Ralph Hasenhuttl

[FarehamSaintJames]

1 minute ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

Thinking logically, the only reasons I can think why he is still here -

1. SR think he is still able to turn this around (despite a weight of evidence to the contrary)

2. SR decided preseason he would get a set number of games regardless of results

3. SR can't find a suitable replacement

4. SR have a manager lined up but for some reason it can't happen until a certain date

My money is on 2 but can anyone think of other reasons?

 

 

I reckon a combination of 2, 3 and 4.

A set number of games with this new group has to be fair. However I reckon the club had alternate targets in mind and I reckon recent circumstances have decided otherwise; i.e. Cooper getting a new contract maybe? Eddie Howe not being replaced by a “big name” manager at Newcastle already. All hypothetical of course.

But not unlikely.

[ally_uk]

The players need to take some form of responsibility. They are played a fair wedge to perform....... 

They are better than this ( Cheleea match ) 

Just need a kick up the ass! And some inspiration 

I don't think it's all Ralph's fault either 

[Appy]

Debate phone in on Solent right now. 
 

In Blackmore’s intro he accuses Saints fans of arrogance. 

[modern matron]

9 minutes ago, Appy said:

Debate phone in on Solent right now. 
 

In Blackmore’s intro he accuses Saints fans of arrogance. 

True!!!!!!

[for_heaven's_Saint]

23 minutes ago, Appy said:

Debate phone in on Solent right now. 
 

In Blackmore’s intro he accuses Saints fans of arrogance. 

Not listening but Blackmore is hardly an impartial interviewer. You only have to listen to the spiel he gave at the beginning of the fan forum to realise he loves Ralph and the Saints board and will take their side on most issues. Tbh I think it’s unprofessional, particularly as he works for the BBC. 

[Turkish]

 

doesn’t sound like this is going to be neutral. Saints fans are arrogant to expect us to be comfortable, Ralph is building a new squad, loads of other clubs have underachieved 🙄

[Appy]

Keeps asking where we should be. 
 

Probably having more than 12 points from 20 games. 

[stknowle]

7 minutes ago, Turkish said:

 

doesn’t sound like this is going to be neutral. Saints fans are arrogant to expect us to be comfortable, Ralph is building a new squad, loads of other clubs have underachieved 🙄

After listening to that I have given myself a good talking to, told myself to get more realistic, and now back Ralph 100%.

Edited 11 October, 2022 by stknowle

[Harry_SFC]

Blackmore seems to have this unwavering loyalty to Hassenhuttl and Semmens. Basically saying we have the worst squad in the league (it isn't great but it's not as bad as 12 points in 20 games). Seems to me he's trying to point the finger at SR (who spent almost £70 million this summer) and the fans. 

[AlexLaw76]

Did Adam cry when talking up Ralph?

[CB Fry]

So it turns out that the transfer window that Adam was saying was brilliant back in September was actually shit after all as he's challenging the listenership to name a worse squad than ours.

Crystal fucking clear. Go us.

[Turkish]

15 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Blackmore seems to have this unwavering loyalty to Hassenhuttl and Semmens. Basically saying we have the worst squad in the league (it isn't great but it's not as bad as 12 points in 20 games). Seems to me he's trying to point the finger at SR (who spent almost £70 million this summer) and the fans. 

He was pointing the finger at SR the other day with the article about Ralph being on the way out. He obviously gets on well with Semmens and Ralph. Can’t help but feel this is basically been set up as PR stunt by the current board to get the fans on Ralph’s side 

[verlaine1979]

Blackmore misses the point. The unhappiness isn't with our league position, it's with our supine performances. We're playing without character or purpose, and there's no excuse for it.

Whatever the individual talents of our squad, a good manager would give the team a system and identity. Currently we have neither, and haven't since pretty much the end of our little post-pandemic burst of form, when we moved the ball quickly, passed it forward between the lines and had players looking for space rather than holding their positions while the game passed them by.

[FarehamSaintJames]

1 hour ago, Appy said:

Debate phone in on Solent right now. 
 

In Blackmore’s intro he accuses Saints fans of arrogance. 

Is it going to be available to listen to tomorrow in full?

