Opinions now...

[CB Fry]

Am calm mate - just think its funny how Hoddle, becuae of who/what he is, is slated as a manager for us.

 

If people were more honest, the main gripe people had was how positive we were feeling about saints and where we were going when he walked out

 

 

I certainly don't slate him as a manager for us - he did great and clearly made players like Deano far better.

 

But I do slate him as a person because he is, undoubtedly, a ****************.

[NickG]

agreed.

[buctootim]

I certainly don't slate him as a manager for us - he did great and clearly made players like Deano far better.

 

But I do slate him as a person because he is, undoubtedly, a ****************.

 

Not a simple as that though is it? Most people are a complex barrel of contradictions, good and bad. If Hoddle was a total arse through and through, he wouldnt be running an academy for little or no money giving second chances to players released by their clubs.

[yorkiesaint]

Well he changed the keeper and i think most people would agree Niemi made a difference.

Saints were 4th at christmas in his last season which is not exactly relegation form.

He got the best out of Marsden, Ormerod, Delap, Fernandes etc

Hoddle on the other hand played very negative boring football while at Saints playing some ridiculous formations at home to Man Utd and substitutions away at Tranmere. He bought in Rosler and some other midfielder who name escapes right now who were rubbish. Got lucky with the form of Dean Richards. Hoddle has a very poor managerial record IMO and this is the reason he has his academy in Spain due to not being able to cut it in the real world of football league management.

 

I'm not trying to claim everything that hoddle did was great and everything strachan did well was luck, just that strachan benefitted from inheriting a pretty rosy situation and didn't change much. He kept things going for a while, but for about 6 months before he left things were looking on a downhill slide

[yorkiesaint]

I don't really follow this argument. Under Hoddle wew adopted the playing style strachan used that kept us midtable in the PL for a few seasons. Hoddle also brought the backroom support up to date, emplying nutritionists and sports scientists (dare I say it psychologists) to improve fitness and performance. Management is not all about signings.

[CB Fry]

I don't really follow this argument. Under Hoddle wew adopted the playing style strachan used that kept us midtable in the PL for a few seasons. Hoddle also brought the backroom support up to date, emplying nutritionists and sports scientists (dare I say it psychologists) to improve fitness and performance. Management is not all about signings.

 

And it is also not all about employing nutritionists and playing style either. Man management comes into it and 99% of professionals say that Hoddle had absolutely no aptitude in this area whatsoever.

 

The general argument I am making is against the few on this thread making out that Hoddle was some seismic revolution at the club and everyone subsequent manager was lucky that the Hoddle revolution came first.

 

Well, ball-c o cks. Hoddle was just as lucky to take on a team packed with solid pros signed and developed by Dave Jones. Players that then flourished even more under Gordon Strachan. I'd say the Jones legacy was far more important to Strachan than the five minutes that Hoddle was here.

 

Also, it's funny that we're being asked on this thread to reassess Strachan's time at St Mary's in the light of his current failure at Middlesboro, when the hero of the thread, G Hoddle, was an utterly pathetic failure at Spurs and Wolves. What does that count for?

[Dalek2003]

I have always thought that strachan benefitted enormously from Hoddle's legacy- he kept the team playing the same way as Hoddle had them doing, and kept all the off-the-field improvements to training and fitness that hoddle had instigated. He changed very little. I think we'd have been relegated at a similar time even if strachan had stayed, he was doing a coventry all over again.

 

 

Maybe if Hoddle had been re-appointed the rebuild could have come about. Hoddle had the 'know how', Luggy had 'no clue'.

[The Kraken]

Maybe if Hoddle had been re-appointed the rebuild could have come about. Hoddle had the 'know how', Luggy had 'no clue'.

 

It's all very good saying that now; why not say it before?

[CB Fry]

Maybe if Hoddle had been re-appointed the rebuild could have come about. Hoddle had the 'know how', Luggy had 'no clue'.

 

Funny how that "know how" amounted to utter, humiliating and pathetic failure at Spurs, followed up by utter, humiliating and pathetic failure one division down at Wolves. No clue, and no "know how" when it came to people management.

[Dalek2003]

I certainly don't slate him as a manager for us - he did great and clearly made players like Deano far better.

 

But I do slate him as a person because he is, undoubtedly, a ****************.

 

Yep, and because of your feelings against him personally, it was worthwhile sacrificing the club and seeing them dumped to the third division. Those fans who put their personal grudges against Hoddle before the club have a lot to answer for. Five years of misery, almost bringing the club to bankruptcy and a decline that was so rapid that it made us a laughing stock.

Reading this thread, there are many who support what I have been saying for years. The fact remains that it is in the interest of some fans to bury their part in a catastrophic episode in this club !!!!!!

[CB Fry]

Yep, and because of your feelings against him personally, it was worthwhile sacrificing the club and seeing them dumped to the third division. Those fans who put their personal grudges against Hoddle before the club have a lot to answer for. Five years of misery, almost bringing the club to bankruptcy and a decline that was so rapid that it made us a laughing stock.

