New Manager Thread

[Dr Who?]

Got excited when I saw this thread as I missed it the first time around. We are stuck with him now, at least until the end of the season when we finish mid table and we sack him. God knows where we will go from there, as we will have the whole summer to screw up an appointment. And around we go again! 

[East Kent Saint]

Nancy out after 8 games , time for a  change at Saints

Edited Monday at 17:36 by East Kent Saint

[Obstacle1]

10 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

Nancy out after 8 games , time for a  change at Saints

If Ankersen etc are reading this they'll probably interpret that as a vote of confidence in Nancy

[SaintsRoyalty]

I think now is our last chance to attract a top manager. Not too far off the play offs, decent squad for this league. Quite a few would fancy their chances of coming in and getting us up.

if they wait until the summer then it’s a completely different picture. We all know they are going to wait and then hire another unproven yes man. Hope the protest goes ahead at the weekend. We need as many people to turn up as possible. We have to learn from Celtic and Rangers. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

56 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Who do you reckon those are? Stephens obviously, Manning, Bazunu possibly? Or is it just capability with him?

Nathan Wood? THB? Downes? Archer? Possibly Damion Downs although he’s being shipped out already having been the club’s worst postwar outfield player in living memory. Even worse than Ali Dia and Lee Todd. 

Seems to be a Swansea/Martin core at work there. 

I've no doubt Downes is one of them. Probably Armstrong too, along with Stephens, Manning and THB. Basically all the players that were so matey with Martin. 

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Who do you reckon those are? Stephens obviously, Manning, Bazunu possibly? Or is it just capability with him?

Nathan Wood? THB? Downes? Archer? Possibly Damion Downs although he’s being shipped out already having been the club’s worst postwar outfield player in living memory. Even worse than Ali Dia and Lee Todd. 

Seems to be a Swansea/Martin core at work there. 

Having met Bazunu he's as meek as a church mouse so I very much doubt he's got that level of spirit in him. He probably also can't believe anyone is still picking him so I don't think he'd be looking to rock the boat. 

My money is one the ones who have been around since the Martin days, have the most obvious arrogance about them, give up the quickest when the going gets tough, are the most contemptuous towards the fans and/or give it the big one at the slightest opportunity despite having been desperately bang average themselves for longer than anyone can remember. Specifically: Stephens, Manning, Harwood-Bellis, Downes, Armstrong, Fraser, Aribo and McCarthy. Wood also gives me wanker vibes and appears to be so dumb I could see him just going along with the school bullies.

I'd get rid of the lot of them at the drop of a hat if it was possible. Just sweep the entire rotten thing clean and start again with a new generation and new ownership who bring in a proper manager and coaching staff to lead them. 

Edited Monday at 18:50 by Midfield_General

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Who do you reckon those are? Stephens obviously, Manning, Bazunu possibly? Or is it just capability with him?

Nathan Wood? THB? Downes? Archer? Possibly Damion Downs although he’s being shipped out already having been the club’s worst postwar outfield player in living memory. Even worse than Ali Dia and Lee Todd. 

Seems to be a Swansea/Martin core at work there. 

I don't like Downes, I think he's got form. Not just here, but at Ipswich when he wanted out and then in January last year with us. I think he's a bad egg, and not a particularly good footballer either - a bit of a nothing player all told, suits a very specific static style of play and nothing else.

I think there potentially is a legit clique around the likes of Downes, Manning, Wood from their Swansea days. Look at how Wood responded to a supporter a few weeks ago who called him out, that bloke is another fraud and a pretty crap footballer too. 

Stephens - I don't see him being a toxic type, I just think he's the sort that lets anything go. He's the absolute definition of medoricity in every way, how he leads, how he plays, how his career has gone - and he's the captain. We reward mediocrity and don't drive up standards, and it's a comfortable place for players on decent dollar.

[beatlesaint]

32 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I don't like Downes, I think he's got form. Not just here, but at Ipswich when he wanted out and then in January last year with us. I think he's a bad egg, and not a particularly good footballer either - a bit of a nothing player all told, suits a very specific static style of play and nothing else.

I think there potentially is a legit clique around the likes of Downes, Manning, Wood from their Swansea days. Look at how Wood responded to a supporter a few weeks ago who called him out, that bloke is another fraud and a pretty crap footballer too. 

