Didn't someone suggest that Singing was actually female a few years back ? Seem to recall some controversy regarding their identity.
Watching Everton yesterday just puts everything into a different perspective. I really cant remember such a shambles of a side or such a demoralised set of players. Their faces at the end of the game were something else. David Unsworth was the same. MP2 has definately f'd up the start of this season but firing the manager without a replacement plan in place is definately not the solution. I'm far from convinced by MP2, he is on borrowed time but he has the time either way so now its up to him to show that he can get away from the awful performances of the first 12 games. Yesterday's performance was like the saints of old, we pushed up, attacked quickly and effectively, got players into the box and created chances. In that regard it raises more questions than answers. Has MP2 given up trying to get his 'style' to work and given them free reign or did the players decide to start giving a toss? I don't believe its the latter so I guess it comes down to the next few games to see if MP2 can maintain this effort or drop back to earlier ways. Here's hoping.
Not so sure about that, one of his main tricks was some good old sexist banter usually about Kat Liebherr or maybe some of female Saints posters. Also not too keen on foreigners, gay people etc.
I don’t think every game has been a complete disaster at all, we maybe haven’t been fully at it as such, like we were yesterday, in every game and it had cost us. I’d also suggest the hangover from last season should be considered and you can’t change the philosophy over night, it takes time to change that culture. I’m not surprised so many want change, as is the way in the modern world, but 12 games is no time at all. It’s no different to my current job, the team I now manage are shot of good ideas and are low on confidence. There are some good and some to be moved on. But my way of working is different to what they are used to and it will take me time for it to run in my philosophy and then better results will come. Sounds kinda similar...
I agree with most of this. I had 15 years of hands on management, and it's the toughest gig in the world imo, in any industry. It's worth remembering also, that some managers are better than others at getting people onside quickly, and selling a vision through the force of their personalities. Others may take longer to get their ideas across. That doesn't necessarily mean the ones who make an immediate impact are better managers in the long term - forceful personalities can start to grate after a time, whilst quieter people who take longer to win you over, often end up inspiring greater loyalty and trust. But in modern football, who has patience, and who has loyalty? Underrated values that may be due a comeback? We'll see.
Completely agree. Our MP is a thoughtful, quiet leader and I think the days of the bellowing managers really went when Fergie retired, and even he had calmed down a lot by that point.
He's got some time, so we will see. If he can galvanise the squad and secure points - any points, between now and the new year he will make it to the end of the season I think but the fact remains that it has been an awfully disappointing few weeks since the start of the season and he has not got off to anything like a good start - league position not withstanding.
If our league position is 10th or better come January the first he will stay the course in my opinion. Anything below 12/13th could find us looking at a managerial vacancy.........
I can't see Mauricio losing his job mid-season...unless, as I've said before, a footballing genius turns up on our doorstep. We would have to be truly facing relegation later in the season....known as the 'let's call Big Sam moment'....and that isn't going to happen. And the fact they sacked a manager who got us 8th last season will make them pause about doing it again if we finish mid-table. The only unknown factor is Gao....I can't see the old Saints doing it, but he may yet start throwing his weight around.
Well the reality is is that we don't really know. We sacked Pardew when we had just won 5-0 away and were looking like turning a corner and Adkins after drawing away at Chelsea and sat 14th iirc. These were both under Cortese/Reed but the following 2 managers both did good jobs and got poached and then under Krueger/Reed we sacked Puel after finishing 8th and a cup final. It doesn't look like the old Saints had much patience with managers. If we had lost to Everton I think he would be gone by now, if we lose the next 5 (the 3 tough games and Bournemouth and Leicester) then I think he will be gone as well.
The strange thing is that prior to the Everton game Pardew said that Saints don't sack managers (!), citing Puel as the unusual case, and then added that we were a very good club. Seems he has a soft spot for us.
Really? I went to that game as well as it was at Bristol Rovers, I'm getting old and my memory is failing me.
I think we beat them 5-1 or 5-0 away the season before... towards the end of the season. It was the night that we finally couldn’t make the play-offs.
