In a sentence... if we don't have new boss in place by January 1st I'd seriously say we are relegation fodder!
I think that the only concern is about the third relegation place. I cannot honestly seeing either Swansea or Crystal Palace staying up. There is no way either team will muster sufficient improvement in form to avoid relegation and I think both are doomed. You have also got to ask yourself as to whether WBA can survive as they look extremely fragile at the moment and Pulis seems to have lost confidence in himself. The current Saints performances have been inept but I don't think we look as frail as either of these three teams and I am convinced things will improve if the squad is freshened up in January, If Pellegrino can't turn things around then, I believe that is the point at which is employment needs to be considered.
Thought we had dodged a bullet by not getting De Boer. Instead it seems it has taken an age to ricochet around coming off koemans big fat head and back our way. Everton game could be his last chance saloon, and if the performance and result doesn't improve, then he can ride off into the sunset
I really believe we go after Dyche. The way he has managed Burnley, has been remarkable! Don't tell me they have a better squad than us. Look how organised he has his team. Seems to me, his players really enjoy playing for him. Les needs to sell him "The Southampton Way "
I get the feeling that Les is still looking for the next Pochettino from abroad, but I would be delighted to see Dyche, Howe or Hughton here.
Is it possible any of those teams you listed could also be convinced that things will improve for them, if they freshen up their squad in January?
If Dyche was our next manager, I wouldn't have a problem. But at the same time, he has had, what, five years at Burnley? He must know the club, and most of the players, inside out. Whether he could move to another club, and get near instant results, I don't know. There is also the thing that some managers just 'fit' a club. I've mentioned Burnley, so look at Howe. He was a near disaster when he moved there. Yet when he returned to Bournemouth, he slipped back into fantastically well. Only time will tell, when Eddie is a manager elsewhere, whether his time at Burnley was just a one-off aberration, or actually Eddie just 'fits' Bournemouth like nowhere else. I think I am personally leaning towards Rafa. Less of a risk, and enough clout to hopefully ensure that the board pull their finger out in the transfer market.
As i'm sure the Alavés fans were not delighted in the Summer (they are welcome to have him back now!...)
I can't see Rafa being interested atm. Newcastle have just got a new owner and they are doing reasonably well in the league. He seems settled so I doubt he would be massively fussed about moving to Saints.
Ashley hasn't sold up yet. And they've only won once in two months. Rafa is experienced enough to know that a couple of early season wins doesn't change their focus away from looking to avoid relegation. If the new owners are in place come January though, with a transfer budget to spend, then yes I can't see Rafa leaving.
"BTW I think that the quality in the squad is potentially top ten and could be higher with a couple of top signings ( a creative #10 and a Targetman Striker in the mould of Pelle/SRL)". I should've added a top class international Keeper to that.
I think Swansea are done this year tbh but really wouldn't be surprised if Palace got out of it. With Benteke and Zaha in the team you will always get goals and Roy should half sort out the defence, especially if he gets to spend.
If MP2 is only getting a 12.7% approval rating on this forum then he is in big trouble, it must be close to 0% on SaintsWeb.
Funnily enough I was just checking there... here's their version: https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/showthr...5ec906e5dbc0179f84152e523d2b0374#.WhGnjOvyiUk 31 votes to 318. So approval rating of 8.88%
