New Manager Debate

[Willo of Whiteley]

IT’S TOOONNDDDDDDAAAAAA TIIIIMMMEEEE!

[Whitey Grandad]

Stop the count!

[LGTL]

Don’t offer it to him until May. We’re going along quite nicely as we are!!

[RedArmy]

The phone should be ringing off the fucking hook tonight. 
 

Who wouldn’t want to come and manage this squad? 

[swannymere]

I'm getting a nosebleed. Which one of our former managers is getting appointed by the weekend? 

[CB Fry]

Just need to sort out the Assistant Manager contract for Patrick Viera.

[CSA96]

We might be locking this thread pretty soon...

[Harry_SFC]

A point at least away at Millwall and surely he will get it. It's just inevitable though that we will appoint him permanently and start losing. 

[skintsaint]

Not sure he is the answer, in the last 90mins of me watching Saints we haven't scored. 

[Saint NL]

I think you can remove the word "debate" from the thread title now 

[ally_uk]

Give it to Tonda and back him with coaches. 

[Secret Site Agent]

Its all down to tactics

RUSSBALL

 

Stillball

 

tondatactics

Edited 18 hours ago by Secret Site Agent

[woodsaint1]

I hope its not going to be the managerial equivalent of Marek Saganowski.

Unbelievable when the possibility of a permanent job is dangling in front of him, but you can bet that once we appoint him permanently, it just wont be as good.

Just keep him in temporary charge the rest of the season 😂

[S-Clarke]

Is it wrong to still feel a bit apprehensive? We've all lived through 'manager' bounces and caretakers getting the team going, Alan Sheehan at Swansea being a fine example last year - then they gave him the job, and it all went south.

I want to see how he reacts to adversity. We will hit bumps during December and have some iffy results, I just want to see how we come out of the back of that. 4 games is a good start, but I need to see more -  he's still incredibly inexperienced.

I guess my uncertainty is also driven from the record we've had with Managers - so my mind is in a bit of an odd place. I think he's started well, but I just want to see a few more games.

[revolution saint]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Is it wrong to still feel a bit apprehensive? We've all lived through 'manager' bounces and caretakers getting the team going, Alan Sheehan at Swansea being a fine example last year - then they gave him the job, and it all went south.

I want to see how he reacts to adversity. We will hit bumps during December and have some iffy results, I just want to see how we come out of the back of that. 4 games is a good start, but I need to see more -  he's still incredibly inexperienced.

I guess my uncertainty is also driven from the record we've had with Managers - so my mind is in a bit of an odd place. I think he's started well, but I just want to see a few more games.

So the thing that will really clinch it for you is to win some matches, lose some matches and then win some more matches? That’s mental.

[SNSUN]

Tonda was given three games so we'll probably know more on Sunday as to whether he has the gig. After the last 4 games I wouldn't think many fans would be upset. OK, we have good players on paper, but so did Still and Tonda has got a tune out of them. Fellows is clicking, Scienza is clicking, AA is linking up well with them and even Azaz has started banging goals in. I won't go on about not liking 3 CBs, I don't, but even then Tonda has got them playing in such a way that they don't look like muffing up every minute - some of the bodies on the line defending early in the first half today was exceptional. 

Shit, even Baz pulled off a good save. 

Would I like someone more experienced in? Maybe, it depends who it is, but you can't dismiss what Tonda has done so far is excellent. Everyone has to start somewhere, and Tonda seems to fit. He speaks well too. There will be sterner tests to come, and it is how he deals with those, but we can't win every game and right now, the first team is playing fluid exciting football. I love the fact we attempting Through Balls. I'm a big fan of a through ball.

We knock SR for a lot, and rightly so at times, but some of the summer transfers we made have been the business. Jander is excellent too. Now they need to get the managerial appointment right - and Tonda has done his chances the world of good.

Edited 16 hours ago by SNSUN

[benjii]

I'm hearing David O'Leary is still.

Also, the club is aware of Steve Bruce.

[Toadhall Saint]

5 hours ago, revolution saint said:

So the thing that will really clinch it for you is to win some matches, lose some matches and then win some more matches? That’s mental.

It’s called hedging your bets. Or “whatever happens I wasn’t wrong” 😉

[Weston Super Saint]

15 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

As well as we played, I still think we need an experienced manager.  We'll play just as decent football, but will have someone who can man-manage difficult situations.  We should keep Eckert as well though. 

For me, this is a win-win.

How do you know Eckert can't 'man manage' difficult situations?  Because he is young?

Surely the phrase "if you're good enough, you're old enough' should be relevant?

[Dusic]

1 hour ago, benjii said:

I'm hearing David O'Leary is still.

Also, the club is aware of Steve Bruce.

@davefizzy14 who originally broke the D O'L interest has gone quiet on it so imagine its still bubbling away in the background.

