Southampton

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There are lots of different perspectives in terms of how you watch a game of football, and I think for the majority of time the people in the stadium get the best atmosphere, but the worst views of how a game has actually gone.

You don't really get the chance to see multiple replays and have discussions about things, because you just get caught up in the moment.

With the incoming semi automated offsides, they did promise it earlier in the season - but I think the caveat was they're only going to do it when it's ready.

It is a positive that they didn't do it when it wasn't ready.

One upside to to the new technology is some of the arguments disappear. Previously you could say 'but it looks like it's this to me' or 'it looks like it's that to me'. When it is presented now, there aren't many people that will then be looking at the animation, going back to the video, and then going down a proper conspiracy rabbit hole.

So, it ends more arguments, not all arguments, but more arguments.

I think people, as a consequence, will be more accepting of it.

But, I still do believe that there's things for people to understand, because it can't be used in every situation. There are certain decisions which can still be a little bit more complex, and there's certain times where human intervention will still need to be brought in.

I wouldn't say it's as clear as, say, goal line technology, but it's a step in the direction to where most people feel more comfortable accepting the outcome and the speed of it as well will be encouraged.

It's not to say that it's going to be instant. If you believe this is going to be perfect, and always extremely fast, ask yourself, why do you think that?

Unless somebody has told you that from PGMOL, then take it with a pinch of salt and you see how it goes.

I think it's something that many people have seen before so hopefully there will be fewer arguments.

But, because it's football, there'll always be something to argue about the end of the day.

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Southampton have lost 25 of their 31 Premier League games this season (W2 D4), the joint-most league defeats in a single campaign in their history, also losing 25 times in their most recent top-flight campaign (2022-23).

Lens' Belgium-born English boss Will Still, 32, is among the contenders to become the new manager of Southampton following Ivan Juric's departure earlier this week. (Talksport), external

West Ham are considering a summer move for Southampton and England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, 26. (Times - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton interim manager Simon Rusk has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On the mood of the squad after relegation was confirmed: "Obviously, there was a period of time where it hurt, it was a difficult one - the players were hurting and we were hurting as you'd expect."

• The Saints have a "fairly clean bill of health". Charlie Taylor's "knocking about with one or two issues" and Paul Onuachu is being assessed, but the club are "hoping the signs are good" for the striker.

• He says this is very different to his last spell as interim boss in December, stating: "This time we're talking weeks rather than days, in spite of the difficult circumstances I'm super proud and honoured, but conscious of the fact that there's a job to be done in terms of re-establishing the groups' identity and trying to grab that feel good factor back."

• On his assistant Adam Lallana: "I'm really lucky to have Adam help out and step up - his experience speaks for itself at the very top, the trophies he's won and environments he's been in. He's an unbelievable asset working with me and I'm incredibly grateful to have his wisdom and personality, he's a super person for me to rely on."

• He said the Saints midfielder will "have a whole host of options" if he is wanting to become a head coach/manager in the future.

• On Aston Villa: "Before yesterday's defeat to PSG they were a team on a really good run of form. The organisation levels and athleticism, their ability to win games of football is right up there. We need to be at our best - but we can look forward to it."

• He was asked if all of the players are remaining on board despite the club's relegation: "There's no sniff of anyone [not wanting to play]. When you initially move through the hurt and disappointment, professionalism kicks in and they know there's a job to be done and to play for the fans. We're playing in one of the greatest leagues in the world and we won't get away with not being wholeheartedly committed, every single player wants to finish this season as strong as they can."

• On if there is a disconnect between the club and the outside world: "When you're not in deep with a situation, people will make judgements on their perception - that's fair, people love to have their opinions on football teams, but it's critical as professionals we remain focused and driven. I say to the players it's about the person looking back at you in the mirror and knowing you're doing everything you possibly can."

• On what he'd like the club to get out of their remaining seven games: "We're building momentum into next season, for me some of the greatest memories have been as a supporter. If we can turn up and win games and give people moments - it's what it's all about. We will continue to give everything and I hope the results come with that and we give people moments that they enjoy and remember."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

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Over the course of Thursday, BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore has delivered four Saints blogs. Parts one to three can be found further down the page, while these words focus on structures at the club and the immediate future.

