How long should Ron get to turn things around?

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Even Merson thought we were panicking too soon. We are on 21 points now and we will probably get enough wins and draws to finish well above the relegation zone (whilst accepting that nothing is certain in this life). We are not going to sign Guardiola or Mourinho, so, unless there is a secret gem of a manager hiding in Les Reed's office, I can't see it is worth the risk. Part of the problem is the personnel available to the manager....not all down to him. Give him a chance to turn things round.

I favour getting at least one player in in January to stir things up and (too late now) I would have taken them on a short break (like Leicester did). Missed a chance for team bonding before Christmas....you can only do so much training.
 
I have faith in Les Reed, as the leader of the footballing arm of the club, to:

A) Not panic
B) Be thoughtful about the situation
C) Make the right decisions
D) Influence the chairman/owner appropriately


But I agree, there really is no easy solution. We need something more, that much is evident.

However, I don't want us to get into being a 'hire and fire' club.

As someone else said, if this drags on for months, then maybe we will have to bring a new influence in.

I really hope it doesn't come to that because I'm a big fan of Koeman as a manager and, perhaps more importantly, as a personality.

I back him to turn it around and get quite some time yet.
Biggest thing is Koeman needs backing in Jan.
 
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We pinned our hopes on Jay Rodriguez being an alternative to last year's frontline, if needed.

Juanmi needs time and Shane Long isn't up to it. We really need a fresh face up there.
I'm hoping for two players. Buy a striker to help out Pelle. Then loan a winger so we can actually rotate.
 
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Neither are up to Juanmi or Long are up to it imo. Rodriguez is out of the equation. We need a centre forward to rotate with Pelle. Pelle is a very good centre forward imo, but he's burnt out now.

I'd like to point out that Juanmi only has 3 career assists in 93 league appearances. His creativity is practically non-existent. He has always created very few chances, he's not a playmaker or creator, never was, never will be. He's just not a good player imo. Simple as that. He's the type that chips in with the occasional goal.

I'd like to see us play three proper attackers behind Pelle for now, with two proper DM's in Reed/Romeu and Wanyama behind. I want Ramirez back in the side personally as Juanmi and Long aren't up to it. I'd much prefer Ramirez over JWP/Davis as the 3rd man behind Pelle (with Mane and Tadic nailed on in my view)

We need a centre forward and a player to play in the three behind the striker that has good direct end product (this is why Ramirez ought to be getting at least some chances off the bench). We need a right back. I think we need to off-load Juanmi and cut our losses in January. We need to off-load Caulker and bring in another centre back too imo, preferably one good enough to potentially compete for a place (and potential cement a place) in the side.
 
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I'm hoping for two players. Buy a striker to help out Pelle. Then loan a winger so we can actually rotate.

We need creativity from centre midfield for that striker. Nobody on the books bar ramirez exists currently
 
We need creativity from centre midfield for that striker. Nobody on the books bar ramirez exists currently
We need 3 players really. But can't see it happening in Jan. I would loved to be proved wrong and see Ron spend £30m on 3 or 4 players.
 
We need Lampard in his prime. We need Lionel Messi. We need Alan Shearer in his prime! <laugh>

We need creativity from centre midfield for that striker. Nobody on the books bar ramirez exists currently

You mean more AMC/number 10 than CM? Actually I think you might just mean from the middle of the park rather than the position.

I agree about Ramirez. Ramirez would be in my team after how we've played recently. Tadic is also a great creator of chances, but from the left hand side. Tadic ought to have had more assists considering the amount of chances he's created.
 
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We need someone to put the ball in the net.
Pelle is into his mid season drought, Long isn't a goal scorer, Juanmi is struggling,, Mane couldn't hit a barn door and JRod is out again...what about getting Ryan Seagar in the team.
A fox in the box player who isn't the greatest provider but knows where the net is...worth a try
 
We need someone to put the ball in the net.
Pelle is into his mid season drought, Long isn't a goal scorer, Juanmi is struggling,, Mane couldn't hit a barn door and JRod is out again...what about getting Ryan Seagar in the team.
A fox in the box player who isn't the greatest provider but knows where the net is...worth a try
Pelle is playing with a injury.
 
I secretly love buying strikers more than any other player. Just hope we can winkle out a good one in January...

I'd love Ron to pull a Dutch favour and get Remy on loan from old Guus.

It's my Christmas wish. I can't confess to having followed the French team much recently, but surely his lack of football must hinder his chances of playing in a home tournament? So if you come to us for five months Loic...
 
Wanyama plays like he doesn't want to be here.....
His head is in North London and Mane's is in Manchester. We need to stop the Hoof ball, start pressing again, get the players back to the fitness level of two seasons ago, what is with all this ball juggling we see in the training photo's? Maybe give Segar a chance and bring back Reed, but do something to try and turn this around
 
It's my Christmas wish. I can't confess to having followed the French team much recently, but surely his lack of football must hinder his chances of playing in a home tournament? So if you come to us for five months Loic...
Giroud, lacazette will both be ahead of him, probably martial and whatever happens to benzema. Don't think Chelsea would offload him either, he's second choice behind Costa ahead of falcao
 
If the Saints board stays loyal to Ronald through this dip in form (and I don't see why not; who's better out there?) then it possible he will repay us by being loyal to us come the end of his contract.

Vin
 
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Some might remember I slaughtered Wanyama once in a game last season. I think was Hull City away. He either genuinely wasn't trying or he was injured.

But this season he's done ok for me. He's even winning the ball back more than last season , more interceptions per game, more blocks per game, more clearances per game, more free kicks won per game, dispossessed less, more passes completed per game, even more key passes per game! Rather harsh to suggest he's not trying his best!!

I think been he has been similar to last year personally and has tried to get about a bit more to make up for Schneidetrlin's absence. The defence has just been very shaky, we've been wasteful in front of goal and he hasn't found a DM partner yet. Again I will say that personally I think Reed would compliment him best. The stats suggest Reed is our best ball winner. Reed is actually classed statically as 'very strong' for tackles and interceptions, that's extremely rare. He covers loads of ground. I think he'd be a great DM partner for Wanyama. One small feisty ball-winning DM that will run all game for you, one big strong ball-winning DM is a good combination imo