OptiNews - Friday 09 to Thursday 15 June 2017

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article

Le Tissier on Saints’ 2017/18 run in

Show/hide article…

Saints kick-start the new campaign at home to Swansea City on Saturday August 12th, though Le Tissier admitted it was a chance to return to Wembley that first attracted his attention.

“The Spurs game was probably one that everyone looked out for,” started the former Saints man.

“I think a lot of Saints fans will be looking forward to going to Wembley for an away game again, especially on Boxing Day - that will be a nice way to spend the festive period.

“I think then you always look, well I did as a player, towards who you play at the end of the season. We usually needed points from those games to stay up, but hopefully things are a bit different now!

“Man City at home is a big fixture to end the season and could potentially be one that decides the title, so that could be an exciting one as well.”

Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Huddersfield Town will all join the Premier League this season, having gained promotion from the Championship.

And Le Tissier was excited to welcome another south coast team to the top tier, but also issued a warning about facing the newly-promoted sides too early on in the season.

“The other thing I didn’t like doing was playing away from home to a newly-promoted club early on, because usually a lot of enthusiasm goes into that,” he explained.

“I remember going to Charlton away very early on when they had returned to the Premier League – they smashed us 5-0 and I never forgot it.

“We have got Huddersfield quite early on this season, so that could be a trickier fixture than perhaps some people will expect.

“We then go to Brighton in October and it’ll be lovely to renew that rivalry following the League One and Championship days – I am looking forward to those little south coast derbies.”

Go to the original article…

...sibilantly given life to by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Sky Sports article

Thomas Tuchel favourite to be named Southampton manager

Show/hide article…

Thomas Tuchel is the favourite with Sky Bet to replace Claude Puel as manager of Southampton.

Tuchel left Bundesliga heavyweights Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer and Sky Bet have priced up the 43-year-old as the early even-money favourite to take his next challenge at St Mary’s.

Former Inter Milan boss Frank de Boer is second in the odds at 9/2 and ex-Alaves chief Mauricio Pellegrino can be backed at 8/1.

Ryan Giggs is on offer at 10/1 to take his first full-time managerial role in charge of Southampton and Reading manager Jaap Stam is another contender at 12/1.

Installed as the early favourite, Tuchel is looking for a new job after leaving Borussia Dortmund under a cloud last month. His exciting brand of football will sit well at St Mary’s, but his seemingly volatile temperament may be hard to reconcile with Saints’ recent reputation as a selling club.

De Boer was one of the game’s hottest properties when he left Ajax to take over at Inter Milan in August last year, but a series of dismal performances saw him dismissed after just 85 games in charge. Again, following recent success with Ronald Koeman, Saints could be tempted to resurrect his career.

Seemingly this year’s most-linked manager, Pellegrino is currently favourite to take over at Crystal Palace. But the Argentinian, who left Alaves last month, could easily have his head turned by the experience of his compatriot Pochettino at St Mary’s - and the feeling may well be mutual.

The Manchester United legend has been linked with Swansea, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest since leaving his coaching job at Old Trafford last summer. Giggs has still to take his first full-time managerial role but he’d have to be interested in the steady growth that Southampton have produced in the Premier League.

The former Manchester United defender earned plaudits for the way he lifted Reading to the brink of the Premier League last season. After coming up short on penalties in the Championship play-off final, Stam may fancy a new challenge, and would not have to uproot far to head to Saints.

Go to the original article…

...immoderately dreamed up by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from talkSPORT article

Matt Le Tissier claims Southampton took a ‘big step down’ under Claude Puel and backs club to bring in right replacement

Show/hide article…

Matt Le Tissier says he fully understands Southampton’s decision to sack manager Claude Puel - and trusts the club will find the ideal replacement.

Puel was axed on Wednesday after just 12 months in charge following an end-of-season review by executive director Les Reed.

The Frenchman led the Saints to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League last season and to the League Cup final - their first major final appearance in 14 years.

But Le Tissier believes the club have gone backwards under the 55-year-old and he does not disagree with the decision to make a managerial change.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, the Saints legend said: "On the face of it you would say it looks very harsh and I can understand why a lot of people outside of Southampton are thinking that 100 per cent.

