Dean Smith - Confirmed

[mcgrath_85]

I don’t think Smith and his coaching staff have it in them to take us any higher. He should be replaced even if we survive tomorrow. We need to be ambitious when searching for his replacement though!

[PaulTheVillan]

The margins are so fine. Swap Danny Ings with any of our strikers and it'll be us near mid table and Southampton down the bottom. We really need to get the recruitment right this summer, whichever division we're in

[AsTallAsLions]

The margins are so fine. Swap Danny Ings with any of our strikers and it'll be us near mid table and Southampton down the bottom. We really need to get the recruitment right this summer, whichever division we're in

Regardless of the recruitment though, do you think Smith has tried to play the right kind of football on a consistent basis this season?

For both better and worse this season, Southampton have at least consistently tried to play positive football. Smith has, multiple times, set us out to "be difficult to beat". And got beaten anyway. Not good enough IMO.

[colin69]

I’ve not been Dean Smith's biggest fan for much of this season and I wanted him out some time ago but there have been some encouraging signs recently which I hope continues tomorrow. I get the feeling the club will stick with him whatever happens tomorrow anyway but I do feel Richard Madeley is not a good fit for us at all.

[Risso]

We've just had the equivalent of a close season and we seemed to have settled into being a comfortable mid-table side. Obviously there are a lot of unique factors to consider, but that's a step in the right direction.

We've got 9 points from 9 games since the restart.  If that was replicated over the season we'd be in exactly the same position we are now, not mid-table.

[PaulWinch again]

I’m just hoping we have the luxury of considering what’s needed for next season in the top flight come tomorrow evening.

[mcgrath_85]

We've just had the equivalent of a close season and we seemed to have settled into being a comfortable mid-table side. Obviously there are a lot of unique factors to consider, but that's a step in the right direction.

We've got 9 points from 9 games since the restart.  If that was replicated over the season we'd be in exactly the same position we are now, not mid-table.

3 decent performances and all is seemingly forgotten.

[PeterWithesShin]

Nearly everyone we've played has been top 10 (at least) when we played them. That won't be the case over a 38 game season, we've shown mid table form. Lost to the 4 in the top 6, 9 from 5 from the others. Extrapolated over a season, comfortably mid-table.

[dave.woodhall]

We've just had the equivalent of a close season and we seemed to have settled into being a comfortable mid-table side. Obviously there are a lot of unique factors to consider, but that's a step in the right direction.

We've got 9 points from 9 games since the restart.  If that was replicated over the season we'd be in exactly the same position we are now, not mid-table.

3 decent performances and all is seemingly forgotten.

Said nobody, at any point.

[paul_e]

Nealry everyone we've played has been top 10 (at least) when we played them. That won't be the case over a 38 game season, we've shown mid table form. Lost to the 4 in the top 6, 9 from 5 from the others. Extrapolated over a season, comfortably mid-table.

on top of that I wouldn't mind a slow start to the season like we've just had so long as there's improvement once w're up and running, which we've seen.

[Drummond]

We've just had the equivalent of a close season and we seemed to have settled into being a comfortable mid-table side. Obviously there are a lot of unique factors to consider, but that's a step in the right direction.

We've got 9 points from 9 games since the restart.  If that was replicated over the season we'd be in exactly the same position we are now, not mid-table.

Win tomorrow and its 12 from 10. Over a season that ratio would have us 13th and 11 points clear of relegation...

[AsTallAsLions]

Why on earth are we 'extrapolating' or averaging any sample results out over a full season, when we've just played a full season (albeit interrupted)? It makes no sense. Anyone could just as easily pick our worst run and aggregate that upwards.

How about we judge the manager's performance based on the full season, as every other club will theirs? Revolutionary I know 

[mcgrath_85]

Why on earth are we 'extrapolating' or averaging any sample results out over a full season, when we've just played a full season (albeit interrupted)? It makes no sense. Anyone could just as easily pick our worst run and aggregate that upwards.

How about we judge the manager's performance based on the full season, as every other club will theirs? Revolutionary I know 

Ha ha. Spot on!

[paul_e]

Why on earth are we 'extrapolating' or averaging any sample results out over a full season, when we've just played a full season (albeit interrupted)? It makes no sense. Anyone could just as easily pick our worst run and aggregate that upwards.

How about we judge the manager's performance based on the full season, as every other club will theirs? Revolutionary I know 

Because lots of people thought we'd be better once the team had a pre-season and some of us think they've seen evidence to back that up.

[Drummond]

Why on earth are we 'extrapolating' or averaging any sample results out over a full season, when we've just played a full season (albeit interrupted)? It makes no sense. Anyone could just as easily pick our worst run and aggregate that upwards.

How about we judge the manager's performance based on the full season, as every other club will theirs? Revolutionary I know

True, let's just all agree with you. Life would be so much easier if we didn't have a differing point of view.