Ralph Hasenhuttl

[Badger]

25 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I haven't yet had a reply of 'well go and support another team' that is a surprise. (I know what posts will now follow lol)

Seems there is a silent swathe of fans who have lost/losing faith in the club. The lift we had signing the players has gone, as the obvious priority was missed of getting a goalscorer. 

 

That would be a predictable response from a mindless sap. But I don't know many true supporters of any club that can change the team they support like a new pair of socks or underpants.

I've lived in different parts of the country and watched the local teams with friends at the time, Newcastle, Sunderland (when both were pretty crap) Cheltenham, and on a couple of occasions a village team. Bit of entertainment perhaps, but when they score you just go through the motions, no great feeling of joy, which contrasts with the ecstatic feeling of a Saints goal that matters, think Stokes 1976, or Moran , 1984. 

Edited 5 October, 2022 by Badger

[Chris cooper]

On 04/10/2022 at 10:04, once_bitterne said:

Why did you include Gabbiadini in there?  He was another poor signing.  He managed around a goal every 5 games and most of those were in a brief purple patch in his first few games.

The guy nearly won us our 1st trophy 🏆 for 40 years .. hit the ground running with loads of goals ..  given a sniff in the box he’d bury it .. Kept us up at Swansea … he was decent for us !! Would still do a job now for ..  still plays for his country !

[OldNick]

4 minutes ago, Badger said:

That would be a predictable response from a mindless sap. But I don't know many true supporters of any club that can change the team they support like a new pair of socks or underpants.

I've lived in different parts of the country and watched the local teams with friends at the time, Newcastle, Sunderland (when both were pretty crap) Cheltenham, and on a couple of occasions a village team. Bit of entertainment perhaps, but when they score you just go through the motions, no great feeling of joy, which contrasts with the ecstatic feeling of a Saints goal that matters, think Stokes 1976, or Moran , 1984. 

Or Long at Anfield. 

[Chris cooper]

54 minutes ago, Badger said:

Your first paragraph sums up my feelings as well, but too much time and emotion spent on Saints to give it all up as tempting as it is.

Still make regular visits - two hour joutney each way - with my sons, and will call in to see family in the area. Lost count of the number of times I've concluded it as a good day out, ruined by 90 minutes of football.

Looking back is sad, realising that the current generation of player isn't fit to wipe the arse of Channon, McGrath et al.

Not just current players tho it’s the new brand of fan we have now ..I look around at home and away games and I think wot the fuck happend to our fan base ! 
I’m embarrassed most of the time not guna lie .. but Southampton will always flow through my veins .. institutionalised! 
Highbury.. white hart Lane semi finals as young lad .. 8-2 win vs Coventry at the dell double Hatrick ..Wallace and Moran .. to walking out at tranmere losing 4-3 after being 3-0 up in the cup under hoddle.. Shane long scoring the winner at Anfield to send us to Wembley ..the ups and the downs ..but this ..😴

we all love saints inside out .. but wot is being served up now and for far toolong isn’t good enough for our beloved club ! Surviving in this league has become a drag .. we want another European tour., another cup run … Ralph isn’t going take us to those dizzy heights ..

[Daft Kerplunk]

54 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I haven't yet had a reply of 'well go and support another team' that is a surprise. (I know what posts will now follow lol)

Seems there is a silent swathe of fans who have lost/losing faith in the club. The lift we had signing the players has gone, as the obvious priority was missed of getting a goalscorer. 

 

40 years supporting the club at actual real life football matches and this current situation is the most dispiriting. I’ve passed this to my sons and they may never have an idea what it’s like to support a real football club. We all accept that we aren’t the best but all we’ve become is a boring brand that’s losing/lost its soul.

The board, and this manager who seems to have lost most of the players have disconnected ‘the brand’ from the people with absolute bullshit across the business, apart from the foundation whose activity is paid for by donations and the Premier League. Even the media don’t care/talk about us because what is there to say? Gary Lineker is hardly going to get excited about our shared values with a crypto currency brand. 

They make it hard to care and have dented our club’s heart, but because it’s our football club through thick and thin, they know this can be abused.  
 

