imadirtyurchin

According to Tanswell @the athletic the club “have decided over the Christmas period to do pre match pressers after the game before that will be unpublished and the quotes embargoed” now why would they do that? Is a definite change from the Ralph days. To protect NJ? To reduce transparency? I don’t think it bodes well.

Ugly football. Hoofball and try and win the second ball. Very little quality and good play. But it’s ok cos ‘we’re winning on xG’ playing like a (poor) championship team. Guess NJ fits right in.

Yeah I agree with this too.

Sure, just ignore the facts and tangible achievements listed. You didn’t like him we get it. personally - I think he needed to go it had gone sour. But there was a period when we were playing very well, looked like the club had a plan and I enjoyed watching us play. Started to get results and also played some good football. To say we didn’t is revisionist. Yes we had some very very poor results and the last year has been dire. But after the boring footy of Puel, the disappointment of hughes and utter clusterfuck of pellegrino - Ralph was a breath of fresh air and he bought a feel good factor back - all too briefly. I don’t think he was backed enough and I’ll remember his time far more fondly than others. I wonder if NJ will get us to the top of the league?? (This one!)

I always wonder about this logic… why is it supposedly easier to build a quality premier league capable team whilst in the championship than when established in the prem? Plus attract prem quality players whilst in the championship? the fact that promoted teams often go straight down / or have to make wholesale changes suggests that it isn’t.

He’ll fit right in then 😂

Do you know if there Is somewhere to watch this please? Couldn’t see it with a (admittedly cursory) glance at the OS

I suspect the money helps… anyway CPS will decide about prosecution. I think he’s done at the top level here regardless. Won’t be too many sponsors happy to have him represent them - his attitude towards women comes across as awful in the audio I heard - putting it mildly. I can’t imagine him being rehabilitated in the eyes of the public very soon…

What “shit” is he getting? I haven’t seen any personal attacks - mostly it’s been very polite. People are just questioning his ability and lack of experience. Isn’t that just holding people to account? Two games (Lincoln and Brighton) two awful performances. A bewildered and demoralised team that show zero signs of improvement after 6 weeks intensive work with NJ are you the father in law?! 😂

Two games seems like two too many… plus you’ve had 6 weeks to get that performance…. if you’re not Nathan, you’re definitely a shill. A new poster who happens to join the forum when NJ is linked to this job. Advocates for him - but isn’t a Luton fan or a Southampton fan. But speaks in football terms and glowingly of NJ (as if insider knowledge) and then only reappears on an NJ out thread to again speak glowingly and writes in a very similar pattern of speaking to NJ. I can’t believe that a charity organiser unconnected with either Luton or Saints or NJ would bother to get so involved without a vested interest.

Nice of you to join us Nathan.

Ah I stand corrected 🙈 just the header then.

I watched the utd vs Forest game tonight. Forest had more possession (34.2 % vs 33.6%) at old Trafford than we did at home to Brighton. Plus pretty much the same number of passes (314 to 329) brighton had over double ( 680) the expected goal stat is skewed by the penalty and header from JWP - I don’t particularly recall any other meaningful chance (on target) from open play for us. it was an awful awful performance and only made better because brighton eased off.

@wild-saint what exactly have you seen in NJ so far to make you think he’s the man for this job to want him to stay? not trying to be an arse but It can’t be the clear identity and playing style he’s forged over the last 6weeks with the squad. Perhaps it ‘s his vast experience and achievements at the top levels of the game maybe?

I think the thing that struck me today. Forget the performance and result - Nathan Jones came across in his post match interview like he was in the middle of a 5 match losing streak. No confidence, defensive and fraught looking. It spoke volumes.

Shocking thing about this thread is seeing how united the forum is. 😂😭 I’d get rid tbh. I don’t think it bodes well that this was his first home game and there’s already an OUT thread. And it feels justified. They (SR) won’t though. 2 more losses and games like that in the next two games then they might.

Trying to remain level-headed and give a measured response but that was objectively an awful performance and result. I never though Jones was the man for the job and I feel like that opinion is vindicated today. He’s had 6 weeks to prepare and that was terrible. No discernible game plan and tactics. No energy and ideas - players looked unsure and lost. Those players can play: they are inconsistent but the basics just weren’t there today. We definitely have deficiencies in the squad but the sheer gulf between us and brighton is enormous. We came into the game towards the end but it was hoofball disruptive football after brighton sat back. Not because we took a stranglehold on the game and improved in a way that bodes well for the next few games. Jones doesn’t inspire me and doesn’t have the pedigree to allow for a massive period of grace and goodwill from the fanbase if results don’t go well. I don’t think they will - I didn’t see anything today to make me think differently. He seems tactically naive and bearing in mind that’s his premier league home debut as a manager and he’s had 6 weeks to prepare - it really doesn’t bode well. 3 more losses like that in the next 3 games and I’d get rid. Questions need to be asked of the hierarchy - I believe ultimately Ralph was a good manager who was hamstrung by the club and eventually ran out of time. He had flaws as a manager and was frustrating but he had experience and pedigree. Jones doesn’t have that and I don’t think the players were playing for him today so I don’t think they buy into him as manager. Looking at their non-reaction to his shouting on that cringe video shows that I think. Anyway. Rant over.

