Will Still

[die Mannyschaft]

19 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

We won 3 of our first 4 games last time out. It was September when things went tits up. Up to that point, for better or worse, you could see the massive change in playing style and how the layers were working on adopting Russell Martin’s methods. The last ten minutes of keep ball against Sheff Wed was unlike anything I’d seen in any saints side before. With this lot, I’m still failing to see what Will Still brings to the party. The first half today was absurd, just looked rudderless. 

We keep saying game after game that he needs to be given time. And to an extent any manager does. But there needs to be some seeds of improvement, evidence of what he’s changing or bringing together. Not seeing any of that yet.

He could have purchased a whole new squad to play his style whatever that is instead of applying RM style. By the time he gets going it will be November. We looked very poor today, not just my observation but many in stadium. How can half the teams in championship pay £5m or less for a bunch of players and play better, and get results. We struggle to do anything quickly, to decide quickly to shoot or pass, cross or play out from back. Its just too RM like.

[benjii]

Just now, die Mannyschaft said:

He could have purchased a whole new squad to play his style whatever that is instead of applying RM style. By the time he gets going it will be November. We looked very poor today, not just my observation but many in stadium. How can half the teams in championship pay £5m or less for a bunch of players and play better, and get results. We struggle to do anything quickly, to decide quickly to shoot or pass, cross or play out from back. Its just too RM like.

It was nothing like RM football.

I honestly wonder what some people see.

[Midfield_General]

Today was worrying. I really want him to succeed but that was a shambles. The 4-2-3-1 and team selection was what most people wanted to see, but when we had the ball our players looked like they had absolutely no idea what they were supposed to do with it, and it's hard to look past coaching for that. 

After making such a big deal about signing creative players and wingers, we didn't seem to want to give them the ball to feet which was absolutely baffling. We looked panicky and uncomposed whenever we got pressed even slightly, and ended up just hoofing it to no-one. What's the point playing three creative players behind a smallish forward who likes to play off the shoulder, if you're just going to do that? 

I was expecting Azaz in particular as the number 10 to be demanding to be given the ball so he could make things happen, but he didn't really seem to want it and hardly seemed to be showing for it at all. When we needed someone to be receiving the ball, playing with their head up and pulling the strings, he was largely invisible, and every time he did get it he just quickly laid it off. Having said that, most of the time it was just sailing over his head with another hoof to nothing, so it was far from his fault, I just expected him to demand the ball and try to dictate the play a lot more.

For most of the game though it was just impossible to tell what the game plan was meant to be. If the plan was to go long and hit the centre forward to get players running off him, then why select Archer to do that job when he's so unsuited to it? And why talk before the game about looking to find space in behind if you're just going to launch it into the stratosphere every time you've got it? 

Even then, we got given the total gift of their keeper going off injured and an untried and un-warmed-up reserve coming on. He looked like he was absolutely shitting himself, was clearly nervous and couldn't even kick straight, so the instruction should have been to rain shots in on him from every angle and distance and follow everything in, and swing every cross under his crossbar to force an error. Instead, we didn't test him properly once. I don't think we even made him come for a cross. It was pathetic. 

Tactically it was an absolute mess all over, and it was concerning. Pompey were well-organised, pressed well and fought hard, but they are a limited team without a lot of quality, and even with our squad of players worth many multiples what theirs is we couldn't impose ourselves on them at all because we didn't look like we had a plan. We're going to have to play a lot of ugly, compact teams like that, and we're going to need to see a lot more guile, composure and clarity of approach if we're going to be able to rise above them as it looks like we should on paper. 

It's early days, and I like him as a bloke, but for a manager who came with a fair bit of fanfare about his tactical acumen, he really hasn't showed it yet, and he needs to start pronto. We've spent a fortune and it's his squad now - there are no excuses for looking that disjointed and confused from here on in. He needs to raise his game. 

[ally_uk]

Body language wise during interviews he comes across really nervous and on edge. I've battled anxiety most my life and recognise the signs. 

I'm giving him 10 more games to generate a opinion, think it's early days, new players need to bed in etc. 

 

[Gloucester Saint]

12 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

Yeah I don’t buy that entirely. No doubt he was key to a Martin system. But he was excellent for us in the championship, our performances without him were notably worse (visibly and points gained). He was very influential for us, and my memory isn’t that he was just a crab midfielder, he was more than that. Has definitely been way off that since promotion.

