Who did you want though? I appreciate its not your job to know all managers and that’s the clubs area, but if people were expecting someone much better/more noteworthy than someone like Jones then I’m just interested if you have a name. Looking at the bookie odds there isn’t anyone there that seems much more exciting to me than someone like Jones, apart from the ones we obviously would get like Poch Jones Dyche Gallardo Tedesco Poch Gerrard Espirito Santo Kompany Knutsen Fonseca Henry Benitez Bielsa Martinez Pedro Martins
It’s funny because when I talk to my friends about rumours etc and they ask where I heard it from they are all dismissive of the Athletic where as they seemed pretty spot on when it came to Saints. Guess it just depends on the journo who is covering the team as they all said it’s usually click bait for their teams
For every Zola or Zidane there will be a Ruud Gullit or a Marco Van Basten. Being a top player doesn’t automatically mean you will become a successful manager, nor is being a top player a prerequisite for being a top manager.
My take, is that Nathan Jones isn't a replacement for Ralph anymore than Mara was a replacement for Ings. He's an unproven talent, unknown at this level. I cant possibly predict how we would perform with him in the role but the leadership group should if they are taking that chance. Logically we should be skeptical about his chances given what he's done to date. I would not be surprised if he turned us down, if he's smart he will be thinking long and hard about it. If Adams, Elyonousi and Adarma had put away the chances they've spurned this season Ralph would probably be quite comfortable in his office and the team would be well in upper mid table. The challenge he faces is the same one Ralph had. Defenders who are freaked out knowing that if we concede we lose, Strikers who can't beat the keeper one on one and miss 5yd sitters, midfielders who cant find a forward pass and fail to anticipate any positive movement. Its a tough ask and he will not get much of a grace period, that's been used up and if survival is the goal the clock is well on its way to midnight. If he's taking that on he's either full of belief or happy to fail. Or both. In Jones' favor he has a short pre-season and players on the bench who will be wanting to step up. Against him is the mentailty and mindset of this team. Would anyone in the dressing room be inspired by the appointment? I suspect not, so turning that around and getting them onboard with his tenure will be a big challenge.
Yeah I made the mistake of believing the constant tripe on here about how our awesome board would have "well scouted" managers lined up if we were ever unfortunate enough to sack Ralph. I assumed that meant not going to Luton Town for a manager who couldn't manage Stoke Ridiculous eh?
The funny thing is, Wolves went the same route trying to get Michael Beale before Lopetgui. But apparently we're mad for doing this. We may well be, and he certainly wouldn't have been my first choice, but then what the hell do I know.
Had a goalscoring record as good as Jimmy Greaves but was unfortunately injured and had his career cruelly cut short. Of the players who have scored over 200 goals in the English leagues, Clough has the highest goals-per-game ratio of 0.916
Why do you make the odd presumption that the board haven't scouted the range of managers? Pretty sure they have, and feel that Jones is the best fit. It's a surprise, but they haven't just made this one up out of the pot. The likes of Tedesco, Gallardo, Dyche etc would have actually been cheaper options, as there was no compensation to pay. Jones only last year signed a five year contract. EDIT - Snap, Greg!
He only ever played 3 first division games. All the rest and his goal record came in the second division
But that doesn’t fit the cheap, bargain basement suggestion that is out there. To be honest it is kind of a surprise we are going for a currently employed manager
First Saints reporter for The Athletic was Carl Anka, who just seems to be a very good writer, and since then their approach looks to have been to be to hire whoever covers Saints for the Daily Echo (Dan Sheldon then Jacob Tanswell). Tanswell is a Saints fan I believe so may be less objective than the other two, who weren't.
This. It's not that it won't work, just that it's a serious risk. But if there is one thing that is becoming clear, it's that our current management has a considerable appetite for risk: they have a long-term plan and aren't afraid if we take a trip down a division along the way. We aren't looking at Jones because we can't get a better manager. We're looking at Jones because we think he fits our plan better than the more reputable options. Whether we're right or not remains to be seen.
Who would be your actual dream pick? Personally, Jaissle for me. Very young and progressive for a youthful team, experienced and plays the style of football we want to see. The problem isn't identifying them though, its getting them to move to Saints. Like it or not we are now a development club for players and - it seems - managers.
Because there's no way the Luton Town manager is the best we could get. We're a **** PL team but still a PL team (until April anyway) It's either we're actively planning on playing in the Championship next season or he's the only one we've managed to sell whatever "plan" the club has. Either way it shows a complete lack of ambition from the club.
