The 'New Manager' thread

[wild-saint]

I would rather we offered Ralph a new 5 year deal than offer the job to Steve fucking Bruce.

[DT]

23 minutes ago, Suhari said:

I imagine SR are quietly doing their thing in the background, which they seem to prefer, and we'll get a sudden "XXX has joined as first team manager" announcement.

There were no hints/ITKs etc with the coaching shake up in the summer if I recall.

Just need to sit back and wait.

Just need to sit back and waits as winnable points drift past. As has been the case for much of the season. And last.

[MarkSFC]

I'm hoping that the "delay" in getting g rid is that we are after someone already in work...

[DT]

1 hour ago, MarkSFC said:

I'm hoping that the "delay" in getting g rid is that we are after someone already in work...

To be Frank, I hope so too

[Badger]

1 hour ago, MarkSFC said:

I'm hoping that the "delay" in getting g rid is that we are after someone already in work...

Don’t you think we’d hear about it, leaked from the other end ? 

[Master Bates]

15 minutes ago, DT said:

To be Frank, I hope so too

It's not Lampard

[OttawaSaint]

FFS! Still here?

How many more games of us getting one or two touches in the oppo penalty area is it going to take.

Surely the owners can't be watching the games and thinking, "yep, great football, entertaining and effective!".

[Badger]

25 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

FFS! Still here?

How many more games of us getting one or two touches in the oppo penalty area is it going to take.

Surely the owners can't be watching the games and thinking, "yep, great football, entertaining and effective!".

Too busy looking at other clubs to buy.

[CanadaSaint]

While we are, understandably, growing more anxious and impatient by the week, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that SR have a clear strategy in their minds. It could involve hanging on until the WC break, and bringing in a new manager who they may have already identified (perhaps even from a WC team, or one from the managerial shake-up that could happen when the WC managers become available). Then we would use the period between the end of the WC and the opening of the transfer window to establish a style, improve results, and make ourselves more attractive to potential January signings. We know from the Gakpo pursuit that some significant funds are available, but Ralph isn't exactly a magnet any more.

Sure, it feels horribly risky from our side, but the SR people aren't idiots. They've been very successful, and they did that by taking calculated risks, and by playing the long game, not the short game. Some of the names being mentioned on here as potential Ralph replacements are far more risky than that strategy.

Between now and the WC, we have Bournemouth (a), Arsenal (h), Palace (a), Newcastle (h) and Liverpool (a). Even if we only pick up a couple of points from those fixtures, I can't see us being cut adrift at the bottom. And I think we have the squad to go on a good run, given decent management.

[OttawaSaint]

Keep seeing people saying that Semmens said, "we don't care about league position".

WtF!?! 

Imagine your favourite restaurant saying, we don't care how the food tastes. 

Those in attendance should have spoken up!

[saintant]

3 minutes ago, CanadaSaint said:

While we are, understandably, growing more anxious and impatient by the week, it's not beyond the realms of possibility that SR have a clear strategy in their minds. It could involve hanging on until the WC break, and bringing in a new manager who they may have already identified (perhaps even from a WC team, or one from the managerial shake-up that could happen when the WC managers become available). Then we would use the period between the end of the WC and the opening of the transfer window to establish a style, improve results, and make ourselves more attractive to potential January signings. We know from the Gakpo pursuit that some significant funds are available, but Ralph isn't exactly a magnet any more.

Sure, it feels horribly risky from our side, but the SR people aren't idiots. They've been very successful, and they did that by taking calculated risks, and by playing the long game, not the short game. Some of the names being mentioned on here as potential Ralph replacements are far more risky than that strategy.

Between now and the WC, we have Bournemouth (a), Arsenal (h), Palace (a), Newcastle (h) and Liverpool (a). Even if we only pick up a couple of points from those fixtures, I can't see us being cut adrift at the bottom. And I think we have the squad to go on a good run, given decent management.

So whoever we get in is so brilliant that he makes us look like world beaters in his one game, Fulham away, between the end of world cup and transfer window opening? Who is the miracle worker 🙂

[Weston Super Saint]

7 hours ago, Saint NL said:

One step at a time. Let the owners show that they are decisive by removing Ralph first.

I'm not sure 'decisive' is one of the pillars of the SR doctrine....