Well, Still is going to have find out how to unlock that version of Downes again. Meanwhile, pair Jandar and Charles until he does. 

[The Kraken]

1 minute ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Well, Still is going to have find out how to unlock that version of Downes again. Meanwhile, pair Jandar and Charles until he does. 

I think the latter is far likelier than the former in the short term.

[Gloucester Saint]

Neither of their keepers looked capable, both were rash and their reserve looked very nervous. Astonishing lack of professionalism to not swing crosses, free kicks and corners in underneath the bar to treat him out. But that’s not a surprise with Saints over the last few years. Today just reinforced the impression of a club who have simply given up.

Edited yesterday at 17:43 by Gloucester Saint

[IFHP]

From the games we’ve played our play off hopes are fading fast, we look like a lower mid table championship team and that’s exactly where we find our selfs.

If you had told me Juric or Rusk were in charge today I’d have believed you .

Unless we are in danger of getting relegated again then no real point in sacking him only for Dragan and his mates to waste more money and appoint another dud, I’ve a feeling they will though before the seasons out.
 

 

 

Edited yesterday at 17:45 by IFHP

[bpsaint]

Other than Norwich in the cup we’ve looked a bit shite in every game this season. Struggling to see any semblance of an identity, or green shoots of a team that’s about to rip up the league. He had a month longer of a preseason than Russ did, yet we look so toothless and are already off the pace compared to 2023/24. Reminds me of watching the Nathan Jones side.

i hope i’m wrong and get served a huge slice of humble pie but it just feels like another Sports Republic masterstroke.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

I think it's slowly becoming clear that SR has taken the cheap option and it's going to backfire, again. 

I'm not saying he should be sacked, just that I've seen nothing from him that makes me think he's a 'master tactician' and 'one of Europe's best young coaches'. 

Just disappointed that Saints didn't go and get a manager with some Championship experience.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

3 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Other than Norwich in the cup we’ve looked a bit shite in every game this season. Struggling to see any semblance of an identity, or green shoots of a team that’s about to rip up the league. He had a month longer of a preseason than Russ did, yet we look so toothless and are already off the pace compared to 2023/24. Reminds me of watching the Nathan Jones side.

i hope i’m wrong and get served a huge slice of humble pie but it just feels like another Sports Republic masterstroke.

Exactly. Just remind me of NJ, which sends a shiver down my spine. At least WS doesn't seem to be as deluded as NJ was. I don't understand why the board didn't get a manager with experience. It's another gamble and is no doubt based on making money, in that if WS is a success and a big club comes in for him then there'll be a payout. 

[BarberSaint]

Very very poor so far. Shame, as I thought he'd be good. I think they'll keep him though as it might come good next season and we'll have had a bit more of a clear-out.  I don't see us anywhere near the play-offs from what I've seen and there aren't actually any good teams I've seen either.

[Charlie Wayman]

43 minutes ago, Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd said:

I think it's slowly becoming clear that SR has taken the cheap option and it's going to backfire, again. 

I'm not saying he should be sacked, just that I've seen nothing from him that makes me think he's a 'master tactician' and 'one of Europe's best young coaches'. 

Just disappointed that Saints didn't go and get a manager with some Championship experience.

The clock is ticking certainly with some fans after a series of turgid performances against very average sides. This cannot have gone unnoticed even upstairs where management always seem to be chronically tone deaf.

There is no sign yet of Saints stamping their mark on this division as many had hoped and expected including the board. My own expectations were much lower, for mid table mediocrity (14th) and so far that's how it is turning out.

In fairness Still has not had much to work with up to now, our best players having bolted through the stable door as soon as the lock was clicked. It remains to be seen if we have recruited well and if Still is the right man to forge a new Southampton from the remnants of the old and the pick of the new.

Probably, that gives him a free pass until Christmas but if at the end of October we are still churning out performances like today's then the flames will start rising from the embers.

Edited yesterday at 18:36 by Charlie Wayman

[Willo of Whiteley]

It’s early days but that was shambolic today. We haven’t really had a good half of football since the season began.

I don’t get today’s game plan, there’s getting rid of it in your penalty area, fair enough, but lumping it long every thirty seconds for the first half was madness.

These players have been brought in because of their technical ability, but there was none of that on show today. 

Azaz was particularly disappointing, he didn’t strike me as someone that demands the ball and wants to drive forward.

