New Manager Debate

[hypochondriac]

9 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Do you think he would not try his best because he played for Pompey?

I don’t.  He’s a professional not a fucking pub league player.

That's irrelevant and not the point I was making 

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Exactly. 
 

I’d bet my life he will try harder and put more effort in than half the fucking wankers we’ve been “supporting” the past year. 
 

 

Not exactly a high bar

[aintforever]

I’m not bothered by the Skate connection but it is obviously not ideal, fact is some of the fan base are so it won’t give him much of a honeymoon period.

[egg]

2 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

I reject him because he's a shit manager who plays shitter football. RM is a far better Manager with far more exciting and expansive football, and I don't want him back.

The pool of experienced and available managers isn't big. I'd take O'Neill over Carrick, or this Eckert lad. I wouldn't have RM back in a month of Tuesdays. 

[LGTL]

11 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

He said “great day on the south coast”. He played in that game and for them it was a memorable day, as it would’ve been for us if roles were reversed,  what he said there is hardly a huge insult or disrespectful to saints fans is it? If he’d said “always a great day to smash the scummers” or something similar that mocks us personally,  I’d agree a bit more.

 

Well I guess it’s all academic anyway as you assured us this morning that he’s definitely not coming here right? 

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think hiring Gary O’Neill is a massive f*** you to the fans.

Yes, he’s done nothing wrong towards Saints, and no I’m not that bothered; but it’s just wrong. He will have no honeymoon period if he becomes or new manager, and it’ll divide the fans further and divide the fans and the owners more than it currently is.

[Badger]

I think the skate connection can be overcome but there will be a fair bit of resentment towards him.

There have been some fairly dramatic switches of allegiance that have been overcome in the past ( although times and attitudes were different):

Sir Matt Busby played for Liverpool and Man City before managing Man Utd. 
Bob Stokoe played over 200games for Newcastle and later managed Sunderland. 
Toshak born and bred in Cardiff, managed Swansea 
Steve Bruce ?? 
 

Putting his skate links aside, it isn’t an appointment to get excited about. 

Edited 8 hours ago by Badger

[Miltonaggro]

I get that it’s Hobson’s choice for us to a large extent, but it does seem odd if this idiot board has settled on GO’N as the man to provide the feel good factor. They really are in the last chance saloon with a majority of the fanbase, and edgy would seem a bizarre choice. For what it’s worth, as per Jones (with Dyche) and Martin they tend to interview various candidates rather than simply install, so i would imagine the final reveal will catch us by surprise. The fun never ends…

[Mboto Gorge]

10 minutes ago, LGTL said:

Well I guess it’s all academic anyway as you assured us this morning that he’s definitely not coming here right? 

Yep, he won’t be. 

[benali-shorts]

26 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

I reject him because he's a shit manager who plays shitter football. RM is a far better Manager with far more exciting and expansive football, and I don't want him back.

He may be a bit shit. Everyone linked seems a bit shit to a greater or lesser degree. 
RM - too much water under that bridge, and I don’t suppose his experience in the PL or at Rangers will have helped him much, either in his own head or of those who would play under him. He’s more likely to surface at Norwich, imo. 

[LGTL]

13 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Yep, he won’t be. 

Good. Now is not the time to be fracturing the fanbase any further. 

[qwertyell]

15 hours ago, qwertyell said:

At least it might prove mildly entertaining watching all the people twisting on here trying to convince themselves that a negative, slow possession, philosophy first manager who plays 3 at the back and can't defend (and is also ex-Pompey) is fine now, having spent months apoplectically railing against such a thing. 

Thought it might take a bit longer than 24 hours for sentiment to shift in his favour. Obviously not.

Maybe this time tomorrow we'll have gaslit ourselves into thinking we're incredibly lucky that the great Gary O'Neil has deigned to slum it with us bottom dwellers instead of hold out for something more befitting a manager of his exalted status.

Perhaps we can become known in media circles as Gary O'Neil's Southampton. It's got a ring to it. 

We accept so little so readily. This is why we can't have nice things. 

[Wade Garrett]

38 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

That's irrelevant and not the point I was making 

It fucking is.  It’s like your insinuating he would wreck us because he once played for Pompey.

[sockeye]

5 hours ago, trousers said:

Fair play some can look past it but having someone with this visible of a connection as manager is just humiliating to me

[skintsaint]

2 hours ago, Badger said:

I'd be happier with that as a short term option  than lumbering us with some twat for 3 years. 

To be honest all our recent appointments have been short term options...

[Farmer Saint]

48 minutes ago, egg said:

The pool of experienced and available managers isn't big. I'd take O'Neill over Carrick, or this Eckert lad. I wouldn't have RM back in a month of Tuesdays. 

I'd prefer Carrick to tbh. I put O'Neil at Gerrard's level, like a Poyet - a former footballer who should never have got a job.

[Wade Garrett]

6 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

I'd prefer Carrick to tbh. I put O'Neil at Gerrard's level, like a Poyet - a former footballer who should never have got a job.

I like Carrick.  Think he’d do well.

