New manager

[Fabrice29]

6 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

18 months would have been a good option. How are we going to judge him?

As if you/everyone else won’t be judging him after max 3 games ffs. The lack of self awareness on here is unreal 😂

[santolijador]

I've also seen he has form for scrapping with Sporting Directors - Rasmus about to get what's coming...

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

I've got to be honest, don't know much about the fella. I see he didn't last long at Roma but they went through 3 managers in 8 months and apparently were a basket case of a club at the time (sound familiar?).

Also just read elsewhere he prefers a 3-4-3 but happily changes tactics during the game and can switch to a back 4.

If nothing else it helps revive an old 70s chant we had for a previous Yugolslav (Serb) where one side of the terrace shouted "Ivan" followed by the other side "Golac" which was quite effective,

[Gloucester Saint]

26 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

This. Never heard of the guy, so no opinion. 

Having just seen the news where I’m at, had heard of him but not that familiar with his style. Will welcome the departure from ponderous error-strewn Martin/Pep on a shoestring, sounds like he plays more like the club does from what people are posting. Does have major leagues experience. 

With the situation it was never going to be an experienced PL manager - Moyes would have only considered Rasmus’s job I suspect rather than a head coach at his career stage and the situation doesn’t suit what Potter wants - so a try it and see doesn’t feel the worst option for both parties. Juric could do well and get another PL job in the summer but he could also think he might like to win a second level title and have a bit of a stay at SFC. Or it doesn’t work out and nothing lost.

Edited 16 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[trousers]

10 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

18 months would have been a good option. How are we going to judge him? If we get relegated will he be a failure? This is the board deferring the problem until the summer imo. I would have preferred something a little more long sighted but we all know what happens when we go down that road. As it is we will have a manager who almost certainly wont be here next Christmas.

That's a fair point of view, but one with which I ultimately disagree. Would be a tad dull if we all agreed though

[Gloucester Saint]

2 minutes ago, santolijador said:

I've also seen he has form for scrapping with Sporting Directors - Rasmus about to get what's coming...

He’s certainly not the ‘grateful for the job Rasmus’ candidates that Jones and Russell were from the sounds of it. 

[Nolan]

6 minutes ago, santolijador said:

I've also seen he has form for scrapping with Sporting Directors - Rasmus about to get what's coming...

Rasmus isn't Southampton's  Sporting Director. Mark Bitcon is.

Edited 16 hours ago by Nolan

[trousers]

5 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

The lack of self awareness on here is unreal

I'm all for self-deprecation on here, but please don't be too harsh on yourself Jordan

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Nolan said:

Rasmus isn't Southampton's  Sporting Director.

In effect he is - Kraft’s interview a few weeks ago let that particular kitty cat out of the bag. Bitcon is barely an organ-grinder let’s be frank, a fig leaf DoF whatever his title actually is. 

[davefizzy14]

44 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

Interesting choice, lets hope Sports Republic have done their homework this time

Didn't you say mate that you had heard from a contact that Moyes had been interviewed? 

[CSA96]

It is amusing seeing people talk Juric down by saying he didn't last in his one big job (Roma) but also suggest/be excited for the idea of Graham Potter

[rallyboy]

His first job is to cancel the players' days off.

[Saint Mikey]

19 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

As if you/everyone else won’t be judging him after max 3 games ffs. The lack of self awareness on here is unreal 😂

3 games? 1st team selection and 20 mins into the 1st game I reckon...

[Wade Garrett]

21 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

As if you/everyone else won’t be judging him after max 3 games ffs. The lack of self awareness on here is unreal 😂

Knobhead

[Gloucester Saint]

6 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Didn't you say mate that you had heard from a contact that Moyes had been interviewed? 

I’m not sure Moyes will take another PL head coach job at this stage. Celtic maybe if they get fed up with Rodgers/he with them but they’re romping away with the league and just won the league cup. Whereas I think a role like Rasmus’s overseeing a multi club model and managing younger head coaches would probably more his thing now. 

[CSA96]

 

You will be shocked to learn that Gabby Agbonlahor didn't really add much when talkSPORT discussed this

[tdmickey3]

3 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Knobhead

Give him some slack, he is another one who`s emotions are all over the place... sobbing uncontrollably 

[hypochondriac]

10 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

It is amusing seeing people talk Juric down by saying he didn't last in his one big job (Roma) but also suggest/be excited for the idea of Graham Potter

I expect it's because Potter has a proven style that would suit us and a solid track record of performance in England with similarly sized clubs to us. Not that I think him coming here was ever going to happen. 

[Verbal]

6 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

His first job is to cancel the players' days off.

When did they have days on?