It’s too early to judge him but I’m far from convinced so far.

[Charlie Wayman]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Today was worrying. I really want him to succeed but that was a shambles. The 4-2-3-1 and team selection was what most people wanted to see, but when we had the ball our players looked like they had absolutely no idea what they were supposed to do with it, and it's hard to look past coaching for that. 

After making such a big deal about signing creative players and wingers, we didn't seem to want to give them the ball to feet which was absolutely baffling. We looked panicky and uncomposed whenever we got pressed even slightly, and ended up just hoofing it to no-one. What's the point playing three creative players behind a smallish forward who likes to play off the shoulder, if you're just going to do that? 

I was expecting Azaz in particular as the number 10 to be demanding to be given the ball so he could make things happen, but he didn't really seem to want it and hardly seemed to be showing for it at all. When we needed someone to be receiving the ball, playing with their head up and pulling the strings, he was largely invisible, and every time he did get it he just quickly laid it off. Having said that, most of the time it was just sailing over his head with another hoof to nothing, so it was far from his fault, I just expected him to demand the ball and try to dictate the play a lot more.

For most of the game though it was just impossible to tell what the game plan was meant to be. If the plan was to go long and hit the centre forward to get players running off him, then why select Archer to do that job when he's so unsuited to it? And why talk before the game about looking to find space in behind if you're just going to launch it into the stratosphere every time you've got it? 

Even then, we got given the total gift of their keeper going off injured and an untried and un-warmed-up reserve coming on. He looked like he was absolutely shitting himself, was clearly nervous and couldn't even kick straight, so the instruction should have been to rain shots in on him from every angle and distance and follow everything in, and swing every cross under his crossbar to force an error. Instead, we didn't test him properly once. I don't think we even made him come for a cross. It was pathetic. 

Tactically it was an absolute mess all over, and it was concerning. Pompey were well-organised, pressed well and fought hard, but they are a limited team without a lot of quality, and even with our squad of players worth many multiples what theirs is we couldn't impose ourselves on them at all because we didn't look like we had a plan. We're going to have to play a lot of ugly, compact teams like that, and we're going to need to see a lot more guile, composure and clarity of approach if we're going to be able to rise above them as it looks like we should on paper. 

It's early days, and I like him as a bloke, but for a manager who came with a fair bit of fanfare about his tactical acumen, he really hasn't showed it yet, and he needs to start pronto. We've spent a fortune and it's his squad now - there are no excuses for looking that disjointed and confused from here on in. He needs to raise his game. 

First class post.

[Themotherfunky]

It's telling that it was THB, Stephens, Manning, Downes and Fraser playing the safe/crab passing. Any time we had a chance to push forward on the left, we stopped and played back. Mads and Finn were shocking, and the rest had little to go off. 

 Must be such a fuck off to the ones that do make runs forward, because very few have the sense to play forward. Fernandes was one of the few last season to get hold of the ball, break through the lines and drive forward. We need more willingness to get forward, I can't remember the last time Downes did that. Charles I think has the stones to, but maybe he's in two minds about covering defensively, or doesn't trust Downes enough to. 

 We've been missing a linking midfield since Martin left. It was non-existant with Juric and Rusk. Hopefully Jander can be that progressive, Schneiderlin type player we need. 

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, bpsaint said:

Other than Norwich in the cup we’ve looked a bit shite in every game this season. Struggling to see any semblance of an identity, or green shoots of a team that’s about to rip up the league. He had a month longer of a preseason than Russ did, yet we look so toothless and are already off the pace compared to 2023/24. Reminds me of watching the Nathan Jones side.

i hope i’m wrong and get served a huge slice of humble pie but it just feels like another Sports Republic masterstroke.

I really hope he gets us going, would be nice to have a manager we can all get behind, but completely agree with your post. I don't really follow Begian or French football but not sure what Still really achieved for us to look forward to. What is his style? 

[Greedyfly]

2 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

Guys we did this last championship window when we were relegated.

we were shit and got better once the squad was settled.

Any demands for change of manager after 5 games is kneejerk in the extreme.

Still very unhappy with first half, 2nd half much better.

Needs to find way to give forwards better chances.

We actually won 3 of our first 5 and had scored 10 league goals. We've won 1 against a terd Wrexham side. 

 

 

We were, however, fucking shit in the next 4 in which we lost all 4 scoring just twice. Like Martin then, he's using a lot of goodwill up, and that's a lot to do with his stupid 352 bollocks. 

