New Manager Debate

[Holmes_and_Watson]

12 hours ago, Saint NL said:

 

All aboard.

We all reluctantly moved onto stage 7, Acceptance.

The boredom of the international break allowed us to speed through stages 4, 5 and 6.

Can't wait for Saturday and seeing how Tondas Saints get on.

That's one thing about SR. You're in acceptance stage 7, thinking it can't get worse now. And then they make their next decision, and it's right back to stage 1.

[danjosaint]

1 hour ago, Dusic said:

From what I've heard I wouldn't discount David O'Leary being involved in the new setup.

Had a couple of interesting PMs from @davefizzy14 on it.

Is he bringing Rio, Woodgate, and Viduka with him 

[Gloucester Saint]

20 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

It’s more likely Dermot.

Or the one at Ryanair buying Dragan out as he can’t afford Man City https://www.irishpost.com/news/ryanair-ceo-michael-olearys-job-ad-rules-out-fans-of-rival-teams-300820

[skintsaint]

3 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Or the one at Ryanair buying Dragan out as he can’t afford Man City https://www.irishpost.com/news/ryanair-ceo-michael-olearys-job-ad-rules-out-fans-of-rival-teams-300820

Will have to pay to go for a piss at half time if that happens.

[Starksj1995]

2 hours ago, Dusic said:

From what I've heard I wouldn't discount David O'Leary being involved in the new setup.

Had a couple of interesting PMs from @davefizzy14 on it.

What at Southampton 

[Starksj1995]

2 hours ago, Nolan said:

I believe the young lady of the Fan Advisory Board said Spots said "our interim manager is purely interim".

That was a statement of fact at the time as he doesn't have a contract to be manager of the first team.

It doesn't preclude that interim manager being offered a full time contract at any point after that. 

Was said at their quarterly meeting about how things are that spors said he’s only here interm sound like they waiting for the right fit etc 

[Mboto Gorge]

15 hours ago, CB Fry said:

Personally I truly believe that Tonda Eckert has the capabilities, belief and ability to take the job on full time and drive the super Saints to play off success and ultimately on to the Premier League.

As a fan base we all need to get behind this guy 100%. All the fans have spoken to agree with me.

Come on you Southampton 

 

#ad

You forgot to say you’re a long time lurker and have just decided to sign up to post this. 

[Yorkshire Saint]

11 hours ago, Dusic said:

From what I've heard I wouldn't discount David O'Leary being involved in the new setup.

Had a couple of interesting PMs from @davefizzy14 on it.

I think Dave has had to much Fizz....

Can share some stories on O'Leary from his time at Leeds if we get that far. Nice bloke, easily distracted ...  There is a reason he hasn't been in the game a long time. 

[saintant]

25 minutes ago, Yorkshire Saint said:

I think Dave has had to much Fizz....

Can share some stories on O'Leary from his time at Leeds if we get that far. Nice bloke, easily distracted ...  There is a reason he hasn't been in the game a long time. 

Sounds like the perfect type of 'expert' Sport Republic would approach for advice and guidance with a major decision.

[Dusic]

11 hours ago, saintant said:

Are you able to enlarge on this. David O'Leary (good player that he was) is not even a name you hear mentioned in football circles these days.

Would love to because I know quite a bit about this one but ita not my info to share out of respect for Fizz.

Pretty sure Crook will start bleating about it today though.

[Behind Enemy Lines]

10 hours ago, skintsaint said:

Will have to pay to go for a piss at half time if that happens.

Lots more standing areas available though! 

[capitalsaint]

1 hour ago, Yorkshire Saint said:

I think Dave has had to much Fizz....

Can share some stories on O'Leary from his time at Leeds if we get that far. Nice bloke, easily distracted ...  There is a reason he hasn't been in the game a long time. 

Oh go on, share anyway. We've got naff all else to talk about.

[lambtiss]

13 hours ago, Dusic said:

From what I've heard I wouldn't discount David O'Leary being involved in the new setup.

Had a couple of interesting PMs from @davefizzy14 on it.

Knowing the prowess of SR it's probably Dermot O'Leary they're talking too.

[Butthole_Surfer]

They'll probably wait until the end of tonight's World Cup qualifiers… any good managers that could be poached besides Austria's Ralf Rangnick?

[skintsaint]

4 minutes ago, Butthole_Surfer said:

They'll probably wait until the end of tonight's World Cup qualifiers… any good managers that could be poached besides Austria's Ralf Rangnick?

This is the game they are waiting for :

Edited 4 hours ago by skintsaint

[Dman]

9 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

This is the game they are waiting for :

I hope so.