 

 

[Toussaint]

46 minutes ago, Badger said:

 

That was a good observation from my mate as we queued up outside a frozen Elm Park in January 1996 (I think) to see Reading beat us in the FA Cup. One of the few things to come out of that day, other than seeing Benali as a liability (for a needless sending off,) and Souness a bit of a twat for confronting the ref at the end.

Getting way off track, but I remember that game well (I think)!, the game should never have been played, the pitch was frozen solid, and I had a long standing hatred of the ref, Roger Milford?

[Lord Duckhunter]

5 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Assuming this run off form continues; I sincerely hope Ralph is relieved of his duties before the relationship between fans and manager becomes really toxic. Ralph doesn’t deserve that. He’s done an excellent job for us but a change is required as is often the case after 3 or 4 years. 

Why doesn’t he deserve it? 
 

Why is he made out to be some sort of club legend, he’s an average manager that’s done an average job and is now doing a shite one. All the fucking jazz hands & crying at Liverpool pony, yet when the chips are down he disappears. He never acknowledges away fans now when we lose, regularly chucks players under a bus, allowed blame to be handed to the minions, and makes excuse after excuses. The mask has slipped, he’s an arrogant stubborn fraud, whose started to steal a living….

[OldNick]

11 minutes ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

40 years supporting the club at actual real life football matches and this current situation is the most dispiriting. I’ve passed this to my sons and they may never have an idea what it’s like to support a real football club. We all accept that we aren’t the best but all we’ve become is a boring brand that’s losing/lost its soul.

The board, and this manager who seems to have lost most of the players have disconnected ‘the brand’ from the people with absolute bullshit across the business, apart from the foundation whose activity is paid for by donations and the Premier League. Even the media don’t care/talk about us because what is there to say? Gary Lineker is hardly going to get excited about our shared values with a crypto currency brand. 

They make it hard to care and have dented our club’s heart, but because it’s our football club through thick and thin, they know this can be abused.  
 

 

 

 

10 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

Getting way off track, but I remember that game well (I think)!, the game should never have been played, the pitch was frozen solid, and I had a long standing hatred of the ref, Roger Milford?

Oldham home in the League Cup I assume?

[OldNick]

18 minutes ago, Chris cooper said:

Not just current players tho it’s the new brand of fan we have now ..I look around at home and away games and I think wot the fuck happend to our fan base ! 
I’m embarrassed most of the time not guna lie .. but Southampton will always flow through my veins .. institutionalised! 
Highbury.. white hart Lane semi finals as young lad .. 8-2 win vs Coventry at the dell double Hatrick ..Wallace and Moran .. to walking out at tranmere losing 4-3 after being 3-0 up in the cup under hoddle.. Shane long scoring the winner at Anfield to send us to Wembley ..the ups and the downs ..but this ..😴

we all love saints inside out .. but wot is being served up now and for far toolong isn’t good enough for our beloved club ! Surviving in this league has become a drag .. we want another European tour., another cup run … Ralph isn’t going take us to those dizzy heights ..

I feel we are a bit of a laboratory test, see if a team of kids can stay up while increasing their value.

As I posted a couple of days go, please tell me which player has improved under RH? The board are hoping the kids will do so under his stewardship, a lot of faith to want that!!!

[Francis1947]

3 hours ago, OldNick said:

I have got to the stage after following Saints for over 55 years that I now regret letting them become so important in my life. At times I dislike them so much as it really puts me in a poor mood for the weekend, I even try and avoid checking our score until the game has finished, but never manage to.

This posting by OldNick resonates with me too.

After 60 years of supporting Saints, many as a season ticket holder,both at the Dell and St.Marys , I dont think I have ever felt so despondent before.

The stuff that is being served up by Ralph and his selections and tactics at the moment is pure, boring dross.  I came home from the Everton match last week and my missus greeted me by saying that you dont look as though you have enjoyed yourself.....and she was correct ! What we are seeing almost every week now is boring and predictable.

As a long standing Saints fan I think I have been programmed to accept a diet of occassional success......the FA Cup final in 1976, League Cup final ( I attended both )  and some promotions.....and many years of limited success. But what is happening under Ralphs stewardship now is a different thing all together in my opinion.