Last night bumped into @Slugger O'Toole who confirmed Strobl has been interviewed as recently as last week so I don't think its quite a done deal.

Frandsen now out the frame which is good IMO as his record isnt up to much.

[Butthole_Surfer]

Strobl sounds interesting but as long as Tonda keeps on winning I‘d keep giving him a look (til the end of the year at least). The players are clearly playing for him…

Maybe they‘re looking for some two headed kind of monster solution…

[Dr Who?]

What we seem to want is not to lose again. Hire the bloody guy as he has done enough to prove that he can do the job, and has the players fired up and on board. We are not going to win every game and not in style that’s for sure. I’m not sure what we are wanting from him. You take on a new manager, someone we consider to be really good with experience, and they are not going to win every game. The board have to show faith and hire him, as they want him and even the fans do at this point in time. They did say they will reassess after these 3 games in a week. I expect they will take him on full time no matter what the result on Saturday. 

[HnycS]

6 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

What we seem to want is not to lose again. Hire the bloody guy as he has done enough to prove that he can do the job, and has the players fired up and on board. We are not going to win every game and not in style that’s for sure. I’m not sure what we are wanting from him. You take on a new manager, someone we consider to be really good with experience, and they are not going to win every game. The board have to show faith and hire him, as they want him and even the fans do at this point in time. They did say they will reassess after these 3 games in a week. I expect they will take him on full time no matter what the result on Saturday. 

As they should.

[Wade Garrett]

47 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

How do you know Eckert can't 'man manage' difficult situations?  Because he is young?

Surely the phrase "if you're good enough, you're old enough' should be relevant?

Maybe.  After last night I wouldn’t be upset if he got the job.  Best football I’ve seen us play in ages, and superbly organised when we don’t have the ball.

[The Kraken]

51 minutes ago, Dusic said:

 

Last night bumped into @Slugger O'Toole 

How is Slugger these days? He had a bit of a drinking problem last I heard.

[adrian lord]

It would seem churlish not to appoint Tonda now. I would get Millwall out of the way and hopefully won, and appoint next Monday. 

[Oisin]

He’s rubbish at second halves. Give it to Tonda for each 1st half and find someone else for the half-time team talks and all the substitutions.

It’s so tedious watching 0-0 football for 45 minutes, knowing the game is won. We pay for entertainment, should be getting half our money back if they stick with Tonda for all 90 minutes 

[Farmer Saint]

The last 15 pages of this thread are pure comedy.

[Saint86]

May have gone under the radar, but Lallana's u21s lost heavily to Sutton United last night. The change in 1st team performances and U21 performances with/without JE is evident.

(Not trying to dig Lallana out with this comment - he's got to learn the ropes somewhere and he's walked straight into the u21s at this point.)

Edited 8 hours ago by Saint86

[West end Saints]

Amazing how it's changed from him being a risky appointment, to him being the safe one.

Would anyone honestly be more confident going into the next batch of games with any other manager we have been linked with?

Appointing anyone else (even if there are a better longer term option) risks breaking the momentum and confidence he has built up.

Also risks being less popular with fans and players.

 

[Football Special]

12 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

A point at least away at Millwall and surely he will get it. It's just inevitable though that we will appoint him permanently and start losing. 

He risks winning the manager of the month award, although Lampard at Cov must have that sown up as they'll win again on Saturday 

[Football Special]

23 minutes ago, West end Saints said:

Amazing how it's changed from him being a risky appointment, to him being the safe one.

Would anyone honestly be more confident going into the next batch of games with any other manager we have been linked with?

Appointing anyone else (even if there are a better longer term option) risks breaking the momentum and confidence he has built up.

Also risks being less popular with fans and players.

 

I think he has to get it but we have to be careful if we reward 4 wins in a row with a permanent position does that mean he gets sacked if we then lose 4 in a row as well? 

Building a good coaching team and assistant will be crucial 

[Football Special]

29 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

May have gone under the radar, but Lallana's u21s lost heavily to Sutton United last night. The change in 1st team performances and U21 performances with/without JE is evident.

(Not trying to dig Lallana out with this comment - he's got to learn the ropes somewhere and he's walked straight into the u21s at this point.)

We've been treating that National League Cup like that for a while, lost all games in it? Same as last season I think

Will be more telling in coming weeks playing other elite Euro u21 sides 

[Fitzhugh Fella]

10 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Is it wrong to still feel a bit apprehensive? We've all lived through 'manager' bounces and caretakers getting the team going, Alan Sheehan at Swansea being a fine example last year - then they gave him the job, and it all went south.

I want to see how he reacts to adversity. We will hit bumps during December and have some iffy results, I just want to see how we come out of the back of that. 4 games is a good start, but I need to see more -  he's still incredibly inexperienced.