I've always thought after the failure of appointing a risky, young, manager with limited experience, to go out and appoint another young manager with less experience than the first is exactly what we need. 

He might be the next Mckenna and everyone within SR can pat themselves on the back and dine off it for years to come. 

Edited 4 hours ago by Dman

[hypochondriac]

6 minutes ago, Dman said:

I hope so.

I've always thought after the failure of appointing a risky, young, manager with limited experience, to go out and appoint another young manager with less experience than the first is exactly what we need. 

He might be the next Mckenna and everyone within SR can pat themselves on the back and dine off it for years to come. 

You make a good point. Eventually one of Sports Republic's risky gambles is going to pay off and they will be able to live off it forever. I reckon at least another three or four risky gambles before that happens though. 

Edited 4 hours ago by hypochondriac

[SaintLondon]

11 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

This is the game they are waiting for :

This a hunch based on the murmurs last time or you've heard something? It would be classic SR to be putting the fate of the club in the hands of either Tonda Eckart or Eric Ramsey based on a failed experiment with Will Still. 
 

What annoys me is that the likes of Spors are getting linked with clubs such as Juventus, they don't mind taking the risks and making a mess because they know they can wash their hands of it and walk away. We're the ones that are left to deal with the mess they've made with no way of cleaning it up. 

Any clubs with decent ambitions in the Championship can use us as the case study on what not to do. 

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, SaintLondon said:

This a hunch based on the murmurs last time or you've heard something? It would be classic SR to be putting the fate of the club in the hands of either Tonda Eckart or Eric Ramsey based on a failed experiment with Will Still. 
 

What annoys me is that the likes of Spors are getting linked with clubs such as Juventus, they don't mind taking the risks and making a mess because they know they can wash their hands of it and walk away. We're the ones that are left to deal with the mess they've made with no way of cleaning it up. 

Any clubs with decent ambitions in the Championship can use us as the case study on what not to do. 

Hunch.

[Dman]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

You make a good point. Eventually one of Sports Republic's risky gambles is going to pay off and they will be able to live off it forever. I reckon at least another three or four risky gambles before that happens though. 

You can see Ankerson's face on the front of a book in Waterstones already. 

"Rassmus Ankerson - How taking risks changed football"

[DT]

They were discussing mangerial vacancies again on Talksport this morning and guest Ben Foster suggested that Michael Carrick would be the perfect fit for us. Could do worse.

Not sure Foster is considering the SR requirement though, that it needs to be someone no-one has heard of, is not really in football, and makes Rasmus Ankersson look weally cwevver.

Mind you, it's not just the current regime that do that. Sir Clive Woodward, anybody? In the pre-complete lunatic Rupert Lowe era.  We seem to be the receptacle for people that feel forced into stupid experimentation

[2Morrow]

Got Ankerson all over it

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jul/09/minnesota-united-set-pieces-throw-ins-free-kicks-tactics

[2Morrow]

Can bring his keeper with him 

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/my-play-speaks-for-itself-dayne-st-clair-on-minnesota-united-s-playoff-run-canada-s-world-cup-hopes/blt6f941621b6121e11

[lambtiss]

10 minutes ago, 2Morrow said:

Got Ankerson all over it

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jul/09/minnesota-united-set-pieces-throw-ins-free-kicks-tactics

Yep, a tactic that suits our height-challenged strikers to a tee 😂

[skintsaint]

16 minutes ago, 2Morrow said:

Got Ankerson all over it

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jul/09/minnesota-united-set-pieces-throw-ins-free-kicks-tactics

Its more about playing 3 centrebacks and still being defensively shite, all over the place at the back.

 

[Miltonaggro]

17 hours ago, lambtiss said:

One would probably be enough.

Still better in the air than Damione.

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, lambtiss said:

Knowing the prowess of SR it's probably Dermot O'Leary they're talking too.

Another wanker who plays three centre backs...

[hypochondriac]

Phillip Clement looks like he's going to Norwich. Looks like quite a promising appointment on the face of it.

[tdmickey3]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

Phillip Clement looks like he's going to Norwich. Looks like quite a promising appointment on the face of it.

Why did they take so long FFS

[Suhari]

5 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Why did they take so long FFS

Delia Smith was oil-wrestling Rasmus, in a tag-team including Bernard Matthews and Chris Packham. It was a long bout.

 

 

 

 

(Loser had to appoint a manager. Go Saints.)

[Saint NL]

9 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Phillip Clement looks like he's going to Norwich. Looks like quite a promising appointment on the face of it.