Reading this thread, there are many who support what I have been saying for years. The fact remains that it is in the interest of some fans to bury their part in a catastrophic episode in this club !!!!!!

 

 

Oh shut up you dopey old slag.

[Legod Third Coming]

Yep, and because of your feelings against him personally, it was worthwhile sacrificing the club and seeing them dumped to the third division. Those fans who put their personal grudges against Hoddle before the club have a lot to answer for. Five years of misery, almost bringing the club to bankruptcy and a decline that was so rapid that it made us a laughing stock.

Reading this thread, there are many who support what I have been saying for years. The fact remains that it is in the interest of some fans to bury their part in a catastrophic episode in this club !!!!!!

 

I'm pretty sure you're not serious but the choice was not Hoddle or Luggy. The choice was any number of available managers including at the time one Jose Mourinho who was looking for a move to a Premiership club...

[Dalek2003]

Oh shut up you dopey old slag.

 

I interpret your immature and personal abuse as proof of the strength of my argument. If that is the best you can do CBFRY, then I trust that my opinion has hit home the truth and also hit a few raw nerves.

[CB Fry]

I interpret your immature and personal abuse as proof of the strength of my argument. If that is the best you can do CBFRY, then I trust that my opinion has hit home the truth and also hit a few raw nerves.

 

Not really. I enjoy thinking of creative ways of giving you stick in the same way that you like think anyone people are amused by your hilarious "thing" about Hoddle. You've been proved wrong on every single count but I am not wasting time on your load of old plop-plops.

[Dalek2003]

Not really. I enjoy thinking of creative ways of giving you stick in the same way that you like think anyone people are amused by your hilarious "thing" about Hoddle. You've been proved wrong on every single count but I am not wasting time on your load of old plop-plops.

 

Oh dear, this post only supports my comments in my previous post.

[AndyNorthernSaints]

Yep, and because of your feelings against him personally, it was worthwhile sacrificing the club and seeing them dumped to the third division. Those fans who put their personal grudges against Hoddle before the club have a lot to answer for. Five years of misery, almost bringing the club to bankruptcy and a decline that was so rapid that it made us a laughing stock.

Reading this thread, there are many who support what I have been saying for years. The fact remains that it is in the interest of some fans to bury their part in a catastrophic episode in this club !!!!!!

 

Hoddle has a ****s poor managerial record.

 

His acheivements were;

 

Getting Swindon promoted via the play off to the top flight but leaving before they were relegated last with over 100 goals conceded.

 

Getting Chelsea to a fa cup final losing 4-0 to Man Utd in the most one sided cup final ever. Never getting Chelsea to finish in the top half of the league.

 

Getting England to France 98 and knocked out before the quarter finals in a penalty shoot having left the countrys best penalty taker at home and picked David Batty and Paul Ince to take vital pens.

 

Getting Saints organisd in defence with Deano playing well to finish mid table. Getting knocked out by Tranmere following silly substitutions.

 

Getting sacked at Spurs following humiliating home defeat to Strachan's Saints 3-1.

 

Getting sacked by Wolves after failing miserably to get anywhere ner promotion to the premier league something Dave Jones and Mick McCartney managed to do at the same club with th same resources.

[NickG]

Funny how Chelsea thought he did well enough at Swindon to take him on, and England thought he did well enough at Chelsea?

 

We finished mid table when we were could have been relegated when he came in, the next season we were doing great just before he left.

 

He has failed since.

[AndyNorthernSaints]

Funny how Chelsea thought he did well enough at Swindon to take him on, and England thought he did well enough at Chelsea?

 

We finished mid table when we were could have been relegated when he came in, the next season we were doing great just before he left.

 

He has failed since.

 

What did he achieve at Chelsea and with England? You can't ignore the facts that his managerial record is poor.

[Doctoroncall]

more about strachan in the guardian if interested.

 

...and Hoddle was **** poor on man management but has found his niche in coaching youngsters.

[dune]

Dalek I remember you once saying you were a teacher, which follows as some of the coolest and hardest (not the sorts who'd gob off in forums and do nuffin in real life) posters are teachers, particularyluy Hostory. What do you teach mate?

 

p.s if you find the term "mate" offensive and poodles did please accept my apologies.

[lambertsrightleg]

unfortunately he's bought loads of standard players at Boro. No pace or power in the team but very workmanlike and rugged.

[eelpie]

Bobby Robson drooled with admiration after the exciiting 2-2 draw at home, which was one of the most exciting end to end games I've seen.

With Marsden and Oakley controlling midfield Saints had a solid shape, plus the talented skills of so many individuals during the season like Svennson and the quirky runs of Fernandez. Give me that again any time.

[holepuncture]

I loved the man when he was here and welcomed his appointment.I looked forward to his interviews with the media and he did a great job with us.

 

The job he done here was a mixture of extreme fitness,confidence and being the right person for the job at the right time........saints will probably be the pinnacle of his career although he did a decent job at Celtic.

I can see him managing the Scottish national team at some point.