Amidst all the doom and gloom – and boy Saints had a lot of gloom – there are small shoots of hope. The appointment of Johannes Spors is a good one as the new technical director.

In my mind, you go two ways; if Dragan Solak is serious about taking over the running of the club by making himself chairman, then Spors and Parsons should report to him, in the same way that Thiago Pinto and Jim Frevola report to owner/chairman Bill Foley at Bournemouth, as respective head of football and business.

Parsons has done a lot to drive costs down and generate much-needed revenue streams, and his work with the council to resurrect the area around St. Mary's in the long term could be great for the club and the city.

But the main thing is that the football operations are run by Spors – and he at least gets a chance to create a co-ordinated, consistent, aligned football policy from academy to first team, that sees him oversee everything, working hand in hand with the new manager to provide him with the players he needs to be successful. It won't work if Spors gets overruled by Ankersen or anyone else, bar him having to work to the financial restraints of the club. He's done enough at Red Bull and 777 to at least be trusted with the keys. I imagine he'd walk if he felt compromised.

After all, Sport Republic are hardly in a position to tell him how to do his job. They have at times been casual in their decision-making, lacked the strength to see their plans through without buckling under pressure, lurched from one footballing direction to another, and made an absolute mess of most of three and a half years in charge. And they have done this without engaging with supporters publicly in any regular or open way, even in times like now when leadership from the top is really needed.

I am pleased that Solak has resumed control and that gives me hope. But if they do not get promoted at the first time of asking again in a year's time, there is a chance he may have had enough. We will see. What I do know is that the next managerial appointment is huge. While Danny Rohl has been a target for a while, and a good target in my opinion, he may get more attractive offers. So whoever it is, it needs to be a serious footballing appointment, not a crazy gamble when there are more surer-fire options out there. And I trust Spors to deliver that person more than I trust the owners.

Southampton Football Club and its supporters deserve to be taken more seriously than they have been. When you own a football club you have a responsibility to a whole city, a fan base, and well over 100 years of history and tradition. Like the Premier League, it's to be taken seriously. It's not a tech startup or a vanity project for those who are its custodians.

• Listen to live commentary of every Saints game on BBC Radio Solent, and download and subscribe to Goin' Home With Adam and Jo on BBC Sounds to get all the post-match thoughts that matter

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

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Over the course of Thursday, BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore will deliver a handful of Saints blogs. Parts one and two can be found further down the page, while more will follow these words, which focus on decisions taken at boardroom level.

The trouble with owners who get involved in the day to day running of a club is that they can't sack themselves, and often won't listen to advice.

Humility is a trait that has been short of supply in the Saints boardroom under Sport Republic. The perfect example of this is last summer, when having already lost their director of football Jason Wilcox to Manchester United, the Saints hierarchy decided they could do his job themselves and so Rasmus, Henrik, Russell Martin, and chief executive Phil Parsons oversaw the transfer window.

The permanent signings of Flynn Downes and Taylor Harwood-Bellis were gimmes, Aaron Ramsdale's signing was a good one but a much-needed last minute one that Saints could only get over the line by breaking the wage cap they had put in place, and after all that there is one diamond in the rough, the outstanding 20 year-old Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes. All the other signings have been bit-part players, disappointments, not good enough, or bought for the future. Too many gambles that haven't worked out. I'm sure the metrics were good though on some.

And let's not forget the managers in Sport Republic's tenure. One out of five permanent managers under their watch had Premier League experience and they inherited him and fired him as soon as they had a good excuse.

It's arrogant and foolhardy to think that Nathan Jones is a good replacement for Ralph Hasenhuttl, however good his stats were at Luton, to then undo it by sticking in Ruben Selles for his first manager's role while in the middle of a relegation battle in the most difficult league in the world. And strategically, in what world does a Russell Martin squad fit the type of football played by Ivan Juric? At least try to stick to some sort of footballing identity. I don't subscribe to the view that "we should have stuck with Martin" even if I think it might have helped. Why not? Because the reality is that his situation was untenable after the Spurs thrashing. The board had to act. But they took a cheap pot shot and Juric became the fall guy. Another failed gamble.

