Tonda Eckert

[tdmickey3]

The choice of experience he needs to have to help is not my job but anyone, miserable or not can see it's what is needed. 

We will see how happy you are when it goes tits up and it will if we continue with this shambolic game management 

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

2 minutes ago, washsaint said:

Like who?  Whose this mythical experienced manager who would have us winning every game and keeping clean sheets every game.

Yes we were terrible second half: unfortunately(?) we go 3 0 u[ and take the foot off the gas completely and become almost complacent.

However, being 3 0  up and winning and seeing 4 back to back wins at home and scoring for fun.  I'd take that any day of the week unlike many of you miserable keywboard warriors.

Um, not sure who you're arguing with. I'm pretty sure most people here want Saints to win too.

However people are rightly concerned that there is a big drop off in the second half.

Why not kill the game off and make the other team think twice about going at Saints?

[washsaint]

1 minute ago, tdmickey3 said:

The choice of experience he needs to have to help is not my job but anyone, miserable or not can see it's what is needed. 

We will see how happy you are when it goes tits up and it will if we continue with this shambolic game management 

Live for the moment - you can't worry about what may or may not happen in the future

[S-Clarke]

I think the players need to take their share here - they were 3-0 up, they shouldn't need a manager babysitting them on the touchline. They pissed the game through their passiveness.

I sensed it from around 55 mins - the subs were too late, but then we don't have RB's at the moment which makes it tricky. Fraser at RWB when we were against it was a poor move - should have been Edwards really.

I hope he gets some experience around him, because the Championship is not forgiving. Some moments require experience and having seen it before.

Edited 12 hours ago by S-Clarke

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

I think the players need to take their share here - they were 3-0 up, they shouldn't need a manager babysitting them on the touchline. They pissed the game through their passiveness.

I sensed it from around 55 mins - the subs were too late, but then we don't have RB's at the moment which makes it tricky. Fraser at RWB when we were against it was a poor move - should have been Edwards really.

I hope he gets some experience around him, because the Championship is not forgiving. Some moments require experience and having seen it before.

Yep agreed.

Would be good to see if he uses other formations too or not.

[Willo of Whiteley]

His in-game management is pretty horrific.

Our tactics are very predictable. He’ll be found out before too long.

Edited 12 hours ago by Willo of Whiteley

[Ex Lion Tamer]

You have to believe that a 32 year old manager in his first major job might be able to learn and improve their in game management

[West end Saints]

On 07/12/2025 at 16:04, West end Saints said:

Came in when we had 0 confidence and struggling.

Performing, factually (points /GD) as one of worst teams in the league.

Has been manager for 6 games.

For those 6 games we have been the best team in the championship - literally top of the 6 game current form table.

We have gone from a point below skates, 10 points below Bristol in 5th, 13 points below Middlesbrough in 2nd 

To

To 10 points clear of skates, to 2 points below Bristol to 9 points Middlesbrough.

I would say unlikely any manager would have done better.

 

Since he came in

Saints 18 pts +12GD

Coventry 16 PTS + 5 gd

Middlesbrough 14 PTS +4 gd

Ipswich 12 PTS +7 gd

Skates 4 PTS -4 gd

Several of the recent posts are unbelievable!

 

 

[Charlie Wayman]

The only thing that matters is that we picked up 3 more points tonight. The ends justifies the means.

Eckert is on a steep learning curve and making a good fist of it. Of course we are not world beaters yet but given the dubious quality of the squad he inherited the guy is working miracles.

[Hayling Saint]

3 minutes ago, West end Saints said:

Since he came in

Saints 18 pts +12GD

Coventry 16 PTS + 5 gd

Middlesbrough 14 PTS +4 gd

Ipswich 12 PTS +7 gd

Skates 4 PTS -4 gd

Several of the recent posts are unbelievable!

 

 

Totally agree with this

 

[moorw003]

I'm pretty disgusted we are playing brilliantly, by far the form team, and we're discussing how bad he is? For real. Tonda is a breathe of fresh air and I'm delighted we appointed him. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

26 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

His in-game management is pretty horrific.

Our tactics are very predictable. He’ll be found out before too long.

I’d like to be a fly on the wall to understand how we can have game after game of amazing first half and monumental drop off in the second.

Is that not a fair point? 🤷🏻‍♂️

I’m not saying he’s crap, I’ve not even said he’s crap. But as fans we can see that certain players aren’t performing or that as the game peters out you have to tweak tactics, and it just stays the same.

An example is bringing on Joe Aribo who has been dogshit every time he has played, that is poor in-game management. It’s basic stuff. 😂

[saintant]

Tonda has done an amazing job to get 6 wins out of 7 games. He deserves massive praise. However, I hope he can somehow improve the game management side of things. The second half today after leading 3-0 was extremely poor. Nobody expects us to dominate every game for 90 minutes but hard work is going to have to be done on the training ground to make winning from good positions far less stressful. He comes across as an intelligent coach so let's see what he comes up with.

[Bob60]

Don't think we can forget the players missing, add in the two right backs, Charles and Stewart and the bench options look a lot lot better.

[skintsaint]

Some turnaround, I'm not entirely convinced by Eckert, but the points don't lie.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

7 hours ago, West end Saints said:

Since he came in

Saints 18 pts +12GD

Coventry 16 PTS + 5 gd

Middlesbrough 14 PTS +4 gd

Ipswich 12 PTS +7 gd

Skates 4 PTS -4 gd

Several of the recent posts are unbelievable!

 

 

Yep, great viewing.

I like what he said the other day about the priority is winning first and getting the result. Then comes togetherness and then good football (I think there was more).