Stephens - I don't see him being a toxic type, I just think he's the sort that lets anything go. He's the absolute definition of medoricity in every way, how he leads, how he plays, how his career has gone - and he's the captain. We reward mediocrity and don't drive up standards, and it's a comfortable place for players on decent dollar.

Agree with that, I’d add Harwood Bellend to that clique list, he thinks he’s the dogs wotsits !!

Edited Monday at 19:11 by beatlesaint

[James]

1 hour ago, East Kent Saint said:

Nancy out after 8 games , time for a  change at Saints

Quick, Rasmus. Sign him up. The Wilfred Nancy Redemption Tour waits for no one. 

Edited Monday at 19:19 by James

[Lord Duckhunter]

13 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Agree with that, I’d add Harwood Bellend to that clique list, he thinks he’s the dogs wotsits !!

And fucking “Arma”, with his pony fucking nickname. 
 

There’s not many I look at and think “he’s a good lad”. Baz seems a.right, I mean he’s fucking pony, but he doesn’t walk around like Billy big bollocks. Downes thinks he’s Johnny Concrete, but is a fucking pound shop JWP, Fellowes seems ok, as does Azaz and Jander, but Manning has shown what a coward he is with his “making a back” challenges he’s suddenly started perfecting. 
 

We used to have a team of Son in Laws, soft arsed but nice lads, I wouldn’t want any of these cunts as a son in law. Soft & unlikeable. 
 

Unfortunately, in the modern game clubs will back the players, not the manager. This is going to repeat itself over and over until someone stands up and tells them “this bloke is going nowhere, & you’ll be fucked off before him”. They won’t, so the next bloke will have to get them onside, but when the going gets tough, they’ll shit on him as well. 
 

 

Edited Monday at 19:25 by Lord Duckhunter

[LGTL]

50 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

And fucking “Arma”, with his pony fucking nickname. 
 

There’s not many I look at and think “he’s a good lad”. Baz seems a.right, I mean he’s fucking pony, but he doesn’t walk around like Billy big bollocks. Downes thinks he’s Johnny Concrete, but is a fucking pound shop JWP, Fellowes seems ok, as does Azaz and Jander, but Manning has shown what a coward he is with his “making a back” challenges he’s suddenly started perfecting. 
 

We used to have a team of Son in Laws, soft arsed but nice lads, I wouldn’t want any of these cunts as a son in law. Soft & unlikeable. 
 

Unfortunately, in the modern game clubs will back the players, not the manager. This is going to repeat itself over and over until someone stands up and tells them “this bloke is going nowhere, & you’ll be fucked off before him”. They won’t, so the next bloke will have to get them onside, but when the going gets tough, they’ll shit on him as well. 
 

 

Hard to argue with any of that. 

[Dark Munster]

On 01/01/2026 at 10:32, Harry_SFC said:

Could've just appointed Clement. Has Norwich playing well. Experienced manager with a decent win rate. No thrills, just a good, solid manager. That's all we needed.

No way the person in charge of all footballing decisions at the club, Rasmus F*cking Ankersen, would consider anyone like that.

[HarvSFC]

Seen it discussed in here also, but Alfie House has been quite outspoken on Twitter this evening. As outspoken as a person in his role can be. Pretty much confirming what all of us on the outside looking in believed to be the case. He says there's a "rotten" culture, created by the players that needs to be reset and that there's a clique amongst the squad that needs to go for us to be successful. Doesn't outrightly name the worst offenders, but does imply that Armstrong's a part of it, while stating the only players we should look to keep this summer are Charles, Jander, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Robinson, Armstrong (Without the others), Quarshie, Edwards, Wood, Roerslev and Bragg (in a follow up Tweet). So, you can assume a lot of the unnamed players are a part of the damaging culture within the club.

This is from someone who has a lot of access to the inner workings of the club. Goes on the pre-season tours, etc.

I hate the current inflexible setup as much as the next person. But, also know we'd get beaten routinely playing any formation with the half hearted performances the players have been putting in the last month and then the management will use it as an excuse to say they tried a back four, it didn't work, so will further solidify the want for a back three.

Also reiterates what we all said in the summer. The team showed no fight last season, they were very close to all being tarnished with being the worst Premier League side of all time and not even that could motivate them. They couldn't even motivate themselves  to put in a performance for the Portsmouth home game earlier this season. The standards across the club are at all time low once more and Jack Stephens is not the amazing leader nor captain that the hierarchy tried to gaslight us into thinking he was and deserving of the new contract.