Check back shortly for part four, where Adam ponders Saints' immediate future

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

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Over the course of Thursday, BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore will deliver a handful of Saints blogs. Part one can be found further down the page, while more will follow these words, which focus on gambles taken in the transfer market.

Sport Republic have gambled with Southampton FC and lost. While I have no personal issue with co-owners Henrik Kraft and Rasmus Ankersen, I think I have enough evidence looking at the Premier League table to know that their part of the deal, the vision they no doubt sold to Dragan Solak, hasn't been realised. I haven't written books about performance, I haven't made millions in the markets or made Oura rings or got a Uefa coaching badge. I haven't even been chairman of a football club or been a director of football. But that is why I defer to ex-players for tactical knowledge, it's why I say it's my job to tell you what is happening on the pitch and theirs to tell you why, and I never act after all these years like a football expert. I've never talked about a low block in my life. My commentary wouldn't be as informative without Jo or Dave alongside, because they've been at the coal face. They know football.

Too many of Southampton's signings have been gambles that haven't worked. Rasmus Ankersen has been deeply involved in transfers and he would think he has every right to be after being director of football at Brentford and having success there alongside Matthew Benham. But the on-the-surface evidence is that without the might of Benham's statistical research and sports modelling machine that's behind SmartOdds, Ankersen has had more misses than hits. Of the 14 players signed in Sport Republic's first two transfer windows in charge, summer 2022 and January 2023, only five have been involved in the Premier League for Saints this season. And then I could cite the gamble on Ross Stewart.

It is also a huge gamble to swap experienced hardened pros for academy players who may turn out well. You say Romeo Lavia, I'll give you Juan Larios, Sekou Mara, Sam Edozie and Kamaldeen Sulemana. All young talented players with very little combined senior football between them when signed, who were all expected to suddenly compete in the Premier League? And if they weren't, then don't sell the players that are good enough in the hope these young players will step up, and then leave Southampton short of quality, nous, resilience, and the ability to deliver under pressure week in, week out. To me, that is a gamble. It is the toughest league in the world, you toy with it at your peril.

Check back shortly for part three of Adam's analysis

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

Over the course of Thursday, BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore will deliver a handful of Saints blogs on this page.

Back in the summer of 2022 Saints stalwart Oriol Romeu was allowed to leave by Southampton's new owners Sport Republic. I'm told that there wasn't universal agreement between the club's decision-makers about letting the then 30 yr-old Spaniard depart, but Sport Republic held sway, with Romeu's age possibly a factor. Romeu went on to make 33 La Liga starts for Girona in 2022-23, as they comfortably stayed up after promotion to the Spanish top flight, before going back to fulfil a dream and have a second spell at Barcelona. Both those clubs appreciated what over 200 Premier League appearances, a tremendous attitude, leadership, and football intelligence brought to their party.

I think we can safely say Sport Republic got that one wrong, and Ralph Hasenhuttl's job was made that little bit harder. Sport Republic can argue that the signing of Romeo Lavia as a direct replacement for Romeu was an upgrade, and what a great young talent Lavia is and was. I'm sure statistically that someone could tell me how much better Lavia's metrics are than the older Spaniard. But you can't give an 18 yr-old the physical strength and durability that over 200 Premier League games brings, or the desire, the will, the experience or the resilience. Lavia has struggled to stay fit since playing senior football. What's that old saying about ability and availability? But Saints turned in a great profit after only one season, and by the summer of 2023 they didn't have Lavia or Romeu, or Hasenhuttl………or Premier League football.

I highlight all that now because here we are in 2025 and Sport Republic have gone on to oversee possibly the most embarrassing season in Southampton's history. It's really competing in modern times with the slide to League One in 2009 after the appointment of Jan Poortvliet. A lovely man, but another vanity project for people who thought they could out-think football by being clever. Poortvliet was a great player as well as a good guy, but he was out of his depth.

