Will we have new manager or not?

[Billy Bates]

I think we can question how long to give him if we start crap for the first 10-15 games again tbf.

This season he had earned leeway. Maybe not enough to carry into next Jan.

However, who could we replace him with? I can't see any viable alternative, that would work in the budget restraints.

i don’t disagree in that he has earned next season, but if we carry on like our Jan to May form I think he will be looked at in late Oct.

Not sure who could replace him, but that shouldn’t stop it happening if needed, there are always managers out there, and we’ve been better in general in the recruitment team.

I think he will be fine though, I think we will have an unexpectedly good summer window for some reason, and we will all be friends again.

I’m looking forward to that part, it’s just awful feeling isolated, lonely and not wanted

 

[StJabbo1]

I think we can question how long to give him if we start crap for the first 10-15 games again tbf.

This season he had earned leeway. Maybe not enough to carry into next Jan.

However, who could we replace him with? I can't see any viable alternative, that would work in the budget restraints.

It's the last line, as with the players, who is/are the viable alternatives on the available budget?

 

[Billy Bates]

Ralph is a big upgrade on Pellegrino and Hughes and I think it is almost certain that any new manager will not improve us and will more likely turn us into strugglers. That is not to say that Ralph has a free pass indefinitely and if we are languishing in the bottom 3 by Xmas then it will be time to part ways. I honestly think that the first half season Saints is nearer the true one and am hopeful for a similar start to last season as long as we sort the fullback dilemma and can keep all of our key players.

I think with either Hughes or MP2 we would already be in the Championship.

Ralph has worked wonders with our results, and has also served up some dogs butts for results, I’m thinking this season he will go for more consistency and learn from some things, in that at times he can be very rigid. For example his formation he never changed. Ever.

Until maybe the last 5 or so games where we were changing that up in and out of possession. Next season I expect more of that, if he doesn’t I think it could all go a bit bad.

 

[Billy Bates]

It's the last line, as with the players, who is/are the viable alternatives on the available budget?

Well no one knows just yet, as we don’t know that if Ralph’s moved on, who will be available or wanting the job at that specific time.

People will be available though that is for sure, and we will have to see if they are better.

 

[RSS]

I don't think you go into a summer transfer window or new season with the thought that if we are doing badly after 10-15 games then its time to look for a new manager. That is not a good foundation to start a season. I'm sure there is always a list of potential managers that they follow regardless of results, same as players. But this has to be like a fresh start imo. Last season is no longer relevant as everyone starts next season on 0 points and 0GD. It was a mental season, and while I do think Ralph got a lot wrong in the last 5 months. We still comfortably stayed up. While we would maybe be hoping for a little more than that, the condensed season, the size of our squad and all the injuries we had etc etc and you'd probably be okay with where we finished. Anyway. Next season is a new season, I have no expectations on what I expect or hope for from us yet because the players that stay, go and come in massively dictate that. I would hope and expect that the club will be fully behind Ralph right now and not even be second guessing what might happen if we are **** at the start of next season too. I think with any club of our level, the general guideposts for considering a managerial change are in the runup to Christmas so that a new manager would have a little time to assess the squad and then the transfer window immediately after to bring in what they think is needed to keep us up. But given we don't have any money maybe that isn't as relevant for us

 

[Lovelocum]

Good post. MP was also an excellant tactician and although RK was not in the same class in that respect, l also think he was better than RH. The latter seems to struggle to adapt when the opposition adjust their tactics at half time.

Thanks. RK inherited an established PL side, whereas MP inherited NA’s swashbuckling but naive team.

I would be surprised if they don’t have a shortlist drawn up. If we don’t get some points on the board within 8-10 games then I think he should go.

Perhaps he’s a good manager but it’s just a question of it not working out here?

 

[Osvaldorama]

Honestly, anyone calling for Ralph to go is mental.

The guy is quality. We have had our only DM and only LB not playing for ages. We have spent no money for seasons. He turned us from fighting relegation to being top of the table. He is passionate, cares about the club and fans.

Ridiculous to write him off, and everyone will eat their words when/if he is ever given some money to spend

 

[Billy Bates]

I don't think you go into a summer transfer window or new season with the thought that if we are doing badly after 10-15 games then its time to look for a new manager. That is not a good foundation to start a season. I'm sure there is always a list of potential managers that they follow regardless of results, same as players. But this has to be like a fresh start imo. Last season is no longer relevant as everyone starts next season on 0 points and 0GD. It was a mental season, and while I do think Ralph got a lot wrong in the last 5 months. We still comfortably stayed up. While we would maybe be hoping for a little more than that, the condensed season, the size of our squad and all the injuries we had etc etc and you'd probably be okay with where we finished. Anyway. Next season is a new season, I have no expectations on what I expect or hope for from us yet because the players that stay, go and come in massively dictate that. I would hope and expect that the club will be fully behind Ralph right now and not even be second guessing what might happen if we are **** at the start of next season too. I think with any club of our level, the general guideposts for considering a managerial change are in the runup to Christmas so that a new manager would have a little time to assess the squad and then the transfer window immediately after to bring in what they think is needed to keep us up. But given we don't have any money maybe that isn't as relevant for us

normally I would agree with giving a manager longer at the start of a season, but for me the decline was so spectacular, with another record defeat, that it can’t be reset to zero.

Sheff Utd started plummeting the previous season to the one just gone, and they carried that over.