Of course the Premiership has got harder and more teams are competetive but why we cannot keep up and be superior to the likes of Brighton, Brentford.....even the next level of clubs up like Villa and Everton, is beyond me.

I am  retired so a season ticket at St.Marys is a considerable investment for me and at the moment I'm not enjoying going . 

I do think it's time for Ralph to go. I think he is a decent bloke but his time here and his methods have run their course in my opinion. I honestly think that we are inthe fight of our lives this season to avoid relegation. 

We have always almost assumed that of the 3 promoted sides, 2 will go down again. So our ambition has been to avoid that one last spot. Dont think that is goingto be the case this year.

So, in 2 weeks time, my missus and I are off for a driving tour of Deutschland. It is a country we love and it is something we have been doing for many years once Autumn begins. We will be over there for 3 weeks and probably complete over 2000 miles. First week in Berchtesgaden up in the Alps, then we head north west to Berlin for the second week and then further west to Lower Saxony for our final week. Think it will be time to recharge my Saints supporter batteries ! 

Will I keep an eye on what Saints are doing and reading the posts on this excellent forum ? Yes.....of course I will.....it's in the blood isnt it !!!! Once a Saints fan and all that.

But I dont think I have ever felt so low about our club before. Even when they were in the lower divisions. It's the hope that kills you eh.  

.

 

[notnowcato]

20 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Why doesn’t he deserve it? 
 

Why is he made out to be some sort of club legend, he’s an average manager that’s done an average job and is now doing a shite one. All the fucking jazz hands & crying at Liverpool pony, yet when the chips are down he disappears. He never acknowledges away fans now when we lose, regularly chucks players under a bus, allowed blame to be handed to the minions, and makes excuse after excuses. The mask has slipped, he’s an arrogant stubborn fraud, whose started to steal a living….

Haha get another life you dramatic tart. 

[Alan Sugarfree]

Putting Saints to one side, The best thing Ralph could probably do for himself is take a step back and reset with a couple of months away from the game. Reflect on what went well and more importantly what didn’t. Address his short comings and try again somewhere else, post World Cup in the new year.

This whole situation is sucking the life out of the fans. It can’t be doing him much good either. It’s all feeling a bit toxic.

[FarehamSaintJames]

When he goes I think everyone will be pleased that we can hopefully move on to something better. But equally disappointed that it didn’t work out, but his own tactics and attitude have to be brought into question and that he has brought on himself.

A politer way of putting it is that he’s just taken the club as far as he can. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Who we get in next is the big question!

It wouldn’t surprise me if he was here up until the World Cup and then we parted company with him. I don’t see it happening even after Haaland scores a double hat-trick against us.

[saintant]

51 minutes ago, Alan Sugarfree said:

Putting Saints to one side, The best thing Ralph could probably do for himself is take a step back and reset with a couple of months away from the game. Reflect on what went well and more importantly what didn’t. Address his short comings and try again somewhere else, post World Cup in the new year.

This whole situation is sucking the life out of the fans. It can’t be doing him much good either. It’s all feeling a bit toxic.

Yeah and then he has a quick look at his bank balance and things don't seem nearly so bad.

[FarehamSaintJames]

The last ten minutes:

 

[Harry_SFC]

If they are gonna sack him they might as well just do it now and stick Selles in charge until they find a replacement. No point putting him through the humiliation of City.

[Mr X]

Surely the players are just going to down tools for the city game.... Not that that would be anything unusual if the last few few games are anything to go by! Can see the players not giving a f*!k if it's Ralph's last game 

[Pamplemousse]

2 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

If they are gonna sack him they might as well just do it now and stick Selles in charge until they find a replacement. No point putting him through the humiliation of City.

I don't really want Selles in charge for any games at all, he has zero management experience

[EBS1980]

Lose to city and it’s an easy time to sack him. If we managed to get a point then he gets the next game imo. I don’t think there’s any new news to the article really, sound out a replacement so when they do sack there is no period of no manager.

I like him as a person and he did well with no money but I think we now need someone with fresh ideas to get the best from the squad. Someone the players will do anything for. Give 100% every game makes up for the lack of ability, that’s all we ask.

