Tonda Eckert

[Disco Stu]

With Eckert, I'm seeing good coaching but naive management. I'm hoping some experienced additions to his backroom staff might improve things.

[tdmickey3]

1 hour ago, Disco Stu said:

With Eckert, I'm seeing good coaching but naive management. I'm hoping some experienced additions to his backroom staff might improve things.

Yep, exactly how I see it, tactically not good enough but coaches players to do good things but when those things don't work he has little idea what else to do

[Willo of Whiteley]

Just read his comments.

Not sure I believe him about the desperation to win the game when we continue with three centre backs.

[Mboto Gorge]

Yep, bizarre to leave 3 CBs on and keep 5 at the back, yet send Bazunu up for a corner at the end. Almost as if that was a “look how much we’re trying to win the game” exercise for show. Smacked of that to me, anyway. 

Edited 19 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[Sheaf Saint]

13 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Yep, bizarre to leave 3 CBs on and keep 5 at the back, yet send Bazunu up for a corner at the end. Almost as if that was a “look how much we’re trying to win the game” exercise for show. Smacked of that to me, anyway. 

We weren't playing 5 at the back.

THB pushed up into midfield and both Manning and Fellows were playing as wingers.

[S-Clarke]

7 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

We weren't playing 5 at the back.

THB pushed up into midfield and both Manning and Fellows were playing as wingers.

It was a bit square-pegs for no real benefit. We had no fluidity in those final stages due to those changes, as it ruined any shape. 5, 4 or 3 at the back is not the issue really, it was the lack of any real shape in those closing stages. You never saw us winning because we couldn't build up any momentum.

More poor in-game management from him I have to say, especially with a 2nd half against 10 men.

Edited 19 hours ago by S-Clarke

[The Kraken]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

We weren't playing 5 at the back.

THB pushed up into midfield and both Manning and Fellows were playing as wingers.

It would have been madness to bring on an actual midfielder or attacker to play where THB supposedly pushed in to, I’m sure.

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

We weren't playing 5 at the back.

THB pushed up into midfield and both Manning and Fellows were playing as wingers.

Why not actually play a midfielder there?

[LGTL]

He’s exceptionally limited, and we rely on moments of brilliance from our extremely expensive attacking unit. We’ll not get close to top 6. 

Edited 17 hours ago by LGTL

[AlexLaw76]

Another stupid appointment from SR.

but, that’s what they do

[Turkish]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

Another stupid appointment from SR.

but, that’s what they do

There wasn’t anyone else in the world who would do better

[Dusic]

I waant bothered about keeping the 3 CBs because initially it helped us get total control as their only tactic was the physicality of Wright and then Simms and we dealt with that very well. They did absolutely nothing 2nf half which isn't always the case for teams down to 10.

Then later on the set plays were one of our main threats and those guys most likely to score.

Not convinced what we needed in latter stages was Fraser, Aribo or Robinson.

We had enough of the ball but lacked a presence to cross to which they knew so were happy to defend narrow and leave the space out wide.

Don't see that as some kind of big tactical error really.

[Dusic]

13 minutes ago, LGTL said:

He’s exceptionally limited, and we rely on moments of brilliance from our extremely expensive attacking unit. We’ll not get close to top 6. 

Will comfortably get top 6 IMO.

Why is relying on your attacking talent having moments of brilliance a bad thing?! Its the whole point of having them.

Besides, a lot of our goals under Eckert have been good team player rather than some kind of unsustainable worldy.

[The Kraken]

17 minutes ago, Dusic said:

Don't see that as some kind of big tactical error really.

Less of a big error,  but more evidence that we have a manager who is wedded to playing with 3 CBs on the pitch at all times. That second half ended up being ponderous, we were completely overloaded at the back and still had one or two holding midfielders constantly dropping back. If our argument for that is that we pushed a CB into midfield, I’m not sure that spells tactical masterclass to me. 

Out with the old, in with the old.

Edited 16 hours ago by The Kraken

[Dusic]

3 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

Less of a big error,  but more evidence that we have a manager who is wedded to playing with 3 CBs on the pitch at all times. That second half ended up being ponderous, we were completely overloaded at the back and still had one or two holding midfielders constantly dropping back. If our argument for that is that we pushed a CB into midfield, I’m not sure that spells tactical masterclass to me. 

Out with the old, in with the old.

Yeah certainly seems keen on the 3CBs, but IMO it wasnt really a factor today and actually helped us completely dominate the ball.

Far bigger issue was that when we regularly worked the ball wide to the space we had no targets to hit in the box - more personnel than tactical

[Sheaf Saint]

54 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

It would have been madness to bring on an actual midfielder or attacker to play where THB supposedly pushed in to, I’m sure.