[Gloucester Saint]

29 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

As if you/everyone else won’t be judging him after max 3 games ffs. The lack of self awareness on here is unreal 😂

My expectations after the season so far are zero, so Juric can’t really fail. Conceding 3/4/5 goals at home and numerous unforced errors. Something in it for him as if he does really well, other PL clubs who think they should be top 10 and finish lower down will want him in the summer. If he does OK and he feels comfortable as well as the club, then have a tilt at going up next year with the Champ’s biggest budget. If it doesn’t work out - what’s been lost?

Edited 16 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[CSA96]

 

[Baird of the land]

Seems a mark Hughes’s appointment in terms of approach. If it works great otherwise we’ll be looking for a new one in summer.

Looking at his career in Italy, his time in Genoa seemed crazy, getting sacked twice and reappointed twice without a job in between.

[CSA96]

From David Ornstein, The Athletic:

Juric has agreed a deal until the summer of 2026 with the a two-year option to extend. The contracts are being drafted and Juric is expected to arrive in the UK today (Friday). The Croatian will have a visa appointment and, if all goes to plan, he will be in place for Southampton’s trip to Fulham on Sunday.

Juric is viewed by Southampton as a strong character who is good at making teams hard to beat through physical intensity and a solid defensive structure, though does have good ideas in possession too. After winning only once in their opening 16 league games, the club felt the main job now is for the team to be more intense and solid at the back.

Edited 16 hours ago by CSA96

[Dman]

3 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

 

1.5yr contract becomes a lot more unappealing. 

[Toussaint]

Well I’m happy enough, welcome aboard Ivan. 

[CSA96]

1 minute ago, Dman said:

1.5yr contract becomes a lot more unappealing. 

Pretty standard, I imagine. He will want a pay off if he has to take the hit of having the relegation on his CV

[trousers]

2 minutes ago, Dman said:

1.5yr contract becomes a lot more unappealing. 

Hmm, agree, that does alter the 'caretaker' dynamic somewhat... Unless there's some kind of pre-agreed 6 month mutual break clause in there (maybe?)

Edited 15 hours ago by trousers

[notnowcato]

Juric looks an interesting appointment. Not one I’d considered or had heard too much of prior to reading up on him this morning. Big league and big club experience, proven himself at smaller clubs in big leagues too. 
Adding the double pivot in front of a back 3 might be tricky in the first instance but options could open assuming Lesley and Maxwell are returned. 
Good luck Ivan 

[Saint_clark]

47 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Sounds like six months with an option to extend at end of the season. 

Amazing isn't it. We had our fingers burnt giving Martin a ridiculous contract and now we go the sensible route of seeing whether this is a good fit for both parties and the contract isn't long enough.

[CSA96]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Hmm, agree, that does alter the 'caretaker' dynamic somewhat... Unless there's some kind of pre-agreed 6 month break clause in there (maybe?)

Sounds like it's a bit of a fiddly contract. Could conceivably be structued as:

- 18 month contract as basic
- 6 months in, if we're a Championship club there's a get-out clause for one/both parties
- 6 months in, if we're a Premier League club we utilise the two-year extension and he's a PL manager on a 4yr deal

[Lighthouse]

2 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Pretty standard, I imagine. He will want a pay off if he has to take the hit of having the relegation on his CV

This, I don’t know why people think managers will just agree to whatever terms happen to suit us and sign any piece of paper we stick in front of them.

[Dman]

2 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Pretty standard, I imagine. He will want a pay off if he has to take the hit of having the relegation on his CV

at which point, it begs the question of why would we not pay compo for someone like Rohl or Carlos, who we know are top championship managers...? double bubble?

[saintant]

32 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

A.I's summary of his coaching philosphy:

Ivan Jurić, known for his tactical acumen, has a distinctive style of management that has been demonstrated across his tenures at various clubs like Hellas Verona, Torino, and briefly at Roma. Here's a breakdown of his tactics based on available information:

Formation and Setup:

3-4-2-1 Formation: This is the most commonly associated formation with Jurić, although he has been known to adapt to a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 depending on the team's needs and the opposition. The 3-4-2-1 allows for a strong defensive base with three central defenders, wing-backs who provide width, and two attacking midfielders supporting a lone striker.

Defensive Tactics:

High Pressing: Jurić's teams are known for applying intense pressure high up the pitch, aiming to win back the ball in the opponent's half. This high press is not just about chasing the ball but involves a coordinated effort to close down opponents and force errors.

Man-Marking: Instead of zonal marking, Jurić often opts for man-marking, where each player is responsible for marking an opponent player rather than a specific area. This approach can lead to a very aggressive and personal duel-oriented defense.