 

Still time, but he HAS to turn it around now. No more excuses. 

[Harry_SFC]

I said I'd give him 10 games until I've made a judgement and I stand by that. That'll be up until the next international break and I'd certainly expect to see a big improvement by then. 

Today was very poor but probably not an ideal first game after the transfer window closed. A full week of training with the whole squad coming up. No excuses now. 

[bogwoppit]

Just back home after a nightmare journey back to Shropshire. Great day watching a shower of shit with no passion. Early days, but I can’t see a style of play - I remember Pocha coming in and you could see straight away, even with Martin you knew what we going to do (whether you liked it or not).

From today….limited or no passion, leadership??, decision and timing of subs, will we score from open play??, could go on but I can’t be bothered.

Today could have kicked started our season but …….

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think the difficulty is is that no one knows what to expect.

Martin had his stamp, yes it could be tedious and times and we were prone to stupid mistakes but you can’t argue it was effective at dominating the game and moving forward.

All I’ve got from Will Still so far is “get the ball into the box”, well if that’s the case then buy a 6”4” striker that can actually hold the ball up.

[beatlesaint]

29 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I think the difficulty is is that no one knows what to expect.

Martin had his stamp, yes it could be tedious and times and we were prone to stupid mistakes but you can’t argue it was effective at dominating the game and moving forward.

All I’ve got from Will Still so far is “get the ball into the box”, well if that’s the case then buy a 6”4” striker that can actually hold the ball up.

Exactly this. To be fair he has come into a league/country he's never managed in before so its only natural that he will, like the players, take time to settle in to how the Championship works.

 

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

All I’ve got from Will Still so far is “get the ball into the box”, well if that’s the case then buy a 6”4” striker that can actually hold the ball up.

Spot on. I've got no problem at all with using a big, strong centre forward as a focal point for headers, hold-up play and crosses, but it's pretty obvious you can't play those tactics with 5 foot 9 Cam Archer or 2 foot 1 Adam Armstrong, yet that appears to be what he's trying to do at the minute, which is really concerning because it's so screamingly obvious it's a complete waste of time. 

My worry though is that he thought he would be able to play like that with 6 foot 4 Damion Downs as the striker, but now he's had time to have a proper look at him, he's realised that he's nowhere near ready and is now trying to force fit that system to players completely unsuited to it. Though having said that, surely you'd start Stewart as the next one if that's how you want to play, as he does at least have height even if he looks like a strong breeze would knock him over. 

He's meant to be highly tactically adaptable and good at being pragmatic to get the best out of the attributes of the players available, so now we need to see that in action, starting at Hull. If Archer is starting, get the ball down and play through balls to him along the ground so he can run into space and play off the shoulder like he wants to. 

Edited 13 hours ago by Midfield_General

[BARCELONASAINT]

I am as disappointed as anyone with yesterdays result and the general start to the season. However i am willing to give Will Still until 10 league games into the season before i start to judge him as a manager. He now has the players he wants and now everyone is back from the internationals he has a full week to work with everyone and the new players start to bed in. 

He clearly was not happy with yesterdays first half performance and that was on the players! The majority on here were in full agreement with the starting lineup and going 4 at the back. It was the players that started that first half that played like the ball was a hot potato and just hoofed it forward and could not string two passes together. I actually felt sorry for Azaz and Fellows who were starved of any real service with the rubbish we played in the first half.

The second half was better and the new guys that came on looked decent in the short time they had on the pitch. I am expecting a very different performance away to Hull next week!!

 

[saintant]

30 minutes ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

I am as disappointed as anyone with yesterdays result and the general start to the season. However i am willing to give Will Still until 10 league games into the season before i start to judge him as a manager. He now has the players he wants and now everyone is back from the internationals he has a full week to work with everyone and the new players start to bed in. 

He clearly was not happy with yesterdays first half performance and that was on the players! The majority on here were in full agreement with the starting lineup and going 4 at the back. It was the players that started that first half that played like the ball was a hot potato and just hoofed it forward and could not string two passes together. I actually felt sorry for Azaz and Fellows who were starved of any real service with the rubbish we played in the first half.

The second half was better and the new guys that came on looked decent in the short time they had on the pitch. I am expecting a very different performance away to Hull next week!!

