New Manager Debate

[revolution saint]

1 hour ago, SaintLondon said:

I just don't buy this logic. Yes, he’s two from two, but the underlying numbers suggest that stronger opposition would have punished us. Even if they didn’t, it remains a gamble - and gambles should be informed by track record, not two senior games.

If the stakes are as high as suggested - i.e., we’re in a difficult financial position if we don’t go up - why would we risk the season on a coach with virtually no senior résumé? I like TE; he speaks well and carries himself impressively. But we’ve done the hopeful punt before. Rúben Sellés looked a revelation after Chelsea away and it didn’t sustain. That’s a case study we should learn from, not repeat.

There’s a better blueprint: decide early, appoint experience, and build momentum over multiple windows.

Look at Coventry City. They made the hard call on 7 November 2024, sitting 17th on 15 points, and brought in Frank Lampard.. Performances stabilised, results improved, and they used the following window to add smartly. They fell short that first season, yes but crucially they turned a bounce into a culture. This year they’ve continued the trajectory: recruitment aligned, belief embedded, and a squad that’s been living in a positive atmosphere for the best part of 18 months. That’s how you enter the Premier League with tailwinds rather than turbulence. That is what Southampton are crying out for.

Timing matters. We’re not in August; we don’t have the luxury of “a few games to see where we are.” The sensible route is to hire an experienced head coach now, keep TE in a clearly defined supporting role, and make a serious push for the play-offs while laying foundations for the summer. Give the dressing room somebody proven - systems, standards, substitutions and let TE learn under that framework rather than carry it on his back.

As for Sport Republic, history doesn’t inspire confidence. It looked like they were pushing Gary O’Neil despite the Pompey problem until the backlash made it untenable, which likely explains slience. And here we are - again - staring at a late decision with no clear plan. If they surprise us with a heavyweight (say Brendan Rodgers or Marco Rose), I’ll happily eat my words. But the fear is we end up with TE or a left-field swing like Johnny Heitinga, and we’re back in the cycle of hope, drift, and reset.

Bottom line: if promotion genuinely matters to the club’s financial health, don’t stake it on romance and short samples. Appoint experience, codify the culture, and let momentum do what it did for Coventry.

 

I think we should appoint someone who will win more games than anyone else.

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think the frustration is that if you sack someone you’d assume talks have already gone on behind the scenes (unfortunately that’s the world we live in now). 
If they sacked him with no game plan then that’s both funny and tragic because it wouldn’t be the first time SR have done this. 😂

[Verbal]

48 minutes ago, Roger said:

Absolute rubbish 

Post of the day!

Have copied and pasted for random use throughout today. So watch out Saintsweb - a devastating counter-argument to your carefully crafted paragraphs is coming for YOU. 

[Chez]

10 minutes ago, Nolan said:

Agree ,cant see Saints winning with 10+ days to prepare, compared with 2 days for each of their previous matches...

It will be interesting to see if Eckhart can implement some changes in that time. Ten days isn't a lot, especially if some players disappear on international duty (how many do we lose these days?), but it is enough time to drill a back four and/or get a shape right, get a press right, get across a little bit of what he wants players to do in certain positions. It should be ample time to analyse the opposition and have things in place to nullify what they do well.

 

[Saint86]

3 hours ago, goodymatt said:

Why sack Still if we have nobody in mind? I’m not having that Eckert has proved he is the man from those 2 games personally.

I think you'll find that we did know who was going to replace Still, and he is already in position 😄

Joke aside, its a pattern with SR, they are weak, and the second they start to receive real toxicity directed at them from the fanbase, they very quickly sack the manager - they've done this throughout. Assume its an Ankerson/Solak aspect, as Spors has been about enough to be stronger than that. That or there really was something not right in the dressing room.

Edited 13 hours ago by Saint86

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Can't wait for the official statement confirming Eckert as manager. Suspect it will be along the lines of after an extensive recruitment process the board decided on the one outstanding candidate who has proved himself to be an excellent coach with the Under 21's. As each day ticks by without any announcements, it really does seem like what is going to happen.

[sockeye]

15 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

I think you'll find that we did know who was going to replace Still, and he is already in position 😄

Joke aside, its a pattern with SR, they are weak, and the second they start to receive real toxicity directed at them from the fanbase, they very quickly sack the manager - they've done this throughout. Assume its an Ankerson/Solak aspect, as Spors has been about enough to be stronger than that. That or there really was something not right in the dressing room.