I guess my uncertainty is also driven from the record we've had with Managers - so my mind is in a bit of an odd place. I think he's started well, but I just want to see a few more games.

Yes I am feeling the same thing. It's hard to argue against him the way things are going but I have this nagging doubt.

One thing he isn't is particularly "inspirational". He's very low key and  I can't see many players being in trepidation of him. Player power is big these days and you need a big personality to handle it. If we do give it to him - and they can hardly not if we win at Millwall - it is crucial he has an experienced nos 2 to support him. No matter how much he has improved us he is still very much a rookie.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

47 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

May have gone under the radar, but Lallana's u21s lost heavily to Sutton United last night. The change in 1st team performances and U21 performances with/without JE is evident.

(Not trying to dig Lallana out with this comment - he's got to learn the ropes somewhere and he's walked straight into the u21s at this point.)

To be fair two of Suttons goals came after 90 minutes.

[Fabrice29]

52 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

May have gone under the radar, but Lallana's u21s lost heavily to Sutton United last night. The change in 1st team performances and U21 performances with/without JE is evident.

(Not trying to dig Lallana out with this comment - he's got to learn the ropes somewhere and he's walked straight into the u21s at this point.)

That’s just not a fair reflection of the U21’s this season at all. 

[Fabrice29]

10 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Is it wrong to still feel a bit apprehensive? We've all lived through 'manager' bounces and caretakers getting the team going, Alan Sheehan at Swansea being a fine example last year - then they gave him the job, and it all went south.

I want to see how he reacts to adversity. We will hit bumps during December and have some iffy results, I just want to see how we come out of the back of that. 4 games is a good start, but I need to see more -  he's still incredibly inexperienced.

I guess my uncertainty is also driven from the record we've had with Managers - so my mind is in a bit of an odd place. I think he's started well, but I just want to see a few more games.

 

7 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

Yes I am feeling the same thing. It's hard to argue against him the way things are going but I have this nagging doubt.

One thing he isn't is particularly "inspirational". He's very low key and  I can't see many players being in trepidation of him. Player power is big these days and you need a big personality to handle it. If we do give it to him - and they can hardly not if we win at Millwall - it is crucial he has an experienced nos 2 to support him. No matter how much he has improved us he is still very much a rookie.

These feelings are fine and perfectly normal for any football fan. When will the winning stop and what happens then is pretty much every football fans concern.
 

But I would call out that if whoever your favourite experienced ex pro, strict no nonsense football man had come in and got 4 wins in a row, I don’t think you’d be voicing those concerns. 

[DellBoys]

This just proves how important it is to have the right manager at the right time for your club. Tonda is clearly that man. 

A bit off topic, but Man Utd clearly hired the wrong man. Pundits up in arms because he stuck to 3 at the back despite Everton going down to 10 men. But we did the same last night and were easy winners. The system doesn’t matter. What matters is whether the team is giving everything for their manager. 

[Fabrice29]

9 minutes ago, DellBoys said:

This just proves how important it is to have the right manager at the right time for your club. Tonda is clearly that man. 

A bit off topic, but Man Utd clearly hired the wrong man. Pundits up in arms because he stuck to 3 at the back despite Everton going down to 10 men. But we did the same last night and were easy winners. The system doesn’t matter. What matters is whether the team is giving everything for their manager. 

United were chasing the game so it’s slightly different. But in fairness to the manager, he explained exactly why it didn’t work for them Monday, they played too quick and didn’t recycle possession to drag people out of space. Why he wasn’t able to get that message across well enough is a whole other matter.

But I’m glad we’ve stopped hearing endless comments about 3 at the back on here. Was simply never the issue and formation is never the fundamental problem with a team. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Fabrice29

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, West end Saints said:

Amazing how it's changed from him being a risky appointment, to him being the safe one.

Would anyone honestly be more confident going into the next batch of games with any other manager we have been linked with?

Appointing anyone else (even if there are a better longer term option) risks breaking the momentum and confidence he has built up.

Also risks being less popular with fans and players.

 

Slight cautionary note was the post match comments from THB (in particular - he struggled to give a coherent reason why he wanted him to get the job other than umming his way to implying he was better than Still) and Scienza. Its a fine balance between having a manager the players like and respect, and having one they are comfortable playing for because things are chummy behind the scenes. Obviously we don't know the true situation, but there is no ducking the point that several first team players clearly weren't playing for Still and there are possible echoes here of when Selles got the job after being popular with the players. That said, i like our play under JE, and at a certain point (if form continues) he has to get the job surely. I'm just not sure i trust some of our players enough to have reached that point so far - if he gets the permanent position will they just relax again?

[BARCELONASAINT]

53 minutes ago, Football Special said:

He risks winning the manager of the month award, although Lampard at Cov must have that sown up as they'll win again on Saturday 

If Saints beat Millwall on Saturday i would argue TE is more deserving of manager of the month than Lampard because of what TE walked into! Lampards Coventry were already a confident winning side, Saints were an absolute mess and if we win Saturday TE will have put us from zero's to playoff contenders in the space of 5 games!