[Bad Wolf]

10 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

I'm not sure 'decisive' is one of the pillars of the SR doctrine....

Based on what? They've been extremely clear on their plan/philosophy from day one.

[DT]

16 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

Keep seeing people saying that Semmens said, "we don't care about league position".

WtF!?! 

Imagine your favourite restaurant saying, we don't care how the food tastes. 

Those in attendance should have spoken up!

They probably didn't mean if it was bottom three but yes, ridiculous. No wonder the players all look like they don't give a monkeys either

[CanadaSaint]

4 minutes ago, saintant said:

So whoever we get in is so brilliant that he makes us look like world beaters in his one game, Fulham away, between the end of world cup and transfer window opening? Who is the miracle worker 🙂

We don't need to be world beaters - we need to improve on the style-less dross Ralph has been serving up, which shouldn't be difficult. And I very much suspect that Ralph's reputation in the agent community is not good, so they'll steer their players away from us while he's here. The new guy would have one month and four winnable games to make us more appealing before the window closes. If he's already well regarded, that in itself would make us more attractive to potential signings.

I'm not saying that I like that possible strategy, but that it may be much better than keeping Ralph or a knee-jerk hiring.

[Weston Super Saint]

2 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

Based on what? They've been extremely clear on their plan/philosophy from day one.

Oh, I don't know, maybe that Ralph is still here?

Let's start with that and see how we get on?

[saintant]

6 minutes ago, CanadaSaint said:

We don't need to be world beaters - we need to improve on the style-less dross Ralph has been serving up, which shouldn't be difficult. And I very much suspect that Ralph's reputation in the agent community is not good, so they'll steer their players away from us while he's here. The new guy would have one month and four winnable games to make us more appealing before the window closes. If he's already well regarded, that in itself would make us more attractive to potential signings.

I'm not saying that I like that possible strategy, but that it may be much better than keeping Ralph or a knee-jerk hiring.

I was making the point that there is only one game between the end of the world cup and the January transfer window opening. Your post suggests that we could use the period between the world cup and the opening of the transfer window to improve results - hard to do that in only one game but I take your point.

[Bad Wolf]

15 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Oh, I don't know, maybe that Ralph is still here?

Let's start with that and see how we get on?

Well then that means they've decided to keep him? I don't think you know what indecisive means.

[verlaine1979]

8 hours ago, Bad Wolf said:

Tbf we were seriously linked with Tuchel after Puel left and I seem to remember large corners of the fanbase turning their noses up at that prospect?

I'm pretty sure you're remembering it wrong. We were very speculatively linked with him, and large corners of the fanbase laughed their heads off at the idea that we'd be getting someone as high profile as Tuchel. His next job was PSG.

[saintant]

20 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

Well then that means they've decided to keep him? I don't think you know what indecisive means.

I think he used to but now he's less certain.

[CB Fry]

39 minutes ago, verlaine1979 said:

I'm pretty sure you're remembering it wrong. We were very speculatively linked with him, and large corners of the fanbase laughed their heads off at the idea that we'd be getting someone as high profile as Tuchel. His next job was PSG.

Absolutely. Not sure who this Wolf guy is but he is absolutely full of it.

The overriding reaction to Tuchel was disbelief- he would not come to us.

Absolutely no one "turned their nose up".

[qwertyell]

It's the inertia that is killing us.

Doing nothing and hoping things will somehow work themselves out is how Homer Simpson approaches problems.

[saintant]

Do SR seriously believe that Ralph will suddenly have a lightbulb moment and turn things around? It's not going to happen so they'll have to get rid of him eventually. The question is, will they leave it too late? 

[Miltonaggro]

15 minutes ago, qwertyell said:

It's the inertia that is killing us.

Doing nothing and hoping things will somehow work themselves out is how Homer Simpson approaches problems.

Agree, it appears that this exactly what Sport Republic are doing.  Looking like the potential payoff in the bumper contract renewal saw them stick over the summer, even when it must have been clear that the dressing room had turned.  The hope must have been that the new influx of young players would quickly buy into Ralph's management and carry things forward, but it's very clear that this is not the case. Waiting until the World Cup would appear incredibly naïve, if not suicidal. 

   

[Weston Super Saint]

1 hour ago, Bad Wolf said:

Well then that means they've decided to keep him? I don't think you know what indecisive means.

