Sorry to jump on this, not aimed at you and you could be right but as FLT mentioned about memories being different. I'm convinced that the dull football criticism is a red herring and only popped up when Puel was almost gone. All the way through the argument was that he was personally dull*, and some time since then the press conferences and football tactics have got blended together. *remember all that stuff about squad rotation, not playing Fonte, diamond formations etc that we argued about at the time? Nothing to do with dull football.
Give us the answer then Ian to that one question that you refuse to answer.... I told you I'll bore you. @Ian Thumwood
We had less periods of flowing attacking football at the start of the season. It was also very poor in those last 6-12 games. I am Happy to admit that. It wasn't what we had been used to, but it wasn't as bad as people Made out at the time.
“It must be frustrating having talent like Boufal and Tadic who are capable of great things but totally inconsistent”. Err...that’s his job. He’s the manager. He get paid huge sums to work with those players, yet still he persists with playing Tadic on the right. That is a management failing. I’ve been to all the home games this season bar WBA. We’re ****, completely lacking in identity and personality. Wake up! (And I’m normally a happy clapper). I don’t think CP was a great appointment. I think MP2 is a very bad appointment, but your weird bias against CP and your outright stubbornness is completely blinding you. It really would be comical if it weren’t rather sad.
I remember FLT saying several times "be careful what you wish for" last season. This is his "I told you so" moment. He's also right when he said the club as a whole, from Les Reed down to the fans, has brought this on itself. Claude Puel had an uphill struggle from the moment he set foot in Southampton. He was not a big enough name for many, myself included. But I would take him back right now. He wasn't a roaring success and he's not the most charismatic of people, but he's a better manager than Pellegrino, who just looks way out of his depth. Les Reed must start making the right calls. If he doesn't he may as well **** off as he's been as much use as a chocolate teapot lately. I just wonder what he's actually doing each day sat up in his office.
And in the case of Pelle and Mane, I do get that. Not so much in Wanyama's case mind - just look how many people were saying "Victor who?" last season, when Romeu was putting his top performances in. I'm not saying that Puel failed on the basis that he didn't match what we achieved under Ron. Losing Mane and Pelle, without replacing them, was always going to lead to us falling back somewhat. I just don't think that Puel showed himself to be the person to handle that fall back. My point is more than the Cedric's and the Tadic's and the Bertrand's and the Davis', surely they would have been in a better mental state and more likely to produce results in August 2016 compared to August 2017. We're worse than last season in my view, but not by a huge amount. I don't think we've dropped off a cliff or anything, in the past four months - but largely because I don't think we had too much to drop. The problem is more that we now seem to be wondering around aimlessly in the dark, going nowhere. If you ask me if I would rather have Puel or MP in charge, I would say Puel. I would suggest that is a relatively simple answer. But that doesn't mean I want either of them.
Qwerty To be honest with you, I think that there was a lot of dissatisfaction at the first home league game. Certainly the concourse on the Chapel End was full of disgruntled fans. There was a friendly match on the previous Saturday which was marginally better although it was clear that Puel's approach to the game was a radical departure from previous seasons. The issue with Fonte was disappointing and the lacklustre European performance was, to be fair to Claude, not a great deal less underwhelming than Koeman's in the previous season. The Europa League is odd as there is a race to get in to this competition but the distraction in brings results in it remaining a side show to the League. I was disappointed in both accounts because of the failure to progress and, in this respect, Puel was no worse than Koeman. Both squandered what could have been goo opportunities for the club. What I feel is overlooked here is that at no time did the whole of the support get behind Puel. FLT is suggestive of dissatisfaction with Koeman but , apart from some underwhelming home performances early in his tenure, I only have good memories of his spell as boss. Poch, I feel, is going to be one of the finest managers in the world and I think rather than feeling anger at his departure, most Saints fans will have fond memories of having such a great manager. Neither of the last two managers gave inspired such levels of confidence and are unlikely to receive the same level of affection at Adkins. The crux of the issue is that we should have done better with what was inherited last season whereas I think this season is all about getting back on track.
Another good post. Let me put this to you. Would you accept Ronald Koeman back as manager and what do you think he would do different to get the team playing effectively again ?
How about Puel being the reason Oriol was so good? You can't pick and choose. He lost three of the top players. The fact one of the players wasn't missed, is credit to the manager and the other player (Oriol).
Yes, but then I've said I would take Ron back. I'd have taken him back as Puel's replacement. Unlike many, I don't hold grudges or call ex-players/managers unpleasant nicknames. But equally, Ron is no Poch.
He quite possibly was the reason. It would make a lot of sense in fact, given that Rom's performances have arguably dropped this season. But again, my focus was on the likes of Cedric and Tadic.
Hmm. Well, I'm just interested in how it is all remembered. Anyway I only watched 3 Puel matches (9 points ).
Seriously??? Let me Remind you. The season we finished 6th, people Wanted Koeman out as they thought we were **** and dull from November through to mid January. We lost in the Fa Cup and away to Norwich early January. I defended Koeman saying we should stick with him. Loads wanted him out. @Ian Thumwood 2 questions: 1. Will you acknowledge that Puel had a bad hand because he lost three top players? Each post you fail to mention this, probably because it doesn't fit your anti-Puel Agenda. 2. Why did you give up on him on the 27th August after 3 games, yet you'll give a different manager a chance when he lost no players? It makes no sense to me, which is why I keep asking this question.
From recollection, Romeu played really well under Koeman when he was selected. I believe there was a period when he stepped in as cover for Wanyama when he was injured. I don't think there is any doubt about Puel being good for certain players. He was very effective with the academy players. The problem is that "his" additions diluted the effectiveness of the squad as opposed to doing something to improve it. This is why I am saying it is hasty to judge Pellegrino as the acquisitions he had made so far in Hoedt and Lemina look a notch above our recent signings. The latter looks like a significant signing and if he is typical of the type of player he likes as opposed to those he has inherited, I remain confident.
Yes I think that must be right, it's wrong to assume Saintsweb+not606+Twitter is the whole of Saints but you lot do report back on the atmosphere sometimes. So how much of a factor was that in Puel leaving? And if it was one, and the reaction to MP is the same, well, presumably he will not last. But if we tell Saintsweb that Eric Black will replace him then he's safe forever.
