If you were the manager.........

[Roboze]

Just wondering if "you were the the manager" which of this lot would you want to keep around?

been saying most of the season that i think we have got some good players, we just need to get them to work as a unit.

But.... the last month or so ive thought honestly, it cant just be the manager, can it?

Edited February 25 by Roboze

[S-Clarke]

The players I consider as good players won't stay, and we'll be left with the scraps of utter shit.

So, on that basis, we need to start again. It feels like we need a L1 style restart in terms of squad, build a new team of players who can grow and evolve with the club. This lot are damaged goods now.

[Roboze]

4 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The players I consider as good players won't stay, and we'll be left with the scraps of utter shit.

So, on that basis, we need to start again. It feels like we need a L1 style restart in terms of squad, build a new team of players who can grow and evolve with the club. This lot are damaged goods now.

yeah i agree, who the hell would want to stay, unfortunately.

[LGTL]

Dibling, Fernandes, Ramsdale and KWP. None of them will stay though, so I would get rid of every single one of them. A complete change is needed, this lot never ever recover from this shit show. 

[Sheaf Saint]

Wrong thread

Edited February 25 by Sheaf Saint

[bugenhagen]

My reaction when I saw the title of this thread:

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Do my best to get Salah to extend his contract...oh, of this ongoing disaster movie of a club?

Question where I went wrong so badly that the clowns of SR thought I was their next manager. I'd shave, make sure I didn't own a pullover and mention that I built flexible tactics with available resources to maximise the chance of winning, rather than just having the one tactic that I used at all costs. That should free me of their attention.

Edited February 25 by Holmes_and_Watson

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

If I were Ivan Juric, which thank God I'm not, I'd be man enough to have my notice on the desk in the morning and I'd walk away insisting that the club don't pay up my contract. 

If he had any integrity that's what he'd do. 

[Whitey Grandad]

Let's be honest, if any of us were the manager we wouldn't be in this situation ☺️

[sambosa75]

None of them.  I think I genuinely mean that too. 

Realistically, there is a player in Fernandes but he will want out the minute the season is over and I fully understand that.

KWP has wanted out for a couple of years and I can't really blame him.  No way he's signing a new contract here.

If we can get our money back on THB or potentially a small profit I'd drive the bloke there myself.

On reflection, I'd keep Ramsdale but I'd be astounded if he didn't have some sort of release clause/fee worked into his transfer here.  His agent wants shooting if he hasn't.

Dibling is a prospect but thats all he is.  He shouldn't be a guaranteed starter.  He still needs to be managed and learn the game.  Tries far too much stuff.  If we can get a fee north of £35m, that money can be put to better use bringing in 3 or 4 experienced/professional heads to change the culture of the club.

Every one else can get fucked.

[BarberSaint]

I'd play this formation:

Goalie: Jo Tessem

 

Defence. Defence? Naaah!

 

Midfield. Bring your deckchairs and your Rizlas: ABK

Forwards, 3 fans, 4 under 17s and 2 of Capn Jack, Wood, Mannig, Taylor and  Bednarek as long as they can take turns and each of them gets at least 30 mins (including breaks)

 

 

Players must kick with their weaker feet, not head the ball and can only run in odd-numbered minutes.

 

Football management at its finest hipster trash.

[Roboze]

5 hours ago, sambosa75 said:

None of them.  I think I genuinely mean that too. 

Realistically, there is a player in Fernandes but he will want out the minute the season is over and I fully understand that.

KWP has wanted out for a couple of years and I can't really blame him.  No way he's signing a new contract here.

If we can get our money back on THB or potentially a small profit I'd drive the bloke there myself.

On reflection, I'd keep Ramsdale but I'd be astounded if he didn't have some sort of release clause/fee worked into his transfer here.  His agent wants shooting if he hasn't.

Dibling is a prospect but thats all he is.  He shouldn't be a guaranteed starter.  He still needs to be managed and learn the game.  Tries far too much stuff.  If we can get a fee north of £35m, that money can be put to better use bringing in 3 or 4 experienced/professional heads to change the culture of the club.

Every one else can get fucked.

I agree, it would be nice to Keep hold of Dibling to see him progress, but at some point he'll go charlie Big Potatoes and do one anyway so..... Meh

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

On 25/02/2025 at 21:16, Roboze said:

been saying most of the season that i think we have got some good players, we just need to get them to work as a unit.

But.... the last month or so ive thought honestly, it cant just be the manager, can it?

I've also come to the conclusion that only Fernandes and Ramsdale are premier league quality. Other than those two, our entire squad of players fall in to one of three categories:

1) Useless - Sugawara, AA, Smallbone, Aribo, Manning, Bree, Archer

2)Don't care anymore - KWP, Dibling, THB, ABK

3) Useless and don't care anymore - Sulemana, Downes, Stephens, Bednerek.

Frankly, I won't be disappointed to see any of them go at the end of the season. Time for a massive clearout.

 

[St. Ciervo]

If I were manager, I would kneel on the sideline and play with the grass until I was fired and started my year-long, paid holiday. Same thing the players are doing, sort of. 