[Lee On Solent Saint]

22 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He was pointing the finger at SR the other day with the article about Ralph being on the way out. He obviously gets on well with Semmens and Ralph. Can’t help but feel this is basically been set up as PR stunt by the current board to get the fans on Ralph’s side 

Exactly. Blackmore sucks up to the club so he get continued access, have said it before that after the game interviews with him and Ralph are not worth bothering about. He asks the most pointless questions going. Solent should have a ten minute slot after the game when we should be able to ask Ralph the questions we want answered not the bollocks that Blackmore asks

[SaintsLoyal]

Reading between the lines, it shows that both Martin Semmens and Adam Blackmore think us fans are somewhat arrogant and should be more realistic. But this is 2022 and fans pay unreal ticket prices and thus can expect at least to see a team competing and doing the basics in football. I dont know any Saints fan that in the last 40 years expects Saints to do no more than finish midtable and have a dabble on a cup run. Were miles away from that with a manager, who cant communicate with players on the training ground and get the best out of them. A tactical approach that sees non stop goals conceded by an attack orientated approach with defence second to not happening. Even if we beat West Ham it will mean nothing as it will be only a matter of games before it falls apart.

Edited 11 October, 2022 by SaintsLoyal

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

23 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He was pointing the finger at SR the other day with the article about Ralph being on the way out. He obviously gets on well with Semmens and Ralph. Can’t help but feel this is basically been set up as PR stunt by the current board to get the fans on Ralph’s side 

Its astonishing really isn't it. He's got a frickin neck on him I'll give you that. Absolutely in cahoots with Semmens and Ralph. If I'm SR I'd be thinking this is a massive red flag. Get rid of semmons and ralph now. And Blackmore is completely discredited once and for all after this

[The Kraken]

24 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Can’t help but feel this is basically been set up as PR stunt by the current board to get the fans on Ralph’s side 

Bloody stupid move if so. A few drips might believe it but the majority of fans see through it, and most people don’t like being told it’s raining when they’re being pissed on. If/when Ralph goes, I think Semmens has to go too, the geezer has done some good things but the standard of outward mediocrity he has set is pitiful.

[Turkish]

11 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Reading between the lines, it shows that both Martin Semmens and Adam Blackmore think us fans are somewhat arrogant and should be more realistic. But this is 2022 and fans pay unreal ticket prices and thus can expect at least to see a team competing and doing the basics in football. I dont know any Saints fan that in the last 40 years expects Saints to do no more than finish midtable and have a dabble on a cup run. Were miles away from that with a manager, who cant communicate with players on the training ground and get the best out of them. A tactical approach that sees non stop goals conceded by an attack orientated approach with defence second to not happening. Even if we beat West Ham it will mean nothing as it will be only a matter of games before it falls apart.

You don’t need to read between in the lines, in that clip I shared he said “where did the arrogance come from?”

the arrogance that after 10 years of premier league money we’ve had to sell to buy for most of it and when we do have a bit of cash we spunk it all on a load of kids who, according to Blackmore, have made us the worst squad in the league.

[West end Saints]

I don't know what the Board think, but, Blackmore seemed to be under the impression that Ralph is definately in his last season, and the board are likely to assess at world Cup break. 

I wonder how many points will be his safety threshold? 

We will then have played 15 games (currently 7 from 9 games). 

There can't be anyway they would consider keeping him if we lose the next 6 (or sack him if we win the next 6!).

Style of play, whether defeats are close etc will come into in but I'm thinking 6 or less surely they will change? 9 safe? 

 

[Harry_SFC]

6 minutes ago, West end Saints said:

I don't know what the Board think, but, Blackmore seemed to be under the impression that Ralph is definately in his last season, and the board are likely to assess at world Cup break. 

I wonder how many points will be his safety threshold? 

We will then have played 15 games (currently 7 from 9 games). 

There can't be anyway they would consider keeping him if we lose the next 6 (or sack him if we win the next 6!).

Style of play, whether defeats are close etc will come into in but I'm thinking 6 or less surely they will change? 9 safe? 

 

We need to start picking up wins against the teams around us, especially at home. 