[Midfield_General]

21 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Seen it discussed in here also, but Alfie House has been quite outspoken on Twitter this evening. As outspoken as a person in his role can be. Pretty much confirming what all of us on the outside looking in believed to be the case. He says there's a "rotten" culture, created by the players that needs to be reset and that there's a clique amongst the squad that needs to go for us to be successful. Doesn't outrightly name the worst offenders, but does imply that Armstrong's a part of it, while stating the only players we should look to keep this summer are Charles, Jander, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Robinson, Armstrong (Without the others), Quarshie, Edwards, Wood, Roerslev and Bragg (in a follow up Tweet). So, you can assume a lot of the unnamed players are a part of the damaging culture within the club.

This is from someone who has a lot of access to the inner workings of the club. Goes on the pre-season tours, etc.

I hate the current inflexible setup as much as the next person. But, also know we'd get beaten routinely playing any formation with the half hearted performances the players have been putting in the last month and then the management will use it as an excuse to say they tried a back four, it didn't work, so will further solidify the want for a back three.

Also reiterates what we all said in the summer. The team showed no fight last season, they were very close to all being tarnished with being the worst Premier League side of all time and not even that could motivate them. They couldn't even motivate themselves  to put in a performance for the Portsmouth home game earlier this season. The standards across the club are at all time low once more and Jack Stephens is not the amazing leader nor captain that the hierarchy tried to gaslight us into thinking he was and deserving of the new contract.

Also who could forget the unironic lap of honour they did last year when they finally scraped onto 12 points.

Doing a lap of the pitch, laughing, celebrating and giving it the fist pumps like they'd won the Cup, because they'd managed to become only the second worst Premier League side of all time. Reinforced by a gloating official tweet from the club, directed at Derby. 

Fucking embarrassing, but a perfect illustration of the mindset that now permeates the club from top to bottom. It's a club stocked to the brim with losers. 

 

Edited Monday at 21:37 by Midfield_General

[Maggie May]

OGS for me. 

[Gloucester Saint]

So from House’s tweets, the clique is:

- Harwood Bellend, Manning, Downes, and AA as the leaders.

- Quite possibly Stephens, Bazunu, Wood as followers. Jack could be one of the leaders and he says keep Wood but not Stephens.

Edited Monday at 22:11 by Gloucester Saint

[Saint-Reece]

2 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

So from House’s tweets, the clique is:

- Harwood Bellend, Manning, Downes, and AA as the leaders.

- Quite possibly Stephens, Bazunu, Wood as followers. Jack could be one of the leaders but less likely.

No surprises there - all of Russ’ boyfriends.

Wonderful that it’s also the spine of the team.

[Gloucester Saint]

4 minutes ago, Saint-Reece said:

No surprises there - all of Russ’ boyfriends.

Wonderful that it’s also the spine of the team.

As much spine as a 🪼 

There are actually a few idiots on this site who want Russell Martin back. Mental.

I suspect Archer is not part of the clique but not a good player to have around a professional environment. And Downs is not only a bad egg but the worst professional EFL-level player I’ve ever seen. Not just at Saints either.

Edited Monday at 22:19 by Gloucester Saint

[The Wyvern]

8 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

So from House’s tweets, the clique is:

- Harwood Bellend, Manning, Downes, and AA as the leaders.

- Quite possibly Stephens, Bazunu, Wood as followers. Jack could be one of the leaders and he says keep Wood but not Stephens.

House’s posts say Armstrong is on the list of those he’d keep from what I can see. Personal opinion, but I think Armstrong always comes across quite well. 
 

The others on the list don’t surprise me. Downes, THB, Stephens, Manning all to go. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

I’d take Russell Martin back over Tonda Eckhart. One took us to promotion, the other is proving to be woefully out of his depth.

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, The Wyvern said:

House’s posts say Armstrong is on the list of those he’d keep from what I can see. Personal opinion, but I think Armstrong always comes across quite well. 
 

The others on the list don’t surprise me. Downes, THB, Stephens, Manning all to go. 

Yeah, AA does speak well and you could see how horrified he was at having to award the signed shirt at the Brentford mauling. Sounds like Wood might be another OK in a better squad environment.

Agree on Downes, THB, Jack and Manning likely being the core trouble and Dragan is going to need to write a big cheque to write off Stephens obscene extension after shitting on the club in 24/25 like he did. And gross misconduct for whoever’s idea it was. Spors says it was him. 