I think there's an agreement that a certain percentage of clubs have to employ a failed Rangers manager at all times

[OldNick]

Fundimentally whoever is the manager how are they going to turn 5ft 5in (?) Adam armstrong into a 6ft 3 bustling striker to duff up opposition defences.

Until we can get a strong forward in we are in the mire. 

[Toussaint]

2 hours ago, Dman said:

You can see Ankerson's face on the front of a book in Waterstones already. 

"Rassmus Ankerson - How taking risks changed football"

His risks have definitely “changed” Southampton FC, nobody can deny him that. 

[skintsaint]

16 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

I think there's an agreement that a certain percentage of clubs have to employ a failed Rangers manager at all times

Funnily enough his win rate at Rangers isn't far off what Rodgers did at Celtic.

Was decent at Monaco too before that. 

[badgerx16]

30 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Fundimentally whoever is the manager how are they going to turn 5ft 5in (?) Adam armstrong into a 6ft 3 bustling striker to duff up opposition defences.

 

5 ft 7 according to Wiki. I thought it amusing that Sheff Wed marked him with Barry Bannon, probably the only game where ARMA has been taller than his marker.

[LocationRemot3]

Really worries me the fact that there has been zero news over this international break and Tonda will be managing us for Charlton. The board need to get their act together. Incompetence at the highest level. They've had a full 2 weeks to get someone in and sounds like they are nowhere near it. 

[Chris cooper]

9 minutes ago, LocationRemot3 said:

Really worries me the fact that there has been zero news over this international break and Tonda will be managing us for Charlton. The board need to get their act together. Incompetence at the highest level. They've had a full 2 weeks to get someone in and sounds like they are nowhere near it. 

All the other clubs without coaches are now about to fill their positions.. or are very close ! 
we are deathly silent which is obvious we are waiting to see if wonder boy Tonda beats Charlton.. if we draw it will drag on to Leicester.. lose then I think SR will be in a uncomfortable position with the fans …. Win he gets the job imo 

[Morse]

27 minutes ago, Chris cooper said:

All the other clubs without coaches are now about to fill their positions.. or are very close ! 
we are deathly silent which is obvious we are waiting to see if wonder boy Tonda beats Charlton.. if we draw it will drag on to Leicester.. lose then I think SR will be in a uncomfortable position with the fans …. Win he gets the job imo 

Its 'spin the wheel' time !!!!

[AlexLaw76]

53 minutes ago, LocationRemot3 said:

Really worries me the fact that there has been zero news over this international break and Tonda will be managing us for Charlton. The board need to get their act together. Incompetence at the highest level. They've had a full 2 weeks to get someone in and sounds like they are nowhere near it. 

It is clear to most that the club are want an environment where they can give to Tonda with as little protest/disgruntlement from the fanbase as possible.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

6 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

It is clear to most that the club are want an environment where they can give to Tonda with as little protest/disgruntlement from the fanbase as possible.

Yep. It's painful obvious that he has the job. SR just need to grow a pair and own their decision and announce it. Hardly a ringing endorsement for him if the club are apprehensive about announcing it. This club is so pathetic if they believe he is the best available to us.

[hypochondriac]

5 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Yep. It's painful obvious that he has the job. SR just need to grow a pair and own their decision and announce it. Hardly a ringing endorsement for him if the club are apprehensive about announcing it. This club is so pathetic if they believe he is the best available to us.

They don't want to commit because if they publicly give him the job it's going to look even more embarrassing for them if he loses two out of the next three games and they would have to walk it back. This way if he does badly over the next three games they can demote him back to the u21s and pretend this was always the plan all along. 

[EBS1980]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

They don't want to commit because if they publicly give him the job it's going to look even more embarrassing for them if he loses two out of the next three games and they would have to walk it back. This way if he does badly over the next three games they can demote him back to the u21s and pretend this was always the plan all along. 

Exactly that. I think they hope his results over a few weeks will then justify giving it to him permanently but if he doesn’t they will just announce a new manger and claim that his interim period is over.

Surprised they haven’t said anything about who the coaches are given we have lost 3 with the sacking. 

[DellBlockH]

There seem to be two assumptions: either SR haven't made a decision or they have given the job to Eckert (and are too scared of the fans to announce it). 

I'm leaning towards the former. It was posted here that the club was interviewing candidates. Some even said that a decision had been made and an announcement was imminent. Perhaps none of those interviewed was found suitable or perhaps the fan backlash against Gary O'Neil stopped them announcing their preferred candidate.

Maybe the interviews are still going on. Eckert may yet be announced as manager, either permanently or for the next few games. But it makes sense not to announce anything until you have exhausted all possibilities. If it is going to be Eckert on a permanent basis, then I think it would have been announced by now, not least to the players.

