Tonda Eckert

[HnycS]

On 22/11/2025 at 08:28, Midfield_General said:

The difference today was:

- every time someone received the ball in midfield they had clearly been told to turn, look up, and drive forward

- we played to the strengths of the three midgets/ wisps up front and played the ball along the ground as much as possible and into space behind rather than pumping the ball up in the air

- we took our chances (Azaz early one aside)

- we were aggressive and competed for everything (almost - free header for the goal aside)

- we got our forward players who have the ability to hurt people on the ball as early as possible, to feet, in the areas they wanted it - specifically Scienza, Fellows, Azaz and Armstrong 

Basic stuff, but put it all together and it’s stuff we haven’t been doing and it’s night and day from the nervous, back foot shite that’s been served up by managers and players too damaged by defeat to trust our ability to attack. 

Nice summary, was going to say maybe a little luck also. But then I thought about the uncontested header for the first goal, and realized Manning wasn't there by accident. That took some planning and desire from Manning to make the run. Maybe the luck was getting to play mad Nate, the players who had him as a manager really seemed to want to win.

[Tamesaint]

19 minutes ago, HnycS said:

Nice summary, was going to say maybe a little luck also. But then I thought about the uncontested header for the first goal, and realized Manning wasn't there by accident. That took some planning and desire from Manning to make the run. Maybe the luck was getting to play mad Nate, the players who had him as a manager really seemed to want to win.

But by my reckoning that was only Arma. Stephens was on loan that season and Bragg was buried deep in the academy. Everyone else is post Nathan. 

[ant]

2 hours ago, Oisin said:

We win 5-1 away and some people on the forum spend their Sunday having an argument? 
 

Love this place 

Wouldn't you be more concerned if there was zero discourse about Eckert and his methods?

He's undoubtedly staking his claim, but there remains risk factors in making him permanent. And - perhaps - risk factors if we don't.

It's a bigger conversation than any single result. Especially when that has its own thread.

[Saint Fan CaM]

The more I think about the game, the more I truly believe Eckhert absolutely schooled Jones. He knew exactly how Jones was going to set up his team and knew exactly how best to utilise our players to achieve a result, although I doubt even he could have expected such a fantastic result. Recognising that AA’s experience and ability could be utilised by dropping back and feeding others was a stroke of genius. Faster transition of the ball forwards was something we’ve been crying out for but thought the players were not capable of - they clearly are but needed the coaching to unlock that ability. Tuesdays game will be telling, but my money is on Eckhert finding a way for us to win or at the very least draw.

[Dusic]

Will be interesting to see the make up of his staff if he gets the gig full time.

Currently its pretty much his U21 setup. There will obviously be calls for more senior experience e.g a Trollope type but I think overall I would just want him to be able to work with people he wants and has chosen, as most successful managers do.

@J.cSHRIMP made a good point to me that perhaps the others we have been linked with like Strobl and Frandsen are more with a view to joining as an Assistant to Tonda than for the top job? Would imagine he knows Strobl at least from his work in Germany.

[Totton Saint]

13 hours ago, ant said:

Wouldn't you be more concerned if there was zero discourse about Eckert and his methods?

He's undoubtedly staking his claim, but there remains risk factors in making him permanent. And - perhaps - risk factors if we don't.

It's a bigger conversation than any single result. Especially when that has its own thread.

Echert made our squad rise like a Phoenix from the ashes left behind by Still. An almost impossible feat. Give him the job as an Xmas Present.

 

[Lighthouse]

Anybody any good with photoshop? I think this is fairly self-explanatory.

 

[whelk]

27 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Anybody any good with photoshop? I think this is fairly self-explanatory.

 

Didn’t pay much for the software. Quite basic

[whelk]

Realised it could be improved

[Verbal]

8 minutes ago, whelk said:

Realised it could be improved

Well it completely fooled me. What is a "Honda" anyway?

[Sheaf Saint]

20 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

But by my reckoning that was only Arma. Stephens was on loan that season and Bragg was buried deep in the academy. Everyone else is post Nathan. 

Baz played under him too.

[SaintNewForest]

45 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Baz played under him too.

Bazunu

McCarthy

Armstrong

Aribo

Edozie

Are the sole survivors from the NJ era.

(Unless we're just talking starting players)

[LiberalCommunist]

I can't work out if TE is thoroughly likeable, or we've just had such a dreadful run of gaffers, that the first normal one to come along in years seems outrageously decent.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Verbal said:

Well it completely fooled me. What is a "Honda" anyway?

It's a bit like a Rento.

[Whitey Grandad]

On 22/11/2025 at 18:20, Yorkshire Saint said:

Perhaps the players were on the ball because they know what is coming next....

Then leave things as they are.

[Whitey Grandad]

2 hours ago, Verbal said:

Well it completely fooled me. What is a "Honda" anyway?

In Japanese it's a combination of two words. The 'da' part refers to a field, particularly a rice paddy, and the first part of the surname refers to the position that the person occupies in that field and hence their social status. There are many other examples of surnames ending in 'da'

Yoshida, Yamada, Toyoda, Genda, Fukuda and so on. I'm not sure about Yoda though. 

The Japanese word 'Ton' means 'pig' or 'pork' , apparently. 

[Colinjb]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

In Japanese it's a combination of two words. The 'da' part refers to a field, particularly a rice paddy, and the first part of the surname refers to the position that the person occupies in that field and hence their social status. There are many other examples of surnames ending in 'da'

Yoshida, Yamada, Toyoda, Genda, Fukuda and so on. I'm not sure about Yoda though. 

The Japanese word 'Ton' means 'pig' or 'pork' , apparently. 

So. Our potential new manager is called 'Pigfield,' or, 'Porkpaddy.'

I like it. Not sure Paddy will mind.