Southampton are currently on the search for their next permanent head coach after they made the decision to part ways with Will Still earlier this month.

The former Lens boss only won two Championship matches during his time at St. Mary’s, and the club must, simply, find a manager who can bring a winning mentality back to Hampshire.

Southampton, as shown in the graphic above, have had a run of less-than-successful head coach appointments, which may not fill supporters with too much hope for the next one.

The latest on Southampton's managerial search

The Telegraph reports that former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bournemouth manager Gary O’Neil is in pole position to land the job, having left Wolves last year.

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It states that he is the leading contender for the role at this moment in time, but that it is still early on in the process and there are other managers are in the frame.

The Telegraph adds that Michael Carrick, who is also out of a job, is a head coach who is being considered and could come into the running to replace Still in the coming days.

The former Middlesbrough boss, who was hailed as an “insanely talented coach” by former Boro player Lukas Engel, has been a free agent since the end of last season, and could be a dream alternative to O’Neil.

Why Southampton should hire Carrick over O'Neil

Parking any concerns about O’Neil’s Portsmouth ties to the side, given that he previously stated a desire to manage Pompey, the former Wolves boss has yet to show that he can coach a team to dominate and win games consistently.

As shown in the graphic in the post above, his Bournemouth and Wolves teams consistently conceded more chances than they created, and both clubs improved statistically after he left.

There should, therefore, be concerns about whether or not he is the right profile of coach to lead Southampton to promotion back to the Premier League as a side that needs to win consistently to gain promotion.

Carrick, meanwhile, has a proven track record of coaching a dominant team in the Championship, as well as taking over in a similar situation to the one that Saints find themselves in.

The English boss joined Boro after they had won two of their first 11 league games in the 2022/23 campaign and led them to a fourth-place finish, per Transfermarkt, whilst Southampton have won three of their 14 league matches this term.

Michael Carrick’s two full seasons at Middlesbrough

Championship

23/24

24/25

League finish

8th

10th

xPTS (Expected league finish)

73 (5th)

71 (6th)

xG

69.5

67.4

xGA

55.0

56.4

xGD

+14.5

+11.3

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Carrick also coached expected play-off finishes in his two full seasons at Middlesbrough, but his squad did not deliver results that matched the performances.

Some may point to the fact that Boro are currently third in the Championship after his departure, but they are sixth for xPTS and have failed to win any of their last three games, per FotMob, which suggests that their fast start is slowing down to match their performance level.

Overall, Carrick could be a dream alternative to O’Neil because he does not have links to Portsmouth, he does have relevant Championship experience, and he has achieved a play-off finish after taking over a club in a similar position.

Whereas, O’Neil has never managed in the Championship and has lost 52 of his 100 games as a manager, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has yet to prove himself as a coach who can deliver winning football.

Related Southampton manager update now shared on Tonda Eckert and full-time move

He’ll be in the St Mary’s dugout against Sheffield Wednesday.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Nov 7, 2025

Manchester United are in the market for January reinforcements and may now be about to grant Ruben Amorim one of his key wishes at Old Trafford.

Generating momentum has been a struggle for the Red Devils in recent years. However, they have gone five matches unbeaten in the Premier League, showing a renewed sense of resolve at the club.

Standing firm behind their manager, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS will feel vindicated after refusing to succumb to pressure surrounding Amorim. Long-term planning at Manchester United is key, and Fabrizio Romano believes there will definitely be a midfield arrival at the club in 2026.

He said: “Conor Gallagher could be an opportunity, but Atletico Madrid didn’t want to let him go in August. So let’s see what happens in the January window. Angelo Stiller is also a player they appreciate from Stuttgart, but I don’t see a German club selling one of the stars in the January window at all.

“So January is not going to be easy. It’s going to be about opportunities in the summer could be different. And for sure, Manchester United in 2026 will add again, at least one midfielder.”

Romano is right, January is hardly an easy month to do business, and it remains to be seen how much the Red Devils have to spend after a summer of new arrivals, though trying to keep pace with their Premier League rivals may require some form of expenditure.

Midfield is a key area where reinforcements could happen and Hertha Berlin youngster Kennet Eichhorn could be a capture with the long-term in mind.

Casemiro is also coming to the end of his contract, and Manchester United have now shortlisted a successor who has recently been in the headlines.