Ah, I see. So they are decisive because they've not sacked him, right up until the very second they do sack him, then they will also be very decisive having decided to sack him.

[Harry_SFC]

From what we know so far - some of the players aren't playing for him and the majority of the fanbase are now against him. 

Once you've lost a number of the players, that's the beginning of the end and there's no coming back. So I have no idea what SR are waiting for. 

 

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Harry_SFC said:

Once you've lost a number of the players, that's the beginning of the end and there's no coming back. So I have no idea what SR are waiting for. 

One of two conclusions to be drawn: SR are sitting tight knowing Ralph remains (possibly until the WC break, possibly longer), or they are waiting the nod from their preferred candidate. 

[nta786]

34 minutes ago, Badger said:

One of two conclusions to be drawn: SR are sitting tight knowing Ralph remains (possibly until the WC break, possibly longer), or they are waiting the nod from their preferred candidate. 

But then why not just sack him and let the caretaker run the ship for a while if we are waiting for a preferred candidate? 

[Pip]

10 minutes ago, nta786 said:

But then why not just sack him and let the caretaker run the ship for a while if we are waiting for a preferred candidate? 

Exactly, then we might benefit from the new manager bounce twice as well!

[Pamplemousse]

16 minutes ago, nta786 said:

But then why not just sack him and let the caretaker run the ship for a while if we are waiting for a preferred candidate? 

When was the last time we had a successful caretaker manager?

I know we keep on losing so there's an argument of why not but personally, I'm not a fan.

[saint1977]

2 hours ago, Miltonaggro said:

Agree, it appears that this exactly what Sport Republic are doing.  Looking like the potential payoff in the bumper contract renewal saw them stick over the summer, even when it must have been clear that the dressing room had turned.  The hope must have been that the new influx of young players would quickly buy into Ralph's management and carry things forward, but it's very clear that this is not the case. Waiting until the World Cup would appear incredibly naïve, if not suicidal. 

   

SR do seem very green and naive. It’s one thing to have an impact in the Championship or Danish Superliga but without a drive of a Matthew Bentham owner behind it rather than the boardroom of wet farts at SMS they look horribly out of their depth both with a bigger club like SFC and in the PL generally. They’ve sucked up Semmens old shit and still are it seems. People keep on saying ‘SR are no mugs’ but on what evidence? 

[nta786]

20 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

When was the last time we had a successful caretaker manager?

I know we keep on losing so there's an argument of why not but personally, I'm not a fan.

We can’t say “a caretaker didn’t work before in past” and as a result never use that option again. 
It would be like me saying “all our Serie A transfers have flopped, so we should never buy from the Italian league again”

I’d be in favour of a caretaker, whether that is Selles or anyone for a few games only because there is a possibility of a new bounce as they might try something completely different tactics/formation wise for which opposition managers would find harder to prepare for.

[Turkish]

15 minutes ago, saint1977 said:

SR do seem very green and naive. It’s one thing to have an impact in the Championship or Danish Superliga but without a drive of a Matthew Bentham owner behind it rather than the boardroom of wet farts at SMS they look horribly out of their depth both with a bigger club like SFC and in the PL generally. They’ve sucked up Semmens old shit and still are it seems. People keep on saying ‘SR are no mugs’ but on what evidence? 

Well it looks like the idea of buying a load of kids and throwing them into the premier league is going to be a disaster….

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

Well it looks like the idea of buying a load of kids and throwing them into the premier league is going to be a disaster….

It might work with a different manager..............

[Dman]

12 hours ago, Bad Wolf said:

Tbf we were seriously linked with Tuchel after Puel left and I seem to remember large corners of the fanbase turning their noses up at that prospect?

A few turned their nose up at Howe. What I’d do to have him here now. 
 

One even turned their nose up at Broja. 
 

this forum does bring out a few idiots…

[egg]

1 minute ago, Dman said:

A few turned their nose up at Howe. What I’d do to have him here now. 
 

One even turned their nose up at Broja. 
 

this forum does bring out a few idiots…

Yep. Howe - crap. Broja - crap. Delap - amazing (on the bench at Stoke). Apparently. 

[The Kraken]

3 hours ago, CB Fry said:

Absolutely. Not sure who this Wolf guy is but he is absolutely full of it.