[Gloucester Saint]

2 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I’d take Russell Martin back over Tonda Eckhart. One took us to promotion, the other is proving to be woefully out of his depth.

And reward that clique of losers.

No thanks. If Russell wants a reunion, he can do it at Pompey and take those four wankers with him. Flynn Downes and Manning look like Pompey players anyway. Just add the kit. Bazunu can go back to his spiritual home as well.

Edited Monday at 22:27 by Gloucester Saint

[coalman]

On 05/01/2026 at 22:23, Willo of Whiteley said:

I’d take Russell Martin back over Tonda Eckhart. One took us to promotion, the other is proving to be woefully out of his depth.

Martin laid the groundwork for the rotten culture we have now. This didn't happen overnight. He recruited his mates and bent over backwards to make them happy. He kept hiding behind bad luck. Those same players are the ones infecting those around them now with their sense of entitled mediocrity. 

I remember THB coming out last season to say how Martin's system was working and the fans couldn't see because they didn't understand football.

Armstrong is a lost cause for me. He came out after Boro and claimed we just needed a bit more luck. A captain stood mutely after each goal, hands on hips like a fucking teapot.

Edited 20 hours ago by coalman

[saintant]

6 minutes ago, coalman said:

Martin laid the groundwork for the rotten culture we have now. This didn't happen overnight. He recruited his mates and bent over backwards to make them happy. He kept hiding behind back luck. Those same players are the ones infecting those around them now with their sense of entitled mediocrity. 

I remember THB coming out last season to say how Martin's system was working and the fans couldn't see because they didn't understand football.

Armstrong is a lost cause for me. He came out after Boro and claimed we just needed a bit more luck. A captain stood mutely after each goal, hands on hips like a fucking teapot.

Yeah, time to clear this clique out of the club if we want to make some sort of reset. We all know that is not going to happen though. They are all in league with Ankersen and the rest of the twats that run SR.

[coalman]

46 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

So from House’s tweets, the clique is:

- Harwood Bellend, Manning, Downes, and AA as the leaders.

- Quite possibly Stephens, Bazunu, Wood as followers. Jack could be one of the leaders and he says keep Wood but not Stephens.

This is where the manager churn fucks is over. We get a new manager. The clique raise their game for a couple of weeks and start banging on about the clarity the new guy has brought in. Then they go back to their old ways secure in the knowledge the manager will take the fall. 

Then someone new comes in, opts for his experienced pros and the cycle begins a new. This would be bad enough but when the new manager has no real power to make changes you're doubly screwed.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 minutes ago, coalman said:

This is where the manager churn fucks is over. We get a new manager. The clique raise their game for a couple of weeks and start banging on about the clarity the new guy has brought in. Then they go back to their old ways secure in the knowledge the manager will take the fall. 

Then someone new comes in, opts for his experienced pros and the cycle begins a new. This would be bad enough but when the new manager has no real power to make changes you're doubly screwed.

They’ve done it to Juric, Rusk, Still and now Tonda. 

[benali-shorts]

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

So from House’s tweets, the clique is:

- Harwood Bellend, Manning, Downes, and AA as the leaders.

- Quite possibly Stephens, Bazunu, Wood as followers. Jack could be one of the leaders and he says keep Wood but not Stephens.

A predictable list of mediocre footballers and weak-minded, self indulgent moronic idiots who never learn. Can’t wait to see them all go. 
And good on Alfie House for having the gumption to out them as a negative force. 
We need a strong DofF and Manager to remodel our squad. 

[woodsaint1]

2 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

As much spine as a 🪼 

There are actually a few idiots on this site who want Russell Martin back. Mental.

I suspect Archer is not part of the clique but not a good player to have around a professional environment. And Downs is not only a bad egg but the worst professional EFL-level player I’ve ever seen. Not just at Saints either.

I suspect you mean Downes. The yank hasnt been here long enough to be a bad egg, and hes just shit which is more of an issue

[Gloucester Saint]

7 hours ago, woodsaint1 said:

I suspect you mean Downes. The yank hasnt been here long enough to be a bad egg, and hes just shit which is more of an issue

The driving off from the scene of cracking into another car wasn’t great either, although the club and his insurer sorted it out for him. But yes he is very shit. 