9 points minimum before the world cup really.

 

[East Kent Saint]

You are obviously all in the 'Anti Ralph turning Saints into a top 6 club coalition' WE MARCH ON ! IN RALPH WE TRUST @adamblackmore

[Archers Road Stand]

20 minutes ago, Turkish said:

You don’t need to read between in the lines, in that clip I shared he said “where did the arrogance come from?”

the arrogance that after 10 years of premier league money we’ve had to sell to buy for most of it and when we do have a bit of cash we spunk it all on a load of kids who, according to Blackmore, have made us the worst squad in the league.

Blackmore was praising this transfer window as our best one since 14/15 after deadline day. 🤔

It couldn't have been that good if he views us as one of the worst squads in the league. 

[Midfield_General]

I suspect Blackmore has a personal relationship with Ralph/ Semmens that pre-dates Sports Republic. 

It’s mutually beneficial. Ralph and Semmens give Blackmore first dibs on the info that they are happy to share, which keeps him relevant, and in return Blackmore takes the soft soap approach, takes their side and rarely asks them difficult questions. 

So if Ralph and/ or Semmens go, it weakens Blackmore’s position as he doesn’t have that same relationship with SR, and the next guy may not want to have the same relationship with him. 

Hence, it’s in Blackmore’s interests to defend Ralph and Semmens and try to keep the status quo in place for as long as possible. 

[SNSUN]

15 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

We need to start picking up wins against the teams around us, especially at home. 

9 points minimum before the world cup really.

 

A point a game average over the season is 38 points and if you offered me 38 points at the end of the season now I’d probably bite your hand off. Then pray. 15 from 15 going into the WC break is probably the bare minimum and we’d still need a good January transfer window in what is traditionally a tough month to sign players. 8 more points from 6 games? I can’t see it right now without much in attack.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

He was pointing the finger at SR the other day with the article about Ralph being on the way out. He obviously gets on well with Semmens and Ralph. Can’t help but feel this is basically been set up as PR stunt by the current board to get the fans on Ralph’s side 

Agree, this smacks of using his phone in as a vehicle to defend Ralph to the hilt and make excuses for his shortcomings. Blackmore is nothing more than Ralph's poodle and seems to forget his role is to be impartial and let fans give their views not set the whole thing up by spouting how hard done by poor little Ralph is and try to influence the show. Very poor journalism.

[SuperSAINT]

 

[Charlie Wayman]

2 hours ago, Turkish said:

 

doesn’t sound like this is going to be neutral. Saints fans are arrogant to expect us to be comfortable, Ralph is building a new squad, loads of other clubs have underachieved 🙄

Blackmore talking horse sh*t as usual.  Loud mouth know all, piss off!

[Saint Garrett]

18 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

Isn’t this because his father is Ill and doesn’t want to move to England? 

[S-Clarke]

Blackmore's tone echo's that of a worrying narrative from the club over the last year.

''We have done well to be in the PL for 10 years''

''We cannot compete with teams in this league''

''We're small, we're tiny.''

etc etc. 

Generally small-fry talk, and that kind of talk from the top filters down, trickles to the players and then you get an underachieving load of crap. What would we lose by turning that narrative upside down and saying stuff like ''we have earned our place''  ''we can compete with the best'' ''we want to push up the league''. That's what can drive a club on, not this constant ''we're minnows', woe be us'' nonsense.

[sfc4prem]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Blackmore's tone echo's that of a worrying narrative from the club over the last year.

''We have done well to be in the PL for 10 years''

''We cannot compete with teams in this league''

''We're small, we're tiny.''

etc etc. 

Generally small-fry talk, and that kind of talk from the top filters down, trickles to the players and then you get an underachieving load of crap. What would we lose by turning that narrative upside down and saying stuff like ''we have earned our place''  ''we can compete with the best'' ''we want to push up the league''. That's what can drive a club on, not this constant ''we're minnows', woe be us'' nonsense.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Myopic, inert, unambitious and wholly pessimistic leadership. 

[MarkSFC]

IF....SR are happy with the leadership syltyle of Semmens and Hassenhutl who promote the "realism" and "conservative" approach to sport then they won't be doing very well. 

