Will Still

[Football Special]

9 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I think he is being rightly criticised, this is a team he has expensively assembled and yet is now forced to play a formation that doesn’t suit his buys

We can point heavy fingers at SR of course for a striker purchase we have desperately needed for years but have paid a huge sum on what was potential, theres an element to me that says thats not Will’s fault, but Id assume he was happy with the strength of the squad following his comments

Today.. I had down as a must win, im not as annoyed as I think we did enough, but I do think he deserves to be firmly on watch and Im hugely dissapointed with his start considering his fanfare

Of course it's not all Still's fault, but 3 centre backs against Swansea sitting deep in a home match, he's a coward of a manager. 

Please please please Northam end banner next game just say "SPORTS REPUBLIC FUCK OFF YOU BUNCH OF CUNTS" 

[Patches O Houlihan]

25 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Oddly Russell Martin did alright

🤡 This is surely quote of the year!  🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Thank you for cheering me up after such a frustrating match 😁

[RM had Che Adams to hold the ball up and hassle their CBs]

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Patches O Houlihan said:

🤡 This is surely quote of the year!  🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Thank you for cheering me up after such a frustrating match 😁

[RM had Che Adams to hold the ball up and hassle their CBs]

Che Adams is not Alan shearer, and was a figure of fun as the season started

[Patches O Houlihan]

11 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Of course it's not all Still's fault, but 3 centre backs against Swansea sitting deep in a home match, he's a coward of a manager. 

Please please please Northam end banner next game just say "SPORTS REPUBLIC FUCK OFF YOU BUNCH OF CUNTS" 

They didn't sit back though did they?!

[Patches O Houlihan]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

Che Adams is not Alan shearer, and was a figure of fun as the season started

Without a fit Ross Stewart he is head and shoulders above any of our other strikers right now 

(I'm counting Arma as an inside forward because he can't play effectively in the middle)

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Without a fit Ross Stewart he is head and shoulders above any of our other strikers right now 

(I'm counting Arma as an inside forward because he can't play effectively in the middle)

Adams is a miles better footballer as well with only Scienza or Jandar even close in terms of the overall squad let alone the strikers. That’s without his hold up play and occupying defenders to create space. Our current strikers have all the technique and refinement of a massive fart in Winchester Cathedral at Midnight Mass. 

[Green]

Even Juric beat Swansea and Martin as well 5-0. I don’t think it’s a huge ask for a Southampton manager to beat them. 

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

Let's get Big Ange in.

He won't win anything this year but he'll get a trophy in his second season. 🤣

[Patches O Houlihan]

5 minutes ago, Green said:

Even Juric beat Swansea and Martin as well 5-0. I don’t think it’s a huge ask for a Southampton manager to beat them. 

The manager doesn't beat them personally though does he?!

He coaches the players, and the players have to beat them.

What he told them to do worked - the ball just didn't go in the net

[ant]

Sadly seeing almost nothing to suggest that Still is capable of sorting us out. 

For all his chat about setting teams up to win and not being wedded to specific tactics, we continue throwing cross after cross into the box with nobody there to benefit. 

Too many of the players look scared. Scared to surrender possession. Scared to make a mistake. The irony being that playing so passively only invites increased pressure. 

Are they being coached to do this? Or not being adequately emboldened to go out and murder the opposition?

I keep waiting for it to click; I'm increasingly less certain it ever will.

[Football Special]

9 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

They didn't sit back though did they?!

Swansea were poor and there for the taking,  we did not need three centre backs 

Crowd around me have had enough, players looked a bit dejected when boos rang out , fans expect better they should know that 

[Patches O Houlihan]

Just now, ant said:

Sadly seeing almost nothing to suggest that Still is capable of sorting us out. 

For all his chat about setting teams up to win and not being wedded to specific tactics, we continue throwing cross after cross into the box with nobody there to benefit. 

Too many of the players look scared. Scared to surrender possession. Scared to make a mistake. The irony being that playing so passively only invites increased pressure. 

Are they being coached to do this? Or not being adequately emboldened to go out and murder the opposition?

I keep waiting for it to click; I'm increasingly less certain it ever will.

Still specifically mentions trying to empower the players to not be scared.

[benjii]

3 minutes ago, ant said:

Sadly seeing almost nothing to suggest that Still is capable of sorting us out. 

For all his chat about setting teams up to win and not being wedded to specific tactics, we continue throwing cross after cross into the box with nobody there to benefit. 

