New Manager Debate

[sotonjoe]

Some of you lot are unbelievable. One opinion tweeted from Alex Crook, of all people, and some members are foaming at the mouth with rage, assuming Crook to have the inside scoop  🤣

[badgerx16]

Just now, LeBizzier69 said:

Does that make this the Tonda Accord?

Will the fans be Civic towards Tonda, or is this a Prelude to disaster ?

[Sevvy]

I still reckon it will be somebody we have never heard of, 

[tdmickey3]

1 minute ago, badgerx16 said:

Will the fans be Civic towards Tonda, or is this a Prelude to disaster ?

We are most likely going to employ the managerial equivalent of an Austin Allegro

[tdmickey3]

1 minute ago, Sevvy said:

I still reckon it will be somebody we have never heard of, 

We did that after Still went

[sadoldgit]

4 minutes ago, Jack said:

They absolutely can. They can expect the board to have a proper plan to appoint a proper football manager, after their latest experiment failed. If they go with Eckhert, that’ll be another disaster. 2 wins against shit opposition doesn’t mean they’ve unearthed some gem, as much as they’d love to take credit for that. 
 

I think as a fanbase the ‘SR out’ noise has to increase week on week, as they keep doubling down on their own incompetence. The Romeu signing had everyone on board, if they’d followed that up with a sensible managerial appointment then maybe they could’ve really turned a corner with the fans. But the silence is deafening and it’s clear they’re just blagging it. 

A few assumptions here but what is the “experiment” you talk about? They appointed a coach who they thought would be the right fit for the club at this time. In the time allotted for Still, the appointment didn’t work out. It may well have worked out the same way with any other appointment (we will never know) but I don’t see how his appointment could be called an experiment.

I don’t think anyone, including the owners, thinks that two wins means that they have unearthed a gem. Both matches were winnable, even for Still. I don’t think that anyone reads anything into those two matches. Have they actually taken any credit for the victories?

You seem to be assuming that he has the job already. I don’t think that is the case. As for a “sensible” appointment, we all know that, whoever gets the job, there will be people on here slagging off SR’s choice.

Even when Martin was going through the unbeaten run he was getting slagged off. The only assumption worth making is that, whoever gets the gig, he will not be popular amongst some members of the fanbase.

[badgerx16]

2 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

We are most likely going to employ the managerial equivalent of an Austin Allegro

Square steering wheel to go with the square pegs in round holes selection.

[Charlie Wayman]

SR have had to pay off five managers since Ralph left so from a purely financial perspective it is not difficult to see why they turned to Eckert and hope he comes good. He's already on the payroll and if it doesn't work out he simply returns to his old job.

No pay off, no losses whereas there is absolutely no guarantee that a Name manager brought in at great expense would succeed any more than his predecessors. SR don't have an unlimited amount of dole money to keep handing out.

[coalman]

Whoever they choose I sincerely hope they succeed.

However, it's Sport Republic doing the choosing so chances are low. Throw in our players who apparently still long for the pampered days of Russell Martin and will undermine anyone who hurts their feelings and we're fucked for the foreseeable future.

Our culture of mediocrity, platitudes and lack of accountability is so ingrained now that anyone is going to struggle to change it. We have senior people from Sport Republic actively involved in a succession of terrible decisions and the most revolving of manager revolving doors. Then whoever comes in through the door has to confront the ghost of Russball past.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

If the players fully believe in what the manager is trying to do, fine, they will accept criticism, even if they have lost some games, but if they think he is talking shite and they have no clue what he was trying to do, then it's obviously going to be harder to accept. 

Maybe you're right. However, I think the fact that WS dared drop Capt Jack, THB and Bazunu (rightly in my view) was poorly received by the thee players concerned. Downes is another who would probably have joined this cliquey group along with the likes of Manning, AA, Aribo and Edozie. It's very easy to see how the dressing room turned against WS for just calling it how he saw it. I liked that about him. He was honest but, in the end, it was his downfall because once you lose a group of senior players it's all over.