[sandwichsaint]

Haven’t we all missed someone? Tim Sherwood currently chatting Schitt on Sky. Meanwhile, in a parallel universe a second division German side is casting around for a bloke with a waistcoat and white trainers. Funny old world.

[James G]

6 hours ago, saintant said:

Ok but I thought Will Still was going to be flexible but he stuck rigidly to 3 centre backs, Eckert does it for the 21s and did so against QPR. It's almost as though it's being led from someone higher up than the manager.

It needs to be two at the back. Hopefully whoever is manager changes it

[hypochondriac]

39 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

It fucking is.  It’s like your insinuating he would wreck us because he once played for Pompey.

I never insinuated or said that. I said his signing would be divisive and that some people would have a problem with it. I also said I think there were better candidates who would be more unifying.

Edited 7 hours ago by hypochondriac

[saints-til-i-die]

People need to park their own views and think about how the fan base as a whole will react. This will unquestionably cause division. We don’t need that. They are supposed to have all this data on managers etc across the world. If they land on GON it’s a)lazy and b) an insult

[SW11_Saint]

3 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

There's a difference between signing a former Pompey player who played one season for them to signing a youth product who played for them for 7 years and is considered a legend by their fans. 

Go to Fratton Park and lose and the entire home end will be chanting his name. 

Fuck that prick, I don't want him anywhere near the club.

What if we go there and win? 

[hypochondriac]

13 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

I like Carrick.  Think he’d do well.

Agreed. I wouldn't be upset if he got the job.

[supertadic21]

GON was at Staplewood today interviewing (and a few others have been in recent days). He is extremely keen on the job and impressed the club with a very thorough presentation, but the board (Solak especially) are concerned about backlash and division for supporters after today’s leaked story so quite possible it won’t go any further.

[egg]

23 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

I like Carrick.  Think he’d do well.

He would be a safe pick, and I think our board would like his possession game. Personally I'd prefer O'Neill's aggressive/pressing style. 

[Wade Garrett]

Just now, egg said:

He would be a safe pick, and I think our board would like his possession game. Personally I'd prefer O'Neill's aggressive/pressing style. 

Yep, I think he’d be better.  

[Pat from Poole]

4 minutes ago, supertadic21 said:

GON was at Staplewood today interviewing (and a few others have been in recent days). He is extremely keen on the job and impressed the club with a very thorough presentation, but the board (Solak especially) are concerned about backlash and division for supporters after today’s leaked story so quite possible it won’t go any further.

How do you know this?

[Mboto Gorge]

7 minutes ago, supertadic21 said:

GON was at Staplewood today interviewing (and a few others have been in recent days). He is extremely keen on the job and impressed the club with a very thorough presentation, but the board (Solak especially) are concerned about backlash and division for supporters after today’s leaked story so quite possible it won’t go any further.

This is exactly what I’ve been told too, GON has told people that he doesn’t expect to get offered the job and has basically ruled it out.

Edited 6 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, Pat from Poole said:

How do you know this?

His previous posts would suggest he's a bonefide 'ITK'

[trousers]

16 minutes ago, supertadic21 said:

GON was at Staplewood today interviewing (and a few others have been in recent days). He is extremely keen on the job and impressed the club with a very thorough presentation, but the board (Solak especially) are concerned about backlash and division for supporters after today’s leaked story so quite possible it won’t go any further.

Cheers for the insight. Appreciated 👍🏻 

Out of interested, have any of the "few others" flown under the radar, i.e. not been mentioned yet on here on in the media?

Edited 6 hours ago by trousers

[trousers]

17 minutes ago, supertadic21 said:

GON was at Staplewood today interviewing

P.s. could explain why the players were training at SMS, and also the pre-match press conference was there... Easier to keep things under wraps...

Edited 6 hours ago by trousers

[Wade Garrett]

21 minutes ago, supertadic21 said:

GON was at Staplewood today interviewing (and a few others have been in recent days). He is extremely keen on the job and impressed the club with a very thorough presentation, but the board (Solak especially) are concerned about backlash and division for supporters after today’s leaked story so quite possible it won’t go any further.

Anyone else in the running?

[Forester]

36 minutes ago, saints-til-i-die said:

People need to park their own views and think about how the fan base as a whole will react. This will unquestionably cause division. We don’t need that. They are supposed to have all this data on managers etc across the world. If they land on GON it’s a)lazy and b) an insult

Quite frankly the views of fans about SR are at rock bottom.  And there isn’t going to be a ready made popular genius turn up.  So I do genuinely get your point, and it’s a shame that some fans will feel it’s a slap in the face, but if SR genuinely believe he is right man for the job they should appoint him.

Fans are fickle and a few wins in the noise will go.

[leeham_69]

I’m not excited by Gaz in any way but I don’t need to be excited at this point, I just need normality. A manager who can organise a defence and set and expect high professional standards, and not try to do anything weird. We have good enough players to beat teams without an amazing tactical and philosophical master plan. We just need more discipline in defence and a lot more intent in attack. At least he has experience and isn’t a wildcard. Same could be said of Carrick I guess, neither thrill me, but we just need decent standards for a rebuild right now.