"However, when you look deeper at the facts: we were 17 points worse off than we were last season, we were six points off 17th place which, given what we had done the prevous three years, was a big step down.

"That was coupled with a lack of goals, a really poor Europa League campaign in which we failed to get out of a pretty weak group, and the fact Sunderland were the only team that scored less home goals than we did last season

"Looking from the outside it does look harsh and the League Cup final was a terrific performance but, unfortunately, that was the exception to the rule this season.

"From what I understand the club gave him every chance to be in charge next season if he was willing to change his style of play and by all accounts there was no budging on that.

“He didn’t think he did anything wrong, he felt what he was doing was the right way to go about things and that is where the disagreement came around. That is why it has taken so long to make the decision.”

Having seen Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman leave for rival clubs in recent years, Southampton are used to searching for managers and Le Tissier is confident they will identify the right man to succeed Puel.

“The club have done pretty well in picking their managers,” said Le Tissier,

"The last two before Claude were very successful and moved on pretty quickly.

“As a Saints fan, I trust in the club to do their homework properly and come up with the right man to take us forward.”

Go to the original article…

...wintrily originated by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from A tweet by BBCSport tweet

@BBCSport - BBC Sport

Southampton are searching for a fourth manager since 2014 after sacking Claude Puel.

More … https://twitter.com/i/web/status/875329294171602944

Retweets: 17

Favourites: 29

...unbearably created by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/06/2017 13:23:36

| | Saints fans annoyed to miss out on SilvaHERTFORDSHIREMERCURY |
| | Claude Puel An Appraisal ! - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |

...scatteredly fitted together by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Optimus trousers’ RSS Feed rss feed

Read Southampton

New content from (- Read Southampton)

| Southampton line up Championship manager | According to Yahoo Sports, Reading manager Jaap Stam is on Southampton’s shortlist to become their next manager. The … 15-06-2017 |
| Ex-Inter Milan manager targeted by Southampton | Frank De Boer and Mauricio Pellegrino are two of the names on Southampton’s managerial shortlist, according to Simon … 15-06-2017 |

Older content…

| Saints still poised to land promising young defender13 hours ago |
| Tuchel rules himself out of Southampton job13 hours ago |
| Confirmed - Claude Puel parts company with Southampton2 days ago |
| Southampton and Leicester miss out on exciting attacker2 days ago |
| Five players Southampton should look to sign2 days ago |
| Twitter Reacts: Southampton’s 2017/18 fixture release2 days ago |
| Tadic refuses to rule out Liverpool switch2 days ago |
| What next for Liverpool-linked Dusan Tadic?2 days ago |

...tantalizingly sired by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Optimus trousers’ RSS Feed rss feed

The Ugly Inside News for Southampton

New content from (- The Ugly Inside News for Southampton)

| Frank De Boer Bookies Favourite To Replace Puel | A year ago to the day that Claude Puel was sacked the Ugly Inside ran the headline "Frank De Boer Favourite to … 15-06-2017 |

Older content…

| Claude Puel An Appraisal !13 hours ago |
| The Ugly Inside TV ! Puel Sacking Reaction13 hours ago |
| Puel Sacked2 days ago |
| The Ugly Inside TV ! PL Fixtures, Managerial Movements and Jan Bednarek2 days ago |
| Football Supporters Federation Responds To Premier League TV Proposals2 days ago |
| Saints To Unveil Their New Kit For Next Season On Thursday2 days ago |
| Fixtures Put Pressure On Saints To Get Points On The Board Early.2 days ago |
| First Away Game To Be Re - Scheduled2 days ago |
| At Last The Saints Fixtures Are Out2 days ago |
| Could This Be A Big Week For Saints ?3 days ago |

...bashfully concocted by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Daily Echo article

Saints face Hammers fixture dilemma

Show/hide article…

Saints face the prospect of going two months with just a single home game and playing away four times in a row if their game against West Ham gets switched.

The release of next season’s fixture list threw up a major potential problem for Saints, as they are scheduled to play the Hammers at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, August 19 – the second weekend of the campaign.