 

Will Still actually told them to do that and I heard him say so during his pre match interview. It's mainly on the manager although maybe the players need to take some blame for blindly following instructions that clearly weren't working.

[BARCELONASAINT]

7 minutes ago, saintant said:

Will Still actually told them to do that and I heard him say so during his pre match interview. It's mainly on the manager although maybe the players need to take some blame for blindly following instructions that clearly weren't working.

I don't believe for one moment that he told his back 4 to boot the bloody ball up in the air in the hope that Archer might win it every time our defenders had the ball. I don't believe he said to the players pass the ball to the opposition every time you have it and more importantly bypass the midfield and play like some poor Sunday league pub team. Will Still was quite rightly furious with that first half performance and what the players did in that first 45 minutes.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

I don't believe for one moment that he told his back 4 to boot the bloody ball up in the air in the hope that Archer might win it every time our defenders had the ball. I don't believe he said to the players pass the ball to the opposition every time you have it and more importantly bypass the midfield and play like some poor Sunday league pub team. Will Still was quite rightly furious with that first half performance and what the players did in that first 45 minutes.

Consistently Playing it long, even on the ground, is a ridiculous style of play. 
 

high or low, the ball will just keep coming back, as it has done for much of the season.

Still needs to up his game to demonstrate he is not out of his depth 

[hypochondriac]

6 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Consistently Playing it long, even on the ground, is a ridiculous style of play. 
 

high or low, the ball will just keep coming back, as it has done for much of the season.

Still needs to up his game to demonstrate he is not out of his depth 

It's just as stupid as never playing long. Still was sold to the fanbase as an adaptable manager who could change things around when it's not working. I'm not sure we have seen enough evidence of that yet. 

[saintant]

15 minutes ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

I don't believe for one moment that he told his back 4 to boot the bloody ball up in the air in the hope that Archer might win it every time our defenders had the ball. I don't believe he said to the players pass the ball to the opposition every time you have it and more importantly bypass the midfield and play like some poor Sunday league pub team. Will Still was quite rightly furious with that first half performance and what the players did in that first 45 minutes.

Well he said it because I heard it with my own ears. Not saying he implied or hoped Archer would win everything but he clearly stated that the way to stop Pompey getting into the game was for us to go long early in the match and that is how it unfolded.

[BARCELONASAINT]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

It's just as stupid as never playing long. Still was sold to the fanbase as an adaptable manager who could change things around when it's not working. I'm not sure we have seen enough evidence of that yet. 

I agree that at present we have not seen who Will Still really is and i put that down to inheriting an awful squad of players that could only play Russ ball. The time to judge him will be in about 5 games time and if there is no sign of improvement and the players adapting to how he wants to play the game then thats when we really should be starting to ask is Will Still the right person to drive us forward.

[Doctoroncall]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Consistently Playing it long, even on the ground, is a ridiculous style of play. 
 

high or low, the ball will just keep coming back, as it has done for much of the season.

Still needs to up his game to demonstrate he is not out of his depth 

Kind of agree,  I think we still have some limited players which should have been expected, but perhaps are finding things a bit more difficult to adapt their game to the quick pace and ball control needed to progress it up the pitch for the crosses to be delivered behind the defence for the forwards to run onto (like Murphy showed for them). 
 

clearly Jander is an intelligent footballer and I see him partnering Charles when he has more training sessions under his belt.  In his short cameo, he’s shown he can move into good positions to receive the ball rather than it be recycled and slow things down. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

3 hours ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

Will Still was quite rightly furious with that first half performance and what the players did in that first 45 minutes.

“Furious” ? To me,  he was stood in the technical area like Tin Tin wondering where Snowy had wandered off to. He didn’t look or act “furious “ at all. This is now 3 home games running we’ve started terribly, he needs to fucking sort it out and quickly. 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

Still’s stated tactics for the early part of the match were obviously misguided and did not achieve the desired outcome; he should have ensured after about 10 minutes that we changed our style of play.  By then, the problems that we suffered from for the duration of the game were readily apparent: Pompey played an aggressive press, gave us little time on the ball, went man-to-man on Charles and Downes, their full-backs came forwards to shut off the forward passes to Fraser or Fellows, they placed themselves in the way of our forward-passing channels and so all our back four could do without giving the ball away (which the did far too often) was pass it back and forth across the pitch among themselves or back to Bazunu or whack it long and high in the vague direction of Archer or Azaz.  That meant we looked like a league 2 side playing a well-coached Championship side.  How neither the players nor the manager (nor the coaches sitting near him) did anything to rectify it is hard to fathom.  They should all be told in no uncertain terms that that is unacceptable.