When you look at Southampton's managerial and player recruitment since Sport Republic took over the club you cannot doubt that there has been investment from co-owner and investor Dragan Solak. But what I can doubt is their ability to make the right decisions and their inability to see that maybe now is the time to leave the decisions to people that know football, I mean really know football. The game doesn't change; there are fads and tactical nuances and VAR and a whole new industry has been born out of analysis of a very simple sport. But at it's core football is about having good proven managers and good proven players. If you have both of them you have a chance. If you've got neither, good luck!

Check back shortly for part two of Adam's analysis of Saints' current plight

Listen to live commentary of every Saints game on BBC Radio Solent, and download and subscribe to Goin' Home With Adam and Jo on BBC Sounds to get all the post-match thoughts that matter

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

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Ten months on from our triumph at Wembley and we are right back where we started - back in the Championship and facing another season of uncertainty with Sport Republic.

A 3-1 defeat at Tottenham confirmed our fate and now we have become the earliest side to be relegated - Derby and Huddersfield had six games remaining.

And there are still more unwanted records up for grabs. Will we catch that 11-point total from Derby in 2007-08? Only one point needed to tie that, with seven games to play.

As we face another season in the Championship, we have to look back over the work that Sport Republic have completed. Since taking charge in January 2022, they have managed 60 defeats in 88 Premier League matches, 54 points from a possible 264, gone through six managers and most crucially, two relegations on their list of achievements.

They provided us with a team that was totally unprepared and ill-equipped for the top flight. The recruitment has been a disaster and they find themselves with a number of tasks ahead of them leading into next season.

Hiring a new, experienced manager for the Championship is a priority. Danny Rohl or Liam Rosenior are two names that will go some way to earning the fans' trust back.

Keeping hold of our most valued assets is another huge assignment. Aaron Ramsdale and Taylor Harwood-Bellis have both been included in England squads this season. Arguably our best player this season, Mateus Fernandes, will have put himself in the window. A big profit will be needed. Tyler Dibling, of course, has already been linked with a number of clubs.

But do we trust Sport Republic to get things right? If their previous form is to go by, then it is a wholehearted "no" from me.

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

Michael Emons
BBC Sport journalist

Two very contrasting styles. Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou was calm throughout - he would pick a spot on the edge of his box and stay there for a few minutes. There was hardly any shouting, just the occasional gesture of frustration when a pass was misplaced.

The most animated he became, maybe predictably, was when VAR got involved for a decision to wipe out a second Spurs goal that took four minutes to conclude. That was the only time he moved for any length of time, as his frustration grew.

At one stage in the delay he appeared to play a rock, paper, scissors game - highlighting the unpredictable, random nature of VAR decisions.

Southampton's Ivan Juric could not stop moving, constantly pacing up and down the line. There were only 47 seconds on the clock when he was told by fourth official Sam Barrott to get back in the area.

Juric treated the technical area as optional, spending more time out of it than in, often crouching down, repeatedly shouting instructions but all to no avail as the Saints were relegated to the Championship. Juric left the club the following day.

See what all the other managers did

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Telegraph journalist Jason Burt, speaking about Southampton's relegation on a special BBC Radio 5 Live programme about life at the bottom of the Premier League:

"I rate Russell Martin very highly, I think he is a better manager than Southampton. I think he should be at a higher club. He's obviously tried to implement a style at Southampton that the players weren't good enough to play.

"They went from having someone like Russell Martin in charge who has a specific style of football - then, bringing in a coach like Ivan Juric is a huge gear change.

"To suddenly try to change mid-season is almost impossible because it means a club has no real pattern in what they want to achieve.

"Southampton panicked and spent a load of money over the odds. Nottingham Forest did the same, they gambled but got away with it. Sometimes it does work which makes other clubs think that they can do the same.

"Clubs come into the Premier League and think they have to spend and they end up spending very badly. Southampton spent money on players that were, frankly, sub-standard."

