Southampton thread

Isgrove, Martina and Caceres released.  Pity we didn't see more of Caceres. Played well in his only match

@ thebronze14 who would you have as the new Saints manager?

Tuchel would have been an excellent appointment but seems to be holding our for a CL job which isn't surprising. Would say there is zero chance of Nagelsmann ending up at Southampton. Already being courted for bigger jobs elsewhere in the next year or two. 

Roberto Baggio wrote: I wonder what the Southampton board's targets were last season, if 8th and getting to a cup final were deemed sackable for the manager

We were only 6 points iirc away from 17th place and about 18 away from 7th so the table didn't tell the whole story

pre Madonna wrote: thebronze14 wrote: Roberto Baggio wrote: I wonder what the Southampton board's targets were last season, if 8th and getting to a cup final were deemed sackable for the manager We were only 6 points iirc away from 17th place and about 18 away from 7th so the table didn't tell the whole story The league is now split in three. You have the top 6 battling for fourth, Everton battling themselves for seventh and the rest fighting to stay up. He finished as high as could have been reasonably expected by anybody and got to a cup final. The gap between 8th and relegation is going to be less than the gap between 8th and 6th, that will continue. Where would you realistically hope Southampton to finish next year?

pre Madonna wrote: I think 8th is the limit of Southampton's ambitions, so getting that and a cup final should not get a manager sacked, no matter what football was played. It is like one of the 'big 6' sacking their manager for winning the league!

I wouldn't altogether dismiss what the fans who watch them week in week out think - esp Saints fans, who don't have a reputation for deluding themselves as to their status.

Nor can you dismiss "what football was played", either (imo). I mean, they only scored 17 goals in 19 home games and their total of 41 was only higher than the bottom five teams. Meanwhile, the figures for the previous season were 39 and 59 respectively.

As for "8th [being] the limit of Southampton's ambitions", remember that they finished 6th the previous season, with 63 points. And that was only 3 points off Man City in fourth.

Whereas the season just ended, they got 46 points, which was a whopping 23 points off sixth place (30 points off 4th). Perhaps more relevant, they were 15 points off 7th placed Everton, who are a comparably placed club.

Then when you add persistent stories of dressing room unrest, it cannot be said to have been a good season for them, nor where there any signs of Puel reversing the decline (new players due in, new kids from the Academy etc).

As for getting to the League Cup Final, Sunderland, Bradford, Cardiff, Villa and Wigan all did so in the last decade, with Swansea and Birmingham even winning it! Six of those seven will be in the Championship next season...

pre Madonna wrote: thebronze14 wrote: pre Madonna wrote: thebronze14 wrote: Roberto Baggio wrote: I wonder what the Southampton board's targets were last season, if 8th and getting to a cup final were deemed sackable for the manager We were only 6 points iirc away from 17th place and about 18 away from 7th so the table didn't tell the whole story The league is now split in three. You have the top 6 battling for fourth, Everton battling themselves for seventh and the rest fighting to stay up. He finished as high as could have been reasonably expected by anybody and got to a cup final. The gap between 8th and relegation is going to be less than the gap between 8th and 6th, that will continue. Where would you realistically hope Southampton to finish next year? Don't really know until we see the teams. I was very much in the Puel in camp. I would take 8th and a cup run again but be much closer 7th than further away and hopefully score some goals! I think 8th is the limit of Southampton's ambitions, so getting that and a cup final should not get a manager sacked, no matter what football was played. It is like one of the 'big 6' sacking their manager for winning the league!

Former Alaves manager Mauricio Pelegríno named as manager

9fingers wrote: Former Alaves manager Mauricio Pelegríno named as manager

Had to laugh.  Mauricio Pellegrino.  Old manager Mauricio Pochettino. Deja Vu here.   Like some bloke going out with a bird that looks identical to his ex.