Norwich have just appointed Philippe Clement, who I dont think was ever mentioned as a contender on here. Maybe our appointment will be someone we haven't considered.

(By the way, although this looks like my first post, I have been here for years. I used to post as Itchen but somehow lost access. I don't know why; I didn't break any rules. It's taken me a long time and the creation of a new email ID to get back again.)

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, EBS1980 said:

Exactly that. I think they hope his results over a few weeks will then justify giving it to him permanently but if he doesn’t they will just announce a new manger and claim that his interim period is over.

Surprised they haven’t said anything about who the coaches are given we have lost 3 with the sacking. 

Has Trollope officially left?

I reckon either Dragan decided to bin Still and so that's why there wasn't much of a plan for an alternative or we were set to appoint GON and then were scared off by the fan reaction. I reckon either he stays if we get 5+ points from the next three or we appoint a lesser known manager from the German leagues who will play 5 at the back and do what Sports Republic want. Either way I don't think the fans will be happy. 

[Toadhall Saint]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Phillip Clement looks like he's going to Norwich. Looks like quite a promising appointment on the face of it.

It certainly does 

[Toadhall Saint]

5 minutes ago, DellBlockH said:

There seem to be two assumptions: either SR haven't made a decision or they have given the job to Eckert (and are too scared of the fans to announce it). 

I'm leaning towards the former. It was posted here that the club was interviewing candidates. Some even said that a decision had been made and an announcement was imminent. Perhaps none of those interviewed was found suitable or perhaps the fan backlash against Gary O'Neil stopped them announcing their preferred candidate.

Maybe the interviews are still going on. Eckert may yet be announced as manager, either permanently or for the next few games. But it makes sense not to announce anything until you have exhausted all possibilities. If it is going to be Eckert on a permanent basis, then I think it would have been announced by now, not least to the players.

Norwich have just appointed Philippe Clement, who I dont think was ever mentioned as a contender on here. Maybe our appointment will be someone we haven't considered.

(By the way, although this looks like my first post, I have been here for years. I used to post as Itchen but somehow lost access. I don't know why; I didn't break any rules. It's taken me a long time and the creation of a new email ID to get back again.)

Welcome back Itchen

[SaintNewForest]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Has Trollope officially left?

I reckon either Dragan decided to bin Still and so that's why there wasn't much of a plan for an alternative or we were set to appoint GON and then were scared off by the fan reaction. I reckon either he stays if we get 5+ points from the next three or we appoint a lesser known manager from the German leagues who will play 5 at the back and do what Sports Republic want. Either way I don't think the fans will be happy. 

Pretty sure it was reported somewhere that it was Dragan personal decision to sack him, yeah. 

[hypochondriac]

11 minutes ago, EBS1980 said:

Exactly that. I think they hope his results over a few weeks will then justify giving it to him permanently but if he doesn’t they will just announce a new manger and claim that his interim period is over.

Surprised they haven’t said anything about who the coaches are given we have lost 3 with the sacking. 

Also worth highlighting how wrong headed and messed up it is to make managerial decisions based on how a potential candidate performs over a handful of games. Tonda could miraculously win all of the next three and I still think it would be mental to make a permanent hiring decision based on that. It once again shows that Sports Republic are almost uniquely terrible at following a vision through and crafting a long term project that works. 

Edited 36 minutes ago by hypochondriac

[Sarnia Cherie]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Also worth highlighting how wrong headed and messed up it is to make managerial decisions based on how a potential candidate performs over a handful of games. Tonda could miraculously win all of the next three and I still think it would be mental to make a permanent hiring decision based on that. It once again shows that Sports Republic are almost uniquely terrible and following a vision through and crafting a long term project that works. 

Especially when those wins were QPR and Sheffield Wednesday. 

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, LocationRemot3 said:

Really worries me the fact that there has been zero news over this international break and Tonda will be managing us for Charlton. The board need to get their act together. Incompetence at the highest level. They've had a full 2 weeks to get someone in and sounds like they are nowhere near it. 

As far as I can tell, we are in that dangerous holding pattern which equates to ''The club are comfortable with the current situation'' - so you won't see any news, and zero rumours.

The club want Tonda to get the job, that much is clear. At this stage I don't expect any new manager this side of Christmas and we'll bumble along with Tonda, until it becomes obvious the job is too big for him and the season is effectively done and dusted.

We are witnessing the next SR masterclass of club management unfold in front of our eyes.

Edited 29 minutes ago by S-Clarke