Listen to the full programme on BBC Sounds

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BBC Radio Solent reacted to Southampton's relegation from the Premier League with a one-hour special looking at where it all went wrong.

"There is sadness really for the fans and the people at the club who have worked there for many years," said sports editor Adam Blackmore. "Shambolic and embarrassing are two good adjectives.

"I don't think anybody who loves the club deserves what they have witnessed in the last three years really - since Sport Republic took over, if I'm honest.

"With regards to Ivan Juric's exit, it's slightly embarrassing to have gone through another two managers in less than a season. It was three a couple of years ago.

"It smacks of lurching, lack of belief in what you're doing and bad management.

"I'm not surprised that Juric has gone. There is a part of me that feels sorry for him. I think he's been made to look bad by three things - the squad he inherited, the situation he inherited and the Premier League which catches out a lot of managers who come over here.

"I think he's an honourable bloke who came over here and took on a challenge that many managers wouldn't. He's the fall guy.

"If you analyse bringing in someone like that on a short-term contract it tells everybody this isn't your guy, he's just here. That doesn't inspire the players, staff, or anyone.

"It also doesn't give him any licence to be the strongest manager he can be. We've had the fall-outs with the players - I don't blame him for that. He should be able to make the players accountable for what they need to do and push them on the training ground."

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He added: "I also think he fell into the same trap as Russell Martin did. He also failed to adapt their game quick enough to get the most out of these players and get points in the Premier League.

"For me, that's the biggest disconnect from what the managers have done and who they are as people. I don't understand why their first thought hasn't been 'what is the best way to get something out of this game?' with the group of players they have.

"If they both managed like that, I don't think Saints would be worrying about beating Derby's dreadful record."

Listen to the special Radio Solent programme on BBC Sounds

How does a promoted team stay in the Premier League?

Is it about style? Or does over-spending become a tempting proposition in a bid to stay out of the bottom of three?

Is it all about unearthing transfer "jewels"?

Take a look at a clip below or listen to the Monday Night Club debate in full here

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Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says Southampton's season "has been a mess" and he now worries about how they will shape-up in the Championship again next season.

The jubilant scenes at Wembley last May now feel like an age ago with the aim now being to just simply pick up as many points as possible to avoid being the worst Premier League team in history.

"I've got sympathy for Southampton because we've the seen the newly promoted sides really struggle," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "But it has been embarrassing for them.

"They're in a position now where the aim is to just get past Derby's record. That is the lowest of low bars for Southampton's players.

"This season they started with all the optimism and they believed in Russell Martin and they were going to stick with that plan through thick and thin. When things started to go wrong they panicked and they sacked Martin and moved for Ivan Juric.

"I thought it was an impossible job - they went from one style to another and it has been a mess. The cautionary part of all this is that you look what's happened at Luton, they are bang in trouble in the Championship - that would be my fear for Southampton."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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It was always going to be a struggle to keep Southampton in the Premier League, even before their poor transfer window.

The departure of technical director Jason Wilcox, a big advocate of former Scotland international Russell Martin, to Manchester United last year left the former head coach without a crucial ally and vital support.

Southampton returned to the Premier League without sufficiently replacing Wilcox, which left them without a key position and experience.

There was frustration with the ownership as chief executive Phil Parsons - who joined from Dyson in July 2023 - had limited experience in the game and the club struggled to move quickly enough to get deals done last summer.

The target for the season was to avoid relegation and build the team's value, something they have done with the emergence of Tyler Dibling - even if their reported £100m valuation is unlikely to be achieved.

Martin had a patient-passing, possession-based style of play - something he had implemented since becoming MK Dons manager in 2019 and continued at Swansea.

It was something that appealed to Southampton and why they were so determined to take him from the Swans after relegation in 2023, a move that turned acrimonious when Swansea took Martin to court.

The style criticisms came as the Saints struggled and the toxic atmosphere at St Mary's during the final weeks - including as Tottenham scored four goals in 25 minutes in Martin's final game - made the situation untenable.

