West end Saints

Our manager typically likes to change most / all of the front three with about 30 mins left. There will also be injuries. We may not need to replace Armstrong but do you really feel confident that there isn't a massive downgrade when Aziz, Armstrong and Scienza go off? How long do you think it will be until Archer next scores? I know we may have Stewart coming back, and we are not going to spend big, but do you really think there aren't players out there, for example prem league young talent wanting a loan experience who couldn't easily improve our bench over Archer? Or offer an alternative?

I was disappointed in him, expected a lot more

Huge downgrade on what we have seen so far. A player with 11 goals for a good side in 2022 season and a total of 3 goals over last two seasons won't scare sides when he comes on

Just taken a few bits out as yours was a long post to quote... 1) fair enough, your feeling. However the evidence is that he is managing to get us to be more successful than any other team in the division, despite coming into low morale and poor form. I would say the objective view is that he is managing at a level you would expect a team to get promoted and if we do miss out it is more likely to be due to the bad start than his management. 2) He has 18 points from 7 games FFS! Genuinely , if you had told me Pep was coming in, I wouldn't have expected that! (Not saying he is Pep before someone jumps on that!). All these experienced managers (?) who are great at setting up defences have dropped more points. We lost one game, away to a decent side, we didn't play as well as other games but it was far from the low levels of earlier in the season, we were away and had more shots, more shots on target, possession etc - I'm not saying we should have won, or defended well, but it hardly deserves a great inquest into poor management. 3) bottom line is - he doesn't. It's working. I am sure he wants to improve it. But he has said he wants to start fast, win games then rest players and kill the game. Maybe these substitutions and resting our best players is why we over run teams in the next game?? 4) I think this comment is patronising. The young lad needs a grown up. Again, happy for him to keep learning and improving but he is beating older more experienced managers every week! And... Since he came in Saints 18 pts +12GD Coventry 16 PTS + 5 gd Middlesbrough 14 PTS +4 gd Ipswich 12 PTS +7 gd Skates 4 PTS -4 gd!

Since he came in Saints 18 pts +12GD Coventry 16 PTS + 5 gd Middlesbrough 14 PTS +4 gd Ipswich 12 PTS +7 gd Skates 4 PTS -4 gd Several of the recent posts are unbelievable!

Came in when we had 0 confidence and struggling. Performing, factually (points /GD) as one of worst teams in the league. Has been manager for 6 games. For those 6 games we have been the best team in the championship - literally top of the 6 game current form table. We have gone from a point below skates, 10 points below Bristol in 5th, 13 points below Middlesbrough in 2nd To To 10 points clear of skates, to 2 points below Bristol to 9 points Middlesbrough. I would say unlikely any manager would have done better.

So if he plays tactics you, with your probably much more limited knowledge want, and pics the players you want, then he is ok? Nothing to do with he came in, picked those players, played that formation and we start winning? 😂 He picks the players he wants, if you listen to his interviews he often explains he rationale, eg Bazunu to beat Charlton's press, Quashie back in as needed pace that game. I think this belief that managers are told who to pick is a silly easy conspiracy theory.

Think for a champ side that's a very strong bench. Keeper many want to start Lb wellington Rb Fraser or Edwards Some lad from Barcelona in midfield Attack appreciate CF is only a young but promising, plus matsuki looked decent Aribo can cover many positions and good experience I reckon most clubs would take that bench everyday in this division

I disagree based on THB post match interview on Solent after the game. He gave all the credit for the run to the manager and explained how he had changed things. He said how the goals at Charlton had been walked through in practice, and yesterday morning they had been practicing those set pieces. Clearly they are enjoying playing for him - but we are enjoying his team. I do think luck plays into how new managers do - the fact we managed to grind out results in the first games means that players are more likely to listen to a manager, which in turn means it is more likely to succeed

Amazing how it's changed from him being a risky appointment, to him being the safe one. Would anyone honestly be more confident going into the next batch of games with any other manager we have been linked with? Appointing anyone else (even if there are a better longer term option) risks breaking the momentum and confidence he has built up. Also risks being less popular with fans and players.

Are you serious that he has to get to 13 games unbeaten to get the job??!! If he gets close to that and is still being asked to stay as an interim, then I think he should tell us where to go and find a club that appreciates him! Are you confident any new manager would have taken us on, after 5 games without a win, three straight defeats, and turned that into a 13 game unbeaten run starting with three wins???? For example, that is better than Carrick has ever achieved, let alone after taking on this mess! Unless there is someone key in the background, two more performances like Saturday would convince me he is worth a go.

If he wins next two then surely it's a no-brainer to give him the job? 5 wins is a better run than we managed in our promotion season, even when building on good highly confident runs. Even more impressive these 3 wins (so far, fingers crossed) are on the back of 5 without a win. Even if he loses both he has a good chance, particularly with the unexciting names linked. (I reserve the right to be grumpy and want him replaced if we now have two bad defeats ) Even before the game the criticism and name calling on the match thread was ridiculous. Moaning about the keeper choice (which he has explained was conscious tactic to beat their press) and Bragg who was excellent.

There isn't any other manager in the championship who has won 4 consecutive league games so this would be impressive and certainly a stand out start

Are many / any saying he is a great or obvious choice (there may well be posts saying that)? I am just not overly excited by any of the options who are linked and achievable. I don't have much to judge him on apart from 1) a lack of experience 2) an ok start with a bit more fight / confidence. He maybe shit. He may turn out to be good, who knows. Carrick / GON clearly have better CVs, but I don't see them being amazing, but who knows. There are managers who do well with little experience, or ones who do badly. Poch was criticised by many, WGS was sacked by Coventry in the league below us. Sports Republic haven't earnt our confidence but I don't see taking our time with him as the worst thing to do. I hope we end up with someone with experience and can unite / excite us. But has do you see any name linked so far, that you feel is realistic, that would unite and excite us?

Probably exactly the same number if we appoint Carrick, O'Neil, cocorban and finish mid table.