[OldNick]

Will Still must be looking from afar and be thinking how the players (Armstrong in particular) cost him his job. Had they only scored a couple more goals with some golden opportunities, he would still be in his job. Simon Peach also said this morning he thought that we shouldnt have sacked him, and probably would have won the last 2 games. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

Alex Crook is down there with the cesspit of “sources”. 😂

[saintant]

49 minutes ago, stfrancisofbenali said:

I think SR were about to appoint GON and then realised they couldn't after the Sheff Weds game. So, we are left with Tonda as no-one else available, affordable or appropriate. Fanbase can't shout no to GON and then complain bitterly about the alternative as well.

Actually they can and will.

[SuperSAINT]

21 minutes ago, Sevvy said:

I still reckon it will be somebody we have never heard of, 

We probably want it to be Tonda - but tip-toeing on eggshells in the hope he keeps winning to validate it.

[OldNick]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

Maybe you're right. However, I think the fact that WS dared drop Capt Jack, THB and Bazunu (rightly in my view) was poorly received by the thee players concerned. Downes is another who would probably have joined this cliquey group along with the likes of Manning, AA, Aribo and Edozie. It's very easy to see how the dressing room turned against WS for just calling it how he saw it. I liked that about him. He was honest but, in the end, it was his downfall because once you lose a group of senior players it's all over.

Its hard to say who are the ones who really turned the camp against him, Jack says he didnt (although why did he wait until he was gone to say so). Some have really high opinions of their ability/standard and may feel they are above criticism.

Armstrongs goal celebration irks me for some reason

[Jack]

20 minutes ago, sadoldgit said:

A few assumptions here but what is the “experiment” you talk about? They appointed a coach who they thought would be the right fit for the club at this time. In the time allotted for Still, the appointment didn’t work out. It may well have worked out the same way with any other appointment (we will never know) but I don’t see how his appointment could be called an experiment.

I don’t think anyone, including the owners, thinks that two wins means that they have unearthed a gem. Both matches were winnable, even for Still. I don’t think that anyone reads anything into those two matches. Have they actually taken any credit for the victories?

You seem to be assuming that he has the job already. I don’t think that is the case. As for a “sensible” appointment, we all know that, whoever gets the job, there will be people on here slagging off SR’s choice.

Even when Martin was going through the unbeaten run he was getting slagged off. The only assumption worth making is that, whoever gets the gig, he will not be popular amongst some members of the fanbase.

Not exactly a safe bet to appoint such a young manager, who’s only ever managed smaller clubs in France and Belgium, especially after such a disaster of a season and a huge rebuild job with a big budget. They took another punt, a gamble, and it’s backfired again. Like it does with just about everything they do. It felt experimental to me. 
 

It was a shame, I liked how Still talked but he’d say one thing and do another, and it was a failure from the start. I just think in a crisis like this you need to appoint someone who’s been there and done it, can command respect and whip a clearly talented squad for this level into shape. This squad clearly needs some leadership and experience, not another kid. 

[Sarnia Cherie]

3 minutes ago, Jack said:

Not exactly a safe bet to appoint such a young manager, who’s only ever managed smaller clubs in France and Belgium, especially after such a disaster of a season and a huge rebuild job with a big budget. They took another punt, a gamble, and it’s backfired again. Like it does with just about everything they do. It felt experimental to me. 
 

It was a shame, I liked how Still talked but he’d say one thing and do another, and it was a failure from the start. I just think in a crisis like this you need to appoint someone who’s been there and done it, can command respect and whip a clearly talented squad for this level into shape. This squad clearly needs some leadership and experience, not another kid. 

That's why I thought Tony Mowbray being mentioned was hopeful but it's all gone quiet on him.

[Dman]

12 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

We probably want it to be Tonda - but tip-toeing on eggshells in the hope he keeps winning to validate it.

