Southampton

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With Will Still set to sign a three-year deal as the next Southampton manager, we want your views.

The 32-year-old, whose appointment is expected to be announced on Sunday, will be tasked with guiding the Saints back to the Premier League.

So what needs addressing first? Are you confident Still can make positive changes? Or would you have preferred someone with Championship experience?

Let us know your thoughts

We asked you to pick your player of the season after our Southampton fan contributor narrowed it down to Aaron Ramsdale, Mateus Fernandes, Paul Onuachu and Tyler Dibling.

Here are some of your comments on your selection:

Nick: Fernandes has been fantastic and will probably win all the awards, but I've plumped for Ramsdale because he is true Premier League class and, without him, we would have even fewer points than we've got now.

Julia: Fernandes. Think we made that point at Leicester away when he was substituted. What an absolute find. Shame about the rest of the team.

Mike: Fernandes has been one of the few Premier League standard players in our squad. At only 20 he has shown remarkable consistency in a poor team.

Rich: In a season when few players appeared to care, Fernandes, despite his young age, kept going, kept trying and quickly became a fan favourite and permanent fixture in the first team.

Matthew: Has to be Ramsdale. He's been superman between the sticks. Without him we'd have let in 100 goals and be endangering Sheffield United's record.

Corey: Ramsdale for me. Would have picked Fernandes but Ramsdale has been class. We wouldn't have conceded so many goals if we had a good backline but would have conceded more if we didn't have him.

Rob: I chose Fernandes as he has been the most consistent of our players, always putting a shift in, always trying when others around him don't seem to be.

James: Player of the year has to be Fernandes. With the ball he is always positive in his play looking to move forward. Without the ball he is also pretty good at defending and not afraid to make a tackle.

Don't forget to make your selection here

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All eight of Southampton's Premier League wins against Arsenal have come in home games - the most victories one team has against another without any coming away from home.

However, Arsenal have lost just two of their past 16 Premier League games against Southampton, in December 2018 and April 2022.

The Gunners have won their final Premier League game of the season 23 times, more than any other side, including 13 in a row.

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Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes says he's a much better player now than he was before.

The 20-year-old has been named Fans' Player of the Season at the club.

He told BBC Radio Solent: "I'm very happy, it's a dream for me playing in England and I did well. It was a tough season for everybody. I am a much better player now than I was before.

"My personality outside of the pitch is completely different to inside it. I don't like to speak too much outside of the pitch but I have a passion to play football, run and try to be competitive with the other team and of course try to win.

"It means a lot for me [to have this accolade]. When I speak, I speak for the players and we play for the fans. The thing most important in football is the fans so they know they are very important for me."

Listen to the interview on BBC Sounds

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton interim boss Simon Rusk has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Arsenal at St Mary's (kick-off 16:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Rusk ruled out Taylor Harwood-Bellis and said Jan Bednarek is still struggling with his knee injury so is likely to miss out. He also said Albert Gronbaek has been struggling with his Achilles.

• On whether the players will have built resilience this season: "Everyone this year at this football club, as difficult as it has been, when we reflect, will have new layers as a person, a footballer. Part of that is being robust and the more experience I think you have in life, the more robust you can be if you use it properly."

• On this weekend: "Every game presents an opportunity. It's an opportunity for us to finish the season as well as we can. I spoke about playing with pride and passion - that'll be important on the day but also being diligent with our work."

• Rusk praised Mateus Fernandes but said there's "another level to his game", adding: "That's natural for someone who is 20 years old playing in the Premier League in a team that has had a difficult year. Matty, as a lad and character, is right up there. I'm sure the other bits of development in his game will come in time."

• He was asked whether Kyle Walker-Peters will start: "He has had a nasty illness and that has taken a bit of getting over. Naturally at this time we're looking at one or two of the younger ones around the group. We've spoken about momentum for next season, so there are one or two complexities with that. What I can tell you is Kyle has been great to work with, a great servant to the club and, whether he starts or not, he's someone we can fully appreciate."

• Rusk praised the way the fans have stuck with them this season: "The one thing I know this football club will always have is great support. There's going to be years it's not so good and years it's really good and the people are there all the way through, generationally, are the supporters, the rest of us all come and go."

• On his position as first-team coach at the club: "Whatever happens moving forward, I'm sure when the time is right the guys above me will let me know. But as it stands, preparing for this game on Sunday will remain my focus."

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

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

We asked our Southampton fan contributor for their four candidates for player of the season and you can now select your top one.

Aaron Ramsdale

The biggest shock of our season was the signing of Ramsdale. At £25m from Arsenal in August, it was very much against the grain under this current ownership group. Considering Saints have conceded 84 goals (and counting) he has managed to earn an England call-up. Even with a third relegation on his CV.

Mateus Fernandes

There are many misses in the market in recent years, but Fernandes isn't one of them. The 20 year-old has become an instant fan favourite with the locals for his eye-catching performances in the middle of the park. Unfortunately, following relegation consequences, he will be one of the casualties - apparently attracting interest from Juventus.