However, the stadium will be unavailable that weekend as it cannot be returned to ‘football mode’ in time after hosting the world athletics championships.

That leaves just two options – either postpone the game and play it later in the season, leaving both clubs with a fortnight between their opening two Premier League matches, or to reverse the home and away matches.

Saints are due to host West Ham on Saturday, March 31, but if the game was changed to an away fixture so the sides could meet at St Mary’s in August, Saints would have a run of four consecutive away games that would see them travel to Newcastle, Swansea, West Ham and Arsenal in successive fixtures.

It would also leave their home match against Stoke as the only game at St Mary’s between the February 10 clash with Liverpool and the fixture against Chelsea on April 14.

No conclusion has yet been reached on what will happen, even though it is understood the Premier League were aware of the issue before the fixtures were officially published.

West Ham said in a statement: "As previously confirmed, our opening fixtures in August will be played away from home as London Stadium welcomes the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships for a once-in-a-generation occasion.

“Supporters are therefore advised that our second fixture of the campaign, against Southampton, will be rescheduled, with further details to follow.”

Tottenham also have a similar problem with their home game against Burnley, which is due to take place on a weekend that their temporary home at Wembley is being used for rugby.

Saints fans also have a tricky potential trip to Tottenham on Boxing Day when there is unlikely to be any public transport to get to the home of football.

The fixture-compiling process is not able to begin until the 20-team line-up is confirmed following the Championship play-off final, which this year saw Huddersfield defeat Reading on penalties to take their place in the Premier League for the first time.

All the variables add up to a testing conundrum for Glenn Thompson, technical architect at Atos, the Premier League’s digital partner which helps deliver the schedule.

“You can’t satisfy everyone. It’s a compromise across all clubs; you can’t do anything to favour any one club,” said Thompson.

"Traditionally the Premier League, the Football League and Atos representatives will review the fixtures for two days, looking at every date in the season to make sure that, wherever possible, we have met everything we have been asked to.

“The computer is very useful during the review because if we do not want a certain fixture on a particular date, it will give us alternate dates for that fixture to be moved to. It can be that changing one match may require 40 other changes.”

The Premier League’s fixture list is also always published as being “subject to change”, with TV selections still to be made as well as accommodating European and domestic cup competitions.

Saints played only 19 of their 38 Premier League fixtures on the dates originally announced last season.

The first batch of televised matches will be confirmed on July 10.

Go to the original article…

...healthily whittled by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Sky Sports article

Thomas Tuchel rules himself out of Southampton job

Show/hide article…

Thomas Tuchel rules himself out of Southampton job

Former Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel has ruled himself out of the vacant manager’s job at Southampton, according to Sky sources.

The 43-year old was the bookies’ early favourite to take over at St Mary’s, following Wednesday night’s sacking of Claude Puel.

We understand Tuchel has not ruled out a move to the Premier League, but the role at Southampton does not appeal to him.

Tuchel is known to want to continue managing a team in the Champions League.

Tuchel’s departure from Dortmund came just three days after he led them to a 2-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the DFB-Pokal final. They also finished third in the Bundesliga.

Puel secured an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League with Southampton and guided them to the final of the EFL Cup, where they lost in the final to Manchester United.

Go to the original article…

...disturbingly brought into being by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/06/2017 14:24:19

| | Tuchel rules himself out of Southampton jobREADSOUTHAMPTON |
| | What does Puel’s Saints exit mean for Palace’s manager targets?FOOTBALLLONDON |
| | Five names in the frame to replace Claude Puel at Southampton | The Sack RaceTHESACKRACE |
| | Tuchel not interested in Southampton?SPORTSMOLE |

...shamelessly put together by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Daily Mail article

Ex-Dortmund boss Tuchel not interested in Southampton job

Show/hide article…

Southampton are set to be disappointed in any move for Thomas Tuchel with the former Borussia Dortmund manager not interested in taking over at St Mary’s.

Claude Puel was dismissed late on Wednesday night and a search for his replacement is well underway with Southampton keeping a portfolio on potential managers regularly updated.