They're clearly desperate for it to be Tonda 

[Wade Garrett]

37 minutes ago, sotonjoe said:

Some of you lot are unbelievable. One opinion tweeted from Alex Crook, of all people, and some members are foaming at the mouth with rage, assuming Crook to have the inside scoop  🤣

Not just Crook though.  The Echo journalists are buttering up for Eckert as well.

[SaintNewForest]

22 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Its hard to say who are the ones who really turned the camp against him, Jack says he didnt (although why did he wait until he was gone to say so). Some have really high opinions of their ability/standard and may feel they are above criticism.

Armstrongs goal celebration irks me for some reason

Because that was the 1st time he'd been asked about it? 🤣

[Chez]

20 minutes ago, saintant said:

Maybe you're right. However, I think the fact that WS dared drop Capt Jack, THB and Bazunu (rightly in my view) was poorly received by the thee players concerned. Downes is another who would probably have joined this cliquey group along with the likes of Manning, AA, Aribo and Edozie. It's very easy to see how the dressing room turned against WS for just calling it how he saw it. I liked that about him. He was honest but, in the end, it was his downfall because once you lose a group of senior players it's all over.

It's little wonder managers don't want large squads as players out of the side are never going to be impressed.

I'm not sure Still dropping certain players caused his downfall. It may be part of it, but I think it was more a failure to create a structure that got us playing well, creating chances and winning games. If you are winning, no one gives a fuck what the guy out of the side has to say, but lose week in week out and non playing players are empowered.

I'm not sure he lost players leading to losses. I think there was just an erosion of confidence and then everyone and everything was lost. 

This is why what the likes of Russell Martin and Gareth Southgate (for England) did should not be underestimated. It's really difficult to get players onside and create an environment that sees everyone pushing in the same direction.

Whether Tonda or whoever can do that from this position, I don't know. 

[SouSaint]

These jokers haven't got a clue but it only took two wins for the anti SR chants to stop. 🙄

[Chez]

 

44 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

SR have had to pay off five managers since Ralph left so from a purely financial perspective it is not difficult to see why they turned to Eckert and hope he comes good. He's already on the payroll and if it doesn't work out he simply returns to his old job.

No pay off, no losses whereas there is absolutely no guarantee that a Name manager brought in at great expense would succeed any more than his predecessors. SR don't have an unlimited amount of dole money to keep handing out.

Eckert isn't going to do the head coach job long term on his u21 coach wage.

Once he has done it for a while (I'm not sure how long) then returning to the U21s becomes a demotion. he might be fine with it, he might not.

[Harry_SFC]

Classic SR. No plan, no hope. 

[ant]

7 minutes ago, SouSaint said:

These jokers haven't got a clue but it only took two wins for the anti SR chants to stop. 🙄

Whilst I'd have respected the chanting continuing, it was never likely if results started picking up.

Think it's wrong to assume they've stopped, though. Won't take much for discontent to rear its head again.

[OldNick]

19 minutes ago, SaintNewForest said:

Because that was the 1st time he'd been asked about it? 🤣

Oh come on, he and the club knew that the rumours and article was doing the rounds. Surely he/club could have nipped it in the bud immediately.

[Lallana's Left Peg]

If Tonda Eckert was jobless, would he get a job as Manager in any other club in the Championship?

Clubs with far less resources than us appoint managers with far more experience in order to try and get the most out of what they have at their disposal.

It seems SR constantly go for the moon shot and when they fail cut the cord quickly.  What they fail to realise is the material impact this has on the players and the supporters.  It is just a mathematical game of chance to them.

[OldNick]

Of all the candidates, who is there that is going to galvanise the squad and also inspire the fans? Its a conumdrum.

If a new man comes in and loses 2 of the first 3 we will be back to 'sack the bord' etc etc. The club played the'we're going to go back up ' card too much and so expectations have been too high.