The overriding reaction to Tuchel was disbelief- he would not come to us.

Absolutely no one "turned their nose up".

This. Tuchel would’ve been a miracle. Anyone who said otherwise would be a complete moron.

Wolfman has been posting on here for many years, mostly under a different user name until relatively recently.

[Singapore Saint]

Michael Carrick

[egg]

23 minutes ago, Singapore Saint said:

Michael Carrick

Nah, although I'm surprised he hasn't had a job since his decent little spell as caretaker at Man Utd. 

[Dellman]

There's a lot of people calling for the axe on Ralph and results are terrible BUT he must have a high reputation among top managers because they are willing to let their talented youngsters come here and be developed by him. Lose Ralph and we may lose the flow of young talent that Chelsea and Man City have encouraged to come here

[Ed Rooney]

11 minutes ago, Dellman said:

There's a lot of people calling for the axe on Ralph and results are terrible BUT he must have a high reputation among top managers because they are willing to let their talented youngsters come here and be developed by him. Lose Ralph and we may lose the flow of young talent that Chelsea and Man City have encouraged to come here

Other than Broja on loan, didn’t we buy the rest ? 

[saintant]

2 hours ago, nta786 said:

We can’t say “a caretaker didn’t work before in past” and as a result never use that option again. 
It would be like me saying “all our Serie A transfers have flopped, so we should never buy from the Italian league again”

I’d be in favour of a caretaker, whether that is Selles or anyone for a few games only because there is a possibility of a new bounce as they might try something completely different tactics/formation wise for which opposition managers would find harder to prepare for.

It seems to be working pretty well for Bmuff.

[danjosaint]

1 hour ago, Ed Rooney said:

Other than Broja on loan, didn’t we buy the rest ? 

And they fell out 

[Charlie Wayman]

12 hours ago, saint1977 said:

SR do seem very green and naive. It’s one thing to have an impact in the Championship or Danish Superliga but without a drive of a Matthew Bentham owner behind it rather than the boardroom of wet farts at SMS they look horribly out of their depth both with a bigger club like SFC and in the PL generally. They’ve sucked up Semmens old shit and still are it seems. People keep on saying ‘SR are no mugs’ but on what evidence? 

There's even the possibility that the don't give a sh*t about Saints, they've realised too late that they've bought a bum steer managed by imbeciles and so are busy trying to get rid of the Club lock, stock and barrel so that they can re-build their project around another PL club.

Edited 11 October, 2022 by Charlie Wayman

[Convict Colony]

Maybe SR feel they are just as culpable as Ralph at the moment as they fucked up getting a clinical striker in the door.

For all the other positions we could of managed, but not having a good (not even top) proven goal scorer is a big big mistake.

[saintant]

16 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Maybe SR feel they are just as culpable as Ralph at the moment as they fucked up getting a clinical striker in the door.

For all the other positions we could of managed, but not having a good (not even top) proven goal scorer is a big big mistake.

Lack of a newly signed quality striker doesn't excuse the very poor football being served up over the past 4 games, it runs deeper than that though I do agree SR were negligent in not bringing in the promised forward.

[Dusic]

Could also argue that 3 of the players SR signed (ABK, Lavia, Aribo) have all been easily in our best 5 players this season so far, and possibly even the best 3.

[beatlesaint]

35 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

There's even the possibility that the don't give a sh*t about Saints, they've realised too late that they've bought a bum steer managed by imbeciles and so are busy trying to get rid of the Club lock, stock and barrel so that they can re-build their project around another PL club.

If they bothered to read any of your posts they could add supported by imbeciles to their list !

[DT]

Another fruitless day of checking back to see if it's done yet before settling in to the usual 'six-pointer' talk and then meltdown as once again he picks a shit team and is unable to motivate them and we get zero points and then we call for him to be sacked and it settles down to another six pointer etc etc

[Christophenburg]

40 minutes ago, Dusic said:

Could also argue that 3 of the players SR signed (ABK, Lavia, Aribo) have all been easily in our best 5 players this season so far, and possibly even the best 3.

Quite, in fact there's probably only two signings - AMN and Mara - who might need more time to find their feet. Everyone else is either a first name on the team sheet or making an impact from the bench, even Edozie and Larios