My Chelsea mate who I spoke to this evening, is convinced they will lose tomorrow, to a team that’s already relegated. Hope he’s right about one of those things.
It is matchday! So Selles it is, let's back the **** out of that handsome bastard! I've got a feeling we will take all 3 points, not sure what it is, just feels like the stars have aligned and we will have something to cheer about for once!
It is pretty interesting to see a guy who has never had to front up as a manager - or deal with the high level of media scrutiny that being in the PL and battling relegation brings - do so, so much better with his media duties than an experienced manager with about 500 games under his belt.
Didn’t Rasmus say in his interview with Blackmore, when talking about Wilcox coming in, that essentially he didn’t want to be as involved in the day to day decision making/running of the club as he currently is? I know he isn’t that popular with us at the moment, and rightly so with the woeful Jones appointment, but he might not be to blame for everything or be involved in everything as is often suggested.
Of course, and I’m sure he’s doing good work in there behind the scenes. But I don’t want him anywhere near managerial appointments, given his deeply patchy record.
You see, there you go again, trying to be the (solitary) voice of reason: We don't want considered opinions, we want off the wall conspiraloon theories, so that our siege mentality is heightened. Rasmus must be a communist spy, or a fifth columnist, or something. Oh, and we'll win, courtesy of a 94th minute goal from big Paul, in off his head whilst he is bending down to tie his laces.
I’ve woken up all optimistic… and as a Saints fan generally and after the last few months-it’s an odd feeling indeed. I know we’re not mathematically down, but I don’t much care if we don’t get the 3 points; I just want a performance that is more positive and more controlled, more deliberate and less slapdash, more mid table and less kamikaze. Selles spoke well, and while I’d bought into Marsch in the end, I don’t see Selles as less capable or tactically less astute. I think it was Dan Hargreaves on Twitter that said that he needs to step out of being a coach and into being a manager by being bold with his selection, or something like that. There are no better managerial options available currently; the only one that would interest me is Wayne Rooney but think that’s a Championship appointment. Behind the scenes, I hope Ankerson has rightly had his wings clipped and Dragan relies more on Semmens and Wilcox. The recent Saints history has been an almighty bollock drop by SR but the past is the past, I hope fans get behind Selles…. UTS
What I would say regarding Rasmus, and something I’ve learned in various jobs in the past - you should never leave the ideas guy in charge of operations (and I say that as an ideas guy myself!)
You can also get a sense of why players might like him. Straightforward, quietly confident rather than blustering, clearly someone who thinks a lot about the tactical side of football. I don't know whether he'll be a good manager. He clearly has the footballing intelligence for the job, though.
Really interested to see his team and how we play. Unfortunately I’m going to be driving back from Dorset, so will miss most or all of the game. How nice it will be to see some football on the deck though.