 

48 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Why not actually play a midfielder there?

I guess keeping THB on kinda made sense, because he can play decent forward passes and also has the potential to get in the box and get on the end of crosses.

The other option would have been to bring on Romeu, Bragg or Aribo. Personally I don't think any of those options would have improved our likelihood of finding a winner. 

There's plenty of reasons to criticise Tonda, but I don't think this is especially one of them.

[Tamesaint]

2 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Another stupid appointment from SR.

but, that’s what they do

Unbelievable. 

We have a manager who inherited a team which had amassed 12 points out of a possible 39. Under him we have taken 19 points out of a possible 27. A rate which would guarantee automatic promotion if continued for a whole season. But this does not satisfy some of the whingers on this board 

"There is no plan b" 

" We only have one way of playing" 

"I don't like 5 at the back" etc etc

So what should we do? If Tonda is such a"stupid appointment " should he be sacked and replaced with someone who we will moan about and want sacked as soon as he doesn't win every game? Should we churn through 3 or 4 or 5 managers each season?

The football that we have seen in the last 6 weeks has been most enjoyable. Probably the most entertaining since before Puell. It isn't perfect . We are all entitled to think how it could be better. We don't and we won't win every game that we play but FFS why not try to enjoy the football , support the team and not come out with the nonsense that I have quoted above. 

 

 

 

 

[Zorba]

2 hours ago, Dusic said:

Will comfortably get top 6 IMO.

Our record against the 10 teams above us says differently with only 1 win in 10..

(D) Saints 1-1 Coventry

(D) Saints 1-1 Boro

(D) Ipswich 1-1 Saints

(L) Hull 3-1 Saints

(L) Saints 0-2 PNE

(L) Millwall 3-2 Saints

(W) QPR 1-2 Saints

(L) Saints 1-2 Stoke

(L) Bristol City 3-1 Saints

(D) Watford 2-2 Saints

[Patrick Bateman]

3 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Another stupid appointment from SR.

but, that’s what they do

Nah I don't agree. Who on earth [that would come to Saints] would have more points than Eckert?? I expect a couple of strong loan signings in Jan.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

1 hour ago, Zorba said:

Our record against the 10 teams above us says differently with only 1 win in 10..

(D) Saints 1-1 Coventry

(D) Saints 1-1 Boro

(D) Ipswich 1-1 Saints

(L) Hull 3-1 Saints

(L) Saints 0-2 PNE

(L) Millwall 3-2 Saints

(W) QPR 1-2 Saints

(L) Saints 1-2 Stoke

(L) Bristol City 3-1 Saints

(D) Watford 2-2 Saints

Wow, that is piss poor.

[Wade Garrett]

Lost a bit of faith in Eckert today.  Leaving 3 centre/backs on against 10 men was ridiculous, as was taking Jander off and then just dropping Azaz back in his position.  Lots of pointless square and backwards passing as well.

Looks like another manager wedded to a single system.

[Wade Garrett]

6 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

Unbelievable. 

We have a manager who inherited a team which had amassed 12 points out of a possible 39. Under him we have taken 19 points out of a possible 27. A rate which would guarantee automatic promotion if continued for a whole season. But this does not satisfy some of the whingers on this board 

"There is no plan b" 

" We only have one way of playing" 

"I don't like 5 at the back" etc etc

So what should we do? If Tonda is such a"stupid appointment " should he be sacked and replaced with someone who we will moan about and want sacked as soon as he doesn't win every game? Should we churn through 3 or 4 or 5 managers each season?

The football that we have seen in the last 6 weeks has been most enjoyable. Probably the most entertaining since before Puell. It isn't perfect . We are all entitled to think how it could be better. We don't and we won't win every game that we play but FFS why not try to enjoy the football , support the team and not come out with the nonsense that I have quoted above. 

 

 

 

 

I did support the team.  I’m allowed to have an opinion, and nobody is saying sack the manager.  Ridiculous post, and I should know - I’ve had a fair few myself.

[Tamesaint]

7 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

I did support the team.  I’m allowed to have an opinion, and nobody is saying sack the manager.  Ridiculous post, and I should know - I’ve had a fair few myself.

Alex is saying that his appointment was stupid. Stupid appointments tend to not last very long. 

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, Tamesaint said:

Alex is saying that his appointment was stupid. Stupid appointments tend to not last very long. 

I don’t think he will be manager next season.

He is as wedded to a way of playing as Will Still was. We are now seeing teams adjust to how they play us.

also, I believe we experienced a new manager bounce (for once), nothing more. Of course we will win more games, we have much better players than most of the league, but we ain’t going up with Tonda and he will have done well personally to get us into the playoffs.