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

43 minutes ago, saints-til-i-die said:

People need to park their own views and think about how the fan base as a whole will react. This will unquestionably cause division. We don’t need that. They are supposed to have all this data on managers etc across the world. If they land on GON it’s a)lazy and b) an insult

It might well be lazy but how on earth is it an insult

[Roger]

Any ideas on who else is in frame? 

[Hawkswood]

Just IMO, Ive always found Carrick very uninspiring as a manager. Hasn't really ever achieved anything and has never really even taken the championship by storm. A good run here and there but really nothing to shout out about. I think he's living off of his reputation as a player tbh. I'd prefer GON, but realistically if that's going to piss off half the fan base then that's a risky way to start off.

[supertadic21]

3 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Anyone else in the running?

I’ll only ever share here what I know with certainty which is that Spors interviewed at least four different candidates this week, including GON. No other names have reached me but it is clearly far from a foregone conclusion at this stage. Obviously Eckert is also highly thought of but the club are keen to avoid a repeat of Selles. He and Spors are ‘extremely close’ though.

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

I'd prefer Carrick to tbh. I put O'Neil at Gerrard's level, like a Poyet - a former footballer who should never have got a job.

Surely this describes Carrick too

[saintant]

7 minutes ago, Forester said:

Quite frankly the views of fans about SR are at rock bottom.  And there isn’t going to be a ready made popular genius turn up.  So I do genuinely get your point, and it’s a shame that some fans will feel it’s a slap in the face, but if SR genuinely believe he is right man for the job they should appoint him.

Fans are fickle and a few wins in the noise will go.

Steer well clear if this is what they think.

[hypochondriac]

32 minutes ago, supertadic21 said:

GON was at Staplewood today interviewing (and a few others have been in recent days). He is extremely keen on the job and impressed the club with a very thorough presentation, but the board (Solak especially) are concerned about backlash and division for supporters after today’s leaked story so quite possible it won’t go any further.

Great news. Keep it up lads.

[hypochondriac]

5 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

Just IMO, Ive always found Carrick very uninspiring as a manager. Hasn't really ever achieved anything and has never really even taken the championship by storm. A good run here and there but really nothing to shout out about. I think he's living off of his reputation as a player tbh. I'd prefer GON, but realistically if that's going to piss off half the fan base then that's a risky way to start off.

In what way has O'Neil been inspiring?

[Badger]

3 minutes ago, supertadic21 said:

I’ll only ever share here what I know with certainty which is that Spors interviewed at least four different candidates this week, including GON. No other names have reached me but it is clearly far from a foregone conclusion at this stage. Obviously Eckert is also highly thought of but the club are keen to avoid a repeat of Selles. He and Spors are ‘extremely close’ though.

If Spors has Eckert’s  best interest in mind then he won’t be burdened with the job. It’s early in his career and could destroy his confidence and career if it goes wrong. 

[Mboto Gorge]

The other piece of info I’ve heard, is that despite what Spors has said to a fans rep about not intending to give the job to Eckert, he is apparently very keen on doing just that. Whether the other board members are as keen, is another debate

Edited 6 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[Lallana's Left Peg]

It doesn't bother me in the slightest that GON played for Portsmouth.

It does bother me that there is evidence in the public domain that he clearly is very happy to be part of Portsmouth teams that beat Saints and takes great delight in it.

The fans would hate him and anyone comes in has a huge job on their hands and doesn't need the handicap of that stink over them.

There also isn't any evidence that he is the right man for us either.

[macca155]

If it wasn't for his links to Pompey, O'Neil would be a very short priced favourite. He was stupid to make those comments a few years back. Saints are an ideal project for him to develop his managerial skills, but he has made life hard for himself.

I've no issue with his past, he's probably as good as we'll get at the moment. Annoys the life out of me that SR let decent candidates like Robins and Lampard, slip by when they had the chance.

Problem for O'Neil is that he won't have any sort of leeway with a sizeable section of our supporter base. SR simply cannot afford another quick sacking. Whoever they appoint has to be given time.

Carrick is a fit but I don't like his style of football, and his record is hardly inspiring.

Prepare to be underwhelmed.

[Maggie May]

What more to fans expect? G’ON has done a decent job in the Premier League. I doubt we will get anyone else with the experience or the calibre. The last time a board bowed to fan pressure, we got Luggy, and what a disaster that was.  

[Roger]

Just now, Maggie May said:

What more to fans expect? G’ON has done a decent job in the Premier League. I doubt we will get anyone else with the experience or the calibre. The last time a board bowed to fan pressure, we got Luggy, and what a disaster that was.  

Won 5 lost 6 hardly a disaster. They’ve just said it won’t be o Neill 

[bugenhagen]

I can't get excited about this. Whoever they pick will not be the best man for the job. It will end in fiasco about the same time the January transfer window closes. They will pick the wrong man for the job. Picking a skate will only make it worse...

[Wade Garrett]

7 minutes ago, Roger said:

Won 5 lost 6 hardly a disaster. They’ve just said it won’t be o Neill 

Have they?