[Fitzhugh Fella]

13 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

I don't like Downes, I think he's got form. Not just here, but at Ipswich when he wanted out and then in January last year with us. I think he's a bad egg, and not a particularly good footballer either - a bit of a nothing player all told, suits a very specific static style of play and nothing else.

I think there potentially is a legit clique around the likes of Downes, Manning, Wood from their Swansea days. Look at how Wood responded to a supporter a few weeks ago who called him out, that bloke is another fraud and a pretty crap footballer too. 

Stephens - I don't see him being a toxic type, I just think he's the sort that lets anything go. He's the absolute definition of medoricity in every way, how he leads, how he plays, how his career has gone - and he's the captain. We reward mediocrity and don't drive up standards, and it's a comfortable place for players on decent dollar.

I tell you one thing about Jack having met him etc he may well be a mediocre polayer (he doesn't claim to be anything special) but one thing I can guarantee about him is that he cares passionately about the club (witness the Wembley tears) and always gives his all (even if you don't think that good enough). There's a lot wrong with the club from top to bottom but if I had ti climb into a WW1 tremch JS is still the sort of bloke I would want in there with me.

[S-Clarke]

47 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I tell you one thing about Jack having met him etc he may well be a mediocre polayer (he doesn't claim to be anything special) but one thing I can guarantee about him is that he cares passionately about the club (witness the Wembley tears) and always gives his all (even if you don't think that good enough). There's a lot wrong with the club from top to bottom but if I had ti climb into a WW1 tremch JS is still the sort of bloke I would want in there with me.

I don't see Stephens as being a toxic type, like I said - I don't bundle him in with Downes and that lot, but I don't ever see him calling out standards or stepping up as he should be. He was kept on because of his leadership abilities and being a good guy, rather than his footballing ability - but his leadership abilities contributed to us being one of the worst ever PL sides in history and continue to contribute to us being 15th in the Championship.

As club captain this is all happening under his watch and it's really not a good look no matter how you paint it - nice guy or not, which I'm sure he is.

[Midfield_General]

3 hours ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I tell you one thing about Jack having met him etc he may well be a mediocre polayer (he doesn't claim to be anything special) but one thing I can guarantee about him is that he cares passionately about the club (witness the Wembley tears) and always gives his all (even if you don't think that good enough). There's a lot wrong with the club from top to bottom but if I had ti climb into a WW1 tremch JS is still the sort of bloke I would want in there with me.

It’s a shame we need competent defenders who understand the concept of marking rather than someone who can handle a machine gun then really isn’t it.

Footballers crying as well - good lord. Give me strength. Absolute performative bullshit. You can show how much it means to you by tracking every run, making every tackle, working relentlessly in training at the elements of your game that need improvement, never accepting mediocrity from yourself or those around you, never getting yourself pointlessly sent off when you’re meant to be the captain. 

Funny how you never saw players crying before 1990 isn’t it, before images of Gazza made a huge media splash which I’m sure is a complete coincidence. 

Edited yesterday at 12:13 by Midfield_General
Some double post thing happening

[Turkish]

14 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I don't see Stephens as being a toxic type, like I said - I don't bundle him in with Downes and that lot, but I don't ever see him calling out standards or stepping up as he should be. He was kept on because of his leadership abilities and being a good guy, rather than his footballing ability - but his leadership abilities contributed to us being one of the worst ever PL sides in history and continue to contribute to us being 15th in the Championship.

As club captain this is all happening under his watch and it's really not a good look no matter how you paint it - nice guy or not, which I'm sure he is.

TBF though as club captain you're probably pissing in the wind with the incomptence around you, from the top right down. When the bloke at the top of the tree is an absolute joke who thinks he can reinvent football and surrounds himself with yes men a guy on the shop floor is not going to convince someone who thinks he's a genius that he's wrong. Imagine working for a company where pretty much every decision the leaders got was wrong over a period of years which had seen every area of the company deteriorate to very poor levels and you're the ones going out and taking all the shit from the customers. 