Tuchel is the bookmaker’s favourite to take over after leaving Dortmund last month but Sportsmail understands the German is cool on the idea.

The 43-year-old established himself as one of Europe’s brightest coaches in two years at the Westfalenstadion, winning the German Cup and reaching the Champions League quarter-finals while shifting the team’s style of play on from Jurgen Klopp’s approach. Tuchel also took Mainz into a Europa League spot.

He was linked with becoming Arsenal manager as uncertainty grew over Arsene Wenger’s position and it is believed he is now aiming to lead a Champions League club either in England or on the continent as his next job.

Frank de Boer is the second in the running among bookmakers to replace Puel at Southampton.

The Saints are looking for a new manager after the sacking of Puel despite reaching the EFL Cup final last season. The emerging consensus from St Mary’s is that Puel masked a disappointing season with his cup exploits.

Puel, appointed last summer to replace Ronald Koeman, repeatedly clashed with players and grew wildly unpopular with supporters due to his negative tactics.

Highly-rated Tuchel, who is keen to manage outside of his native Germany, might have his sights set higher than the Saints. He succeeded Jurgen Klopp at Signal Iduna Park and led his team to German Cup glory last season, as well guiding his side to the last eight of the Champions League.

His tenure was cut abruptly short after reports of a strained relationship with the club’s board. Tuchel’s exit was the ultimate conclusion of months of speculation over the rotting relationship between Tuchel and Dortmund.

In their official statement on Tuchel’s departure, Dortmund insisted that the decision ‘had nothing to do with the relationship between two individuals’. Yet the consensus is that relationships had become so bad between Tuchel and CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke that a parting of the ways was inevitable.

Go to the original article…

...simperingly given life to by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Daily Echo article

Tuchel won’t be new Saints manager

Show/hide article…

Thomas Tuchel has ruled himself out of the running to become the new Saints manager but was not the club’s shortlist anyway.

Sky Sports News have reported that the former Borussia Dortmund boss would consider a move to the Premier League, but is not interested in taking over from Claude Puel at St Mary’s.

However, the Daily Echo understands that Tuchel was not on the shortlist to become the club’s next manager, with bosses having considered him and decided he was not the right fit at this point in time.

Tuchel was the early favourite with the bookmakers for the job, but has quickly drifted out following the report.

Frank De Boer has been installed as the new favourite.

Go to the original article…

...didactically instantiated by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/06/2017 15:24:32

| | Southampton tracking Middlesbrough’s Ben GibsonHEREISTHECITY |
| | Dream, realistic, wildcard, Squawka Suggests: Who should replace Claude Puel at Southampton?SQUAWKA |
|

| Southampton transfer dossier: Saints need ground-breaking summer to vindicate Claude Puel dismissalIBTIMES |
| | 'Now you know he we feel’HERTFORDSHIREMERCURY |
| | Southampton contenders: De Boer favourite, Tuchel ruled out?EUROSPORTUK |
| | Report: Southampton still bidding for Jan Bednarek despite rejectionHEREISTHECITY |
| | Crystal Palace fans wary of Southampton’s search for new managerCROYDONADVERTISER |

...aesthetically given birth to by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from talkSPORT article

Premier League transfers: 13 forgotten players who might be available in this summer’s market

Show/hide article…

The transfer window almost always throws out some names we haven’t heard for a while or have barely spoken of.

This summer is likely to be no different.

So we decided to take a look at a selection of forgotten players in the Premier League, who might be made available in this summer’s market.

Scroll through the gallery above to check out the 13 to feature.

Go to the original article…

...disturbedly generated by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/06/2017 16:24:45

| | De Boer and Pellegrino named on Saints shortlistREADSOUTHAMPTON |
| | Southampton not taking no for an answer in Bednarek pursuitREADSOUTHAMPTON |
| | Le Tissier: 'Puel sacking isn’t harsh’SPORTSMOLE |

...retractively formulated by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Thomas Tuchel rules himself out of Southampton job after Claude Puel’s sacking

Show/hide article…

Thomas Tuchel has ruled himself out of the running to replace Claude Puel at Southampton.