Paul Onuachu

Since arriving in February 2023, the 6ft7in Nigerian has had a handful of games and been sent out on loan for our whole Championship campaign last season. He was out of favour under Russell Martin, but started Ivan Juric's first game. Since January, when fit, he has been a solid edition to the squad and has become the club's top-scorer this season with four goals.

Tyler Dibling

Back in August, no-one envisaged the then 18-year old would have made an impact on this Premier League campaign. But that is what he has done. The most exciting player on the ball we have seen in some time. In a season full of despair, he continues to get bums off seats when driving forward. Attracting interest from all over the league, his future is bright. Unfortunately, not with Southampton.

Pick your 2024-25 Southampton player of the season from our shortlist here

And tell us why you're picking who you are, or why you'd have gone for another player not on the list, here

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

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We asked for your views on whether Will Still would be a good appointment as the next Saints boss after the 32-year-old emerged as the favourite to take over at St Mary's.

Here are some of your comments:

Darren: I believe this will be a good appointment as long as he is allowed to clear out the deadwood the current squad is full of. He seems to be adaptable with his tactics and plays to the strengths of the players at his disposal. It would be nice to have a team with a plan B or C - something we have clearly lacked for a while now.

Mick: Still could work well for Saints at this time - we had Mauricio Pochettino for his first job in England and he did well with us and after he left. The Championship would be a good league for Still to try with our young squad.

Maximus: Will Still cannot be any worse than the previous two managers. That's not to do him any disservice, from what I've read he could be a very good appointment for Saints. My only fear is that, as with previous good managers, he uses Saints as a way to get noticed. If he performs well and gets Saints promoted, I fear larger clubs with more money may come knocking on the door. I hope he does well, and in doing so gets Saints promoted back to the Premier League and stops them being a yo-yo club.

William: Will Still is yet another risk which, if I'm honest and with Southampton FC's recent decision-making, I'm wanting to steer away from. Frank Lampard has proven himself in the Championship and, although not set the world alight in the Premier League, he's had important exposure to assist in the transition from Championship to top flight. Lampard would be my intelligent choice and a balanced decision.

Peter: We need someone to break the spiral of failure that this club has been on for far too long, so give him a try and see where it leads.

James: An exciting young manager. May be unproven but so was Pochettino when he came in. It's a step in the right direction for the club. He may have no experience in the Championship, but we need a manager who will come in and attack the league and get us back to the Premier League. I like him a lot - he's tactically very good and very well spoken.

Image source, Getty Images

In the post below, Will Still has been described as "one of the brightest young managers in Europe" and likened to a "young Thomas Tuchel".

The 32-year-old is the leading candidate to become the new Southampton boss.

Would you be happy with that as an exciting appointment? Or has someone else caught your eye? Let us know here

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French football expert Julien Laurens believes Will Still could be great for Southampton because he can "lead a project like this".

Still, who is leaving French side Lens to move back to the UK, is the frontrunner for the Saints job.

"I think he feels ready for a challenge in the Championship for a good project or in the Premier League and it looks like Southampton could be the club. I think Southampton would be very lucky to have Will Still next season," Laurens told BBC Radio Solent.

"I think he's one of the brightest young managers in Europe - there's no doubt. His tactical ability, man-management skills he has, the way he conducts himself, the attitude and behaviour. He is a great guy to have and he's a bit stubborn - I think he would admit that himself!

"But I think you need to be strong-minded to succeed in this kind of environment. I think he would be great for Southampton because he can lead a project like this.

"He reminds me sometimes of a young Thomas Tuchel, simply in the sense that they have similar pathways a little bit and Tuchel was quite big on counter-pressing like Will is. Not too much possession like Russell Martin that's for sure, it's a bit more direct at times.

"He also adapts to his players well so it will depend a lot on the squad he inherits at Southampton and he will adapt to that. He has got clear instructions and style of what he wants to do, especially in terms of pressing and counter-pressing."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

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The 29th defeat of an awful season, and just one more game left to spare us any more misery. We were hardly likely to be party poopers were we?

A 2-0 loss to Everton in the final game at Goodison Park after 133 years went like a dream for the locals.

It was always going to be an emotional day, and going down inside six minutes was effectively curtains. The opening 45 minutes would only get worse. Iliman Ndiaye doubled his and the hosts' lead in first-half injury time.

Things did pick up slightly. Opting not to start with a natural striker, Simon Rusk made his changes with Ross Stewart and Cameron Archer entering the fray after 60 minutes, and both registered a shot each on target. The only two of the game. Stewart certainly has something to prove over the rest of the starters.

Rusk defended his decision not to start with a natural front man, stating: "It is easy in hindsight. It's the same team as we played against Man City in many respects."

It's yet another result that hits hard, as we've seen no improvement at a consistent level. The resilient defending against Manchester City deserted them early, and they were never able to recover. With the dreaded 11-point target reached, you felt as if the team would never have it in them to come from behind. Especially with a raucous Goodison atmosphere.

If playing for pride has gone, then what is left?

