follow with great interest the results of the next 8 matches. Get behind the lads, make the Stadium rock. COYR’s. Keep up the good work Figo and the Ed’s. Have a great day.


2.) 19 Mar 2018 21:20:29
They may be one of the best teams in league one but we shouldn’t be struggling against teams like them. We did in the first half until the penny dropped. Rollercoaster ride till the end of the season and if there was ever a 6 pointer then the West Ham game is it. Must win nothing else will do.


3.) 20 Mar 2018 17:24:36
No disrespect Chris but any Premier or Championship side would “ struggle” against teams like Wigan. They will get promotion this season and ply their trade against the Championship. Too many teams have been too confident against lower league teams and learnt the hard way. Fair do’s to Wigan they showed their ability against Saints but were beaten by a team that on the day deserved to win . Still confident that we will survive this season . Yes it will be a rollercoaster ride but Saints will play with passion that was never on show under Pellegrino. COYR’s.


4.) 20 Mar 2018 22:00:21
I think bronnie is saying Wigan are still a force to be reckoned with. The result against city had a lot of luck involved, but you have to earn luck and they did that by beating other prem teams to get there, something we have not done all season.

Regarding the West Ham game, I agree it is massive, I hear that the hammers fans insist anything other than defeat is ok. I would have to agree a drawer is better for them but I am backing the saints.

COYR.


5.) 21 Mar 2018 10:16:19
I appreciate what you are saying Bronnie about it being tough to play lower league sides it always has been. Just think we started the game nervously and lacking confidence. We got a bit lucky when they messed up a few good chances and that is what I meant in my original post, the penny dropped, they then mentally switched on and as a team started playing the kind of controlling football we as fans have known all season they are more than capable of. Good players being badly coached makes a very average team. A manager frightened of losing and playing totally negative football can in particular effect the confidence of our flair players, I think this happened big time when Pelligrino was in charge it has yet to be seen whether MH is the answer, I hope so but far from convinced. Hope I'm wrong.


6.) 21 Mar 2018 14:45:45
In my humble opinion I think we started the game to try and blend together and weather the storm from a side with their tails up and with bags of confidence. Yes Wigan had a few chances but the defensive lads grew in confidence by half time. The second half we improved by the minute and Sparky’s tactics were spot on. Even Redmond looked better than before. It’s a shame that you’re not convinced about Mark Hughes but hey let’s hope you are proved wrong. I for one am very convinced he will get us out this mess left by one of the most inept managers I have witnessed. It’s even better that MH has the luxury of a two week break before our next game therefore getting to know the players not on international duty better. Wouldn’t mind getting Luke Shaw back . Shame I won’t be here for the West Ham game. Have a great day everybody. COYR’s.


 

 

 

Saint Chris's rumour replies

 

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09 Jul 2018 12:49:00
I think the comparison of the two keepers is ridiculous. They are completely different types of keeper. Fraser great point blank shot stopper Alex all round excellent goalie. The reason in my opinion Fraser appeared to be so good when he arrived was that he hardly had a shot to save due to the superb back four in front of him, AM has done nothing wrong so far, I’m happy he is between the sticks.

Saint Chris

 

 

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25 May 2018 15:22:03
An interesting slant on it Corky with pretty sound logic. The whole theory though very nearly disappeared down the toilet until that famous night at the Liberty stadium in Swansea. If that had all gone pear shaped and we were now in the Championship I don’t think the word genius would spring to mind. We got away with it big time and hopefully lessons have been learned .

Saint Chris

 

 

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18 May 2018 15:07:42
Figo I would be the first to second you as the level headed representative to put an organised sensible discussion with the board and the management putting forward supporters views and recommendations for the club to take on board. Why not try to organise something I believe you would get very firm backing from the majority of the supporters.

Saint Chris

 

 

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17 May 2018 22:16:10
Totally agree with both above posts but there is just something that is bugging me. They allowed Mr GAO to take majority control of the club with to put it mildly very little confidence in his financial ability to finance the club if required in the future. I feel this is a major stumbling block for any progression for the club to ensure a stable future . Just maybe the SOUTHAMPTON WAY doesn’t suit other potential investors who really want to be more involved with the club and not happy with the board as it is. The delay in appointing MH smacks of the last two seasons with obviously something holding it up, probably as you say money and confirmation of the squad availability for next season. Don’t know about anybody else but the communication from the club to the supporters is virtually nothing apart from a rather sheepish interview with Adam Blackmore. However they were amazingly quick to post the new season ticket great deals and wanting our money now before we have any idea of what the set up will be next season. I personally find the recent business far from the Southampton Way and if they want to know what that is, hold a fans forum they might learn something, but I doubt it.

Saint Chris

 

 

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04 Apr 2018 18:38:18
Great player and a very nice man. A true gent.

Saint Chris

 

 

 

Saint Chris's banter replies

 

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27 Aug 2018 08:29:13
Panic buying Saintjay, 2 players out on loan and 1 not even on the bench that cost us collectively over 50 million pounds. Bit of a cock up all round in my opinion, should have pushed for Eddie Howe, his game plan and ability to get an on paper inferior squad playing attacking football is pretty plain to see. We missed the boat there.

Saint Chris

 

 

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26 May 2018 07:25:59
Vick not sure that where Stoke ended up was all down to Mark Hughes only time will tell. All in all over his five seasons there his record was pretty good for a club always looked upon as being unfashionable. The passion and determination he instilled into underperforming players here at the end of the season ultimately saved us. He may not be everybody’s choice but that’s life. We were for us very successful for a couple of seasons but that was mainly due to some excellent signings like Mane, Pelle, Wanyama, Toby etc. If we still had players of that calibre in the side MH would get us in the top eight almost definitely. I hope we see next season as a rebuild season and at least give the likes of Sims more of a chance . Good luck Mark.

Saint Chris

 

 

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23 May 2018 22:17:14
I just think being personal regarding some posters views on this site achieves nothing. This is a site for honest opinions of how certain individuals feel about how the club is being run. What is wrong with that? We all have different views which makes this site a very available vehicle to say what you feel. I do think it is unfair though to personally berate individuals for just saying how they see it.

Saint Chris

 

 

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23 May 2018 18:03:44
I know Vintage and totally agree, the board seem completely detached from the supporters. Almost to the point of arrogance, if they are not in a position to announce an appointment just tell us. Saying nothing causes frustration amongst the fans who have stuck with the club throughout a very testing season. The revenue they will lose in season ticket sales for being so secretive seems backward logic to me.

Saint Chris

 

 

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21 Apr 2018 11:40:51
I totally agree with you 123 and all the talk of lining KL's pockets and running off with the profits was just crazy talk from so called supporters. My take on this is that any other business collapsing in front of you for months would have changed the leadership from board level down to address the situation. I think most things started to go wrong when we were looking for a new owner and for many months nobody was actually steering the ship. If Markus was still the owner the board would have been sent packing before any crisis worsened. The board won't step down if there is no one to make it happen.

Saint Chris