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Tuchel was one of the early favourites to take over at St Mary’s alongside ex-Ajax and Inter chief Frank de Boer.

Despite concerns among some at Southampton about the nature of the behind-the-scenes fallouts that led to Tuchel’s Dortmund exit last month the German Cup winner was one of the names in the frame.

However the highly-rated German, 43, has distanced himself from the vacant Southampton job and is hoping to return to football with a Champions League club.

The Saints role is up for grabs following Puel’s dismissal late last night.

And club legend Matt Le Tissier admitted he understand’s the club’s decision has split opinion.

He said: “On the face of it finishing eighth and a cup final (the EFL Cup) you would say it looks very harsh and I can understand why people outside of Southampton are thinking that.

“But when you look a bit deeper we were 17 points worse off than last season and just six points off 17th place.

“Given what we had done the previous three years it was a big step down and ultimately that coupled with a lack of goals and poor Europa League campaign. When you put it all together…

"Looking from the outside it does look harsh and the League Cup final was a terrific performance but, unfortunately, that was the exception to the rule this season.”

And Puel played a big part in his own downfall.

The Frenchman came under fire from fans who were unimpressed with the football and lack of goals they saw at St Mary’s.

Meanwhile, he had upset his players with some of his methods.

The writing was on the wall last month when chairman Ralph Krueger refused to back Puel and warned his future would hinge on an end of season review.

Le Tissier added: "From what I understand the club gave him every chance to be in charge next season if he was willing to change his style of play and by all accounts there was no budging on that.

"He didn’t think he did anything wrong, he felt what he was doing was the right way to go about things and that is where the disagreement came around.

“That is why it has taken so long to make the decision.”

Go to the original article…

...crescendingly modelled by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 15/06/2017 17:24:53

| | Take a minute to appreciate Southampton Football Club’s gift to humankindJOECOUK |
| | Tuchel ‘ruling himself out of Saints job’ is bad news for PalaceFOOTBALLLONDON |
| | Virgil Van Dijk likes tweet from Liverpool fanANFIELDHQ |
| | Frank de Boer and Mauricio Pellegrino on Southampton’s managerial shortlistBTSPORT |
| | ‘The greatest kit launch of all time!’ - Fans love Southampton’s kit launch videoEUROSPORTUK |
| | Frank De Boer Bookies Favourite To Replace Puel - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |
| | Frank de Boer and Mauricio Pellegrino on Southampton’s managerial shortlistBELFASTTELE |
| | Jaap Stam reportedly on Saints’ managerial shortlistREADSOUTHAMPTON |

...insipidly given breath to by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Sky Sports article

Matt Le Tissier backs Southampton’s decision to sack Claude Puel

Show/hide article…

Matt Le Tissier has backed Southampton’s decision to sack manager Claude Puel after the club took a “backwards step” last season.

Puel’s future had been in doubt despite Saints finishing eighth in the Premier League and reaching the EFL Cup final, having succeeded Ronald Koeman who left St Mary’s for Everton last summer.

Le Tissier admitted the campaign appeared solid “on paper” but said “murmurings of discontent” surfaced as early as December when Southampton exited the Europa League at the group stage.

“I think it probably is in the end [the right call to remove Puel],” Le Tissier told Sky Sports. "The end of the campaign was disappointing, the Europa League campaign was pretty disappointing.

"We don’t get European football very often and it just felt that we didn’t give it a proper go. I think that is where the murmurings of discontent started.

"We finished eighth but with 17 fewer points than last season. The cup final was a fantastic day out and we probably should have won given the chances we had.

"On paper it looks decent but there are a lot of underlying issues as well. Anybody that was there for the last game of the season against Stoke could tell the fans were no longer behind the manager.

"From where we have come from, in a few short years up from League One, people would have snapped your hand off for a season like that a few years ago.

"But we have probably been spoiled a little bit over the last two or three years with the way the team have played, the position we have finished in the league and the amount of points achieved. I think most people thought it was a little step backwards last season.

"Had Claude wanted to change and been a little more attacking I think he would have still been in charge at the start of next season. I don’t think he was prepared to go along with those lines.