I don’t think it’s mutually exclusive. Still had flaws but I feel the players didn’t like him on a personal level and began downing tools.

Funny that Still went as soon as the SR out chants began from the fans.

[Dusic]

20 minutes ago, Chez said:

It will be interesting to see if Eckhart can implement some changes in that time. Ten days isn't a lot, especially if some players disappear on international duty (how many do we lose these days?), but it is enough time to drill a back four and/or get a shape right, get a press right, get across a little bit of what he wants players to do in certain positions. It should be ample time to analyse the opposition and have things in place to nullify what they do well.

 

He certainly implemented some tweaks to the positioning of the wide CBs and central midfielders which made us s lot more effective in possession on Saturday than we have been all season, and seemed to more regularly find Scienza in good areas.

I doubt he will switch to a back four for that reason plus the fact he has played 3 CBs in the U21s all season and we haven't really found a good solution at RB yet. I also wonder if Roerslev did some damage to his knee as that was a heavy collision.

Remember Jones having 6 weeks and having no clear style and Poch having two days and the pressing shapes being very obvious so good coaches don't need long to embed their ideas. Was never clear what Still was trying to do really and he had a full pre season.

[Appy]

Swansea manager has gone now too, four sides all looking for managers. 

[AlexLaw76]

2 hours ago, SaintLondon said:

I just don't buy this logic. Yes, he’s two from two, but the underlying numbers suggest that stronger opposition would have punished us. Even if they didn’t, it remains a gamble - and gambles should be informed by track record, not two senior games.

If the stakes are as high as suggested - i.e., we’re in a difficult financial position if we don’t go up - why would we risk the season on a coach with virtually no senior résumé? I like TE; he speaks well and carries himself impressively. But we’ve done the hopeful punt before. Rúben Sellés looked a revelation after Chelsea away and it didn’t sustain. That’s a case study we should learn from, not repeat.

There’s a better blueprint: decide early, appoint experience, and build momentum over multiple windows.

Look at Coventry City. They made the hard call on 7 November 2024, sitting 17th on 15 points, and brought in Frank Lampard.. Performances stabilised, results improved, and they used the following window to add smartly. They fell short that first season, yes but crucially they turned a bounce into a culture. This year they’ve continued the trajectory: recruitment aligned, belief embedded, and a squad that’s been living in a positive atmosphere for the best part of 18 months. That’s how you enter the Premier League with tailwinds rather than turbulence. That is what Southampton are crying out for.

Timing matters. We’re not in August; we don’t have the luxury of “a few games to see where we are.” The sensible route is to hire an experienced head coach now, keep TE in a clearly defined supporting role, and make a serious push for the play-offs while laying foundations for the summer. Give the dressing room somebody proven - systems, standards, substitutions and let TE learn under that framework rather than carry it on his back.

As for Sport Republic, history doesn’t inspire confidence. It looked like they were pushing Gary O’Neil despite the Pompey problem until the backlash made it untenable, which likely explains slience. And here we are - again - staring at a late decision with no clear plan. If they surprise us with a heavyweight (say Brendan Rodgers or Marco Rose), I’ll happily eat my words. But the fear is we end up with TE or a left-field swing like Johnny Heitinga, and we’re back in the cycle of hope, drift, and reset.

Bottom line: if promotion genuinely matters to the club’s financial health, don’t stake it on romance and short samples. Appoint experience, codify the culture, and let momentum do what it did for Coventry.

 

Bravo. Brilliantly put

 

[tdmickey3]

2 minutes ago, Appy said:

Swansea manager has gone now too, four sides all looking for managers. 

They will appoint someone before us i expect

[Dirkdiggler]

1 hour ago, Doctoroncall said:

May as well let the players decide what they have to do for each match if the coach has no or little influence.  it would save the effort and money of hiring and firing a manager/first team coach!

Cannot see Saints winning at Charlton based on the last two games and the way Charlton have been playing. Charlton are ninth and Saints haven’t beaten anyone in the top half of the table. 

This is what happened under Lawrie! I worked with Dave Peach’s son and he said the senior players took training and decided tactics etc during his time. 

[Toussaint]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Some of the senior players need to take a good long look at themselves for the shabby way they treated Will Still. There was an evident lack of giving 100% and the captain Adam Armstrong even admitted the fact. If they'd put 100% in and carried out his instructions I believe we'd have got the same 6 points against a poor QPR away and an even worse Sheff Wed at home. He didn't get a fair crack of the whip because some of the big billy bollocks players thought he was beneath them.