The rot has to stop as the players will be mentally shattered thinking this won’t end, can’t win games and stuff. Not that I think it will happen as I think we going to be good, just if we aren’t I wouldn’t be waiting till Xmas or something to change it.

 

[Lovelocum]

I don't think you go into a summer transfer window or new season with the thought that if we are doing badly after 10-15 games then its time to look for a new manager. That is not a good foundation to start a season. I'm sure there is always a list of potential managers that they follow regardless of results, same as players. But this has to be like a fresh start imo. Last season is no longer relevant as everyone starts next season on 0 points and 0GD. It was a mental season, and while I do think Ralph got a lot wrong in the last 5 months. We still comfortably stayed up. While we would maybe be hoping for a little more than that, the condensed season, the size of our squad and all the injuries we had etc etc and you'd probably be okay with where we finished. Anyway. Next season is a new season, I have no expectations on what I expect or hope for from us yet because the players that stay, go and come in massively dictate that. I would hope and expect that the club will be fully behind Ralph right now and not even be second guessing what might happen if we are **** at the start of next season too. I think with any club of our level, the general guideposts for considering a managerial change are in the runup to Christmas so that a new manager would have a little time to assess the squad and then the transfer window immediately after to bring in what they think is needed to keep us up. But given we don't have any money maybe that isn't as relevant for us

Disagree, this will be Ralph’s 3rd season here. We will have given him a really good and fair crack- supporting him through 2 of the worst defeats in our history and one of the worst runs in recent history. The previous season’s have to come into decision making. You can’t just forget history and hope things will get better.

 

[Billy Bates]

Honestly, anyone calling for Ralph to go is mental.

The guy is quality. We have had our only DM and only LB not playing for ages. We have spent no many for seasons. He turned us from fighting relegation to being top of the table. He is passionate, cares about the club and fans.

Ridiculous to write him off, and everyone will eat their words when if he is ever given some money to spend

Im not sure anyone is writing Ralph off really, most questions are around hyperthermia situations, such as what if we start badly, how long does he have.
I’m also not sure he is a tactical genius, I think he can be very good and has shown that many times, but a tactical genius doesn’t have a run as bad as his without being able to stop the rot, by changing tactics, even with injuries and stuff we had.

like you I like him, and think we will do good next season, but for me that is stretching it just a little bit.

 

[Libby]

I'm just interested to see who sticks 9 past us next season

 

[Saints_Alive]

I'm just interested to see who sticks 9 past us next season

The Skates in the cup?...

 

[Billy Bates]

I'm just interested to see who sticks 9 past us next season

Burnley. Or Watford.

I wa going to say Norwich but I think that would finish 9-8 or similar.

 

[Libby]

Honestly, anyone calling for Ralph to go is mental.

The guy is quality. We have had our only DM and only LB not playing for ages. We have spent no many for seasons. He turned us from fighting relegation to being top of the table. He is passionate, cares about the club and fans.

Ridiculous to write him off, and everyone will eat their words when if he is ever given some money to spend

Not sure people are calling for him to go. Asking the hypothetical question of how long he'll last should things continue as they did for the previous 5 months. Can't imagine many people (myself excluded) who will be happy if we're rooted in the bottom 2 come November/December.

 

[Libby]

The Skates in the cup?...

You must log in or register to see images

 

[StJabbo1]

Not sure people are calling for him to go. Asking the hypothetical question of how long he'll last should things continue as they did for the previous 5 months. Can't imagine many people (myself excluded) who will be happy if we're rooted in the bottom 2 come November/December.

It'll be BFS then.

 

[SotonOldBoy]

I think we can question how long to give him if we start crap for the first 10-15 games again tbf.

This season he had earned leeway. Maybe not enough to carry into next Jan.

However, who could we replace him with? I can't see any viable alternative, that would work in the budget restraints.

I think this type of post was the idea behind the OP, an open discussion, with pros and cons, well said that man.

 

[Libby]

It'll be BFS then.

#****OffSamAllardyce

 

[Libby]

I am going to disagree with you slightly because this was an excellent site for the first few years, mainly because we came across from 606 that was utterly terrible and we all wanted something more meaningful, but certainly in the past 4-5 years it has become progressively more hostile and a there is a clique on here now that will target individuals who express views not aligned with there own.

4-5 years ago you say? I blame the politics thread

 

[RSS]

Disagree, this will be Ralph’s 3rd season here. We will have given him a really good and fair crack- supporting him through 2 of the worst defeats in our history and one of the worst runs in recent history. The previous season’s have to come into decision making. You can’t just forget history and hope things will get better.

For me he’s not had a good crack of the whip so to speak because he’s been operating on a shoestring budget. I don’t think anyone could have done more with the squad we have. He’s taken us from heavy relegation candidate to somewhere between the relegation battle and mid table. And that’s about as good as it gets for us right now. Even if I was taking the previous seasons into account I’d be thinking, yeah Ralph has shown enough since being here that he deserves a decent period of this season before we start panicking. I’d also be thinking who is available, that we could afford and would come to Southampton that can do better with what we have.

Who knows what will happen. If we are getting thrashed week in week out, have 0 points after 15 games, and he’s lost the dressing room then I’m sure we’d see changes afoot sooner rather than later. But I just don’t see that happening no matter how poor our second half of last season was. And I’d rather not be getting that bogged down in thinking about the worst before it starts happening. New season, fresh start for me.