[Harry_SFC]

5 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

I don't really want Selles in charge for any games at all, he has zero management experience

I'd have no problem with sticking him in charge for the City game. I'd understand if it was a winnable game but let's be honest, it isn't. 

[Pamplemousse]

Just now, Harry_SFC said:

I'd have no problem with sticking him in charge for the City game. I'd understand if it was a winnable game but let's be honest, it isn't. 

We drew twice with them last season!

I reckon we'd have a better chance with Ralph, who knows, he's under huge pressure, maybe he'll pull a rabbit out of the hat tactically. I just don't buy the argument we should totally throw away the game, albeit a very difficult one. Only if we have someone lined up immediately, which it sounds like we don't.

[saint1977]

15 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

The last ten minutes:

 

Inevitable - but lack of class and respect when he is still in post. The club will then gag Ralph with an NDA, it stinks.

I’ve been Ralph out since Brentford away but the leaking, particularly this week, has been pathetic. It is lower league small town crap. Sack him or STFU. Oh, and sort the forward line out, get a DMC in January. You can hoover up all the youngsters like it’s 2008/9 again but the squad is unbalanced still.

[Bad Wolf]

As I mentioned on another thread last night, I went to the kids game at Exeter last night and I was so impressed by our under 21's managers local nature. He did not shut up all game. Constantly shouting and talking to the players. I'm not suggesting we appoint him but I'd love someone with that kind of passion.

[Give it to Ron]

32 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

We drew twice with them last season!

They have signed a pretty good striker since!

[revolution saint]

17 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

As I mentioned on another thread last night, I went to the kids game at Exeter last night and I was so impressed by our under 21's managers local nature. He did not shut up all game. Constantly shouting and talking to the players. I'm not suggesting we appoint him but I'd love someone with that kind of passion.

Local jobs for local people?  

[bangkoksaint]

4 hours ago, Chris cooper said:

The guy nearly won us our 1st trophy 🏆 for 40 years .. hit the ground running with loads of goals ..  given a sniff in the box he’d bury it .. Kept us up at Swansea … he was decent for us !! Would still do a job now for ..  still plays for his country !

You’re joking aren’t you?! If he was here now Ralph would have coached all the goal scoring nouse he had out of him!

[Miltonaggro]

3 hours ago, Toussaint said:

Getting way off track, but I remember that game well (I think)!, the game should never have been played, the pitch was frozen solid, and I had a long standing hatred of the ref, Roger Milford?

Yes, he had plenty of form with us Milford, absolute helmet. 

[Badger]

28 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

As I mentioned on another thread last night, I went to the kids game at Exeter last night and I was so impressed by our under 21's managers local nature. He did not shut up all game. Constantly shouting and talking to the players. I'm not suggesting we appoint him but I'd love someone with that kind of passion.

Bellowing touchline instructions calling them mush all ‘mush’ and ‘nipper’ for 90 minutes ?  

[Bad Wolf]

1 minute ago, Badger said:

Bellowing touchline instructions calling them mush all ‘mush’ and ‘nipper’ for 90 minutes ?  

I just mean someone who shows that kind of passion and has a preference for every single passage of play.

[Suhari]

1 hour ago, Alan Sugarfree said:

Putting Saints to one side, The best thing Ralph could probably do for himself is take a step back and reset with a couple of months away from the game. Reflect on what went well and more importantly what didn’t. Address his short comings and try again somewhere else, post World Cup in the new year.

This whole situation is sucking the life out of the fans. It can’t be doing him much good either. It’s all feeling a bit toxic.

Quality post sir.

Been thinking similar since the Everton game. He's not the man he was a few years ago; which isn't great for Saints, but potentially far worse for him. He's lost himself somewhat I think.

And any "fan" that suggests his salary should make him immune to the stresses and pressures of life needs a slap.

Best thing is that he exits with dignity and takes a decent break before his next project.

 

[Badger]

41 minutes ago, saint1977 said:

Inevitable - but lack of class and respect when he is still in post. The club will then gag Ralph with an NDA, it stinks.

