New Manager Debate

[Tamesaint]

On 19/11/2025 at 12:29, Dman said:

 

 

[Tamesaint]

FFS. Tonda has now won 3 games in a row. He has turned a team which lost regularly into a team which gave us some of the best football we have seen for a decade. Why not give him the job, until the end of the season, now? He is clearly not a Selles. 

Who do people prefer as an "experienced" manager? Carrick? GON? Gerrard? Could they have turned us round the same way or done any better?  Lets face it the likes of Potter and Rodgers aren't going to touch us with a bargepole. Why not stick with Eckhart until the end of the season??? 

 

Edited yesterday at 01:58 by Tamesaint

[Lord Duckhunter]

2 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

He has turned a team which lost regularly into a team which gave us some of the best football we have seen for a decade.

What a load of old exaggerated pony. It was Charlton FFS. 
 

The jury is still out for me, but at least he’s allowed us some thinking time, and we don’t need to rush an appointment. 

[washsaint]

10 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

What a load of old exaggerated pony. It was Charlton FFS. 
 

The jury is still out for me, but at least he’s allowed us some thinking time, and we don’t need to rush an appointment. 

The same Charlton that had only lost 1 or 2 at home since last December?  The same Charlton that had only conceded a handful all season?

It was "only" < insert name here> - well we haven't been beating "its only" for the last 3-4 years.
 

I know you are old and cynical but really?  We played some beautiful stuff against both QPR and Sheff Wed in places (with Tonda not having time to really put in place his tactics) and today first half was sensational and everythig Saints have not been for years.  Quick, incisive and players getting forward.

Tonda clearly deserves to be made our permanent manager: it is clear he has something about him.  And I love how he is not scared to bring in the younger players and seeing his reaction to Bragg when he was subbed was a thing of beauty.

[Tamesaint]

28 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

 

28 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

What a load of old exaggerated pony. It was Charlton FFS. 
 

The jury is still out for me, but at least he’s allowed us some thinking time, and we don’t need to rush an appointment. 

 So Charlton aren't a good enough yardstick for you despite their results throughout 2025. Who is? 

 

Edited yesterday at 02:52 by Tamesaint

[ErwinK1961]

4 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

What a load of old exaggerated pony. It was Charlton FFS. 
 

The jury is still out for me, but at least he’s allowed us some thinking time, and we don’t need to rush an appointment. 

Surprised you’re not more impressed, considering it was against your mate Nath.

[Saint86]

13 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

To be fair whilst initially against it, IF he gets 4 or more points from Leicester and Millwall then you'd have to say he probably deserves the job until the end of the season.

We're getting 4 more as a minimum, I'm expecting 6 😏

[ally_uk]

I'm just happy to see the team playing well and the new players clicking. 

Watched the extended highlights from yesterday and the way we moved the ball quicker with more attacking intent was superb. 

How good is Scienza! Love how direct he is. 

It's great to have the feel good factor back at Saints, I like the calm and assured demeanor of Tonda. He has this quiet confidence about him. 

Is he the right man to take us forwards? I honestly don't know he obviously has potential either way..... 

So what is the solution ? Give him the gig full time? Or bring in a new manager and make him number 2? 

 

 

 

[Nolan]

7 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

What a load of old exaggerated pony. It was Charlton FFS. 
 

The jury is still out for me, but at least he’s allowed us some thinking time, and we don’t need to rush an appointment. 

Here's Charlton's home record so far this season. 

After yesterday, they've conceded 9 goals at home. 

5 to us.

Their only other loss at home so far was 0-1 against Leicester.

In all 16 games, so against ⅔ of the league, Charlton have conceded 17 goals. FIVE of those are against us.

"It was Charlton FFS" is an utterly crap argument.

 

 

[beatlesaint]

7 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

What a load of old exaggerated pony. It was Charlton FFS. 
 

The jury is still out for me, but at least he’s allowed us some thinking time, and we don’t need to rush an appointment. 

I think you're unsurprisingly (given its you) being a bit hard on him here. Yes he wouldn't be my choice but you can't argue with 3 wins in a row and especially the way they demolished a team away from home in 20 minutes yesterday. That was impressive and as for "it's only Charlton"......you do know Arsenal. Man City and Chelsea aren't in this league right ?

It was "only" Blackburn, Hull, Pompey, Preston earlier in the season but yesterday was a million miles from the horlicks those games were.

If they get results in the next two matches he will get the job. They've been itching to give it to him anyway. I just hope these players who are currently playing for him remember to carry on doing so when he becomes their full time boss !! 

[Saint86]

11 minutes ago, Nolan said:

Here's Charlton's home record so far this season. 

After yesterday, they've conceded 9 goals at home. 

5 to us.

Their only other loss at home so far was 0-1 against Leicester.

In all 16 games, so against ⅔ of the league, Charlton have conceded 17 goals. FIVE of those are against us.