I agree with Fitz here, JS might not be the best but there are far bigger problems at this club than him. I expect he'll be one of those that doesnt really get appreciated until he leaves

Edited yesterday at 09:24 by Turkish

[DT]

12 hours ago, HarvSFC said:

Seen it discussed in here also, but Alfie House has been quite outspoken on Twitter this evening. As outspoken as a person in his role can be. Pretty much confirming what all of us on the outside looking in believed to be the case. He says there's a "rotten" culture, created by the players that needs to be reset and that there's a clique amongst the squad that needs to go for us to be successful. Doesn't outrightly name the worst offenders, but does imply that Armstrong's a part of it, while stating the only players we should look to keep this summer are Charles, Jander, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Robinson, Armstrong (Without the others), Quarshie, Edwards, Wood, Roerslev and Bragg (in a follow up Tweet). So, you can assume a lot of the unnamed players are a part of the damaging culture within the club.

This is from someone who has a lot of access to the inner workings of the club. Goes on the pre-season tours, etc.

I hate the current inflexible setup as much as the next person. But, also know we'd get beaten routinely playing any formation with the half hearted performances the players have been putting in the last month and then the management will use it as an excuse to say they tried a back four, it didn't work, so will further solidify the want for a back three.

Also reiterates what we all said in the summer. The team showed no fight last season, they were very close to all being tarnished with being the worst Premier League side of all time and not even that could motivate them. They couldn't even motivate themselves  to put in a performance for the Portsmouth home game earlier this season. The standards across the club are at all time low once more and Jack Stephens is not the amazing leader nor captain that the hierarchy tried to gaslight us into thinking he was and deserving of the new contract.

This is very evident from body language and lack of commitment from shits like Armstrong (the captain!), Downes (biggest wanker I've seen in a Saints shirt), Harwood Bellend - who is such an entitled footballer who rubs his England call-up badge every night in between selfies at the gym, and Manning who is just a tattoo on one leg.

They are all clearly just taking the wages and looking to get their fwend back. Need to get rid of them, and Bazunu, who if he is not in that clique it's just because he keeps dropping the membership card.

It's clearly a rotten culture, and that needs radical surgery. Problem is SR can't be arsed, and Eckert just looks on with that glazed look on his face, occasionally chatting to the new cub scout we've brought in as his number two. What shall we do? Play 5 at the back? Yeah! Masterstroke. 

Watch us lose to Doncaster.

[Patrick Bateman]

1 hour ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I tell you one thing about Jack having met him etc he may well be a mediocre polayer (he doesn't claim to be anything special) but one thing I can guarantee about him is that he cares passionately about the club (witness the Wembley tears) and always gives his all (even if you don't think that good enough). There's a lot wrong with the club from top to bottom but if I had ti climb into a WW1 tremch JS is still the sort of bloke I would want in there with me.

I don't know him, but I would agree with this. I think he's an adequate back up and you can see / tell he cares - one of a few. 

[Gloucester Saint]

30 minutes ago, Turkish said:

TBF though as club captain you're probably pissing in the wind with the incomptence around you, from the top right down. When the bloke at the top of the tree is an absolute joke who thinks he can reinvent football and surrounds himself with yes men a guy on the shop floor is not going to convince someone who thinks he's a genius that he's wrong. Imagine working for a company where pretty much every decision the leaders got was wrong over a period of years which had seen every area of the company deteriorate to very poor levels and you're the ones going out and taking all the shit from the customers. 

I agree with Fitz here, JS might not be the best but there are far bigger problems at this club than him. I expect he'll be one of those that doesnt really get appreciated until he leaves

Been in that exact situation earlier in my career and it’s not good, had to move on as the CEO wasn’t going to removed by the board for another 18 months (although a spectacular, bitter and public blow up when it eventually happened!).

Rasmus has to go, that’s the only way Dragan can keep our fans vaguely onside and I doubt he’s willing to do that so I think he has to sell or own an asset leaking cash with a very disengaged base as Lowe found out.

As for the troublemaking players, THB didn’t get the move he expected in the summer partly due to injury but with his poor displays will struggle to break even on him now, Manning might get a taker on a nominal because of his set pieces (a shit Iain Harte), Downes medical issues are well known and no chance of recouping what the club paid. At least Fraser looks like he’s moved on. Can’t believe they’ve allegedly offered Bazunu a new deal, Ankerson yet again.

Cheers Russell. 

[Midfield_General]

21 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Can’t believe they’ve allegedly offered Bazunu a new deal, Ankerson yet again.

Where have you seen/ heard that? 

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I tell you one thing about Jack having met him etc he may well be a mediocre polayer (he doesn't claim to be anything special) but one thing I can guarantee about him is that he cares passionately about the club (witness the Wembley tears) and always gives his all (even if you don't think that good enough). There's a lot wrong with the club from top to bottom but if I had ti climb into a WW1 tremch JS is still the sort of bloke I would want in there with me.