Compact Defensive Block: When not pressing, his teams tend to form a compact defensive shape that limits space in central areas, pushing opponents wide where they are less likely to create high-quality chances.

Attacking Tactics:

Vertical Transitions: Jurić's teams aim for quick transitions from defense to attack, utilizing the flanks with wing-backs pushing forward to deliver crosses into the box. This was particularly noted with Torino where full-backs averaged around five crosses per game.

Crosses and Set Pieces: The use of wing-backs for crosses is a significant part of his attacking strategy, especially to target tall strikers or players good in the air.

Aggressive and Vertical Play: The style is characterized by direct, vertical attacks rather than prolonged possession play, aiming to catch the opposition off guard with rapid movements from defense to attack.

Player Roles and Adaptability:

Wing-Backs: They are crucial in his system, often expected to contribute both defensively and offensively, providing width and delivering crosses.

Midfielders: Typically, Jurić uses a double pivot in midfield to offer balance, allowing the attacking midfielders to focus on creativity and support for the striker.

Striker: Often a tall, physical presence who can hold up play and be a target for crosses.

Challenges and Implementation:

Tactical Complexity: Jurić's style requires players to be tactically astute and disciplined, which can be challenging to implement without a pre-season to drill the system into the team.

Player Fit: The success of his tactics heavily depends on having the right players who fit his system, particularly those who can adapt to the high intensity and specific roles within his formations.

Jurić's tactics reflect a blend of his experiences, notably influenced by his mentor Gian Piero Gasperini, but with his unique twists, especially in how he uses wing-backs and emphasizes man-marking. However, his short stint at Roma highlighted potential challenges in adapting his highly tactical style to a new squad mid-season.

Direct, vertical attacks is music to my ears as is double pivot in midfield - Downes would obviously be one but not sure who the other would be so might be looking to bring someone in during next window. Wing backs who can cross suggests that KWP and Sugawara will be the choices. Big target man suggests he'll be keen to see what Tall Paul can do. Dibling and Fernandes as the 2 attacking midfielders. Centre backs any 3 from Bednarek, THB, Wood, Stephens and Edward unless he gives Taylor a try. 

I think a contract until the end of the season makes absolute sense with the mess we find ourselves in. I'm guessing his agent will have baked in a considerable bonus if he pulls off the miracle of keeping us up - if he does presumably we'll look to give him a longer contract. It's not a sexy appointment but I like the fact that he'll work the players hard and hopefully improve their fitness in some cases. As with any new manager you would hope he has some good contacts which might lead to him bringing in some players he knows and trusts. The days of all friends together enjoying leisurely training sessions look to be over.

It'll be very interesting to see how things develop so good luck to Ivan the Terrible.

[CSA96]

Just now, Dman said:

at which point, it begs the question of why would we not pay compo for someone like Rohl or Carlos, who we know are top championship managers...? double bubble?

Because if you want Corberan/Rohl in the event of relegation to the Championship, you don't want them to have lost 15/16 of 20 PL games beforehand, presumably. Juric has top level experience and will give it a crack, if not we will go down, sell some players for big £ and have the compo to buy out Rohl/Corberan if we so wish

[Lighthouse]

1 minute ago, Dman said:

at which point, it begs the question of why would we not pay compo for someone like Rohl or Carlos, who we know are top championship managers...? double bubble?

Because we would have to pay compensation to Wednesday and pay Rohl’s wages and pay him compensation if we wanted to sack him.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, Lighthouse said:

Because we would have to pay compensation to Wednesday and pay Rohl’s wages and pay him compensation if we wanted to sack him.

Agreed. Given Blackmore's latest message, it wouldn't surprise me at all if we hire Rohl in the summer. 

[saintant]

43 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

I did try and explain on here that no sane manager is going to kick off a long term job with the likelihood of having to go through 6 months of defeats first. Anyone thinking otherwise was deluded. Club needed to find someone insane enough to think they could stay up or offer a way out at the end if/when the fans have had enough.

 

You say you did try to explain as if nobody else thought of this or agreed with you which is a strange attitude to adopt. Clearly we are in a desperate situation so not a great prospect for any incoming manager which is partly down to SR failing to act sooner. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

"Juric, for what it’s worth, makes Conte look shy and retiring"

"Juric can come across as unreasonably demanding for someone who has never won anything. Yet he’s one of the best coaches in Italy"

Appolgies for The Pathetic link* but it does explain a bit more about him as a person: Clearly very passionate (like Ralph?) and gets pissed off when his best players are sold and not replaced.

Edited 15 hours ago by Patches O Houlihan
In my defence link should work, and the article was written by James Horncastle

[Football Special]

What's the death metal scene like in southampton? 

