Nathan Jones sacked as Saints er....."manager"

Have to agree that Jones has shown himself to be a very good man manager thus far. I don’t think the squad is exactly rebellious, but they have shown over Ralph’s tenure that they can be streaky at winning as well as losing, so hopefully he can galvanise them into a winning run.

Think he is more Harry Redknapp than a tactical philosopher, but as long as his ego doesn’t get the better of him and he continues to listen to Selles etc then it can work in the short term.

 

Harry Redknapp? ****ing hope not...

 

What matters is they had the relative form and some confidence going into that game, rather than us. I know their away record is awful, but the fact is they got the team they needed at that point, and I thought we were the abject team going into that game. I don't think we should have expected to win that game. I agree we were bad, I just think it was expected behaviour, so to speak. I think it was within the period of allowance the manager has - unfortunately a bit too soon maybe. We'd probably expect to win that in this current moment.

 

Yes, I remember you pointed this out. Those other managers also would have known their best team, and what needs to be corrected based on performances in matches. NJ had neither of those pieces of knowledge.

 

What do we think of Jones comments about formations don’t matter? Is he being quoted out of context, was it a throw away generalisation or do we think he actually believes it?

it would certainly be a revolution in football to not care or think it matters not t if you start 433 or 541. Was it a way of deflecting from his start and overuse of every system ever conceived?

I’ve always thought The best managers understand the strengths and weaknesses of every formation. I’m not sure I’m impressed to hear that or that it was a smart thing for any manager to say, especially one in his position.

 

In fairness, I think I remember Pochettino saying something similar

 

He said 'system', not 'formation', right? Subtle difference but I don't think he means it. He is hyperbolic.

Obviously he isn't saying that systems or formations are not important at all, but just that often they are given too much focus, when actually attitude and work-rate are just as important, if not more so.

That was my take anyway.

 

Yeah lots of managers over the years have said it I think. Was it that total football Dutch team who said formations and positions players play are just where you line up for kick off and that’s it as they all move around after?

Haven’t heard what Jones said but formations not being hugely important to some managers isn’t a new thing

 

I always thought the same as ^^^ Formations are for kick off or maybe set plays. After that a game is a bit more fluid, keep the basic shape but adapt to what is happening on the pitch. That is where well drilled players come in,
.

 

Jones is basically the Welsh Johan Cruyff

 

Cymru Cruyff.

Got a ring to it

 

He'll be changing Saints' strip to orange, next

 

I am bumping this thread because of the inexplicable substitutions made today. Nothing against Elyounoussi, but given Oršić’s goal threat, why leave him on the bench until 80 minutes? And after praising Alcaraz in the presser, why not give him at least half an hour?

 

Yeah, that was not a managerial masterclass.

 

^^^All of this. I think Jones believed his own press and thought the job was done.

 

He took Lavia and Che off, clearly to rest them. We can’t really afford that luxury.

Dreadful substitutions.

 

Still not convinced.

 

He's not the man we need.
All evidence points to Saints not being good enough to stay in the division, and that's not likely to change if our starting 11 and those weird sub choices today were the best he could muster from the squad.


Not sure what the question is if the answer is Jones.

 

Lavia going off might still be fitness-related.

But yes, odd subs. Orsic coming on so late was very odd. I'm not really expecting too much from Alcaraz in the short term.

 

Odd subs and still playing crap football. No goals in PL games aside from JWP and yet the man is talking about us not needing a central striker in his press conferences to lay the foundations for another failed window. Not a good sign.