Still, his coaching team and the players need to up their performance considerably, and win at Hull, or they will lose the faith most of us supporters have in them and our promotion hopes will be in ruins before the end of September.  We simply have to average more than two points a game from now on if our season is to be salvaged.

More in hope than in true expectation, I look forward to our next run of games to set us back on our way to promotion.

Edited 9 hours ago by Tommy Mulgrew
Clarity

[gio1saints]

I know Still has managed derby games before but, could be wrong, but I just got the feeling he “ froze” a bit under live national itv and intense derby pressure. Too little too late with subs and they were virtually doing the same thing all game rather than him using his ( frozen) brain with clarity to kniw wtf was going on and tactically sort it.
You can bet your bottom dollar Jose Mourinho would have pushed our full backs forward at least 10 metres after 15 mins and maybe gone 3 at the back adding bodies into midfield. Still not got that experience or deep seated confidence in his thinking yet really despite number of games he’s managed. His assistants all froze as well obviously. Or probably. They should pipe up like the Emperors new clothes and say “Will, Flynn Downes is standing on the half way line in just his birthday suit ditto Cameron, get them sone boots and kit or get them off- just as a highly relevant and extremely serious for example.😁

Edited 8 hours ago by gio1saints

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

20 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

I was expecting Azaz in particular as the number 10 to be demanding to be given the ball so he could make things happen,

There was a spell when it went Baz to Jack to Manning to Portsmouth player to go out for a goal kick. Back to Baz to Jack to Manning to Portsmouth player to goal kick. So they changed it and it went Baz to Jack to Mads to Portsmouth player. No originality, no spark, no sense of purpose. That's where Azaz needs to come in and take control. Or by all means hoof it to Archer (who I thought did well to buy free kicks because there was little else he could do), but be near him to pick up the second ball.

I've always been a fan of long goal kicks. Yes it's a lottery but the ball is far away from our goal and if you get to the second ball, there's often space to make things happen.

And Will, I know it's trendy to have all players inside the penalty area when defending a corner, but don't. Have one on the half way line and one between the half way line and the penalty area ready for the break. 

[saintstowin]

I appreciate all managers have to think and not rush decisions and that this includes consulting coaching colleagues. But from the beginning of the 2nd half whenever I looked across I often saw Still talking. And then talking again. At some stage you've got to trust your own process and do it. I wonder if that's a sign of his inexperience, as well as how he likes to work. But it definitely delayed decisions yesterday.

[Badger]

42 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

 

And Will, I know it's trendy to have all players inside the penalty area when defending a corner, but don't. Have one on the half way line and one between the half way line and the penalty area ready for the break. 

This isn't just him though, as you say, seems fashionable, Bloody stupid though.

[Badger]

43 minutes ago, saintstowin said:

I appreciate all managers have to think and not rush decisions and that this includes consulting coaching colleagues. But from the beginning of the 2nd half whenever I looked across I often saw Still talking. And then talking again. At some stage you've got to trust your own process and do it. I wonder if that's a sign of his inexperience, as well as how he likes to work. But it definitely delayed decisions yesterday.

Who was he talking to ? If he was consulting  Trollope that's one thing, conferring with Nivea another. 

Or was he just talking to himself in the Tech Area. ? That might mean deeper problems for both us and him.

[Saint_clark]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

“Furious” ? To me,  he was stood in the technical area like Tin Tin wondering where Snowy had wandered off to. He didn’t look or act “furious “ at all. This is now 3 home games running we’ve started terribly, he needs to fucking sort it out and quickly. 

He got himself so wound up that he got booked by the ref for his behaviour on the touchline.

[Whitey Grandad]

22 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

He got himself so wound up that he got booked by the ref for his behaviour on the touchline.

For coming onto the pitch to fetch a loose ball.

[trousers]

23 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

For coming onto the pitch to fetch a loose ball.

He didn't get booked for that incident, it was for losing his rag over the Jander non-foul 

Edited 6 hours ago by trousers

[Saint NL]

https://www.sportscasting.com/uk/news/championship-sack-race-odds-2025-2026/

 

2nd place, with odds of 4/1 seems quite a suprise. 

