Willo of Whiteley

I don’t think it’s as simple as “coaching players to not miss”. It comes down to composure and not being rash or hesitant. I was watching some of the 23/24 season goals last night, we scored some crackers seemingly out of nowhere. I think a lot of it is down to confidence, but they can’t hide behind this excuse and last seasons shitshow forever. Who would I appoint? At the moment that’s the problem, I wouldn’t sack him, yet. But he’s on borrowed time, I think he’ll get to Christmas but only if we’re win say the bottom five. If we’re mid table I wouldn’t expect much change this season. There isn’t anyone in the market that I think “Yeah I’d take them”, or certainly no one realistic. I would rather sell clear problem players like Flynn Downes, Sam Edozie etc - players that clearly don’t want to be here. There’s a lot of toxicity around the playing squad.

For context to the above, please tell me which of these misses are Will Still’s fault? I’m once again not saying he has been good by any means so far, but Jesus Christ, people’s frustrations needs to for once be aimed at the players and the board than the manager.

1) Depends entirely on the manager, doesn’t it. Depends if they are strong, authoritarian etc or whether it’s Ted Lasso. 2) Making a proper sub would be wonderful, not sure what your question is there… 3) I’ve already said this regarding formation, Will Still hasn’t helped himself by playing a back five when we’ve got an abundance of supposed attacking talent, but your example of the Swansea game, is that result on him? No, give it a rest. He hasn’t instructed Armstrong to pass every shot to the keeper or Jander to air kick it on the line. 4) Your guess is as good as mine. 5) Agreed, I didn’t see much from Sesay but saw more from Matsuki, very unfortunate to not be in the squad. But again, I’m not the manager. 6) You could argue Wrexham. Manning subbed on and scores and assists within a few minutes of each other. 😂 I don’t really get the pop at me, just be rational in your thinking. Watch the videos of all the chances we’ve missed since the start of the season. I think more attention should be on the players, not the manager. Changing the manager now just rips up the plan for another season, and next summer we’ll start this process all again. Next October we could be having the same argument about Carrick playing “Martin-ball” or this non-league manager being out of his depth, etc.

I only know from Stuart Gray onwards, (2001/02 was the year I got into football) Strachan, Wigley, Sturrock, Redknapp - EFL years - , Adkins, Pochettino, Koeman, Puel, Pelligrino, Hughes, Hassenhutl, Selles, Martin, Juric, Rusk - back to the Championship, yay! I’m guessing Souness was there somewhere at the start? Brando or too maybe? Or I could be going back to far.

I mean, if I was manager and I knew I had some dickheads in the dressing room then I wouldn’t be picking them. Nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately it means biding time and fans understanding that it isn’t a fix over one window; he’s already alluded that a lot of people need to go. Personally I think that’s the situation we’re in. I don’t think he’s out of his depth as such but he doesn’t help himself when we’ve signed players for certain positions and then plays a different formation entirely. That said, the majority of the time in games and for the majority of games we have done more than enough to kill the games off. We just haven’t taken chances. That isn’t on Will Still. This season hasn’t been good enough but I don’t land that all on the manager. So many individual errors by players and not being composed in finishing is costing us. So yeah we need better players. Striker and a goalkeeper were ideal this summer and we pissed that up the wall - look at the hierarchy for that judgement. Sacking him just kicks the can down the road for another season.

We’ve been shit but the overreaction by some on here is quite funny. Calling for Will Still’s sacking for managers that have also achieved sod all? 🤣 He can take some of the blame for the poor start to the season (formations and subs) - this is where he doesn’t help himself; but I think a lot of anger also has to be laid FIRMLY on the players and the board. Recruitment has been average to say the least. What’s the next manager going to do? He’s going to inherit the same shitshow if players and they will still be missing from five yards. Still be getting beaten at their near post. Still be outmuscled on every first and second ball. Still misplace a pass and gift the opposition a needless attack on our goal.

I don’t think we’ve played abysmally on a whole. We were shit on Saturday and he’s just made some dickish subs. If he can learn from his mistakes and play players in the right place then we have half a shot

Wow! That’s one hell of a statement!

How has this thread not been closed yet 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

last year was so straight forward, minimum of three goals a game for the most part. Or for the opposition to score the next goal etc 😅

Excellent episode again that. I would say there was the right balance of Will Still criticism, he’s made mistakes but he’s been let down by the board and hugely by the players!

Mystic Willo 😂 At least my betting on Saints games has seen a bit of profit over recent years 💷 The most predictable team out there.

Which bit of what I said was wrong? It’s true ffs 😂 If you’re gonna sack the manager then you need to bring in a manager that is a step up. Someone that has never managed at this level or higher - isn’t!

this forum is quite funny sometimes. People complain it isn’t working currently (which I agree with) and then throw out names like the fella in L1 or L2 that’s had several promotions, because it’s “more than Will Still has achieved”. Fascinating, with that in mind I’ll get on the phone to my Dad who took our U14 team to successive promotions because it’s “more than Will Still has achieved”. You’d be livid at this Sport Republic masterclass if either of those scenarios happened. 😂 As an alternative you have Michael Carrick who I’ve seen a few tout on here. I thought everyone was bored of tortoise-Russell Martin football, and conceding unnecessary goals?

I’m frustrated he stuck with five at the back, and I’ve said multiple times he doesn’t help himself by playing players out of position and starting matches in defensive formations. That part is on him massively. The argument is that we’ve created more than enough chances along the way and he’s been let down by poor recruitment in key positions, as demonstrated - defensively and with a goalkeeper, and a striker. Do I think he’ll turn it around? Honestly I’m not sure. I want it to work but Christ he needs to go out and attack a game with an attacking formation.

Agree with this

He won’t be sacked. We don’t have a Marinakis style board.

I’ve said before I only go sporadically. I won’t go again for a while, unless someone is paying for the ticket for me and there is a promise of an Indian afterwards in town.

Why would anyone wish to play as Southampton realistically? 😂 Especially at the moment.

I’ve waited to see a 4-3-3 for a month. I went to the Middlesbrough game a month ago and honestly thought today is the day we’ll see it. And it just hasn’t happened. Time is running out. But I think he’ll still be here at Christmas.

He’s got Fellows at RW. Azaz AM. Jander CM. Jelert and Roerslev RB. Scienza LW. I don’t see how he fails to pick a straightforward 4-3-3 that fits to the players strengths. This is where Will Still is at fault. The signings are on someone else. If he doesn’t change the formation then there’s no point him being here because he’ll continue to not play to their strengths.

I mean you were against him becoming manager in the first place. What hope is there for a manager if people don’t give him a chance in the first place.

The irony is that there’s a manager that has managed in a few leagues around Europe isn’t considered good enough, but someone who has had a few promotions in the lower tier is? This fanbase 🤣

He won’t be sacked until at least November, and even then I think you’ll be lucky.

Agreed. I’ve said before that if he or Stewart were with me they’d be on a fitness to work plan, to determine whether this job is for them.