[beatlesaint]

If they appoint him they need to bring in a DOF figure who has vast experiece and can help him out, if needed, when we hit a rough patch of results again. And before anyone says it not bloody Redknapp 😂

Appoint Tonda until the end of the season then the risk of having to pay off another manager if it goes tits up is off the table. If he performs and everyone is happy then give him a 2/3 year contract in the summer.    

[saintant]

13 hours ago, CSA96 said:

We might be locking this thread pretty soon...

Yeah, either that or rename it 'There's no new manager debate' because Tonda must be nailed on to be given a contract now.

[Fabrice29]

6 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

If they appoint him they need to bring in a DOF figure who has vast experiece and can help him out, if needed, when we hit a rough patch of results again. And before anyone says it not bloody Redknapp 😂

Appoint Tonda until the end of the season then the risk of having to pay off another manager if it goes tits up is off the table. If he performs and everyone is happy then give him a 2/3 year contract in the summer.    

End of season contract would be poor imo. It would give out the message you’re not convinced by him and also open you up to losing him if he does. Next appointment has to be done with conviction and at some point we as a fan base and club are going to have to stick with a manager when they go through a poor patch. 

[Patrick Bateman]

17 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Slight cautionary note was the post match comments from THB (in particular - he struggled to give a coherent reason why he wanted him to get the job other than umming his way to implying he was better than Still) and Scienza. Its a fine balance between having a manager the players like and respect, and having one they are comfortable playing for because things are chummy behind the scenes. Obviously we don't know the true situation, but there is no ducking the point that several first team players clearly weren't playing for Still and there are possible echoes here of when Selles got the job after being popular with the players. That said, i like our play under JE, and at a certain point (if form continues) he has to get the job surely. I'm just not sure i trust some of our players enough to have reached that point so far - if he gets the permanent position will they just relax again?

True, but in my opinion, the current squad is better (by a long way) than the squad Selles had - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022–23_Southampton_F.C._season 

Far too much dross in that lot, it's horrific, no wonder they were relegated. 

[Hopper]

On reflection this morning I'd be more than happy to see Tonda appointed. I wasn't enamoured by any of the other potential candidates and given the circumstance and where we are as a club right now I think he's the right man at the right time. At the very least he will steady the ship and get us playing until we can find a more permanent solution. At most he'll make a charge up the table and cement his position.

It's really a win win scenario at the moment and therefore a bit of a no brainer to me. 

[benjii]

Fackin 5 at the back merchant. 

[saintant]

11 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Is it wrong to still feel a bit apprehensive? We've all lived through 'manager' bounces and caretakers getting the team going, Alan Sheehan at Swansea being a fine example last year - then they gave him the job, and it all went south.

I want to see how he reacts to adversity. We will hit bumps during December and have some iffy results, I just want to see how we come out of the back of that. 4 games is a good start, but I need to see more -  he's still incredibly inexperienced.

I guess my uncertainty is also driven from the record we've had with Managers - so my mind is in a bit of an odd place. I think he's started well, but I just want to see a few more games.

I have to admit I was a big sceptic at first but the performances in the last two games have convinced me Eckert is the man for the job. The stark difference in how we play now to the past season and a half is incredible. I'd given up on seeing the fast attacking football we're witnessing now. The guy pays attention to every detail, he knows how he wants us to play, he gets the players doing it and tailors his gameplan to suit the opposition strengths and weaknesses. He's been a breath of fresh air. Sure, it could all go pear shaped yet but every managerial appointment carries risks so why not stick with the bloke who has us winning and playing great football. His press conferences are starting to win him fans too due to the long pause after a question followed by a measured and succinct response. 

[Hopper]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

I have to admit I was a big sceptic at first but the performances in the last two games have convinced me Eckert is the man for the job. The stark difference in how we play now to the past season and a half is incredible. I'd given up on seeing the fast attacking football we're witnessing now. The guy pays attention to every detail, he knows how he wants us to play, he gets the players doing it and tailors his gameplan to suit the opposition strengths and weaknesses. He's been a breath of fresh air. Sure, it could all go pear shaped yet but every managerial appointment carries risks so why not stick with the bloke who has us winning and playing great football. His press conferences are starting to win him fans too due to the long pause after a question followed by a measured and succinct response. 

On the perfectionism point. He was going nuts at the players whilst on the touchline last night, getting his instructions across.

This was at 3-0, it didn't seem to matter to him, he was every bit as dialed in as he was at 0-0.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

5 hours ago, benjii said:

I'm hearing David O'Leary is Still.

Does he have a mask on? A bit like at the end of Scooby Doo.