I’m glad somebody has said it. 
 

The problem with naming a clique & “bad eggs” is people let their opinions of players abilities seep into their opinions on who the bad uns are (myself included). Because Jack is a captain who isn’t an automatic pick, because he’s been asked to play various roles, and because different managers have made him captain, people use that as evidence he’s a malign influence in the club. If you stepped back and take the emotion out of it (which isn’t something we do with football opinions), these things actually mean he does have the right attitude and can be relied upon to do his best (however bad that is). 
 

I felt slightly uncomfortable with the reaction to the win at Wembley. Whilst I didn’t post it, so will be accused of hindsight, I did feel the celebrations were a bit too full of themselves and a bit too congratulatory. I thought “we’re back where we belong”, having spent the vast majority of my life watching us in the top flight, and I got the feeling the players felt the same. However, they’re not supporters, not emotional fans and their attitude should have been “the hard work starts now”. I didn’t get that impression at all, and nothing I’ve seen since has convinced me that the desire is there. Both the players and manager seemed a little bit too cock sure of themselves after that win. It wasn’t a cup win, it was a trophy for being the third promoted team. The players, Manager & the clubs attitude felt different from Nigel Adkin’s time, a little bit more humility from far far better players. 

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I’m glad somebody has said it. 
 

The problem with naming a clique & “bad eggs” is people let their opinions of players abilities seep into their opinions on who the bad uns are (myself included). Because Jack is a captain who isn’t an automatic pick, because he’s been asked to play various roles, and because different managers have made him captain, people use that as evidence he’s a malign influence in the club. If you stepped back and take the emotion out of it (which isn’t something we do with football opinions), these things actually mean he does have the right attitude and can be relied upon to do his best (however bad that is). 
 

I felt slightly uncomfortable with the reaction to the win at Wembley. Whilst I didn’t post it, so will be accused of hindsight, I did feel the celebrations were a bit too full of themselves and a bit too congratulatory. I thought “we’re back where we belong”, having spent the vast majority of my life watching us in the top flight, and I got the feeling the players felt the same. However, they’re not supporters, not emotional fans and their attitude should have been “the hard work starts now”. I didn’t get that impression at all, and nothing I’ve seen since has convinced me that the desire is there. Both the players and manager seemed a little bit too cock sure of themselves after that win. It wasn’t a cup win, it was a trophy for being the third promoted team. The players, Manager & the clubs attitude felt different from Nigel Adkin’s time, a little bit more humility from far far better players. 

Hasn't that been the way of the club for years though? You can go back to the days when Koeman left and Les Reed thought he'd found the magic formula, his quotes about Leicester copying us when they won the league etc, right through to now. There has been an arrogance about this club for years that we do things differently, that we're somehow above signing experienced players and getting the basics right before all this out of the box shit. 

[saintant]

15 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

I don't like Downes, I think he's got form. Not just here, but at Ipswich when he wanted out and then in January last year with us. I think he's a bad egg, and not a particularly good footballer either - a bit of a nothing player all told, suits a very specific static style of play and nothing else.

I think there potentially is a legit clique around the likes of Downes, Manning, Wood from their Swansea days. Look at how Wood responded to a supporter a few weeks ago who called him out, that bloke is another fraud and a pretty crap footballer too. 

Stephens - I don't see him being a toxic type, I just think he's the sort that lets anything go. He's the absolute definition of medoricity in every way, how he leads, how he plays, how his career has gone - and he's the captain. We reward mediocrity and don't drive up standards, and it's a comfortable place for players on decent dollar.

Think he is more likely to be one of the ring leaders myself.

[DT]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Hasn't that been the way of the club for years though? You can go back to the days when Koeman left and Les Reed thought he'd found the magic formula, his quotes about Leicester copying us when they won the league etc, right through to now. There has been an arrogance about this club for years that we do things differently, that we're somehow above signing experienced players and getting the basics right before all this out of the box shit. 

The living embodiment of that is Rasmus bloody Ankerson.

West Brom have now sacked their manager. It's an epidemic. Player power and in the upper reaches, ownerships who feel they are the real managers and those they employ need to be their puppets and run it their way or else.

And then there are clubs like Ipswich, who have players who fight for the cause, are led by an excellent manager, and magically appear to be doing well.

