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Comment | Southampton Need To Unite The Supporters With Next Manager Appointment
at 11:31:59
Nick - overall a reasonable article but I disagree with your comments about SR.
Of course they have had a lot of flak - they have mismanaged Saints during their tenure (along with Valenciennes to be honest). They may have thrown some money at the club but as anyone who understands business knows - execution and implementation are critical and in this they have abjectly failed. They do need to show strong leadership - again, something they have failed to do so far.
StMichael referenced a plan recently and you say that Sport Republic's vision is long term - could you explain what that vision and plan is? Again, anyone with an understanding of business is that it's a balance of long term and short term and that (short term) tactics are a means of executing (long term) strategy.
The owners/board are only there as caretakers for the duration and need to balance skills of running a football club with business management skills. They have had the best part of three years after all - not a short amount of time! Measuring over this time scale, it's very difficult to cut them any slack and I have little optimism for the future of Saints under their ownership.
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Comment | Would Southampton Fans Welcome Back Adam Lallana To St Mary's
at 14:18:58
It's simple - so let's be pragmatic! If he can contribute then yes, if not then no! It's worth saying that he has experience of our last "first season back" so should understand the challenges. I'm no expert but I am happy to leave it in the hands of those that are.
I would probably take back JWP - but I would want him to step up as a leader more than previously. |
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Comment | Southampton V Leeds United The Wembley Play Off Final Verdict
at 10:31:19
Congrats to everyone from SR through RM, the players to the fans! I didn't dream that we would bounce straight back up and, although I am still not 100% convinced by RM, I feel that he deserves his shot at the Premier League, especially as he has developed some alternative tactics. I have also been impressed by how certain players have stepped up in the last couple of weeks - again, this has bought them a chance next season.
Hopefully we get the recruitment right in the summer. This will involve Saints being brutal about the non-achievers and those who don't want to be at the club as well as buying wisely, rather than just following a dogmatic mantra.
It seems that Saints actually seem to thrive on adversity. Anyway, now is the time to celebrate and relax! |
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Comment | Southampton At Brighton The Verdict
at 11:01:59
Although the gut next to Nick was right it's worth bearing in mind that he literally could not have done worse - we are comfortably bottom!
What a horrible season it has been. The worst thing for me is how the enjoyment and fun has been sucked out of watching Saints - there has been so little pleasure ever since Gao took over and this has been made even worse by SR.
Unfortunately, although I want to look forward, I see nothing in SR's tenure (other than spunking the cash, which is not sustainable) that suggests our forward momentum will be any better than our historical momentum. |
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Comment | Southampton At Nottingham Forest The Verdict
at 13:57:31
Abrowne - some good suggestions.
However, would players like Aribo and Stephens be willing to be second string? Also, there is no spine - we need some leadership and experience. |
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Comment | Southampton At Manchester United The Verdict
at 12:12:22
Peter - there is an obvious choice: Jose Fonte.
Surprised no one has mentioned the online racist abuse of KWP. I've seen a lot of whinging from United "fans" today - they are genuinely pathetic. |
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Comment | Southampton Take A Big Leap Of Faith With Ruben Selles
at 12:32:17
Chesh - you make good points. However, Dyche is a ship which has sailed and Potter is a ship which is still in port!
I suspect Potter may be sacked at the end of the season, in which case a Potter/Selles combo may actually be something of a dream team for a club like Saints.
For right now, I think Selles is the logical option and a short term contract is exactly the right move. It is important that everyone gets behind him for the rest of the season. |
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Comment | Southampton Take A Big Leap Of Faith With Ruben Selles
at 11:56:41
I think this is a sensible decision. He has good credentials as an assistant, by all accounts he is a good coach and seems to have a good rapport with the players. There appears to be no better option at the moment. However, I would bring in someone like Lawrie to act as a short term mentor for him and to act as a sounding board.
Relegation is clearly still a possibility but personally I see light at the end of the tunnel. |
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Comment | Southampton At Everton The Verdict
at 12:26:24
All I want to see is the players try - this was absent up t the Palace cup game but the last week has turned things around. I was very pessimistic before that game. Ten days later, I am not optimistic but I feel we have a FIGHTING chance! Time to give the manager and the team our full backing until the end of the season and then let's see where we are. |
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Comment | Watt View - Time To Assess The Options
at 17:10:19
Colburn - you have expressed it better than me! I also admire Nick's passion and support for the team we all love. We are all on the same side and I think it reflects badly on the management of the club that it has sown division amongst the supporters (who are here before, during and after) the management.
I think we are all worried about the future direction of the club and I can't help but compare our "progress" with that of a comparable club - Brighton. |
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Comment | Watt View - Time To Assess The Options
at 16:17:40
ElSanto - I'm afraid I have to disagree with you.
As examples, Nick's consistent defence of Gao and attacking of Yoshida are testament to the lack of balance, as well as his continued disdain for Saints' fans. Others are equally guilty and every one is entitled to their own opinions. I agree with some of his opinions but to say they are balanced is just not correct.
It's not a question of seeing what I want to see. I agree with some of his opinions but to say they are balanced is just not correct. If you were to look at my education and professional career you would see that I have the required intellect to see multiple facets of an argument. Perhaps you shouldn't jump to conclusions without knowing the full facts! |
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Comment | Watt View - Time To Assess The Options
at 11:59:58
Hi Matt - thanks for your insightful balanced article. It's a shame that many of the other articles on here are so lacking in the balance that you always display. |
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Comment | Southampton To Give Ralph Hasenhuttl More Time
at 10:53:03
"This isn't a defence of Ralph Hasenhuttl, it is just clarifying the facts of the situation as I see them and trying to put things in perspective, if anyone things that I am wrong and that we should be in the top 6 year in year out I am truly interested in their views why.
This situation could drag us down, we need to trust the new owners to get things right."
This is genuinely one of the most childish arguments I have ever seen! Nobody that I know has ever claimed that we should be in the top 6 year in year out!
The issues are deeper;
1) Ralph appears to have lost the dressing room - I don't believe this was either the case for Bates or McMenemy;
2) He has certainly lost the confidence of the majority of fans over a sustained period of time - I don't believe this was either the case for Bates or McMenemy;
3) His tactics and selections are baffling - I don't believe this was either the case for Bates or McMenemy;
4) How long does the club "remain a work in progress"?
5) Many of our matches are now truly dire - as you yourself claim, this was often not the case under McMenemy or Bates;
6) We have no leaders on the pitch. It is clear that ralph does not like people who challenge his position - again, this was not the case under McMenemy or Bates.
7 Etc....
"Would the clamour have died down if we had beaten Everton and sat in 11th this morning ? or say also drawn with Villa and sat in 8th, that is how close we are to being where we want to be in the table, yes it didn't happen, both games were disappointing, but we only lost by a single goal against sides who were no better than us." For some reason, you don't mention the Wolves game. Also, if we won all our games we would be top, if we lost all our games we would be bottom. There is no point in presenting the "if" argument - it makes no difference and is again childish!
If you had presented a well rounded argument then perhaps you might have some credibility - unfortunately just cherry picking facts and points to try and justify your own position means that all credibility has been lost for some time now!
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Comment | Southampton Confirm Oriol Romeu Exit Farewell To A Club Legend !
at 14:07:10
I'd love to see him back in some capacity - he was a great servant to the club. However, I always felt that he wasn't the leader that he could have been (same for Bertrand) and that he could have stepped into that role when Fonte left. Nevertheless, without him we would be in the Championship and he let his playing do the talking - one of Saints' unsung heroes. |
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