“Now we have to move forward and try to find a replacement.”

Former Borussia Dortmund head coach Thomas Tuchel has ruled himself out of contention to replace Puel, but Le Tissier has faith the Saints board will make the right appointment.

“I saw a list of about 25 names in the betting, there’s plenty to choose from,” he added. "But it won’t be me!

"The club have had a pretty good go of appointing the managers so far and I am quite happy to put my trust in them and I think most Saints fans should do the same.

“They have done a pretty decent job and whoever we get, we accept and back and go again next season.”

Southampton’s last three bosses - Mauricio Pochettino, Koeman and Puel - have been from Argentina, the Netherlands and France respectively.

When asked if he expects the club to look abroad again, Le Tissier said: "I don’t think nationality has got anything to do with it.

"We just want the best manager and one that will fit the philosophy at the club. If that makes him English, Scottish, Australian, I could not care less.

"The club are ambitious. They want European football. I know we sell a lot of our best players each season but they haven’t done too badly with that policy up to this point.

"People will criticise that policy because you want to keep hold of those players but it is very difficult. There are very few teams out there that are not selling clubs if the right price comes along for your player.

“We just happen to be in that bracket and we have to rely on our scouting system to bring in good replacements. Last season was probably the first time we haven’t got it 100 per cent right in our replacements.”

Go to the original article…

...windedly dreamed-up by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from Sky Sports article

Frank de Boer new favourite to be named Southampton manager

Show/hide article…

Frank de Boer is the new favourite with Sky Bet to replace Claude Puel as manager of Southampton.

Thomas Tuchel had initially been the front runner to replace Puel at St Mary’s, only to then rule himself out of the running for the vacant position on Thursday, according to Sky sources.

We understand the former Borussia Dortmund head coach has not ruled out a move to the Premier League, though, but the role at Saints does not appeal to him.

As a result, De Boer is now the favourite to succeed Puel, who was sacked by Southampton on Wednesday night, while ex-Alaves boss Mauricio Pellegrino can be backed at 6/1.

Ryan Giggs is on offer at 7/1 to take his first full-time managerial role in charge of Southampton, and Reading manager Jaap Stam is another contender at 10/1.

De Boer was one of the game’s hottest managerial properties when he left Ajax to take over at Inter Milan in August last year, but a series of disappointing performances saw him dismissed in November.

Seemingly this year’s most-linked manager, Pellegrino is currently favourite to take over at Crystal Palace. But the Argentinian, who left Alaves last month, could easily have his head turned by the experience that his compatriot Mauricio Pochettino had at St Mary’s.

The Manchester United legend has been linked with Swansea, Sunderland and Nottingham Forest since leaving his coaching role at Old Trafford last summer. Giggs has still to take his first full-time managerial role.

The former Manchester United defender earned plaudits for the way he lifted Reading to the brink of the Premier League last season. After coming up short on penalties in the Championship play-off final, Stam may fancy a new challenge, and would not have to uproot far to head to Saints.

Initially installed as the early favourite, Tuchel is looking for a new job after leaving Dortmund under a cloud last month. However, despite ruling himself out of the running for the role, the German is still 12/1 to replace Puel on the south coast this summer.

Go to the original article…

...disarmingly modelled by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!

[Optimus-trousers]

Sourced from ESPN FC article

Bertrand and Forster star in Southampton’s snazzy kit reveal

Show/hide article…

To help launch their 2017-18 kits, Southampton have created a cartoon series in which a gang of their players help to unveil the new designs.

The mini-series stars Ryan Bertrand, Fraser Forster, Maya Yoshida and Manolo Gabbiadini as a crime-fighting quartet tasked with retrieving the strips after they were stolen by an as-yet unnamed foe.

There’s even a little guest cameo from Saints legend Matt Le Tissier to keep an eye out for.

Can it be merely coincidence that the Saints’ new kits have been pilfered on the very day that Claude Puel was dismissed as head coach?

Only time (i.e. episode two) will tell.

Chris covers the funny side of the game for ESPN FC in the Toe Poke blog.

Go to the original article…

...crossingly dreamed up by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!