Sport is about pushing boundaries, training and developing to achieve success - at whatever level you compete. 

If you set goals too low and miss you fail. Always set goals that you predict will stretch...

RH and Semmens definitely do not. They are so used to the restrictions they were forced to work under with Gao and it has changed their mindsets from when they first arrived, especially Ralph's. 

For their own good they need to move on let alone the players and us. 

 

[saint1977]

41 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Blackmore's tone echo's that of a worrying narrative from the club over the last year.

''We have done well to be in the PL for 10 years''

''We cannot compete with teams in this league''

''We're small, we're tiny.''

etc etc. 

Generally small-fry talk, and that kind of talk from the top filters down, trickles to the players and then you get an underachieving load of crap. What would we lose by turning that narrative upside down and saying stuff like ''we have earned our place''  ''we can compete with the best'' ''we want to push up the league''. That's what can drive a club on, not this constant ''we're minnows', woe be us'' nonsense.

Blackmore, Semmens, Steele, Ralph - on a par with Branfoot for me with his ‘can’t live in same street’ comments after being humped 4-0 by Leeds. Get lost then and get lost now. If SR buy into that bullshit narrative they need to clear off as well. It’s Southampton Football Club they bought - Lawrie, Channon, Ball, Keegan, MLT, Pahars, Lambert, Mane, JWP - not Morecambe, or Exeter City. They’re small clubs, go and buy them instead.

Difference was that the Saints fans of 30 years had some backbone and drove Branfoot out, saving the club.

90 minutes of invective aimed at the manager, board and Blackmore (20k Saints fans singing ‘Adam Blackmore is a wanker’ is beyond any microphone to muffle) on Sunday would be a good start. Sod the game, Hammers will piss all over us anyway and without a change of manager there’s no more points coming. AB has shown total disrespect to the paying Southampton listening football supporting public tonight but the also fans need to respect themselves as we did 30 years ago and get these people out of our football environment. 

Won’t hold my breath though - current ‘fans’ rather clap the players off after a timid 0-3 defeat. Even 2006 and 2009 there was the protests against Lowe.

This all started with Gao taking over and that was Semmens involved there as well wasnt it? He’s supposed picked SR as owners yet pushed them under the bus tonight - or AB has in effect as the official mouthpiece - when it’s gone belly up, just like he did to Gao at fans forums. ‘It’s not our fault’. Pushed the fans under the bus and kicking STHs out of their seats for more leather padded, empty ones.

If you don’t like football interrupting your weekends, do something else for a living that’s 9-5, 5 days a week. Dragan is a mug for trusting him with his investment.

Club’s been dead really since 2017. Faceless, boring, corporate entity. Marching onto…mediocrity and the lower leagues. Because that’s where truly small clubs end up.

Edited 11 October, 2022 by saint1977

[Saint Garrett]

Personally don’t see Semmens lasting much longer. 

[saintant]

31 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Blackmore's tone echo's that of a worrying narrative from the club over the last year.

''We have done well to be in the PL for 10 years''

''We cannot compete with teams in this league''

''We're small, we're tiny.''

etc etc. 

Generally small-fry talk, and that kind of talk from the top filters down, trickles to the players and then you get an underachieving load of crap. What would we lose by turning that narrative upside down and saying stuff like ''we have earned our place''  ''we can compete with the best'' ''we want to push up the league''. That's what can drive a club on, not this constant ''we're minnows', woe be us'' nonsense.

Agree with this assessment. Blackmore, Ralph and Semmens all singing from the same hymn book and basically making the excuse that we can't compete at this level so don't blame any of us. It's a weak and pathetic narrative when what the fans would like to hear is a bit of positivity, confidence and defiance.  May as well write off this season and plan for life in the Championship according to them. In terms of Ralph and Semmens if they are poor little wilting flowers who are upset by criticism then maybe they are in the wrong jobs though I don't hear them complaining about the monetary rewards.  If it's all too much move over and let someone else have a go. They've got off very lightly so far and this is likely to backfire on them and rile the fans if they are not careful. We don't need Blackmore telling us how tough it is.