"It was Charlton FFS" is an utterly crap argument.

 

 

Yea, but they also had significant defensive selection issues yesterday. So whilst we were good, they were also playing from a disorganised perspective - and that showed by the early goals we scored and Charlton then tightening up with changes.

[saint michael]

Yesterday was a breath of fresh air and was great to see a team move the ball fast and with purpose. For me I would say we will not know how good he is as a manager though until we see how he faces a loss or two. How he deals with losses and how he can turn a loss around with a next game win will show us how good he is.
 

I still hate our defence and keeper though I think we got away with a couple yesterday, imagine two of them going in early in a game and we will be up against it again…. This might be my scars showing 😂

[ErwinK1961]

5 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Yea, but they also had significant defensive selection issues yesterday. So whilst we were good, they were also playing from a disorganised perspective - and that showed by the early goals we scored and Charlton then tightening up with changes.

So what, we’ve got defensive issues ourselves in that our GK and most of our CB’s are shit.

[Dusic]

Interestingly Verl matched us with a 5-1 away win yesterday masterminded by Tobias Strobl. That has put them up to third.

Of course its Eckert's to lose now you would think but highly likely Strobl spoken to this week.

In fact, some info from a chat with @trevor.journalist suggests there was a Saints representative at Sportspark Höhenberg yesterday to see it in person. 

Strobl only finished playing for Augsberg in 2023 but has taken to management extremely well.

This one rumbles on...

Edited 23 hours ago by Dusic

[EBS1980]

I think the lack of postings today show the acceptance of what we knew all along.

I personally think they are more likely to be sorting the coaching setup out more than interviewing anyone now. 
 

points vs Leicester and I can see it being confirmed later this week.

[Saint Fan CaM]

I think the only question left is do they offer him the role until the end of the season with an option to extend, or do they give him a three year contract?

[Lord Duckhunter]

On 23/11/2025 at 13:39, washsaint said:

The same Charlton that had only lost 1 or 2 at home since last December?  The same Charlton that had only conceded a handful all season?

 

He said it was one of the best performances in a decade. Clearly exaggerated pony. 

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

On 23/11/2025 at 13:51, Tamesaint said:

So Charlton aren't a good enough yardstick for you despite their results throughout 2025. Who is? 

 

 

On 23/11/2025 at 10:44, Tamesaint said:

some of the best football we have seen for a decade.

Make your mind up, is it a decade or 2025? 

[Nolan]

2 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

 

 

Make your mind up, is it a decade or 2025? 

 

You might want to reread those posts 

[Dman]

21 hours ago, Dusic said:

Interestingly Verl matched us with a 5-1 away win yesterday masterminded by Tobias Strobl. That has put them up to third.

Of course its Eckert's to lose now you would think but highly likely Strobl spoken to this week.

In fact, some info from a chat with @trevor.journalist suggests there was a Saints representative at Sportspark Höhenberg yesterday to see it in person. 

Strobl only finished playing for Augsberg in 2023 but has taken to management extremely well.

This one rumbles on...

I think I'd rather stick with Eckhert than risk someone like that. At least Eckhert has experience at this level, all be it as an assistant. 

I've pretty much said all along, Eckhert (and in this case Strobl) could end up being brilliant managers and everyone has to start somewhere - however after the issues with Still, its a gamble imo we cannot risk taking. That being said, if he keeps winning, its impossible to not give it to him. 

Lets judge after the first real test in Leciester, tomorrow. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Dman

[ally_uk]

Give the lad two more games if he performs well, give him the gig for rest of the season then assess. 

[Football Special]

9 minutes ago, ally_uk said:

Give the lad two more games if he performs well, give him the gig for rest of the season then assess. 

This seems likely,  but Spors then needs to consider how he fills the various coaching roles currently vacant at the club, Romeu can probably help out with some of it.

Trollope was supposed to be Still's experienced assistant , with him gone probably could do with someone who's been in management/ coaching for a while 

[Saint86]

22 hours ago, ErwinK1961 said:

So what, we’ve got defensive issues ourselves in that our GK and most of our CB’s are shit.

I guess i am just saying to remain balanced - i.e., for fans not to overact one way or the other to results.

We've played Wednesday, QPR, and a depleted Charlton (newly promoted side lacking in championship squad depth).. Team sheet wise, that is 3 of the worst sides in the league and you would expect a recent premier league side chasing promotion to beat all of them, and with relative ease. We've been poor for so long, so its easy to be very happy with the results (and i am), but it doesn't automatically make Tonda the Messiah.

How we manage in the next 2-3 will give a much clearer idea of where we stand - if Tonda is going to clearly stamp a mark that he is the/a manager capable of delivering promotion, we should really be getting 7points out of Leicester (h), Millwall (a), Brum (h). The absolute minimum anyone on here should be borderline happy with is 5points.