The only time we looked good was when Ross was linking play and we did look decent, once he got injured we have played with the handbrake on and it has focussed the folly of not getting a proper centre forward

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

Will Still must be looking from afar and be thinking how the players (Armstrong in particular) cost him his job. Had they only scored a couple more goals with some golden opportunities, he would still be in his job. Simon Peach also said this morning he thought that we shouldnt have sacked him, and probably would have won the last 2 games. 

The problem is that's easy to say. 

We didn't beat and lost to Blackburn as well as getting battered by Hull.

Players are to blame too. Would they have put in the effort to defend as much against QPR if Still was still there? I doubt it.

[Swaythling Saint]

1 hour ago, sotonjoe said:

Some of you lot are unbelievable. One opinion tweeted from Alex Crook, of all people, and some members are foaming at the mouth with rage, assuming Crook to have the inside scoop  🤣

No worries, Adam has come in off the back of Crook's tweet to calm the waters 🤣

 

[Harry_SFC]

10 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

The problem is that's easy to say. 

We didn't beat and lost to Blackburn as well as getting battered by Hull.

Players are to blame too. Would they have put in the effort to defend as much against QPR if Still was still there? I doubt it.

I'll give you QPR. Not Sheffield Wednesday though. 

[Ken Tone]

Should we re-name this thread "new manager debacle" ? 😉

[Turkish]

24 minutes ago, Lallana's Left Peg said:

If Tonda Eckert was jobless, would he get a job as Manager in any other club in the Championship?

Clubs with far less resources than us appoint managers with far more experience in order to try and get the most out of what they have at their disposal.

It seems SR constantly go for the moon shot and when they fail cut the cord quickly.  What they fail to realise is the material impact this has on the players and the supporters.  It is just a mathematical game of chance to them.

Just by the law of averages eventually one of their managers will work out. That's the data telling me that too, listen to Rasmus people elite (ish) level sport is just like gambling!

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, Charlie Wayman said:

This season is written off anyway so why not give him a go?

In what way is the season written off? We're 7 points off the play offs and 3 games coming up against teams between us and the playoffs. Whatever manager gets to take charge, the pressure is on to deliver.

I don't understand the meltdown though. At least let it go wrong before having a headloss. For the Eckert critics how many points in the next 3 for example would win you over? 

[Sarisbury Saint]

2 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

In what way is the season written off? We're 7 points off the play offs and 3 games coming up against teams between us and the playoffs. Whatever manager gets to take charge, the pressure is on to deliver.

I don't understand the meltdown though. At least let it go wrong before having a headloss. For the Eckert critics how many points in the next 3 for example would win you over? 

10 or get rid.

[OttawaSaint]

If they go for Tonda having not learned a damn thing from previous fuckups then we are well and truly doomed.

SR dictating the Southampton way, fuck off! Making the same shitty mistakes of tactics, selection, formation and recruitment is not "the Southampton way" it's the SR way.

 

Southampton way is "a team of less than high profile players, getting fucking stuck in, playing for each other, giving a bloody good go of it, battling against the odds and sometimes giving the big teams a bloody nose". 

That's how it used to be anyway.

[tdmickey3]

35 minutes ago, Lallana's Left Peg said:

If Tonda Eckert was jobless, would he get a job as Manager in any other club in the Championship?

Clubs with far less resources than us appoint managers with far more experience in order to try and get the most out of what they have at their disposal.

It seems SR constantly go for the moon shot and when they fail cut the cord quickly.  What they fail to realise is the material impact this has on the players and the supporters.  It is just a mathematical game of chance to them.

Not a chance he would get another job at another EFL club

[Weston Super Saint]

1 hour ago, davefizzy14 said:

Surely we are looking to make an appointment based on the fact that we have been interviewing over the last week? 

I wouldn't take that for granted given the track record of our clowns.

[davefizzy14]

3 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

I wouldn't take that for granted given the track record of our clowns.

But some of the itk's on here have said that we have been interviewing candidates. 

