Yeah. It’s the one concern in the back of my mind. Maybe Ralph’s agent is attempting to boost his standing and strengthen his hand while the sun is shining. Not too far fetched to be considered as a ploy to bait AVFC either. Let’s face it, they were daft enough to let themselves get baited by Smith Rowe’s agent in the summer. However, that Villa story was far more credible. Dependable journalists in the Telegraph, Times and Athletic will always trump a rogue article on the Sky Sports website, hooked up to some betting odds.
The reason Ralph's name is cropping up, in my opinion, is because there's not THAT many managers currently in PL jobs who could move to Newcastle/Villa as the jobs appear. Tuchel, Pep, Klopp, Conte, Arteta, Solskjaer, - wouldn't move 'downwards'. You could arguably add Rodgers to this list. Vieira, Lage (Wolves), Benitez, Ranieri - all too new to consider moving already Bielsa, Dyche - too 'attached' to their current clubs? This only leaves Ralph, Potter and Thomas Frank as the possibilities of current PL managers who might both consider and be considered. On current form Potter has to be the favoured but also least reason to move. Southampton to the majority of media are a selling club, and that goes for the managers as well as the players for most journalists.
Hopefully you are right and this is the “logic” applied by the media. It certainly makes sense when explained that way It also comes across very similar to all the articles talking about how we sold our two best defenders in addition to Ings and so were nailed on relegation candidates. People who said that literally don’t watch Saints and were going off Vestergaard’s rave reviews on motd during his purple patch and bertrand’s performances from two years ago But because they were Southampton sales they were bigged up both to boost the purchaser and to be used as a stick to beat us with
I was thinking exactly along the same lines. It does not seem at all credible. that anyone would leave another Premier League club to join them. What is staggering is that Scott Parker's name has never been mentioned in any of these discussions.
I think it'll be Gerrard, it's only a matter of time before he is "tested" in the PL and it won't be with the Scousers yet.
And they are flying . I have heard from someone Mrs J knows that he is loving it there and of course they are loving him .
Southampton's Ralph Hasenhuttl is another admired by Villa but has strong loyalty to Southampton, while Brighton's Graham Potter would be another prime contender for any vacant post, but it is highly doubted he would currently be tempted away from the Amex Stadium. From the bbc .
On the basis, they've mentioned Ralph as a candidate, despite being at a long established PL club, significant above Norwich. So why not mention a manager at a club currently likely to replace Norwich the PL - and actually invest in the team in order to stay there - too? Edit - Ah, you're talking about Villa
And if he does take on Villa, their fans will be in the mindset we were when Hoddle came to us, ie waiting for the call from Spurs, only in their case Liverpool when Klopp decides he's off somewhere else.
Thing is - surely he would still need to do a very good job for them to qualify for liverpool I imagine they (liverpool) will look over at Manchester as an example of what not to do
Hoddle's time with us steadied the ship, that's all. Half decent job at Villa and if the phone rings, he'll be on the Liverpool training ground considering his options.
But Spurs then and liverpool now are very different prospects . They were no way near being challengers for anything
I agree but the emotional groundswell an Gerrard's own deep connection might just be enough. What I'm really thinking is that he will never be fully committed to another PL club.
Sorry guys. I just skimmed read so I may of missed the tone. There is no way Ralph will leave us for the villa or Norwich. He has been with us nearly three years mainly through lean and is now just building a team where we can compete with the top 8. Ralph is about building his football credentials not a fast buck. He will leave us one day, but it will be for a job at the top table, not ****ing Villa