 

He was funny when he dealt with the media at St.Marys.

 

I remember feeling awkward about the whole thing, it seemed clear to me that the wit used in years before had become a rabble.

 

Very concerning at the time and I always thought it wouldnt take off for him at boro.

[Dr Who?]

I think that Hoddle was a really good manager for us, and left us when we were at the height of what we could achieve. What was it 7 clean sheets and playing good football. I think if he had stayed we would have not got any better than we were and as well as it being Spurs he could see this.

 

WGS a completely different manager, who before he joined had a team of mis-fits who were playing terrible football and were not fit. WGS got them up to high fitness levels and they could use their little bit of ability for longer. Fitness was so important, as was working hard for each other.

 

Out of our managers since the mid 90's until now these two stick out in my mind of doing a very good job in two different ways, and have been the most successful at the club in recent years.

 

Hoddle - Built a good team playing football and good at the back

WGS - Built a very good team, but again like Hoddle took us as far as he could and then just held on for to long.

 

WGS did not take over a team that was on the up by far, they were teriible!

[NickG]

Strachan sacked again according to radio reports.

[NickG]

What did he achieve at Chelsea and with England? You can't ignore the facts that his managerial record is poor.

 

fact is he was very very good when here.

 

Think a lot of managers, looking back on their career would think Chelsea and onto england was pretty good CV!

 

His record at Wolves and Spurs was not good.

[NickG]

I think that Hoddle was a really good manager for us, and left us when we were at the height of what we could achieve. What was it 7 clean sheets and playing good football. I think if he had stayed we would have not got any better than we were and as well as it being Spurs he could see this.

 

WGS a completely different manager, who before he joined had a team of mis-fits who were playing terrible football and were not fit. WGS got them up to high fitness levels and they could use their little bit of ability for longer. Fitness was so important, as was working hard for each other.

 

Out of our managers since the mid 90's until now these two stick out in my mind of doing a very good job in two different ways, and have been the most successful at the club in recent years.

 

Hoddle - Built a good team playing football and good at the back

WGS - Built a very good team, but again like Hoddle took us as far as he could and then just held on for to long.

 

WGS did not take over a team that was on the up by far, they were teriible!

 

Only thing I disagree about is that Hoddle had taken us as far as he could. Do you remember how well we were doing when he walked out and how fans felt? We were doing great and on the way up.

 

People are anti him because he left us when doing so well, and he handled it like a knob.

[yorkiesaint]

Yes Dr Who, it's like you were in a parellel universe when Hoddle left. As far as I remember we were gutted, and then to add insult to injury he came back for Richards. The idea that Hoddle was hanging on is crazy. As for strachan 'building a team' presumably you mean signing loads of ex coventry players.

[Dalek2003]

Dalek I remember you once saying you were a teacher, which follows as some of the coolest and hardest (not the sorts who'd gob off in forums and do nuffin in real life) posters are teachers, particularyluy Hostory. What do you teach mate?

 

p.s if you find the term "mate" offensive and poodles did please accept my apologies.

 

I have never said that I was a teacher.

[Surman4no7shirt]

Hoddle has a ****s poor managerial record.

 

His acheivements were;

 

Getting Swindon promoted via the play off to the top flight but leaving before they were relegated last with over 100 goals conceded.

 

Getting Chelsea to a fa cup final losing 4-0 to Man Utd in the most one sided cup final ever. Never getting Chelsea to finish in the top half of the league.

 

Getting England to France 98 and knocked out before the quarter finals in a penalty shoot having left the countrys best penalty taker at home and picked David Batty and Paul Ince to take vital pens.

 

Getting Saints organisd in defence with Deano playing well to finish mid table. Getting knocked out by Tranmere following silly substitutions.

 

Getting sacked at Spurs following humiliating home defeat to Strachan's Saints 3-1.

 

Getting sacked by Wolves after failing miserably to get anywhere ner promotion to the premier league something Dave Jones and Mick McCartney managed to do at the same club with th same resources.

 

 

Can Dalek answer to that one? Pretty much the best appraisal of Hoddle ever written. In reality his only success was getting Southampton to play well.

[NickG]

Hoddle came on when we were dire and looking likely to get relegated.

 

He acheived the highest win % of any of our managers in top flight.

 

In fact his win % has only been beaten by Pardew - two divisions lower - in the last 60 years.

 

Several of those managers took over sides in a better position than he did.

 

 

Blokes a tosser, has got a very poor record since, to say he was not very very good for us is re-writing history.

[Dalek2003]

Hoddle came on when we were dire and looking likely to get relegated.

 

He acheived the highest win % of any of our managers in top flight.

 

In fact his win % has only been beaten by Pardew - two divisions lower - in the last 60 years.

 

Several of those managers took over sides in a better position than he did.

 

 

Blokes a tosser, has got a very poor record since, to say he was not very very good for us is re-writing history.

 

I don't need to answer anything because nick says it all and very precisely !

[NickG]

I don't need to answer anything because nick says it all and very precisely !

 

thank you.