I started to grow a beard over Xmas. If I said I wouldn't shave it until we are out of the relegation zone, I'd look like a member of ZZ Top by May.
What happens if we go down? Does it continue growing until we're back in the PL and out of the bottom 3?
I am not sure that losing 8 out of 9 league games is a survivable scenario for any manager, especially with millions being brught in to bring the squad up to strength. After the first few matches, I did say on this board that Jones would not retain his position as manager beyonf the end of February and I am still confident that he will be gone, . The bigger problem for me is SR. I have no doubt that we will be relegated and think that a target of even 30 points is well beyond Saints. I would be concerned as to how SR would manage the club in the Championship or indeed whether they would continue to have interest in the club. I am not even sure that I would what them at the helm next season. It is depressing that SR have effectively had 2 cances to revive our fortunes this season. I think Ralph had been ground down by managing us and should have been replaced in the summer. Unfortunately, we waited until November to make the necessary change and, in a well mad point earlier in this thread, seemed to have carefully considered the appointment of Jones ages before he was eventually announced as the new manager. These decisions were foolish time-wise without even considering Jones' lack of experience at the top level or indeed his failure with Stoke. A further defeat next weekend will leave the club with no option but to part company with Jones. I am far from convinced that there is anything Jones can do to salvage his job regardless of the fact that he seems unlikely to get a win in the league. The bigger issue for me is SR are continually getting the big calls wrong. I just hope that they get the next one right.
I am repeating my post in another thread, but I don’t think there is anyone left who could do it and would want it. The market has moved on and we have been left behind. I don’t even see any available managers who could do a job for us in the Championship.
Sadly his “success” in cup games have helped jones to put forward some decent win stats but when you analyse them he had a fair share of luck in most of them. Second best to Sheffield Wednesday, winning on penalties. Struggled against Lincoln. Weren’t great against Blackpool, creating little, then almost gave it away in the last 20 minutes or so. Palace were superior to us in the first half, before imploding and gifting us two goals. Man City we were good against, partly because we actually played a pressing style of football and partly because City were over confident, so he gets some credit for our performance that night. I hope he goes tonight.
With their recent investment, I've no doubt they hope so too. I thought it was possible for a draw today, with all the new personnel being put in etc, didn't expect anything more. I'm in a decreasing minority in thinking we will not go down, I appreciate that much, but it's a tough job which has just got tougher. SR may stick with NJ for a bit longer, players may be making their voice heard and/or it could be a sudden exit for him. I look forward to the next home match and make a more informed view from that. Let's see. Just by way of comparison, I've just read an account of a Dad building a very special boat for his disabled daughter over months of hard work and seeing her take on a new lease of life. The boat was stolen a couple of weeks ago, from it's mooring, the family are devastated. Nothing to do do with football but a lot to do with keeping things in perspective.
Can’t really blame JWP. He was good again today. We can’t afford to play him at 10 though. Diallo is horrific. I’d play Lavia Jwp pivot with alcaraz more of a 10/free role based on today. We looked better
With the team we have, we are underperforming. They look like they dont know what they are supposed to be doing. Id be seriously pissed off with the players if they didnt demand he is sacked over this run, cos put simply we are down of they dont. JWP should be hammering Semmens etc door and insisting he goes.
Take away from the game. Diallo- shocking first half. Constantly gave the ball away. Need to start with Lavia, JWP and Alcarez in the middle. Edozie-huge potential and great attacking runs but his final pass and cross is poor. Plenty of times Bree overlapped for him and he could not find the pass on which wastes the attack. I know we do not have many attacking options at the moment but it is not contributing to our strikers having a chance to shoot. How we attack headers needs to be corrected on the training ground. Our strikers run into the box and wait for the header which is easy to defend. How many times this season have we seen other teams not cross to the strikers but instead cross it into the open space behind them where someone is charging into the box.(jwp was great at this last season) We never seem to have that but instead instruct them all to charge in at once then stopping and waiting for the cross which means any header has no power.
Competition between Saints and Bournemouth as to.who will be on to their third manager of the season!!