[StrangelyBrown]

We need to break the cycle. We've got a whole bunch of players who are too good for the championship, but who have proven over and over how inept they are at PL level.

I'd do something drastic and next year I'd only keep younger players who after a good season in the championship might make the step up with better players around them. This would be pretty limited though ...

Wood

Edwards

Welington

Shea

Archer (at a push)

 

I'd love us to keep ramsdale, dibling and Fernandes, but they'll be long gone.

I'd drive everyone else to wherever they wanted to go.

 

[Zorba]

Fuck them all off. Tell SR to buy some decent players. Give Lucy a call and buy a Ferrari. Probably not in that order.

Edited February 27 by Zorba

[Wade Garrett]

Fernandes, Wellington, THB, Dibling, Archer, Ramsdale, Charles, Edwards.

Edited February 27 by Wade Garrett

[die Mannyschaft]

Leave tomorrow. No point having a manager, I'm completely bored to death of of this negative football.  Keep all the players and let's see how many goals we csn assist in our own goal. There is nothing positive in Saints game plan, everyone now looking at fixtures to see where 3 draws will come from. 

[Convict Colony]

Book myself off to a 1 way retreat in switzlerland

[woodsaint1]

As much as we would like to, we dont require a mass clearout this summer as we have a core of players who've got us promoted before and we can rely on some of them again. We need to look at it as a complete restructure over two summer windows and put ourselves in a better place to compete back in the PL.

Realistically we're definitely not holding onto Ramsdale and Dibling as they'll get us 60 million plus between them. Plus KWP is guaranteed to leave.

If we can, I would sell Sulemana, Onuachu, ABK, Bednarek, BBD and Smalbone as they may get us some value (maybe another 40 million)

I would clear out the likes of McCarthy, Bree, Manning, Stephens, Fraser and Stewart by any means necessary.

That would leave a core of Bazunu (as backup), THB, Edwards, Wood, Welington, Sugawara, Downes, Aribo, Fernandes (🤞🏼), Edozie, Archer and Armstrong.

Look at a few of the Goztepe players (Juan and Matsuki) and add 6/7 new signings to strengthen our starting GK, DM, AM and CF options.

I'd get us promoted with a record points total and then take the vacant Brighton job in the summer before we're back in the PL 😂

[cambsaint]

Book myself into The Priory ( the psychiatric hospital of the wealthy)

[Sarnia Cherie]

On 25/02/2025 at 21:49, LGTL said:

Dibling, Fernandes, Ramsdale and KWP. None of them will stay though, so I would get rid of every single one of them. A complete change is needed, this lot never ever recover from this shit show. 

I hope our best players don't stay. They deserve to be at a club which is run effectively from top to bottom. Owners, with the club as their top priority, managers, who can improve their fitness levels and encourage them in developing their footballing ability in the environment of a well run club. They most certainly won't get that at Southampton with the current regime.

[Cabrone]

The biggest priority is to sort out the board. Until they go nothing will improve.

[Dr. Kucho]

It’s obvious which players I would want to keep as a manager, but they are likely to leave. Would try and persuade Dibling to stay because of his age and it might help his development. 

In that case try to keep THB, Wellington, Bednarek (good championship defender), Wood, Edwards, Aribo, Dibling and Archer (still young and could learn). 

Release players out of contract and listen to offers for all other players. 

Then start building a team with young talent, PL players who are round the age of 30 and if promoted could still do a job in the Premier League and athletic players. Go looking for players in the top 2 leagues here and players who have proved themselves elsewhere.
Like the early Liebherr years when we convinced Fonte from the Championship to drop down a league, bought the best players in L1 (Lambert). 

Go for quality over quantity and keep it simple. 

[Whitey Grandad]

3 hours ago, Cabrone said:

The biggest priority is to sort out the board. Until they go nothing will improve.

Only the board can do that.

Ah. I see a problem here.

[Saint Billy]

1 hour ago, Dr. Kucho said:

It’s obvious which players I would want to keep as a manager, but they are likely to leave. Would try and persuade Dibling to stay because of his age and it might help his development. 

In that case try to keep THB, Wellington, Bednarek (good championship defender), Wood, Edwards, Aribo, Dibling and Archer (still young and could learn). 

Release players out of contract and listen to offers for all other players. 

Then start building a team with young talent, PL players who are round the age of 30 and if promoted could still do a job in the Premier League and athletic players. Go looking for players in the top 2 leagues here and players who have proved themselves elsewhere.
Like the early Liebherr years when we convinced Fonte from the Championship to drop down a league, bought the best players in L1 (Lambert). 

Go for quality over quantity and keep it simple. 

Tbh there is only two out of your list worth keeping even in the championship and that is Wellington and Dibling.

Edited February 28 by Saint Billy

[macca155]

Firstly take control of the situation. Tell Dibling, Ramsdale, and Fernandes they are under contract and staying. They'll be worth more after a decent season anyway.

They'll be an exodus of players but none have good CVs now so I wouldn't bank on too much cash coming in. Certainly very little going out.

In ddefencenovreal change. Without bollocks tactics it could be ok.

Sugawara, THB, Wood, Edwards. and Manning can cope with the Championship. Stephens and a couple of youngsters as back up.