Man Utd place Bournemouth star Alex Scott on shortlist

According to United In Focus in conversation with Graeme Bailey, Manchester United have placed Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott on their shortlist as a potential heir to Casemiro if he leaves Old Trafford on a free transfer next summer.

The Guernsey-born midfielder earned plenty of adulation last week due to earning a maiden England call-up, and is certainly deserving of the praise he is getting, having bounced back from major knee injuries both at Bristol City and Bournemouth. He is now on the radar of the Red Devils due to his ‘dominant’ displays as Amorim looks to bring fresh energy into his engine room.

Alex Scott’s excellent 2025/26 campaign at Bournemouth

Appearances

12

Goals

1

Assists

0

Bailey stated: “Alex Scott is emerging as a real name now and United are well aware of his talents. I am told they watched him and liked him during his Bristol City days, but now he is maturing into a dominant player.

“We know all the big names linked to United heading into the New Year and ahead of next summer, but keep an eye on Scott – he is a possibility for a number of clubs and that includes United.”

Man Utd could land a heavy discount on an alternative midfielder

Featuring predominantly in a double pivot at Bournemouth, it is likely Amorim would instruct him to perform the same function at Old Trafford, and it appears he could be someone who fills the deeper-lying role at the Red Devils for years to come.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has a grand plan for striker Dominic Solanke once he returns from injury, contrary to other reports.

In the last few days, Spurs’ club-record signing has actually been linked with the January exit door.

The 28-year-old’s last appearance came during a brief cameo in Tottenham’s 2-0 win away to Man City at the very start of the campaign, but he’s been sidelined with a niggling ankle problem ever since.

Solanke underwent minor surgery to fix the issue, with Frank’s forward still working his way back to full fitness ahead of a tough run of fixtures.

Despite playing just 49 minutes in total under Spurs’ new boss, reports have surprisingly suggested that Frank isn’t particularly impressed by Solanke and could look to sell the England international.

Solanke’s inconsistency and fitness issues have raised some doubts among supporters about his suitability as Tottenham’s long-term first-choice striker, with Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović reportedly emerging as a prime alternative as the Serbian’s contract expires at the end of this season.

Links to Vlahovic could raise some questions about Solanke’s future in N17, but according to reporter Dean Jones, the former Bournemouth star shouldn’t be too worried about his place.

Thomas Frank's grand plan for Dominic Solanke at Tottenham

Jones, writing for TEAMtalk, says that Frank is preparing to make Solanke the focal point of his attack once the striker returns from injury, with growing “inside” belief that he can add a fresh and “new” dimension to their attacking play.

Despite Solanke’s challenges, there’s a clear sense among Tottenham’s coaching staff and insiders that he has the qualities to lead the line effectively.

The return of Solanke is eagerly anticipated by Frank, with hopes that he will elevate Tottenham’s attacking threat in crucial matches.

The delay in his comeback may also be put down to Spurs adopting a more cautious approach with the number nine’s overall fitness as they look to avoid any setbacks.

Mathys Tel, bar his goal away to Leeds United, has struggled to replace Solanke overall, while Richarlison endured another night to forget during Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Last season, Solanke proved his worth by scoring 16 goals across all competitions, finishing as Spurs’ second top scorer behind Brennan Johnson. This goal tally underscores his importance to the team’s attack and highlights the threat he poses when fully fit.

Solanke’s presence allows Frank to build the attack around a proven goalscorer, providing a sense of stability to the entire forward line.

The ‘underrated’ forward’s ability to deliver crucial goals will be vital, especially in tight games where a clinical finish can make all the difference.

Jamie O'Hara takes aim at "non league" Tottenham player in defeat to Newcastle

Cheteshwar Pujara finishes a stellar Test career with 103 games in which he scored 7195 runs at an average of 43.60

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Aug-2025Cheteshwar Pujara has retired from “all forms of Indian cricket” effective immediately. Pujara, 37, last played for India in June 2023 in the WTC final against Australia, and made the announcement on Sunday on his social media handles.”Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, and trying my best each time I stepped on the field – it’s impossible to put into words what it truly meant,” Pujara wrote. “But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and with immense gratitude I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket.”Thank you for all the love and support!”Even though Pujara hasn’t played Tests in over two years, he joins the list of top India players who have retired from the format in the last year, starting with R Ashwin in December 2024, and Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma earlier this year before the tour of England.