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Agreed. Given Blackmore's latest message, it wouldn't surprise me at all if we hire Rohl in the summer. 

 

[Rebel]

I think Juric was probably the best and cheapest manager we could get - and If he gets us above Derby's lowest ever point total I'll be happy.

A 6 month contract means if we go down we can start afresh next season and appoint the type of manager we should have done at the start of last season instead of Martin - progressive and forward thinking, but also pragmatic, adaptable and tactical.  

Maybe the we will have a chance of appointing someone like Rohl or Corberan then - but why would they leave a club in the Championship promotion race for a club all but doomed to relegation.

Same for any good manager. Juric is in the same boat as us really having failed at Roma. Maybe its a match made in heaven. Neither of us have much to lose at this point except some dignity and pride!

I have to say the Swansea fans - and the stats - told us exactly what was going to happen with Russell Martin.  A bit like Nathan Jones and Sulemana - but Ankersen and Kraft obviously think they are clever than anyone else.

Sports Republic and the board of Southampton FC need to take a hard look at themselves now and put together a proper plan to rebuild the team and squad for a promotion push next season and long term success.

We need to stop trying to be Citeh Lite and go back to forging our own path and following the 'Southampton Way' whatever we decide it is.

They should start by binning of as much of the deadwood in the squad as possible in January and appoint a proper director of Football for Southampton FC to lead that process.

Martk Bitcon joined as the Performance Director for the Sports Republic group and was only made Director of Football Operations at Southampton as we failed to appoint a DoF to replace Wilcox.

Apart from a brief period as Director of Performance Services at Manchester City's Academy (whatever that means and more Citeh Lite Shite) and 7 months as a Sport Science Consultant at Bolton Wanderers he has spent his entire career in Rugby. 

He's just another Clive Woodward - and that is damning. What value can he bring to recruiting football players or giving advice to or challenging the manager on tactics at a Football club.

I'm not against taking expertise from other sports but you don't put them in charge of the football.

If I was Dragan Solak I would oust the 2 clowns Rasmus Ankersen and Henrik Kraft from Sports Republic, do away with all the Citeh Lite shite and then look to get out myself by selling the whole group to another multi-club ownership group.  

 

[hypochondriac]

The more I read about him, the more he sounds like Ralph again. Kind of begs the question why we ever bothered with this whole possession based identity thing. Let's hope we can unlearn some of it quickly. 

[Football Special]

The question I think most of us want answered is will he do whey whey wheeeeey with the Northam after a win 

[Saint Scott]

36 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Didn't you say mate that you had heard from a contact that Moyes had been interviewed? 

That's what I was told yes. No reason for me to doubt him as he's had solid information previously.

[trousers]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

The more I read about him, the more he sounds like Ralph again. Kind of begs the question why we ever bothered with this whole possession based identity thing. Let's hope we can unlearn some of it quickly. 

Exactly what I've been pondering over the last few days. I guess the answer is "it was all Jason Wilcox's idea" but then why did SR employ someone who seemingly has a different footballing philosophy to the ownership...?

[lumuah]

2 minutes ago, Football Special said:

The question I think most of us want answered is will he do whey whey wheeeeey with the Northam after a win 

A win? What's one of those?

[wild-saint]

I know nothing about this guy but if he makes us more solid and fitter then that can only be a good thing based on the current shambles.

Ultimately the fans (including myself) wanted the manager out and a new style implemented and that's what we have got, so lets see where it leads. 

Prefer Rohl myself but clearly we weren't paying a large compo fee and i guess he fancies his chances of getting SW into the play offs and then if not he can assess his options at the end of the season. That's what I would have done if I was him unless they offered me a big contract. 

Saints would still have the option of getting rid at the end of the season if it really didnt work out with only 1 year compo and then chasing DR again. 

Seems like a sensible move all round. 

[miserableoldgit]

53 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

As if you/everyone else won’t be judging him after max 3 games ffs. The lack of self awareness on here is unreal 😂

3 games? First team sheet and 15 minutes for some....

[Bakovnetski]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Hopefully. I'm wrong but this is an extremely uninspiring appointment on the face of it. 

We are an uninspiring club. A perfect fit with low expectations. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

24 minutes ago, Dman said:

1.5yr contract becomes a lot more unappealing. 

22 minutes ago, trousers said:

Hmm, agree, that does alter the 'caretaker' dynamic somewhat... Unless there's some kind of pre-agreed 6 month mutual break clause in there (maybe?)

If the players know he is leaving in May maybe they won't put in the graft needed for high pressing heavy metal football^TM

Knowing that he has 1.5 years with a 2 year option means they can't just phone it in for the rest of the season.

Edited 15 hours ago by Patches O Houlihan