Too many of the players look scared. Scared to surrender possession. Scared to make a mistake. The irony being that playing so passively only invites increased pressure. 

Are they being coached to do this? Or not being adequately emboldened to go out and murder the opposition?

I keep waiting for it to click; I'm increasingly less certain it ever will.

I don't think anyone looked scared today. There wasn't anything particularly wrong in the set up, commitment or execution, apart from the finishing.

What was bad, was that we didn't do anything active to go for it in the last 30 minutes. Swapping wing backs around and playing with nothing much through the middle when you've got 3 CBs on the pitch and are playing a crap team at home is cowardly and uninventive.

[ant]

Just now, Patches O Houlihan said:

Still specifically mentions trying to empower the players to not be scared.

Yeah, I saw - but any attempts are nowhere near paying off yet. And as I say, I currently don't see him as the one capable of inspiring them out of their shells.

[Patches O Houlihan]

1 minute ago, ant said:

Yeah, I saw - but any attempts are nowhere near paying off yet. And as I say, I currently don't see him as the one capable of inspiring them out of their shells.

So you want to appoint an ninth eighth manager in under 3 years?

Edited 16 hours ago by Patches O Houlihan

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Still specifically mentions trying to empower the players to not be scared.

Better to drop them and bomb them out of the first team picture if the club is too big for them. Squad is big enough to do that. Say in PCs that they are unselectable for the standards of Southampton FC and if that included the likes of Downs and Archer and Spors/Ankerson don’t like their fuck ups being exposed, tough titty.

Edited 16 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Dusic]

2 wins from 10 is surely a lot less than even the most negative Saints fan would have exepcted?

Has to improve results fast. In isolation you can be unlucky but over the 10 games so far we just havent played well enough, shwon enough cohesion and progression and ultimately have been left with a massively below par points tally.

Got to go on a run of wins or he will be under massive pressure come next Intl break.

Edited 16 hours ago by Dusic

[ant]

Just now, benjii said:

I don't think anyone looked scared today. There wasn't anything particularly wrong in the set up, commitment or execution, apart from the finishing.

What was bad, was that we didn't do anything active to go for it in the last 30 minutes. Swapping wing backs around and playing with nothing much through the middle when you've got 3 CBs on the pitch and are playing a crap team at home is cowardly and uninventive.

Fair opinion. I still saw it in them, but let's chalk that up to individual perspectives.

On about 75 minutes I did realise I'd rather we bloody went for it and lost than to bugger about and limp to the point. 

Something about that old adage that a win and a loss from 2 matches is better than 2 draws.

[ant]

1 minute ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

So you want to appoint an ninth eighth manager in under 3 years?

I didn't say that. Merely that I don't believe Still will turn it around. It's another crap no-win situation.

Ultimately I'd love some stability.

Unfortunately we're burdened with owners that make about 1 good decision for every 4 poor ones.

[Gloucester Saint]

4 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

So you want to appoint a ninth manager in under 3 years?

I want to see him make more of the big decisions - dropping the Wessex League keeper was a good start - and bomb out the very worst of SR’s rubbish and identify the players you do want. Call it out. Managers get the sack when DoFs screw up anyway so go down with some fight.

Edited 16 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[saintant]

42 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I think he is being rightly criticised, this is a team he has expensively assembled and yet is now forced to play a formation that doesn’t suit his buys

We can point heavy fingers at SR of course for a striker purchase we have desperately needed for years but have paid a huge sum on what was potential, theres an element to me that says thats not Will’s fault, but Id assume he was happy with the strength of the squad following his comments

Today.. I had down as a must win, im not as annoyed as I think we did enough, but I do think he deserves to be firmly on watch and Im hugely dissapointed with his start considering his fanfare

Why do you think it was a 'must win?' It wasn't a relegation battle or a match between two sides battling for automatic promotion. We should have won but missed easy chances. Had we converted those chances we'd have gained 8 points from 4 unbeaten games which is a pretty good return. The manager cannot go onto the pitch and put the ball into the back of the net for them - this poor result is on those who missed the chances they should have buried with their eyes closed.

[Smirking_Saint]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

Why do you think it was a 'must win?' It wasn't a relegation battle or a match between two sides battling for automatic promotion. We should have won but missed easy chances. Had we converted those chances we'd have gained 8 points from 4 unbeaten games which is a pretty good return. The manager cannot go onto the pitch and put the ball into the back of the net for them - this poor result is on those who missed the chances they should have buried with their eyes closed.

