Johannes Spors

[Charlie Wayman]

On 27/10/2025 at 15:23, trousers said:

MLG and Dman both have valid points:

a) appointing a DoF that nobody else wants = not great

b) appointing DoFs that keep getting enticed elsewhere within months of joining Saints = not great

Is there an answer to this conundrum? Who knows. I'd probably look at other similar sized clubs to see how they manage to keep hold of decent DoFs and perhaps use them as a template for what we could/should do...

 

We could try poaching good ones from other clubs, why not? 

Die by the sword, live by the sword.

[Give it to Ron]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

I thought he was great on Saturday too, but prior to that he hasn't exactly torn it up has he? 

Regardless of who's fault it is (and for the record, I agree that he's been poorly managed and I think he's a really good player who's just not really shown it for us yet), until he consistently makes a meaningful contribution surely the jury is still out on whether he has worked for us or not as a signing? I don't think anyone would say he's been a smash hit so far in the way that Scienza, and to a lesser degree Jander, have been, for example.

And bearing in mind the question is about Spors' performance, how much of that is down to Spors appointing a manager who clearly had no idea how to get the best out of him?

Spors performance is a worry for me and said as much after the fans forum - because it sounded like we were giving him way too much authority and reliance on his recruitment.

So far it’s 50/50 because Scienza, Fellows and Jansen are good.

But as you said Stephens 3 year deal and no keeper or Cf really irritates me.

[Saint86]

11 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Spors performance is a worry for me and said as much after the fans forum - because it sounded like we were giving him way too much authority and reliance on his recruitment.

So far it’s 50/50 because Scienza, Fellows and Jansen are good.

But as you said Stephens 3 year deal and no keeper or Cf really irritates me.

He's made one very suspect signing in downs. But he also signed scienza who is pure quality. Plus fellows and azaz are best in class for the champ. We also signed roerslev and jelert, who are both quality players for the champ level, plus quarshie looks a good young player, and we've got romeu back... It's pretty good recruitment all in.

Add to that the fact that he oversaw a fairly impressive clear out in the summer, and I just don't know how realistic it is to expect much more from a dof this year, especially given the back drop of relegation and balancing the books?

Outside of doors, I suspect there is something wrong in the dressing room myself - although unclear what. We're still carrying macca, Stephens, Downes, and Manning from the awful relegation side last year - all of them defensively minded (or not as the case may be), and 3 of them were some of Martin's golden players... Are they bad eggs, or has last season caused some long term damage with respect to low standards / acceptance / giving up when we go behind... Hard to say ATM.

Edited 5 hours ago by Saint86

[Give it to Ron]

22 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

He's made one very suspect signing in downs. But he also signed scienza who is pure quality. Plus fellows and azaz are best in class for the champ. We also signed roerslev and jelert, who are both quality players for the champ level, plus quarshie looks a good young player, and we've got romeu back... It's pretty good recruitment all in.

Add to that the fact that he oversaw a fairly impressive clear out in the summer, and I just don't know how realistic it is to expect much more from a dof this year, especially given the back drop of relegation and balancing the books?

Outside of doors, I suspect there is something wrong in the dressing room myself - although unclear what. We're still carrying macca, Stephens, Downes, and Manning from the awful relegation side last year - all of them defensively minded (or not as the case may be), and 3 of them were some of Martin's golden players... Are they bad eggs, or has last season caused some long term damage with respect to low standards / acceptance / giving up when we go behind... Hard to say ATM.

But gambling on a 6m German 2 plus Stewart is down to him that is a massive clusterfuck of a decision.

Im not certain about dressing room but I would love to know what Matsuaki and Sesay have done wrong so much we risk playing an untried 18/19 year old ahead of them…..and Aribo!

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, Give it to Ron said:

But gambling on a 6m German 2 plus Stewart is down to him that is a massive clusterfuck of a decision.

Im not certain about dressing room but I would love to know what Matsuaki and Sesay have done wrong so much we risk playing an untried 18/19 year old ahead of them…..and Aribo!

Do you live in a parallel world where spors signed or could sell Stewart? Interesting...

And at the end of the day, the U21 manager gives an academy kid he knows well and trusts a game, he played well if not spectacular, didn't let the side down and we won... Not something saints fans really should be moaning about it tbh, especially in the grand scheme of things. Club is badly losing its way if this becomes a thing.

Edited 3 hours ago by Saint86

[Give it to Ron]

10 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Do you live in a parallel world where spors signed or could sell Stewart? Interesting...

??? Gambling on his fitness was down to the DOF and recruiting isn’t it? it was made clear who is in charge at FF or are you ignoring that? 
Do you not agree that the failure to recruit a proven CF is costing us and probably Still his job? A manager recruited by Spors?

[Give it to Ron]

33 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Do you live in a parallel world where spors signed or could sell Stewart? Interesting...

And at the end of the day, the U21 manager gives an academy kid he knows well and trusts a game, he played well if not spectacular, didn't let the side down and we won... Not something saints fans really should be moaning about it tbh, especially in the grand scheme of things. Club is badly losing its way if this becomes a thing.

Who said I was moaning? I just said it seemed odd that both Sesay and Matsuski who both had decent pre -seasons were left out for someone untried and played above them might help you actually read what’s written

[Saint86]

38 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

??? Gambling on his fitness was down to the DOF and recruiting isn’t it? it was made clear who is in charge at FF or are you ignoring that? 
Do you not agree that the failure to recruit a proven CF is costing us and probably Still his job? A manager recruited by Spors?

I just don't know what you expect in all seriousness. They had Stewart, AA, and Archer - thats a trio of proven strikers. Still obviously okay'd Downs, and its entirely the medical team's responsibility to advise on fitness - ditto on still to prepare and manager the team. Assume they okayed all that and let BBD go - its not Spors' fault, because ultimately that is enough of a strike force on paper to do very well in this division. And as for the midfield behind - Still had a super array of talent to work from - scienza, fellows, azaz, and AA, alone is a prolific front 4 at this level - let alone with the likes of Charles and Jander behind, and Downes if he could stay fit/interested.

Regardless of the Downs signing, we have a great squad for the championship.

[Give it to Ron]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

I just don't know what you expect in all seriousness. They had Stewart, AA, and Archer - thats a trio of proven strikers. Still obviously okay'd Downs, and its entirely the medical team's responsibility to advise on fitness - ditto on still to prepare and manager the team. Assume they okayed all that and let BBD go - its not Spors' fault, because ultimately that is enough of a strike force on paper to do very well in this division. And as for the midfield behind - Still had a super array of talent to work from - scienza, fellows, azaz, and AA, alone is a prolific front 4 at this level - let alone with the likes of Charles and Jander behind, and Downes if he could stay fit/interested.

Regardless of the Downs signing, we have a great squad for the championship.

Simple a decent proven target man to replace Adams which we didn’t do and it cost Still his job. None of those you mentioned are that type of striker .

Spors was responsible for recruitment it was clearly stated why are you ignoring that? 

As for Tonda knowing Barnaby well and trusting that’s some stretch given he didn’t join until end of July!!!

So you don’t think we need a forward to be a target man in January?

Edited 51 minutes ago by Give it to Ron