Tbf it was a 9/10 window. we just didn’t sign (the) number 10 that we needed. *I’ll get my coat*

Most of us?! Are you sure about that? The poll says differently. I think one the problems the fans have is that SR haven’t communicated any of their intentions about the club. No PR. And at a time when everything is difficult and divisive - they’ve appointed a manager that has NO top flight experience (any country) and NO quantifiable achievements that relate to us, and excite the fan base. Plus his football is negative and more of the same that we’ve had recently…. so yeah. My post was a welcome. Don’t be Shit.

Hello. Some pointers: don’t be shit. don’t be pellegrino-esque with the shit football and the obliviousness and self-delusion. Don’t recommend unskilled, unsuitable players to us at high prices just because you worked with them before. dont play awful, route one football - let’s not completely lose all of the progress we have made in this project so far. don’t lose 9-0 don’t bring god into every interview Don’t bang the club crest at least immediately. It seems fake. Let’s learn about each other and hopefully we might like each other eventually. thanks

I look forward to the attempted PR push from the club when this appointment happens. Bets on them wheeling Prowsey out to say “I’ve always wanted to work with *checks notes* Nathan Jones - he’s a proven manager with a stellar career: his achievements really are second to none. A scintillating run to the playoff semi final and a thrilling performance. I look forward to him repeating those achievements here. btw sorry for losing heavily against Liverpool. Early days. The players need to work harder and concentrate for a full 90mins - it will come” I don’t feel optimistic obviously. Being a footy fan for me is all about hope - you hope for a win and a few goals. When people are on form and playing well there is more hope. Ralph provided that post- hughes and it made a big difference. Atm there is not much hope or belief within the fan base after too many poor results and not enough goals. Nathan Jones doesn’t inspire more hope for me... 3/4 defeats and he’ll be massively under pressure and we’ll be fucked.

I said it on the transfer thread. I’ll say it again. Let’s not descend into bullying. You already gave a response to MLG’s ‘joke’ which was fair - this post is just having a pop and along with other posts that play the man not the ball - it’s just a bit unnecessary (and tbh tedious when every thread becomes a pissing contest full of digs… often becoming a pile on.) can’t we all just be a bit nicer? (I won’t demand that we’re all more positive - I am a realist)

@DmanI think those fears are understandable - Ralph certainly appears to be an ideologue at times and it’s super frustrating. I think this is why the need for more voices and changes in the coaching setup. And I think it’s something that Ralph has to address. as to buying players - that’s the crux for this summer isn’t it?! And unfortunately we won’t know, until the summer is over, what money the new owners will or won’t spend. We’ve been led to believe it will be a busy summer (ongoings and out goings). We desperately need investment to improve the quality of the squad in at least 5/6 key positions… will that happen? I don’t know. The noises from semmens etc are that “we should be better able to compete” but no fan knows atm. I fear we don’t have the money but I hope we do. We’ll see. for the reasons I’ve stated above - I would stick with Ralph at the moment barring a new plan/direction from Ankersen. Even if that comes to pass - we still need to invest in the squad - it’s just not good enough at the moment. So i guess it comes down to whether the new owners still trust Ralph to go forward and continue the progress. (And there has been progress through the club as a whole)

I’ve always been a Ralph supporter - I think he was a charismatic and positive appointment when the club was sinking fast post Pellegrino and Hughes. He’s overseen an improvement in the entire youth system (look at the recess upturn of the youth teams) after it being decimated post-pochettino. (koeman I’m looking at you here) under a horrifically constrained financial situation. The club with his appointment were operating on a longer-term project. We need that long term project to succeed to ensure the success and ability of the club to compete. short term appointments ala Hughes. (Or Big Sam, or Pardew et al) arent what we need longer term. This will be the first summer of not (hopefully) being so constrained financially - allowing us to invest in a core group of players with the right skills to play Ralph’s system effectively. Particularly as they will have spent months identifying these players already. I believe it’s worth backing him this summer to see if the project can be taken to the next step - I’d hate to see the progress lost (and there has been progress) with the influx of a new guy and different ideas and priorities. I’d hate to see players bought that were unsuitable for a new manager (we’ve all been there - and we’re only (finally) coming to a point where we can change the squad wholesale and get rid of the underachievers)) BUT Ralph has to learn: he needs a replacement for Danny Rohl - a voice he must listen too. He has to learn to be responsive during games. I too have lost patience with the bullshit team selections and adherence to tactics that just don’t suit our out of form players. There has to be more pragmatism in the short term. it’s hard going into games feeling despondent about our chances. I too understand the frustration and anger that lots of our fans are feeling. The recent performances are not acceptable - and that should be made clear - to the players and to Ralph. To be able to watch Saints without fear as soon as a goal goes in against us : fearing an imminent collapse would be great. Scoring goals also would be appreciated. and for the love of god - sort out our back room staff. Defensive /set piece coach??!! That has to be a change in approach or personnel. We definitely don’t have a top tier coaching setup at the moment. I think the club hierarchy need to be accountable for our current situation- but I don’t think this is the time to blink - my only caveat to this is if Ankersen (sp?) has a definite succession plan, with targets and a manager ready to go immediately. Then we have to trust them to take us forward.

I’ve just checked on my phone and appears to be working for me through IPTV Smarters *but yeah the website is down*