I’ve been Ralph out since Brentford away but the leaking, particularly this week, has been pathetic. It is lower league small town crap. Sack him or STFU. Oh, and sort the forward line out, get a DMC in January. You can hoover up all the youngsters like it’s 2008/9 again but the squad is unbalanced still.

If true that it is imminent then it’s poor if this is being leaked midweek ahead of Saturday’s fixture.

Make a decision in good time, after Saturday and act swiftly if at all.

Will be annoying if they do act then go into type of vacuum we’ve been used to under earlier regimes of posturing for weeks before an appointment. Hope Ankersen is more dynamic than the predecessors .

 

[Bad Wolf]

In any other industry, you have the right to a dignified sacking, even if it's the grossest misconduct and you also have the right to confidentiality about it all....Apart from football! I don't think any manager should have these kind of reports hanging over him before an official announcement is made.

[Lighthouse]

27 minutes ago, bangkoksaint said:

You’re joking aren’t you?! If he was here now Ralph would have coached all the goal scoring nouse he had out of him!

Which strikers do you think have particularly dropped off, goal wise, under Ralph?

[SaintsLoyal]

What does the full telegraph article say ?

[sadoldgit]

4 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Why doesn’t he deserve it? 
 

Why is he made out to be some sort of club legend, he’s an average manager that’s done an average job and is now doing a shite one. All the fucking jazz hands & crying at Liverpool pony, yet when the chips are down he disappears. He never acknowledges away fans now when we lose, regularly chucks players under a bus, allowed blame to be handed to the minions, and makes excuse after excuses. The mask has slipped, he’s an arrogant stubborn fraud, whose started to steal a living….

Wrong thread Duckie. Surely you are talking about Boris Johnson?

[Badger]

12 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

In any other industry, you have the right to a dignified sacking, even if it's the grossest misconduct and you also have the right to confidentiality about it all....Apart from football! I don't think any manager should have these kind of reports hanging over him before an official announcement is made.

Management by rumour?

Float the rumour and measure the response before deciding to take action.

Man Utd were accused of this with the potential signing of Arnautovic. I was also told it was a common practice at British Leyland in the 80’s. Shame no fucker explained it Kwasi before his budget. 
 

Edited 5 October, 2022 by Badger

[Give it to Ron]

5 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

In any other industry, you have the right to a dignified sacking, even if it's the grossest misconduct and you also have the right to confidentiality about it all....Apart from football! I don't think any manager should have these kind of reports hanging over him before an official announcement is made.

True look at Brendan and to some extent Lampard this season.

I will be sad when he goes as he obviously cares but he has lost the plot. Why break up the only decent partnership last Saturday. Moussa has critics and haters but he did well at left back . At Villa first half he was only decent performance until hooked off then what happens not a minute last week. 
we play a midget who is good going forward but battered defensively when we have 2 other options. 
I had hoped with better back room these mad changes would stop.

I do think he was let down with no strikers in apart from Mara we should have had someone in June/July we didn’t need a Gapko waste of time that was. 
Ralph has paid for that Che scores at Wolves and Saturday then we wouldn’t be sacking him soon.

[Daft Kerplunk]

4 hours ago, OldNick said:

 

Oldham home in the League Cup I assume?

The thought of that game still makes me sick

[Dorchester Saint]

Seems to me that they are just waiting for Erling Haaland to finish bending us over and dry bumming us so that they have the perfect excuse to give Ralph his marching orders. 

[Maggie May]

It’s a shame it hasn’t worked out with Ralph but we are going backwards.
 

 

[BallBoy]

8 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

What does the full telegraph article say ?

I have only been able to read the article because I am a subscriber so I cannot attach it. In short it says that Ralph is on borrowed time but his departure is not imminent. There is no replacement identified but they are looking (as most clubs do). Much is made of the change of leadership and ownership. It suggests that Ralph struggles to relate to players outside of the 1st team regulars (my own opinion is that he is struggling with them too). "They" hope he can learn to work with his new coaching team but there are concerns here too.

The piece is written by the Telegraph Chief Football Writer, Sam Wallace and someone called John Percy. It is an opinion piece with no sources or quotes. Nevertheless, the fact that it is in the Telegraph lends it weight.

