New Manager Thread

[The Kraken]

1 hour ago, egg said:

Is there really a discussion about Howe or Frank joining us?!

People need to acknowledge who and where we are. 

It’s kind of cute though.

Reminds me of the good times when we were in the lower leagues and had a small number of delusionists who told us that the Saints team would beat a full strength England XI.

 

Edited Saturday at 19:39 by The Kraken

[qwertyell]

1 hour ago, egg said:

Is there really a discussion about Howe or Frank joining us?!

People need to acknowledge who and where we are. 

You'd hope we could find some kind of middle ground between a good Premier League manager and Rob Edwards, though. It's not like we haven't had about 5 months to plan for this likely scenario. 

[egg]

3 minutes ago, qwertyell said:

You'd hope we could find some kind of middle ground between a good Premier League manager and Rob Edwards, though. It's not like we haven't had about 5 months to plan for this likely scenario. 

I think it's a given that they've anticipated a lengthy ban and have looked at alternatives. 

That's an entirely different issue to people seriously talking about Howe or Frank though. 

[Appy]

Frank is much more realistic than Howe. 
 

Still unrealistic though. 

[Matthew Le God]

21 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

No, as I told you, you gave generic reasons why anyone would want the job. 

I didn't 

Plus even if I did, one manager is a subset of "anyone who would want the job", so it still applies. 

[CB Fry]

23 hours ago, capitalsaint said:

 

What job does Eddie Howe think he's getting? Maybe, maybe an Everton or Forest but that's it. He's got Fulham written all over him.

[Pamplemousse]

Spurs or Man Utd then

[Mr X]

19 hours ago, CB Fry said:

What job does Eddie Howe think he's getting? Maybe, maybe an Everton or Forest but that's it. He's got Fulham written all over him.

Delusions of grandeur one thinks 😂 

[Middlewordie]

On 03/10/2026 at 19:43, Fabrice29 said:

You are wrong but seeing as @Matthew Le God couldn't do it for Thomas Frank, why not try give me 3 reasons you think Eddie Howe specifically would be keen to take the job?

Thank you for your polite invitation.

I don't think I said he'd be keen to take a job at Saints right now, but when he's had a rest. I also said I think we are a big enough club for him. He might not think so, but he's already tried at Newcastle (they are one rank above Saints I'd say) and didn't make the grade. Ergo he is, in my view, better suited to Saints or any of the other teams at our level in the pyramid:

Saints have ambition that matches his skills and capabilities - getting promoted into the PL.

Saints are a club that is capable (?!) of remaining in the PL thereafter, being them competitive, and focused on developing players to the required standard. He can do that.

We need man management of players in the "not global superstars" bracket. That's our expected squad in the PL and his forte.

He's not great at dealing with a big squad of internationals - he doesnt have a playing or personal presence that impresses them enough. That is what awaits him at Spurs or Man U, either of which will chew him up and spit him out in 6 months looking like a fatter faced Graham Potter. Fulham might be a better fit for him now, but this time next year we could be in the PL and they could be in the EFL. 

That's my take anyway - when Tonda goes on his enforced sabbatical, Howe would be a good option for us - better than Rob Edwards certainly.

[Middlewordie]

But we dont need a new manager right now do we?

Edited 22 hours ago by Middlewordie
Premature finges

[Fabrice29]

7 hours ago, Middlewordie said:

Thank you for your polite invitation.

I don't think I said he'd be keen to take a job at Saints right now, but when he's had a rest. I also said I think we are a big enough club for him. He might not think so, but he's already tried at Newcastle (they are one rank above Saints I'd say) and didn't make the grade. Ergo he is, in my view, better suited to Saints or any of the other teams at our level in the pyramid:

Saints have ambition that matches his skills and capabilities - getting promoted into the PL.

Saints are a club that is capable (?!) of remaining in the PL thereafter, being them competitive, and focused on developing players to the required standard. He can do that.

We need man management of players in the "not global superstars" bracket. That's our expected squad in the PL and his forte.

He's not great at dealing with a big squad of internationals - he doesnt have a playing or personal presence that impresses them enough. That is what awaits him at Spurs or Man U, either of which will chew him up and spit him out in 6 months looking like a fatter faced Graham Potter. Fulham might be a better fit for him now, but this time next year we could be in the PL and they could be in the EFL. 

That's my take anyway - when Tonda goes on his enforced sabbatical, Howe would be a good option for us - better than Rob Edwards certainly.

Given the success he had at Newcastle I checked out at ‘didn’t make the grade’ but fair play for the effort unlike MLG.

We are a whole league below Newcastle and Fulham. The job at Saints isn’t some guaranteed build us up in the PL and develop players assignment. It’s at minimum a 18 months of getting us up and keeping us up. That’s high pressure and fine margin success/failure stakes. It’s a job with for someone to prove rather than a reputation that is way above us right now.

It’s too much of a risk for anyone like Howe or Frank. 

Edited 14 hours ago by Fabrice29

[Willo of Whiteley]

12 hours ago, Middlewordie said:

But we dont need a new manager right now do we?

Might not be long… 👀

The Southampton Way

[AlexLaw76]

We need someone who plays front footed football, someone who fits the Southampton way and who is a master tactician.

can only be Mauricio Pellegrino #unfinishedbusiness

[Saint86]

On 04/10/2026 at 17:47, CB Fry said:

What job does Eddie Howe think he's getting? Maybe, maybe an Everton or Forest but that's it. He's got Fulham written all over him.

An "underachieving big club"... I know what you're thinking... but its not Spurs - Its the absolutely massive (for the championship) Southampton FC 👀

Edited 5 hours ago by Saint86

[Willo of Whiteley]

One way to look at it would be could you see someone like Thomas Franks going to a West Ham - weirdly I could.

Why shouldn’t we be in that bracket?

Saints have been in the top flight the majority of their history.

We’re certainly one of the biggest teams in the division and with facilities to back that and make the step up.

I actually think we’re quite an appealing club, everyone has a price.

It’s the board that would worry me.

[EssEffCee]

4 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

One way to look at it would be could you see someone like Thomas Franks going to a West Ham - weirdly I could.

Why shouldn’t we be in that bracket?

Saints have been in the top flight the majority of their history.

We’re certainly one of the biggest teams in the division and with facilities to back that and make the step up.

I actually think we’re quite an appealing club, everyone has a price.

It’s the board that would worry me.

Umm no we haven't? 

[Matthew Le God]

14 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Saints have been in the top flight the majority of their history.

That isn't even remotely close to being true!

Out of top flight - 94 years

In top flight - 47 years (those 47 years have all been in the last 60 years, so it is the majority of modern football history, but not the entire club's history)

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Matthew Le God

[sfc4prem]

Just now, Matthew Le God said:

That isn't even remotely close to being true!

Out of top flight - 94 years

In top flight - 47 years (those 47 years have all been in the last 60 years)

 

So basically, we're tinpot.

[Matthew Le God]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

That isn't even remotely close to being true!

Out of top flight - 94 years

In top flight - 47 years (those 47 years have all been in the last 60 years, so it is the majority of modern football history, but not the entire club's history)

 

 

1 minute ago, sfc4prem said:

So basically, we're tinpot.

Not in modern football history. Only a handful of clubs have been in the top flight for more than us in the last 60 years with 47 of the last 60 years.

Edited 4 hours ago by Matthew Le God

[EssEffCee]

Even if you account for our football league history (which makes sense) it's still less than half.

Edited 3 hours ago by EssEffCee

[Willo of Whiteley]

Apologies I meant recent history*

Even still, we’re still a big club in this division and an appealing one