Therefore I'm pretty certain he's working on a way to get the balance on the attacking front and defensive side.

It's a fantastic start and hopefully it'll continue!

[Oisin]

I probably shouldn’t be surprised but some of the comments on here are remarkably negative and unfair. Words like “horrific” and “shambolic”.

Seriously, what are people expecting? Yes, the second half performances need to improve. But there’s such a thing as context. He’s 32, he’s come into a squad of mentally fragile players, low on confidence, with no real leader on the pitch, no strong leader at the back, a (choose your own adjective) keeper, no right back, no number 9 and no transfer window to change the squad … and returned 6 wins out of 7, 21 goals, some hugely entertaining, exciting and attacking football (best I’ve seen in about a decade) and 4 of the last 5 games have essentially been won within 40 minutes. 
The first half performances are 11 out of 10. And in the context he’s doing an outstanding job.

Can he do some things better? Yes. Do I think some of his subs could be better? Yes. Are we overly reliant on Scienza and in need of a formula to play effectively without him? Yes. Do I think a 32 year old has the capacity (and is indeed likely) to learn to get better in these areas? Yes. Are words like “shambolic” and “horrific” reasonable and fair in any way? No.

Could any of us reasonably expect any better so far? No. 

Some of you need to get a grip on reality and a sense of perspective. This is as good as it gets - if you want better, it ain’t ever gonna happen so go find another hobby or die miserable.

Edited 2 hours ago by Oisin
Wrong phrase on subs

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Oisin said:

 

Some of you need to get a grip on reality and a sense of perspective. This is as good as it gets - if you want better, it ain’t ever gonna happen so go find another hobby or die miserable.

This is as good as it gets!!!

 

what the hell are you in about?

[sockeye]

Not saying he’s shit, just saying that his flaws will allow the better teams to compete with us and may well could cost us promotion

Weve collected a lot of points and upped the gd massively but he failed his first real test in millwall

[Fabrice29]

4 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Not saying he’s shit, just saying that his flaws will allow the better teams to compete with us and may well could cost us promotion

Weve collected a lot of points and upped the gd massively but he failed his first real test in millwall

First real test was conveniently the one he lost. These mysterious better teams around the corner. Cost us the promotion we’re getting closer to every week. 

[sockeye]

1 minute ago, Fabrice29 said:

First real test was conveniently the one he lost. These mysterious better teams around the corner. Cost us the promotion we’re getting closer to every week. 

You don’t think Coventry, Boro are better teams?

[Fabrice29]

5 minutes ago, sockeye said:

You don’t think Coventry, Boro are better teams?

Yea, so all results before them shall be discounted. Except for Millwall.

[badgerx16]

Anybody who thinks we were in control of the game in the second half is deluded. From 3-0 up at half time to being very lucky to have not drawn, or even lost, with no defensive shape or leadership on the pitch, shows Tonda's lack of experence, and a worrying lack of cojones from the players.

Our second half performances under Tonda.......

QPR 2:1

Sh Wed 1:0

Charl 0:0

Leics 0:0

Millwall 2:3

Brum 1:1

WBA 0:2

Yes, we had dominated many of the first halves, but we totally switch into passive mode after the break. Last night it was a bloody good thing we had svored 3 in the first 45.

[hypochondriac]

34 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Not saying he’s shit, just saying that his flaws will allow the better teams to compete with us and may well could cost us promotion

Weve collected a lot of points and upped the gd massively but he failed his first real test in millwall

We've won 6 games out of 7 mate. By any metric that's incredible. Yeah there are things to work on but I think his results have earnt a bit of trust.

[badgerx16]

( Duplicate )

Edited 2 hours ago by badgerx16

[hypochondriac]

I'd try and sign a defender in January and maybe a better alternative to Scienza and Fellows if we can shift Edozie and Aribo.

[Osvaldorama]

Can’t believe some of the negativity on here

Fucking hell 😂. The guy could not have done any more so far. 
 

We’ve gone from looking like relegation candidates to playing great football. 

 

[kitch]

34 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Can’t believe some of the negativity on here

Fucking hell 😂. The guy could not have done any more so far. 
 

We’ve gone from looking like relegation candidates to playing great football. 

 

This. Build a statue of the guy as far as I'm concerned, he's pulled off a miracle!

[beatlesaint]

It is on the players I think. Ok he may send them out to be more cautious and to conserve some energy in these 3 game weeks but bloody hell they are the ones who shrink into their shells and go back to playing all theur football in our defensive third. I cant believe Tonda is asking them to invite pressure on themselves.

I think the injuries at present aren't helping with these changes. If you want to take off Fellows for instance and shore up a flank there currently is no recognised right back available. It will be interesting to see when the injuries clear up if we are able to close out games better. Ok he isnt helping himself bringing on Fraser and Aribo but lets remember that early season Wee-man and Robinson were our best players.

You have to give him chance to learn, lets not beat him around the head with this no experience guff everytime we dont put in a perfect performance. We have won 7 out of 8 and probably wouldn't have lost the other if Leo hadn't been ill. Thats fantastic given where and what we were ! Even the greatest managers in history were young and had to learn as they went along ya know !

[Dusic]

45 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Can’t believe some of the negativity on here

Fucking hell 😂. The guy could not have done any more so far. 
 

We’ve gone from looking like relegation candidates to playing great football. 

 

I think there is probably an element with some that they were adamant that we needed this mysterious, hewhocannotbenamed experienced Championship manager which is just cliched bollocks and now they will pick holes in anything to show that they were a teeny, tiny bit right.

#gamemanagement #wankerson

[influx]

Some people just love moaning.  The sort of people you would hate to work with.  Bring you down the minute you speak to them.