Edited 6 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[AlexLaw76]

8 hours ago, Tamesaint said:

Unbelievable. 

We have a manager who inherited a team which had amassed 12 points out of a possible 39. Under him we have taken 19 points out of a possible 27. A rate which would guarantee automatic promotion if continued for a whole season. But this does not satisfy some of the whingers on this board 

"There is no plan b" 

" We only have one way of playing" 

"I don't like 5 at the back" etc etc

So what should we do? If Tonda is such a"stupid appointment " should he be sacked and replaced with someone who we will moan about and want sacked as soon as he doesn't win every game? Should we churn through 3 or 4 or 5 managers each season?

The football that we have seen in the last 6 weeks has been most enjoyable. Probably the most entertaining since before Puell. It isn't perfect . We are all entitled to think how it could be better. We don't and we won't win every game that we play but FFS why not try to enjoy the football , support the team and not come out with the nonsense that I have quoted above. 

 

 

 

 

Just giving an opinion mate. Like I did about Jones, Martin and Still…. Way before most on here.

 

Edited 6 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[Sheaf Saint]

17 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Just giving an opinion mate. Like I did about Jones, Martin and Still…. Way before most on here.

 

Just getting it out there that you hated Tonda before it was cool to.

You hipster you 😉

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Anything other than 2nd or finishing in the playoffs is a failure with the players we have.

Tonda has shown that the team can overwhelm the opposition. Needs to do that again in another good run.

Also please, just hire a specialist defensive coach to help sort out the defending.

Edited 5 hours ago by JohnnyShearer2.0

[CamSaint]

10 hours ago, Zorba said:

Our record against the 10 teams above us says differently with only 1 win in 10..

(D) Saints 1-1 Coventry

(D) Saints 1-1 Boro

(D) Ipswich 1-1 Saints

(L) Hull 3-1 Saints

(L) Saints 0-2 PNE

(L) Millwall 3-2 Saints

(W) QPR 1-2 Saints

(L) Saints 1-2 Stoke

(L) Bristol City 3-1 Saints

(D) Watford 2-2 Saints

This looks damning, except 7 of those matches were with Still in charge. His record: P7 W0 D3 L4 - 3pts from 21. Eckert P3 W1 D1 L1 - 4 pts from 9.

[benjii]

I'm not sure Tonda did too much wrong yesterday.

We needed a physical striker off the bench for the last 30 minutes when they were camped deep, but we unfortunately didn't have one. That being the case, it felt like a centre back was as likely to score as anyone else, which is what actually happened.

If we'd taken a CB off and put, say, Aribo on, would that have made us more dangerous? 

Really the only other option we had was to perhaps swap Azaz for a similar player or put Robinson on at LWB. 

Even at 11v11, we had three very good chances in the first half and should have scored.

I wish we would occasionally try a different shape, but I'm not sure it would have made much difference yesterday, with the other team camped deep.

[Tamesaint]

3 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Just giving an opinion mate. Like I did about Jones, Martin and Still…. Way before most on here.

 

I bet you hate Tonda's replacement already. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

It seems the debacle that was last season and the terrible start to this season has dimmed in the memories of some. Tonda has reversed this to large extent but it’s a long way back from the pit of despair we’ve witnessed and he’s still got a large contingent of the players that took us to that dark place. He’s doing well under those circumstances and deserves to see out the transformation completely when he’s got a decent back room staff (particularly a no.2 that can help him make better decisions) and the chance to exorcise some the dross in the squad.

Edited 2 hours ago by Saint Fan CaM

[saintant]

4 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I don’t think he will be manager next season.

He is as wedded to a way of playing as Will Still was. We are now seeing teams adjust to how they play us.

also, I believe we experienced a new manager bounce (for once), nothing more. Of course we will win more games, we have much better players than most of the league, but we ain’t going up with Tonda and he will have done well personally to get us into the playoffs.

The problem is that many suspect playing 3 centre backs is a club decision and it does seem quite plausible because every manager plays this system whereas most good sides don't. There is something not right about the way we are welded to a system that doesn't really suit the players we have and has Fellows operating as a wing back.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

2 hours ago, CamSaint said:

This looks damning, except 7 of those matches were with Still in charge. His record: P7 W0 D3 L4 - 3pts from 21. Eckert P3 W1 D1 L1 - 4 pts from 9.

Good point.

Stills record there is pretty poor. Tondas a little bit better. 

Fingers crossed that Tonda can correct that.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

6 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

 Lots of pointless square and backwards passing as well.

There wasn't anyone to pass to most of the time because Coventry had parked the bus. It was actually players waiting for an opportunity rather than playing a pass to would inevitably fail. Either that or a lack of movement off the ball

Edited 1 hour ago by Ex Lion Tamer