I don't disagree with you, what I said and what you said aren't mutually exclusive. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

15 minutes ago, Appy said:

Swansea manager has gone now too, four sides all looking for managers. 

That's three clubs with Russell Martin connections looking for a new manager.

[Paul Chuckle]

6 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

That's three clubs with Russell Martin connections looking for a new manager.

Almost a 4th if Peterborough hadn't appointed a new manager a couple of weeks ago.

[lambtiss]

2 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

That's three clubs with Russell Martin connections looking for a new manager.

He's the football equivalent of Kryptonite 

Edited 9 hours ago by lambtiss

[beatlesaint]

16 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

That's three clubs with Russell Martin connections looking for a new manager.

Yeah and he wont end up at any of them !

At least Norwich have been spared his fuckability levels of coaching !

Edited 12 hours ago by beatlesaint

[Willo of Whiteley]

30 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

He's the football equivalent of cancer

Bit far that. Very unnecessary.

[Badger]

40 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

He's the football equivalent of cancer

Bloody ridiculous comment, and quite insensitive.

I’m not a fan of the bloke by any means, but that’s a stretch too far.

[Doctoroncall]

1 hour ago, Nolan said:

Agree ,cant see Saints winning with 10+ days to prepare, compared with 2 days for each of their previous matches...

Charlton have the same number of days to prepare, have a Manager in place that has got his team beating other teams with better players than themselves so don’t get your point. Also Jones has a personal motivation to beat us.  Odds are with them for a win considering the current state of the two teams. 
 

If Saints can win, showing some intent, then fair play on the coach and players. It’ll be something different to what has happened so far in the season. 

[Doctoroncall]

1 hour ago, Dirkdiggler said:

This is what happened under Lawrie! I worked with Dave Peach’s son and he said the senior players took training and decided tactics etc during his time. 

Well, teams are in the retro phase what with most going with a big centre forward these days. 4-4-2 will be back at some point. 

[OldNick]

3 hours ago, SaintLondon said:

I just don't buy this logic. Yes, he’s two from two, but the underlying numbers suggest that stronger opposition would have punished us. Even if they didn’t, it remains a gamble - and gambles should be informed by track record, not two senior games.

If the stakes are as high as suggested - i.e., we’re in a difficult financial position if we don’t go up - why would we risk the season on a coach with virtually no senior résumé? I like TE; he speaks well and carries himself impressively. But we’ve done the hopeful punt before. Rúben Sellés looked a revelation after Chelsea away and it didn’t sustain. That’s a case study we should learn from, not repeat.

There’s a better blueprint: decide early, appoint experience, and build momentum over multiple windows.

Look at Coventry City. They made the hard call on 7 November 2024, sitting 17th on 15 points, and brought in Frank Lampard.. Performances stabilised, results improved, and they used the following window to add smartly. They fell short that first season, yes but crucially they turned a bounce into a culture. This year they’ve continued the trajectory: recruitment aligned, belief embedded, and a squad that’s been living in a positive atmosphere for the best part of 18 months. That’s how you enter the Premier League with tailwinds rather than turbulence. That is what Southampton are crying out for.

Timing matters. We’re not in August; we don’t have the luxury of “a few games to see where we are.” The sensible route is to hire an experienced head coach now, keep TE in a clearly defined supporting role, and make a serious push for the play-offs while laying foundations for the summer. Give the dressing room somebody proven - systems, standards, substitutions and let TE learn under that framework rather than carry it on his back.

As for Sport Republic, history doesn’t inspire confidence. It looked like they were pushing Gary O’Neil despite the Pompey problem until the backlash made it untenable, which likely explains slience. And here we are - again - staring at a late decision with no clear plan. If they surprise us with a heavyweight (say Brendan Rodgers or Marco Rose), I’ll happily eat my words. But the fear is we end up with TE or a left-field swing like Johnny Heitinga, and we’re back in the cycle of hope, drift, and reset.

Bottom line: if promotion genuinely matters to the club’s financial health, don’t stake it on romance and short samples. Appoint experience, codify the culture, and let momentum do what it did for Coventry.

 

I dont know why people are getting upset with my post, rushing out to get someone who may not be right just to get someone is a madness the club has done before. I would like to get a new man in but as I put, the gene pool is pretty poor. 