We are ahead of Derby's point total. We're ahead on goals scored, but are tied with 29 defeats. A final day loss would see another unwanted record. Another is goals conceded. We currently sit on 84 while Derby finished with 89 goals against. Yes, it's really come to this. Let's take all the positives we have left.

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

Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl is a contender for the Southampton job - along with Will Still, who recently left Lens. (Sky Sports, external)

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked for your views on Southampton's performance against Everton.

Here are some of your comments:

Russell: Until the subs came on that performance was shameful. I feel as bad as you could possibly feel about my football club at the moment. The whole club is so broken. No desire to get forward, no effort, no passion, just backwards and sideways passes - mostly all in our own half. The whole performance and this team is totally gutless. I'm ashamed of what my football club has become this season.

Aaron: Saints away at Goodison Park was going to be a foregone conclusion. As a Saint, I'm happy that Everton left on a high. As a Saint, we go on next year in the Championship. COYR.

Alex: Redefining "pathetic", week by week.

Emil: Go 1-0 down with no goalscorer in the XI. Takes Rusk nearly 60 minutes to react/change. The only positive to take is that like with the previous four incompetent managers, he will soon be gone!

Charles: I was very, very disappointed with Saints. No shape, no guts and did I notice for sale signs on the backs of Saints' players shirts? I doubt if they will get any offers. No get up and go, no interest. For the last game of the season, they should play the under-21 team and the directors should declare that the last game of the season be free of charge to all season ticket-holders.

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English coach Will Still has left his role at French side RC Lens and is now linked to the vacant managerial job at Southampton.

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore spoke to the Goin' Home with Adam and Jo podcast about his concerns with the 32 year-old, stating: "This is another risk. It might be a great young manager, he has done well for a young man, but the Championship is a beast.

"He has not managed there before and he did not play at a high level. He started on Football Manager, became an analyst and has done well from there, but I think it is easier to do it at a lower level in football or in different leagues.

"Still would be another young and progressive appointment - but what is he going to do when things are going wrong at Blackburn on a Tuesday night? How is he going to react when players don't agree with him? He hasn't played or managed at a level that tells us he can cope at a big club like Southampton in the pressures of the Championship.

"I don't think the club need to gamble on another 'trendy' appointment. If he does get appointed, I do believe he will adapt his game, but it is a risk."

Listen to the full discussion on Still

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's five Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

Saturday 17th May

FA Cup final: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester City - 5 LIVE

Sunday 18th May

West Ham 1-2 Nottingham Forest - 5 LIVE

Brentford 2-3 Fulham – SPORTS EXTRA 2

Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle - 5 LIVE

English manager Will Still, 32, is in talks to become Southampton boss after leaving French club Lens. (Independent), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

The latest episode of the Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast has landed.

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore is joined by former Saints player Jo Tessem to discuss Sunday's defeat against Everton and the emerging managerial links to Will Still.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, PA Media

Simon Rusk spoke to BBC Sport after Southampton's defeat against Everton: "Difficult first half for us. We knew it would be an emotional game. We didn't get to the level we'd have hoped in the first half but I was encouraged by the second-half display.

"We have to dust ourselves down and get ready for the last game. There are plenty of positives to take.

"I'm a football fan in general, I understand that it [Everton] is a club with a lot of history. The supporters will have a lot of personal memories. I'm sure they'll enjoy the celebration."

Were you at the game today or following from elsewhere?

Everton fans, sum up how you are feeling about Goodison's last dance

Have your say on Southampton's performance here

Five matches make up Sunday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Everton v Southampton (12:00) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• West Ham v Nottingham Forest (14:15)

• Brentford v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Leicester v Ipswich

• Arsenal v Newcastle (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

As you all know, it's not often I'm wrong about anything but you may remember me saying in a previous predictions article that I thought I held the record for the fastest senior goal at Goodison Park for my effort after 12.94 seconds with Blackburn in 1995, until Abdoulaye Doucoure scored after 10.18 seconds for Everton against Leicester in February.

It turns out the fastest goal before Doucoure was actually by Bournemouth's Colin Clarke, after 11 seconds in a League Cup tie in 1985, but I still hold the record for the fastest away goal there in a men's league game and no-one is taking that away from me because I don't think Southampton will score at all on Sunday.

Saints will probably be too exhausted from their celebrations after last week's draw with Manchester City to ruin the party as Everton's men's team play their last game at Goodison after 133 years.

I have not got a problem with the Southampton fans celebrating reaching 12 points and avoiding equalling Derby's record for the worst Premier League points tally because they have had to endure an awful season, but it is absolute amateur hour from their players to react the way they did afterwards.

People will say it was down to emotion but how low is your bar if you see that as an achievement? The team should have thanked the supporters, and cleared off down the tunnel.

Everton got taken apart in the first half by Fulham last time out, but were much better in the second half and went to win 3-1 at Craven Cottage.

It would be typical for them to mess up on their big day, but they won't. I fancy Beto to get a goal, and the Toffees to sign off with a win.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here