Mistakes happened too often. The tone was set by goalkeeper Alex McCarthy's error to gift Joelinton the winner in Newcastle's 1-0 opening day victory in August - and it is perhaps naive to think Southampton would have survived this season.

But had Martin ridden out the storm - difficult in a football culture that demands everything yesterday - perhaps he would have been the best person to mount a promotion challenge.

It may have come down to how psychologically scarred the squad and club were from relegation, and it is a fanciful suggestion but the pedigree was there.

Were Southampton right to sack Martin? Make your choice

Read more on what is next for Southampton after their latest managerial departure

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Russell Martin was dismissed in December with Southampton nine points from survival and replaced by Ivan Juric, who has won just two of his 16 matches and left with the club 22 points away from safety.

There have been 14 occasions when a Premier League club has gone through three permanent managers in one season.

Not counting Simon Rusk, Southampton are on the list twice (2022-23 and 2004-05) along with Fulham (2013-14 and 2018-19) and Watford (2019-20 and 2021-22), as well as relegated Leeds in 2022-23 when Sam Allardyce could not save them with four games in charge.

In 2022-23 Saints replaced Ralph Hasenhuttl - who had a 0.86 points per game (PPG) record - with Nathan Jones, who was sacked with a PPG record of just 0.38, then Ruben Selles was appointed to earn 0.63 PPG.

Survival is hard with that rate of change - only Portsmouth (2004-05 and 2008-09) and Swansea (2016-17) have managed it.

That stat is not under threat after Southampton's relegation on Sunday as they look for someone new to take them back up.

But as that search begins, many will question whether the sacking of Martin was a mistake in the first place?

Should Southampton have followed in the footsteps of the likes of Norwich and Burnley and kept faith with the man who took them up - knowing they would be well-placed to lead another promotion charge, with relegation already on the cards?

Were Southampton right to sack Martin? Make your choice

Read more on what is next for Southampton after their latest managerial departure

On Monday, BBC Radio Solent had a special programme reacting to the news Ivan Juric has left Southampton and the club's relegation from the top flight.

Among the discussion points were what has led to Saints becoming the earliest team to be relegated in Premier League history, Juric's short reign and exit, and what is next for the club.

Listen again on BBC Sounds

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The decision to dismiss manager Ivan Juric was very much driven by Southampton, rather than the Croatian opting to walk away from the club.

In a statement, the Saints admitted a need to "restore a sense of pride" in a season during which they were relegated with seven games to go, becoming the earliest side to suffer that fate in the Premier League era.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl will be considered the front-runner to get the job, having been considered for the post on two previous occasions.

The statement also reveals the importance of new group technical director Johannes Spors, who will guide the replacement process.

The German has a relationship with Rohl from their time working together at Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Southampton parting ways with manager Ivan Juric following confirmation of the club's relegation from the Premier League.

Here are some of your comments:

Maximus: I think it's the right decision; Ivan Juric was brought in to keep us up, so there's no point in keeping him on now that we've been relegated. It gives us more time to find a new manager who will hopefully get us playing a cohesive and adaptable style of play with players who want to be there. If we can get promoted again at first try, and then stay up, so much the better.

Len: The club is a mess, poor signings, players and managers for the past four seasons, penny pinching on decent players and buying too many youngsters. You get what you pay for, this season has proved it. If this continues we will struggle in the Championship next season.

Stu: Not his fault. Another bad decision from the top. Huge swing in style to Juric from Martin, players already struggling, not hard to see it go this way. Can only hope Johannes Spors is truly in the driving seat now and can work on implementing a long-term vision which is consistent.

Dave: Southampton owners and management are a disgrace. Relegation is not the manager's fault, it is firmly theirs. Lack of investment, the selling of every decent player they ever had and giving managers an uphill task every time. Without change, nothing will change. Time for the owners to move on and sell their interests to people with ambition.

Luke: I do believe we had a group of players that are better than the results have shown this season. We have had two managers who have diametrically opposite philosophies on how football should be played, so I think the blame for this should fall with the owners but I am very happy to be patient - let them learn from their mistakes and build a club for the future.