 

Championship Sack Race Odds 2025/26 Season: Full list

 Paulo Pezzolano (Watford) 3/1

 Will Still (Southampton) 4/1

 Sergej Jakirović (Hull City) 6/1

 Henrik Pedersen (Sheffield Wednesday) 15/2

 Gary Rowett (Oxford United) 10/1

 Valérien Ismaël (Blackburn Rovers) 10/1

 Martí Cifuentes (Leicester City) 14/1

 Nathan Jones (Charlton Athletic) 14/1

 Phil Parkinson (Wrexham) 14/1

 Alex Neil (Millwall) 16/1

 Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town) 16/1

 Paul Heckingbottom (Preston North End) 16/1

 Chris Davies (Birmingham City) 20/1

 Liam Manning (Norwich City) 22/1

 Alan Sheehan (Swansea City) 25/1

 Julien Stéphan (Queens Park Rangers) 25/1

 Ryan Mason (West Bromwich Albion) 25/1

 Frank Lampard (Coventry City) 28/1

 John Eustace (Derby County) 28/1

 John Mousinho (Portsmouth) 33/1

 Mark Robins (Stoke City) 40/1

 Gerhard Struber (Bristol City) 50/1

 Rob Edwards (Middlesbrough) 50/1

Edited 6 hours ago by Saint NL

[Lord Duckhunter]

49 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

He got himself so wound up that he got booked by the ref for his behaviour on the touchline.

Fuck me, if that’s getting wound up, no wonder we’re so passive.
 

He didn’t look “furious” with the players to me. He looked like a petulant teenager who had just had his play station turned off. As for his reaction to the handshake at the end, dear god, man up…

[RedArmy]

22 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Fuck me, if that’s getting wound up, no wonder we’re so passive.
 

He didn’t look “furious” with the players to me. He looked like a petulant teenager who had just had his play station turned off. As for his reaction to the handshake at the end, dear god, man up…

Indeed. 
 

He had a good opportunity to bring them over while their keeper was down and give them a good bollocking but from what i saw that didn’t really happen. Unless I missed it. 

[Charlie Wayman]

Evidently, Will Still is a very poor communicator witnessed by his painful press conferences. Is there any reason to suppose that he is any better at communicating with his players especially the more stroppy and arrogant ones.

That could be part of his problem, players take little notice of him because he can't get clear messages across

[saintant]

2 hours ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

Still’s stated tactics for the early part of the match were obviously misguided and did not achieve the desired outcome; he should have ensured after about 10 minutes that we changed our style of play.  By then, the problems that we suffered from for the duration of the game were readily apparent: Pompey played an aggressive press, gave us little time on the ball, went man-to-man on Charles and Downes, their full-backs came forwards to shut off the forward passes to Fraser or Fellows, they placed themselves in the way of our forward-passing channels and so all our back four could do without giving the ball away (which the did far too often) was pass it back and forth across the pitch among themselves or back to Bazunu or whack it long and high in the vague direction of Archer or Azaz.  That meant we looked like a league 2 side playing a well-coached Championship side.  How neither the players nor the manager (nor the coaches sitting near him) did anything to rectify it is hard to fathom.  They should all be told in no uncertain terms that that is unacceptable.

Still, his coaching team and the players need to up their performance considerably, and win at Hull, or they will lose the faith most of us supporters have in them and our promotion hopes will be in ruins before the end of September.  We simply have to average more than two points a game from now on if our season is to be salvaged.

More in hope than in true expectation, I look forward to our next run of games to set us back on our way to promotion.

Spot on. Good post which emphasises the worrying signs in terms of lack of tactical nous and the inability to change the direction of a game that is getting away from you. It's not what I expected from Will Still and I just hope he will up his game starting this weekend at Hull. If not it's going to be another long hard season. 

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Saint_clark said:

He got himself so wound up that he got booked by the ref for his behaviour on the touchline.

Well that was all down to the ref who clearly gave a foul that wasn't against Caspar when Murphy blatantly dived. 

[AlexLaw76]

The lauded tactician, sought after young manager in Europe, is basically a pound shop Sam allardyce

Should have gone all in and got sean dyche

 

im kidding - partly 

[benjii]

Just looks like a really shit, basic manager to me. 

 

[Miltonaggro]

23 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

I was sat near the dug out. Their manager was a total cock all game. Moaning about everything. Just all round wanker of a bloke 

Thick as two short planks. Perfect for them.