Edited 1 hour ago by Saint86

[Saint Billy]

Having watched some dire football from us for a few years now, the Charlton game was was a breathe of fresh air. Even when we were promoted under RM some of the football was uninspiring.

I also like Eckhert's lack of histrionics, it's if he is a long way off being satisfied with what he is seeing.

I was against him getting the full time job but after such a good start I agree with others with giving the Job to him until the end of the season and then evaluate, he deserves that.

[sadoldgit]

Irrespective of who we are playing, when was the last time we won three on the bounce? No, Eckert isn’t the messiah, but credit where credit is due, he has put 9 points on the board out of 9 and got a team that wasn’t winning games winning. Whether he gets to job or not, his performance so far is doing his reputation no harm.

[saintant]

29 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

I guess i am just saying to remain balanced - i.e., for fans not to overact one way or the other to results.

We've played Wednesday, QPR, and a depleted Charlton (newly promoted side lacking in championship squad depth).. Team sheet wise, that is 3 of the worst sides in the league and you would expect a recent premier league side chasing promotion to beat all of them, and with relative ease. We've been poor for so long, so its easy to be very happy with the results (and i am), but it doesn't automatically make Tonda the Messiah.

How we manage in the next 2-3 will give a much clearer idea of where we stand - if Tonda is going to clearly stamp a mark that he is the/a manager capable of delivering promotion, we should really be getting 7points out of Leicester (h), Millwall (a), Brum (h). The absolute minimum anyone on here should be borderline happy with is 5points.

I get what you are saying but, for me, the big change against Charlton was the shape of the side and the type of football this produced. Some of the interplay and running off the ball to find pockets of space on the wings and down the channels was very good to watch. Yes, it was only newly promoted Charlton and they were missing some players (as were we) but the encouraging thing was that we actually looked like a well drilled football side. We need to see more and tomorrow will be a big test to see what Eckert can do against a side like Leicester. 

[Dman]

40 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

Irrespective of who we are playing, when was the last time we won three on the bounce? No, Eckert isn’t the messiah, but credit where credit is due, he has put 9 points on the board out of 9 and got a team that wasn’t winning games winning. Whether he gets to job or not, his performance so far is doing his reputation no harm.

The last time we were in the championship, funny enough. Its really not that much of an achievement. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

8 minutes ago, Dman said:

The last time we were in the championship, funny enough. Its really not that much of an achievement. 

It is for us. 

[Tamesaint]

4 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

He said it was one of the best performances in a decade. Clearly exaggerated pony. 

 

Read some of the other comments on this forum. I am not the only one comparing the performance to Koeman days.I cannot recall a better performance. Did you even watch the match? 

We know from the past that you are a negative cunt who loves to moan. When we went on our long unbeaten run a couple of years ago you only ever posted when we had a disappointing result. Are you ever happy??? 

 

[sadoldgit]

14 minutes ago, Dman said:

The last time we were in the championship, funny enough. Its really not that much of an achievement. 

And yet we haven’t managed to do so since the season before last.

[Dman]

1 minute ago, sadoldgit said:

And yet we haven’t managed to do so since the season before last.

Becasue we were in the PL where the level in significantly higher and our players aren't some of the best in the leauge. We went what, 24 unbeaten in this leauge last time out. As I said, its not that much of an achievement. 

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

This seems likely,  but Spors then needs to consider how he fills the various coaching roles currently vacant at the club, Romeu can probably help out with some of it.

Trollope was supposed to be Still's experienced assistant , with him gone probably could do with someone who's been in management/ coaching for a while 

Agree. If they go with Eckhert it will be on the back of half a dozen good results which is a sea change from where we were a few weeks ago, he will have earned it.  It will also save the club a lot of money in terms of another external appointment, so it would be good to see a senior and experienced number 2 and backroom, people that TE wants whether that's from previous appointments in Germany and Italy, or elsewhere. 

[Zorba]

Let’s not do the Rasmus “If it ain’t broke, fuck it up”. Tonda has done a great job over 3 games but we’ve played pretty average opposition which we should expect to beat with our very capable Championship squad. SR can keep looking for a replacement, but if Tonda goes unbeaten for say the next 10 games.. he gets rewarded with the full time gig.. but we should not be in any rush to give him everything right  now.

[sadoldgit]

3 minutes ago, Dman said:

Becasue we were in the PL where the level in significantly higher and our players aren't some of the best in the leauge. We went what, 24 unbeaten in this leauge last time out. As I said, it’s not that much of an achievement. 

Given our performances whoever we have been playing over the last couple of years it is unusual for us to win three games in a row. We were expecting to do this regularly when we dropped but down didn’t we? It is all about perspective, just before this run of three matches we were just above the relegation zone, couldn’t score and couldn’t defend and were so poor we sacked the manager. What were the odds of winning the next three games and in one of them scoring 4 goals in 8 minutes?