[Pip]

Supposedly our model is to attract ambitious young players here and sell them on for vast profits.  How are they going to attract them if they're forever talking down the ambitions of the club?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

10 hours ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

Thinking logically, the only reasons I can think why he is still here -

1. SR think he is still able to turn this around (despite a weight of evidence to the contrary)

2. SR decided preseason he would get a set number of games regardless of results

3. SR can't find a suitable replacement

4. SR have a manager lined up but for some reason it can't happen until a certain date

My money is on 2 but can anyone think of other reasons?

 

 

5. They get to pay Ralph a lot less in compensation, if we are in the bottom 3, when they fire him?

6. Our xGA has improved, meaning that Ralph is meeting his key deliverable.

7. SR, in not getting in a striker, feel complicit in the failure and are showing loyalty to Ralph regardless.

[S-Clarke]

35 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Personally don’t see Semmens lasting much longer. 

I don't think he's stupid and he's been far from terrible for us - during the Gao years in particular he did a great job keeping us somewhat competitive. However, in the last year there have been little drips coming out in the media playing us down as a club which is really bugging me. His ultra-defensive tone in the recent fans' forum didn't sit particularly well with me either.

I appreciate that everyone becomes a scapegoat when we're having a bad time, but none of these people are immune to criticism right now.

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect us to start proclaiming we are going to get Top 4, challenge for the best players etc - I appreciate our place in the pecking order and I accept it, but as a club you still have to show ambition and a desire to push above the accepted norm. Everyone at the club right now seem perfectly happy with us finishing 17th and applauding it because ''we've done well to be here as long as we have''. With this attitude you encourage negativity in the fan base and an acceptance in the playing squad, which will eventually lead to a malaise around the club and an irreversible regression.

Edited 11 October, 2022 by S-Clarke

[hypochondriac]

Think I laughed at someone recently for suggesting Blackmore was biased. Whoever that was I apologise, that piece for radio was absolutely terrible. I'm very disappointed with Adam as I thought he was more professional. Seems I was wrong. 

[hypochondriac]

I'm very concerned by the lack of ambition at the club lately. It seems we are quite content to try to survive relegation every season which will obviously run out eventually. 

[bennyev]

2 hours ago, saintant said:

Agree with this assessment. Blackmore, Ralph and Semmens all singing from the same hymn book and basically making the excuse that we can't compete at this level so don't blame any of us. It's a weak and pathetic narrative when what the fans would like to hear is a bit of positivity, confidence and defiance.  May as well write off this season and plan for life in the Championship according to them. In terms of Ralph and Semmens if they are poor little wilting flowers who are upset by criticism then maybe they are in the wrong jobs though I don't hear them complaining about the monetary rewards.  If it's all too much move over and let someone else have a go. They've got off very lightly so far and this is likely to backfire on them and rile the fans if they are not careful. We don't need Blackmore telling us how tough it is.

Agreed. Brighton are pretty much the same club as us. Size. Fan base. Budget. Difference being they’ve looked up and thought positive and we’ve tried to make out we’re lucky to be here. 

with Potter they had no striker who scored goals but by have a formula and a plan they’ve played out their skins. Player to player were pretty much the same. But a smart board and a good tactician made strides. If Semmens, Blackmore and all don’t have that attitude. They can swivel. 

[MAY-Z]

3 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

I don't think he's stupid and he's been far from terrible for us - during the Gao years in particular he did a great job keeping us somewhat competitive. However, in the last year there have been little drips coming out in the media playing us down as a club which is really bugging me. His ultra-defensive tone in the recent fans' forum didn't sit particularly well with me either.

I appreciate that everyone becomes a scapegoat when we're having a bad time, but none of these people are immune to criticism right now.

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect us to start proclaiming we are going to get Top 4, challenge for the best players etc - I appreciate our place in the pecking order and I accept it, but as a club you still have to show ambition and a desire to push above the accepted norm. Everyone at the club right now seem perfectly happy with us finishing 17th and applauding it because ''we've done well to be here as long as we have''. With this attitude you encourage negativity in the fan base and an acceptance in the playing squad, which will eventually lead to a malaise around the club and an irreversible regression.