Because I think the longer this period of mediocrity continues will further push a weight of expectation on the club 

Swansea at home for a team that is rightly regarded as automatic contenders should be a win, and all things considered I felt like it was a must win for the reason above

[saintant]

41 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Why I think Still is the primary problem (without Sports Republic giving the club away).

He has seemingly wasted pre-season, in both of preparations with system and patters of play, and use of players. That is clear given the changeover of the starting 11 in that time. Even the new lads are in/out from one game to the next.

It was said he needed at least 1 winger and a No.10. He got 2 wingers, one of which is proven top quality for this league, and a No.10 who was one of the best in that position last season. Now, they are either on the pitch in the wrong positions, or on the bench (because of the system)

Subs, fuck me. He just seems to throw all/nearly all attackers on, usually to try and win a game (obviously). How often have we been better (Wrexham?)...they just seem so disjointed and at times, more square pegs in round holes.

System. I know some of you are adamant the nothing is wrong with the set up, or at least nothing was wrong against Swasean, but I disagree. The 3/5 at the beck thing is crap. Surrenders midfield most of the time, sees our 'extra' man in defence - which is where our overload is, meaning our forwards are either stretched from the team, or at best up against the same number of defenders (if not outnumbered). With the midfield surrendered we are seem to play more 'long passes' (which is evident to anyone, right), or we lob balls into the ball to players not overly suited to that. We rarely make a defence face their own goal, meaning a defensive unit is in place and/or facing up to us. Over and Over and Over again.

Of course, he has not been helped by Downs being appalling (fucking joke of a player), but lets not pretend about 20 other clubs in this league would kill for £50m+ to be spent to go alongside Charles, Edwards, Armstrong Fraser, Downes, THB, Aribo, Edozie, et al...ffs, we even loaned out Bree who is barnstorming it at the moment. Even Whacky Russell Martin got loads of goals out of said players who can't hit a barn door......

We will go no where under Will Still. He may become a good manager one day, but not for us and not now. 

Yet for all those negatives we limited Swansea to zero chances and had enough simple chances of our own to win 2 or 3 nil even without a recognised striker. So the manager must have got some things right or we'd surely have lost the game not thrown it away.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Yet for all those negatives we limited Swansea to zero chances and had enough simple chances of our own to win 2 or 3 nil even without a recognised striker. So the manager must have got some things right or we'd surely have lost the game not thrown it away.

Nothing really positive about drawing 0-0 at home to a side like that. By virtue of the sheer gulf in class of player we would carve up a few chances.

[SaintNewForest]

No point in calling for Still to go.

The clowns will charge will simply lumber us with another inept appontment, that will do sweet fuck all, and we'll continue the cycle. 

SR have to sell up, and piss off. They are a stain on our history. 

[saintant]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Nothing really positive about drawing 0-0 at home to a side like that. By virtue of the sheer gulf in class of player we would carve up a few chances.

That's not much of an answer though is it? You've slated the manager and I've pointed out that we missed 3 simple chances which should have won us the game.

[Sheaf Saint]

10 minutes ago, saintant said:

Yet for all those negatives we limited Swansea to zero chances.

This isn't the positive you think it is. Swansea were absolutely dreadful - worst team I've seen at SMS this season (even Wrexham had some kind of attacking threat).

We have no excuses for failing to beat them today. None.

[AlexLaw76]

8 minutes ago, saintant said:

That's not much of an answer though is it? You've slated the manager and I've pointed out that we missed 3 simple chances which should have won us the game.

I have not thought much of the manager for a while. Today just confirms my belief 

[sockeye]

Postecoglou is available.

Might be a bit too mainstream for SR nowadays though.

[RedArmy]

6 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

This isn't the positive you think it is. Swansea were absolutely dreadful - worst team I've seen at SMS this season (even Wrexham had some kind of attacking threat).

We have no excuses for failing to beat them today. None.

Yep. People are setting their bar far too low. 
 

Still is a fraud. 

[saintant]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I have not thought much of the manager for a while. Today just confirms my belief 

Fair enough. He's not totally convinced me but I'd like to see him given more time especially as he has no centre forward to work with thanks to the continued incompetence of SR - it would be a bit rich for them to sack him when their mistakes are a huge part of the problem

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, saintant said:

Fair enough. He's not totally convinced me but I'd like to see him given more time especially as he has no centre forward to work with thanks to the continued incompetence of SR - it would be a bit rich for them to sack him when their mistakes are a huge part of the problem

How much more time?

