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 2 hours ago 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 2 hours ago 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 1 hour ago 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 …….