I think Hughes is suffering from Steve-Davis-syndrome, ie; cos he hasn't got a fancy exotic name, people don't like him. If you read Hughes' Wiki page, whilst pretending his name is Marcos Hughesetino, it's actually an impressive read. I particularly like the fact that his Blackburn team finished bottom of the fair play table four years on the bounce. Kick some arse Sparky. I want to see JWP become the next Vinnie Jones. Seriously though, 38.5% win ratio over 450-odd games with the teams he's had. That's not too shoddy. Higher than both Strachan's and Pochettino's win ratios while at Saints.
**** sake, maybe we should have just stuck with Pellegrino! This is what I meant when I said Hughes, if he keeps us up, could be good for a bit of stabilisation while we slowly rebuild. Our fans’ expectations are far too high. Eddie Howe is massively unrealistic in our situation and why on earth would Marco Silva risk another relegation when he could have a few more weeks off before going to a bigger club like Benfica or Everton!? I never really heard people moaning about Hughes while he was as Stoke in the same way people do about Moyes/Allardyce etc, seems another convenient reason for our fans to moan rather than getting behind the team again.
Unless we have a nailed on replacement signed up for next season already a contract 'till the end of the season doesn't work for me. I'm not a Hughes fan but if he keeps us up he deserves at least a full season to show what he could do here. I also question the passion and effort he'd invest knowing he would be gone in a few weeks, while doing a bit of job hunting inbetween. We need him focused and dedicated to the cause so whatever talents and skills he has can be fully utilised.
Hughes is an improvement on Pellegrino in the short term but I don't feel he is a great coach and not someone I think who I would trust to get Saints in to the top half of the table. Radio 5 did a good piece about Hughes several years ago where Alan Green was suggestive that Hughes' reputation was not deserved as a manager. stoke has salvaged his reputation to a degree but the mess he left at QPR sealed their fate prior to Redknapp getting there. As I said previously, I would like this to be a short term replacement and then make some more comprehensive decisions in the summer. A root and branch assessment is needed as the malaise appears to be spread throughout the club. The academy is not producing the goods and the recruitment has been hit and miss at best.
Who are we kidding. The options were stick with Pellegrino or go for Hughes. We can all tell the board we told you so at least 3 months ago. They screwed up. With Pellegrino we stood 0% chance of staying up. With Hughes I’d say 30%. I know what I’d rather take. Forget about next season and the future - all that matters right now is staying in this league. Time to get behind a new appointment and all do our bit to keep us up. No room for whingers now....
You have to love Saints fans. Exactly this, but you know ... Saints fans and that recent self-entitlement. Your last two sentences are soooooo important.
Whilst I do understand options are extremely limited this late in the season, does anyone else find it slightly ironic that we have replaced Pellegrino with a manager who was sacked as his club have actually performed worse than us this season?
But, as I recall, the 'fans ?' were vocal / divided enough to prevent Rupert Lowe from re-appointing him...... So, regrettably Hoddle comes into the "Unpopular Category"
If you had all given me the likes I deserved I would have told you the name of our new manager. But I am having a big sulk at the moment and what's worse I am staying with my in-laws.
All this discussion about retirees like Redknapp and Hoddle .... and then I catch the headline ‘Mick Jagger on his way to St Marys’ The worlds gone mad I tell you...
Good point. I think people moaned about Stoke, more than they moaned about Hughes, and then get the two confused.
Hughes to be annouched this morning I would have thought, and then off to Bradford v Wigan to watch the game. Just a thought though what will become of SKD? Hughes is reportedly bringing his 2 assistants with him.