[LGTL]

22 minutes ago, saintant said:

Yet for all those negatives we limited Swansea to zero chances and had enough simple chances of our own to win 2 or 3 nil even without a recognised striker. So the manager must have got some things right or we'd surely have lost the game not thrown it away.

Fucking hell. Have a little bit of ambition FFS.

[aintforever]

41 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

So you want to appoint a ninth eighth manager in under 3 years?

Definitely. His appointment was a complete gamble, it would be lunacy to do nothing and just watch the season go down the shitter. If had some sort of record of success you would maybe cut him some slack but he doesn’t.

Edited 16 hours ago by aintforever

[sockeye]

11 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Postecoglou is available.

Might be a bit too mainstream for SR nowadays though.

This is not an endorsement however

At some point we have to just stick with a manager

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, sockeye said:

This is not an endorsement however

At some point we have to just stick with a manager

Yeah, when they are half decent.

[saintant]

8 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

How much more time?

Depends on progress and results. I'd certainly like to see him given a decent centre forward in early January. 

[Weston Super Saint]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

He's not the messiah...

Very true.

He's not even a competent manager.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Depends on progress and results. I'd certainly like to see him given a decent centre forward in early January. 

Indefinitely then, as far as this season is concerned at least!

[sockeye]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Yeah, when they are half decent.

I agree with you on the formation and subs btw. Just think it is futile at the moment, because the replacement will be just as bad. We either can't attract anyone decent, SR only want left-field appointments, or both.

[die Mannyschaft]

It was better today, even I was surprised but the manager should be banging on the owners door right now demanding £4m to get two strikers for the Bristol City game.

Nothing is going to fully slot in place with no goal scorer. How on earth did we get a goal keeper for £27m when we dint need one and now back in same situation for a forward and not purchased one. Or one that can score

 

[saintant]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

Indefinitely then, as far as this season is concerned at least!

You said that not me.

[die Mannyschaft]

3 minutes ago, sockeye said:

This is not an endorsement however

At some point we have to just stick with a manager

I think the club have decided to avoid relegation as priority. That's the target and see where we are next season if the players and manager work out. 

Its not urgent football just like a friendly match each week. 

I think Still is here for next season, the the clubs ambition next season will be 12th to 4th. Its progress but at the rate of a snail. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Oddly Russell Martin did alright

Are you for fuckin real? That's the most bell end comment I've read on here for a long time. The team we had with Martin was ten times better than this shower of shite, yet he still only managed to get them to 4th place.

[RedArmy]

2 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

The team we had with Martin was ten times better than this shower of shite,

Deluded. 

[aintforever]

1 minute ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Are you for fuckin real? That's the most bell end comment I've read on here for a long time. The team we had with Martin was ten times better than this shower of shite, yet he still only managed to get them to 4th place.

That’s just bullshit, Martin had Smallbone in midfield and Bazunu in goal. We won’t know the true potential of this team unless we get a real manager.

[Tommy]

Awful today, as bad as anything we saw in Juric tenure. This guy is not the one, he’s a coward playing to not concede at home

[AlexLaw76]

7 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Are you for fuckin real? That's the most bell end comment I've read on here for a long time. The team we had with Martin was ten times better than this shower of shite, yet he still only managed to get them to 4th place.

Was it? Or was it down to Martin

Edozie, Downes, Stephens, THB can’t, or barely buy a start, neither can Aribo. manning is in and out

Fraser in/out. Remind me where Smallbone is these days...Bree was not wanted, and he barely used / wanted Alcaraz

KWP, Adams and Stewart Armstrong (if not injured) would start for sure. Not having Rothwell or Mara

Edited 15 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[Lee On Solent Saint]

4 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

Deluded. 

Nope

[Gloucester Saint]

17 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

I think the club have decided to avoid relegation as priority. That's the target and see where we are next season if the players and manager work out. 

Its not urgent football just like a friendly match each week. 

I think Still is here for next season, the the clubs ambition next season will be 12th to 4th. Its progress but at the rate of a snail. 

I think you’re right Manny, a damning verdict on the owners and the fanbase don’t seem capable of opposing them. Need to get them to attend a few West Ham, Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday games to remind them of how it is done and get them out of their churchmouse state, putting some fire in their bellies. 

This season is over from a Saints perspective so focusing on Cheltenham Town and Torquay who have plenty to play for and whose players are trying for their managers.