Ankerson thinks his superior brain is above all that and is rethinking football. And Downes and his little band of twatty sulkers think they are too good to have to try as they gear up for the transfer window they all hope will get them out. Or it's the manager's fault and we're not trying, waaah booo.

I really wish we'd go back to basics. Experienced manager and players who know that you need to work hard, not just fluff around with your washbag and oversized headphones. Makes me want to watch grassroots football much more every week.

[Sheaf Saint]

12 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I’d take Russell Martin back over Tonda Eckhart. One took us to promotion, the other is proving to be woefully out of his depth.

I hear you, but surely we're just back to the old 'cow shit or dog shit' choice, like we are with our keepers.

How about we choose to change paths and avoid stepping in the shit altogether? Or is that too much for SR to grasp maybe.

[sockeye]

25 minutes ago, DT said:

ownerships who feel they are the real managers and those they employ need to be their puppets and run it their way or else.

Yep the businessification of football is in full swing. Suits with dubious background setting the strategy in all reaches and at all levels

[tdmickey3]

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Been in that exact situation earlier in my career and it’s not good, had to move on as the CEO wasn’t going to removed by the board for another 18 months (although a spectacular, bitter and public blow up when it eventually happened!).

Rasmus has to go, that’s the only way Dragan can keep our fans vaguely onside and I doubt he’s willing to do that so I think he has to sell or own an asset leaking cash with a very disengaged base as Lowe found out.

As for the troublemaking players, THB didn’t get the move he expected in the summer partly due to injury but with his poor displays will struggle to break even on him now, Manning might get a taker on a nominal because of his set pieces (a shit Iain Harte), Downes medical issues are well known and no chance of recouping what the club paid. At least Fraser looks like he’s moved on. Can’t believe they’ve allegedly offered Bazunu a new deal, Ankerson yet again.

Cheers Russell. 

Firstly i thought, surely no one in their right mind would do that!!

Then I thought, this is SR we are plagued with, a bunch of cretinous morons and it somehow made sense

[Saint NL]

 

 

There's a real lack of good managers around at the moment

[tdmickey3]

1 minute ago, Saint NL said:

 

 

There's a real lack of good managers around at the moment

Andrews is doing really well

Rosienior wont last but it Chelsea and they are mad

Fletcher is temporary until they get another in who wont change anything

Football is mad

[macca155]

No way is there going to be a new manager this season. Mainly because it will reflect badly on SR, and they'll avoid that at all costs. In addition nobody decent is coming here with such a toxic dressing room.

Interesting that Alfie has spilled the beans a bit on a player clique. Good luck with your interviews from now on.

I doubt it as a clear cut as we  think. Contracts are ending soon for some, plus for many of them, even if they do get promotion, they won't be part of the Prem team. That must be pretty demotivating.

Nevertheless they are pros, and I always think they give 100% on the pitch. For whatever reason that hasn't been enough. System, talent, football intelligence, fan pressure, or good old fashioned bad luck. There are many reasons, but fans just see it as shit.

I fear we must endure this for a while yet.

[ally_uk]

Hardwood Belis, Stephens, Wood, Downs, Manning are the common denominator....Throw in Rasmus aswell.

Someone needs to show some bollocks and move the lot on... 

Edited yesterday at 11:40 by ally_uk

[Lord Duckhunter]

7 minutes ago, macca155 said:

Nevertheless they are pros, and I always think they give 100% on the pitch.

The margins at the top level are minuscule, and the championship is a top level league. They may give 100% “on the pitch” (although I’m not convinced), but if they’re not training 100%, don’t have the correct mentality 100% of the time, aren’t  living the lifestyle or have the mindset of a professional athlete 100% of the time, the drop off will be noticeable at this level. Nobody can convince me these players are giving their best 100% of the time, day in day out. 

[macca155]

Just now, Lord Duckhunter said:

The margins at the top level are minuscule, and the championship is a top level league. They may give 100% “on the pitch” (although I’m not convinced), but if they’re not training 100%, don’t have the correct mentality 100% of the time, aren’t  living the lifestyle or have the mindset of a professional athlete 100% of the time, the drop off will be noticeable at this level. Nobody can convince me these players are giving their best 100% of the time, day in day out. 

100% this, on the pitch, years of conditioning, and the fact that 30K are watching you, means they perform as best they can. They know no other way.

As you say off the pitch, it's a very different picture.