Edited 29 minutes ago by davefizzy14

[Fabrice29]

7 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Not a chance he would get another job at another EFL club

Literally had a job at another EFL club a few years back. Laugh emoji.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

11 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

In what way is the season written off? We're 7 points off the play offs and 3 games coming up against teams between us and the playoffs. Whatever manager gets to take charge, the pressure is on to deliver.

I don't understand the meltdown though. At least let it go wrong before having a headloss. For the Eckert critics how many points in the next 3 for example would win you over? 

Only a manager who could put together a record unbeaten run will convince me...no wait...

[the saint in winchester]

3 hours ago, Toussaint said:

If it is him I just hope that the supporters give him a fair go. 

More importantly, will the players give him a fair go? Or not give 100% because they have doubts.

[AlexLaw76]

If they got spooked with GON due to fan reaction, hiring Hungry Eyes won’t be too far from a similar reaction when we fail to win the next home game.

it can’t be him. It just can’t

it is like they want it to be him…the club act like a shit government nudge unit!!!

 

Edited 11 minutes ago by AlexLaw76

[bangkoksaint]

That’ll be me done then for the season sadly. Not prepared to spend good time and money going to games. We know exactly where this is headed with the toxic group of players we have. Sorry TE but I just don’t think you’ll be strong enough or have the gravitas to deal with the bunch of losers you’re about to inherit. I think this will be the season to condemn us to a sustained time in the Championship. We had a chance of making the playoffs but that’s probably a pipe dream now

[Lallana's Left Peg]

27 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

In what way is the season written off? We're 7 points off the play offs and 3 games coming up against teams between us and the playoffs. Whatever manager gets to take charge, the pressure is on to deliver.

I don't understand the meltdown though. At least let it go wrong before having a headloss. For the Eckert critics how many points in the next 3 for example would win you over? 

 

The season is not written off but this is not an appointment that would drive confidence of a play off push.  Too many unknowns - it is a clear risk.  Remind me how SR risks have turned out for this football club during their ownership?

Go back to this summer...you'd surely have been concerned if Eckert was appointed as our manager?  Just because SR continue to fail doesn't mean we should accept more risks and a lower caliber of manager.  Their constant failure should not diminish our expectations of competency in the slightest.

The only other thing I'll say is that it may be an enforced risky decision, as SR have now backed themselves into a corner where they can't attract managers due to both their record with them and their patience with them.  It also defies belief that Spors attracted Eckert to the club by saying he'd be Stills successor.  Spors himself has created this situation and it is complete lunacy.

 

[Turkish]

I see the propaganda has started with Azaz and other players now coming out saying how good he is 😂

SR must have been overjoyed that we managed to scrape a couple of wins, they always wanted this guy to get it

It's like clockwork this, linked with O'Neil, few leaks, fans oppose it

Club releases PR pieces about how good current novice manager is from players

Appoint underwhelming manager, fans disappointed but glad it's not O'Neil

 

 

[S-Clarke]

They are desperate to give it to him, you can tell. They are absolutely chomping at the bit.

But they are scared of fan reaction.

So they'll delay it. Hope he keeps picking up results, then they have the ammunition to do so.

If he stops picking up results, starting at Charlton, they'll flap and appoint Tony Mowbray until the end of the season.

You watch.

Basically there was zero point in sacking Will Still. Absolutely no point. If this was there direction, then they should have just backed him properly.

Edited 4 minutes ago by S-Clarke

[Farmer Saint]

2 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

Will the fans be Civic towards Tonda, or is this a Prelude to disaster ?

I see what you did there - Legend!

[Saint Scott]

13 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

If they got spooked with GON due to fan reaction, hiring Hungry Eyes won’t be too far from a similar reaction when we fail to win the next home game.

it can’t be him. It just can’t

it is like they want it to be him…the club act like a shit government nudge unit!!!

 

Yet another gamble from these inept clowns

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

Yet another gamble from these inept clowns

The Incapables strike again!!