Who really inspires in the list we see? If it was true (I doubt) that they were going for O'Neill it doesnt give me any confidence they will get anybody decent. I also have litle faith in Eckhart as he took the gamble of Baz ( that nearly cost us dearly) and throwing kids on at important times in a game. So we in a rock or hardplace situation.

Leaving Eckhart for 2 more games is hardly a massive risk and if he happened to get 2 more favourable results whats the problem, no new manager is likely to do much better unless it is somebody really inspiring.

As for the financial situation, we will be in the mire whoever as we are not going to make the top 2 unless we have a miracle and I dont trust us to get through the playoffs unless we do make a couple of good transfers. 

[Appy]

3 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I dont know why people are getting upset with my post, rushing out to get someone who may not be right just to get someone is a madness the club has done before. I would like to get a new man in but as I put, the gene pool is pretty poor. 

Who really inspires in the list we see? If it was true (I doubt) that they were going for O'Neill it doesnt give me any confidence they will get anybody decent. I also have litle faith in Eckhart as he took the gamble of Baz ( that nearly cost us dearly) and throwing kids on at important times in a game. So we in a rock or hardplace situation.

Leaving Eckhart for 2 more games is hardly a massive risk and if he happened to get 2 more favourable results whats the problem, no new manager is likely to do much better unless it is somebody really inspiring.

As for the financial situation, we will be in the mire whoever as we are not going to make the top 2 unless we have a miracle and I dont trust us to get through the playoffs unless we do make a couple of good transfers. 

So if we leave him him for 2 more games, he loses to Charlton and Leicester, then we have 2-3 days until Millwall, what then? 

[wild-saint]

On 03/11/2025 at 11:02, disconnect said:

Think about their key strengths - Downs is known to want to play on the shoulder and run in behind - we've seen him score a good goal like this in pre-season, and from last season. Azaz is good at getting on the ball and slotting it through the defence for strikers - he's done this a few times for Armstrong who's fluffed it, but it is probably Downs who wants that sort of service and we haven't actually seen these two guys really play much together to utilise their talents.

 

On 04/11/2025 at 15:50, Zorba said:

He should slot right in then ‘cos I haven’t seen our lot play since May either.

 

2 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Bravo. Brilliantly put

 

If we had bought  Frank Lampard in over the summer i suspect most would have had fucking heart attacks. same goes with mark robins.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, wild-saint said:

 

 

If we had bought  Frank Lampard in over the summer i suspect most would have had fucking heart attacks. same goes with mark robins.

So what?

[Farmer Saint]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

So what?

#wanklampard

[Zorba]

4 minutes ago, wild-saint said:

 

 

If we had bought  Frank Lampard in over the summer i suspect most would have had fucking heart attacks. same goes with mark robins.

Why quote me? What has my post got to do with FFL?

[franniesTache]

20 hours ago, benjii said:

Theolonius Monkou is a brilliant name.

Only posts round midnight though

[Weston Super Saint]

5 hours ago, Miltonaggro said:

This is bollocks, nothing to do with Zidane. The two lads from ZZ Top live in Romsey. 

Well, one of them anyway.  The other has been dead since 2021.  RIP.

[Saint86]

16 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

wanklampard

Rather you than me...

[OldNick]

1 hour ago, Appy said:

So if we leave him him for 2 more games, he loses to Charlton and Leicester, then we have 2-3 days until Millwall, what then? 

Lets panic and get anybody

[disconnect]

20 minutes ago, Zorba said:

Why quote me? What has my post got to do with FFL?

Mine is also nothing to do with Lampard but nevermind! 🤣

[Appy]

5 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Lets panic and get anybody

That’s what we’ll be doing if we go with your option of sitting on our hands and leaving it to Tonda. 

[Hopper]

Just now, Appy said:

That’s what we’ll be doing if we go with your option of sitting on our hands and leaving it to Tonda. 

In what world? They are already interviewing and we have a two week break.

[Appy]

4 minutes ago, Hopper said:

In what world? They are already interviewing and we have a two week break.

He wants it left to Tonda for two more games, if we’re interviewing, great, get a move on and appoint a proper manager. 

[OldNick]

6 minutes ago, Appy said:

He wants it left to Tonda for two more games, if we’re interviewing, great, get a move on and appoint a proper manager. 

Im not keen to leave it to him, but as yet I have not seen many decent options. 

[lambtiss]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Bit far that. Very unnecessary.

It wasn't meant to be cruel. But, I can see your point so I've edited it to Kryptonite. The point I was trying to make, inelegantly perhaps, was that RM seems to have a wrecking ball effect, wherever he goes.