Yep I think Semmens was fantastic under Gao as I think he managed a very tricky situation as well as possible

 

Just like I thought Ralph was fantastic when he arrived and had us playing with purpose and method

 

Unfortunately neither of them are now working with the current environment, and whilst I’ve been a Ralph out man for quite a while now I am thinking Semmens might need to join him 

[Chris cooper]

A villa fan running a saints phone in debate .. Think 🤔 about that for a minute. 
twatmore shouldn’t have this position as a journalist at saints where he can influence more drips into thinking Southampton are a non ambitious football club …who’s fans are arrogant as to want better football.
Only at Southampton can we let this happen Ffs .. a villa fan telling saints fans wots best for their club ..

Fuck his two bob slot he’s got on radio fucking Solent !! I for one won’t ever tune into him on that station ever again . Not that I need to anyway cos normally at games.

sing the fat cunts name on Sunday and call the cunt out live so he can hear our disproval .. get out our club along with the bum bandits Ralph, semmens and Steele !! 😡

[Saint-Reece]

3 hours ago, Chris cooper said:

A villa fan running a saints phone in debate .. Think 🤔 about that for a minute. 
twatmore shouldn’t have this position as a journalist at saints where he can influence more drips into thinking Southampton are a non ambitious football club …who’s fans are arrogant as to want better football.
Only at Southampton can we let this happen Ffs .. a villa fan telling saints fans wots best for their club ..

Fuck his two bob slot he’s got on radio fucking Solent !! I for one won’t ever tune into him on that station ever again . Not that I need to anyway cos normally at games.

sing the fat cunts name on Sunday and call the cunt out live so he can hear our disproval .. get out our club along with the bum bandits Ralph, semmens and Steele !! 😡

Just a little bit OTT, you had a drink?

[The Cat]

4 hours ago, Chris cooper said:

A villa fan running a saints phone in debate .. Think 🤔 about that for a minute. 
twatmore shouldn’t have this position as a journalist at saints where he can influence more drips into thinking Southampton are a non ambitious football club …who’s fans are arrogant as to want better football.
Only at Southampton can we let this happen Ffs .. a villa fan telling saints fans wots best for their club ..

Fuck his two bob slot he’s got on radio fucking Solent !! I for one won’t ever tune into him on that station ever again . Not that I need to anyway cos normally at games.

sing the fat cunts name on Sunday and call the cunt out live so he can hear our disproval .. get out our club along with the bum bandits Ralph, semmens and Steele !! 😡

Have to say that's the first time I've heard the phrase "bum bandits" in a long time. 

Not sure the club's approach to equality has had much effect on poor Chris.

[CB Fry]

8 minutes ago, The Cat said:

Have to say that's the first time I've heard the phrase "bum bandits" in a long time. 

Not sure the club's approach to equality has had much effect on poor Chris.

For God's sake someone send him some Rainbow laces quick before he says fudge packers.

[Bad Wolf]

14 hours ago, Appy said:

Debate phone in on Solent right now. 
 

In Blackmore’s intro he accuses Saints fans of arrogance. 

He's right

[Bad Wolf]

5 hours ago, Chris cooper said:

A villa fan running a saints phone in debate .. Think 🤔 about that for a minute. 
twatmore shouldn’t have this position as a journalist at saints where he can influence more drips into thinking Southampton are a non ambitious football club …who’s fans are arrogant as to want better football.
Only at Southampton can we let this happen Ffs .. a villa fan telling saints fans wots best for their club ..

Fuck his two bob slot he’s got on radio fucking Solent !! I for one won’t ever tune into him on that station ever again . Not that I need to anyway cos normally at games.

sing the fat cunts name on Sunday and call the cunt out live so he can hear our disproval .. get out our club along with the bum bandits Ralph, semmens and Steele !! 😡

Wow....

[hypochondriac]

15 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

He's right

Name any other club with our record from the last twenty games that wouldn't be unhappy? The club wants us to accept mediocrity. 

[Dman]

16 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

He's right

Is that why you spent a few months under a different account trying to educate us on your superior football knowledge…? 
 

Ceilings, XG and management potential…