My feeling is that the newspaper has sources but are unable to quote them. I suspect it will take a massive improvement in results to save Ralph.   

[Chez]

5 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I'm suspect you're trying to be clever here - I'm no qualified coach that can provide a detailed technical explanation, however purely by watching how other teams play you can see a distinct lack of cohesive, organised style and tactical nouse - for example... passing (triangulation), movement off the ball into space, running channels to invite passes that are actually made, executing more forward passes than sideways/backwards, pressing as a unit (for some reason this feature has diminished dramatically lately and even in defence players stand-off attackers).  

We've progressively become the most boring team in the league and even our most exciting players have regressed.  Have you seen how many times even a simple pass is made BEHIND the receiving player so slowing down any momentum - surely that's just a basic facet of play that should be drilled in training?

I assume you watch the games - what do you think?

If you are going to make statements like:

" I more strongly believe that the manner in which we play (i.e, style) does not match the strengths of any of our forward line. " 

then I think its pretty reasonable for me to ask what our current style is (I'm genuinely interested) and what style you think would work better (I'm also genuinely interested).

Yes, I watch all the games, but I don't know what style/tactic would work for Armstrong/Che. You were the one convinced a change was required, but maybe its not the style/tactic that is the problem. Maybe they are the problem?

 

[Pilchards]

16 minutes ago, Dorchester Saint said:

Seems to me that they are just waiting for Erling Haaland to finish bending us over and dry bumming us so that they have the perfect excuse to give Ralph his marching orders. 

And if we beat them Saturday then what?

I know I was kidding!

[Chez]

7 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Surely it's not unrealistic to imagine a premier league club will have other targets in mind should they fail with one.

Rather than him being the first and only, maybe he was the last of long list of targets,  none of which we managed to snag. 

Is it better to aim high and try to get a top notch striker(but obviously with more chance of failure) or aim lower and be much more assured of getting your man?

The latter got us Adams and Armstrong.

[Chez]

25 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

It’s a shame it hasn’t worked out with Ralph but we are going backwards.
 

 

we seem to be in much the same place as when he started. We've gone nowhere. Not sure it will easy for the next one to take us anywhere either. We shall see.

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Bad Wolf said:

I just mean someone who shows that kind of passion and has a preference for every single passage of play.

I fucking hate all that `Pulis-style' shouting and gesturing all game. It's a load of old bollocks IMO. Clough didn't do it, nor did Wenger. Did you see Fergie standing up on the touchline all game telling Neville which inch of grass to be on the entire 90 minutes?

Its just a load of shite for the cameras that has helped managers get back financial parity with the players.

Sit down and your not showing passion? Fuck off. Football is everything to do these guys. 

Management is about creating a positive and productive atmosphere at the club, bringing in and selecting the right players and choosing the right tactics for those players and the match situations...waving arms and shouting non stop does fuck all.

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Miltonaggro said:

Yes, he had plenty of form with us Milford, absolute helmet. 

what a fucking wanker. Where did those 9 minutes come from in the Oldham game? Still annoyed.

[Chez]

2 hours ago, saint1977 said:

The club will then gag Ralph with an NDA, it stinks.

Managers didn't have to sign a NDA if they don't want to. He'll sign a NDA if its financially beneficial to him, but if his contract entitles him to full payment of the remaining years, we will have to pay that to him with or without a NDA.

[Bad Wolf]

23 minutes ago, Chez said:

I fucking hate all that `Pulis-style' shouting and gesturing all game. It's a load of old bollocks IMO. Clough didn't do it, nor did Wenger. Did you see Fergie standing up on the touchline all game telling Neville which inch of grass to be on the entire 90 minutes?

Its just a load of shite for the cameras that has helped managers get back financial parity with the players.

Sit down and your not showing passion? Fuck off. Football is everything to do these guys. 

Management is about creating a positive and productive atmosphere at the club, bringing in and selecting the right players and choosing the right tactics for those players and the match situations...waving arms and shouting non stop does fuck all.

You okay mate?

[Chez]

5 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

You okay mate?

Yeah, tip-top, you?