[Farmer Saint]

34 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Well, one of them anyway.  The other has been dead since 2021.  RIP.

Don't forget about Frank Beard...the only member that didn't have a beard.

[Farmer Saint]

5 hours ago, Miltonaggro said:

This is bollocks, nothing to do with Zidane. The two lads from ZZ Top live in Romsey. 

I feel that this story has definitely got Legs.

[saintant]

2 hours ago, Appy said:

Swansea manager has gone now too, four sides all looking for managers. 

3 of Russboy's ex teams all looking for a new manager 🙂 He's spoilt for choice.

[lambtiss]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

Bloody ridiculous comment, and quite insensitive.

I’m not a fan of the bloke by any means, but that’s a stretch too far.

It wasn't meant to be cruel. But, I can see your point so I've edited it to Kryptonite. The point I was trying to make, inelegantly perhaps, was that RM seems to have a wrecking ball effect, wherever he goes

[Hopper]

18 minutes ago, Appy said:

He wants it left to Tonda for two more games, if we’re interviewing, great, get a move on and appoint a proper manager. 

It's not like him being in for a couple more games is going to kill our season dead. If waiting means we get the right man then it's well worth it.

For what it's worth I fully believe they will have someone in place by then.

[Jack]

4 hours ago, Dusic said:

Any perceived delay has made no difference so far as we picked up maximum points since Still left.

Personally don't think we have any more liklihood of beating Charlton with a new manager than with Eckert still in charge - we should have a good chance of another 3 pts.

Overall we have wasted so much money hiring and firing coaches and they absolutely have to get this one right so no issues here over them taking time to get the right person, especially when so far we have won both games.

QPR was hard fought in the end after Bazunu's mistake but we held on and against SW in possession it was the best we have played this season and a few players had their best games of the season.

Eckert was assistant manager in the Champ under Struber when Barnsley did well and so knows whats needed in this league. On evidence so far he seems a safe pair of hands until the best candidate becomes available/clear and he has an obvious motivation to keep us winning...

Disagree with this, I think it’s imperative that we find a new permanent manager ASAP before the fixture congestion from the end of the month. I don’t think we’re just as likely to beat Charlton with Eckhert. He’s doubled down on implementing Will Still’s flawed approach, and made things even more difficult by throwing Baz back in, and has been very fortunate to come away with 2 wins. 
 

Saying the Sheff Wednesday game is as good as we’ve been is just as useful as Still saying how good our xG was against Swansea. We’re lucky we came up against the worst team in the league, you can’t really credit Eckhert for 2 of the league’s best players in Fellows and Azaz having decent games? If anything it just highlights how poorly they’ve been utilised up until this point, played out of position or not at all. IMO we need someone to come in and get our best players in their obvious positions as soon as possible, a win against Charlton feels far more likely in that scenario than just carrying on with what hasn’t been working all season. 

[tdmickey3]

12 minutes ago, Hopper said:

It's not like him being in for a couple more games is going to kill our season dead. If waiting means we get the right man then it's well worth it.

For what it's worth I fully believe they will have someone in place by then.

I hope your optimism comes to fruition

[saintant]

I'll be interested to see whether SR choose a new manager who hates playing 3 centre backs as much as most of our fans do. I suspect they'll appoint someone to carry on this nonsense rather than a coach who will insist on a flat back four.

[Toadhall Saint]

11 minutes ago, saintant said:

I'll be interested to see whether SR choose a new manager who hates playing 3 centre backs as much as most of our fans do. I suspect they'll appoint someone to carry on this nonsense rather than a coach who will insist on a flat back four.

I want to see a manager that is adaptable and is not wedded to one shape.

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

I want to see a manager that is adaptable and is not wedded to one shape.

Sir, look no further. This man is adaptable and not fixated on formations

 

[Toadhall Saint]

9 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Sir, look no further. This man is adaptable and not fixated on formations

 

Funny how he was tho.

[SteveBish]

So Atalanta have sacked Juric today and already announced a new head coach as well

[sadoldgit]

29 minutes ago, saintant said:

I'll be interested to see whether SR choose a new manager who hates playing 3 centre backs as much as most of our fans do. I suspect they'll appoint someone to carry on this nonsense rather than a coach who will insist on a flat back four.

I seem to remember many on here crying out to play a back 3 when we couldn’t buy a win.

The problem isn’t systems per se, it is the quality of the players that you have playing the systems and how well the team adapts to them.