Midfield needs major work. At the moment it is Charles and Fernandes. Add O'Brien-Whitmarsh possibly. Need to add two major purchases preferably defensive minded players.

Up front Dibling, Edozie, and Archer. However crucially Ballard and Robinson to feature from the start. Successful teams bring good players when they go up.

Probably need a CF as well, let the scouts focus on that now.

Above all else develop a simple system, that plays to the players strengths, and is resilient over 46 games. No trendy Pep garbage just ensure the team is fitter than others and technically superior.

Easy

 

[beatlesaint]

7 minutes ago, macca155 said:

Firstly take control of the situation. Tell Dibling, Ramsdale, and Fernandes they are under contract and staying. They'll be worth more after a decent season anyway.

They'll be an exodus of players but none have good CVs now so I wouldn't bank on too much cash coming in. Certainly very little going out.

In ddefencenovreal change. Without bollocks tactics it could be ok.

Sugawara, THB, Wood, Edwards. and Manning can cope with the Championship. Stephens and a couple of youngsters as back up.

Midfield needs major work. At the moment it is Charles and Fernandes. Add O'Brien-Whitmarsh possibly. Need to add two major purchases preferably defensive minded players.

Up front Dibling, Edozie, and Archer. However crucially Ballard and Robinson to feature from the start. Successful teams bring good players when they go up.

Probably need a CF as well, let the scouts focus on that now.

Above all else develop a simple system, that plays to the players strengths, and is resilient over 46 games. No trendy Pep garbage just ensure the team is fitter than others and technically superior.

Easy

 

Fernandes, Ramsdale and THB wont be here next season, whatever happens becuase they will be sold with the aim of raising money to buy a promotion capable team.

I'm not sure what will happen with Dibling if i'm honest.

 

[gandalf]

4 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

Fernandes, Ramsdale and THB wont be here next season, whatever happens becuase they will be sold with the aim of raising money to buy a promotion capable team.

I'm not sure what will happen with Dibling if i'm honest.

 

I've thought that over the last few games Dibling has lost a bit of his earlier sparkle.

[Costa del Solent]

In the context of the Championship, there’s one or two I’d keep on (acknowledging that KWP, Fernandez and Ramsdale will all be gone) 

Tall Paul. Have shown he can score goals in the equivalent of lower leagues abroad. Wouldn’t be devastated if he left but could provide a useful outlet in the championship.

Wellington. Could be a player in there. A year of getting kicked about in the championship might bring him on.

Charles. Made waves at Sheff Wed so worth another look in the championship 

Archer. I like archer, a step up from Armstrong. Think he’d be a threat in the championship

For the record, I also wouldn’t have let SAA go. 
 

Again, would mind if these players went, but I’d be open to looking at them.

The rest can literally walk away for nothing. Clown show 

[Roboze]

6 hours ago, gandalf said:

I've thought that over the last few games Dibling has lost a bit of his earlier sparkle.

hopefully this is a good thing! might make clubs think let leave him there for another season and see how he goes........🤞

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

If I was the manager of this squad, I would resign

[Whitey Grandad]

5 hours ago, Thereisonlyonemickychannon said:

If I was the manager of this squad, I would resign

And lose all that lovely jubbly?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

... I wouldn't release the 2025 version, choosing a 2026 version instead.

[Thereisonlyonemickychannon]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

And lose all that lovely jubbly?

That is the problem with people today. No pride or dignity

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

On 27/02/2025 at 23:10, woodsaint1 said:

As much as we would like to, we dont require a mass clearout this summer as we have a core of players who've got us promoted before and we can rely on some of them again. We need to look at it as a complete restructure over two summer windows and put ourselves in a better place to compete back in the PL.

Realistically we're definitely not holding onto Ramsdale and Dibling as they'll get us 60 million plus between them. Plus KWP is guaranteed to leave.

If we can, I would sell Sulemana, Onuachu, ABK, Bednarek, BBD and Smalbone as they may get us some value (maybe another 40 million)

I would clear out the likes of McCarthy, Bree, Manning, Stephens, Fraser and Stewart by any means necessary.

Blimey Woodsaint, I would call getting rid of 14 of the squad a mass clearout. I expect Fernandes to also leave.

That said, I'm not disagreeing with you. I'd like to see a mass clearout and rebuild a squad on strength and speed. My son suggested getting the best league 1 and 2 players together, put them in a circle and throw balls at them. Keep the ones that can control the ball because they have an eye. All the rest of the skills required can be taught.

[SNSUN]

Me in my padded cell after managing Saints for 2 minutes:

 

[Jack]

On 28/02/2025 at 09:20, Dr. Kucho said:

It’s obvious which players I would want to keep as a manager, but they are likely to leave. Would try and persuade Dibling to stay because of his age and it might help his development. 

In that case try to keep THB, Wellington, Bednarek (good championship defender), Wood, Edwards, Aribo, Dibling and Archer (still young and could learn). 

IMO the likes of Bednarek and Stephens are a huge part of the rot, move them on and start again. It’s been so long since we’ve witnessed competent centre halves, or a manager who knows how to coach them 

[chivvy]

I think a total rebuild will be counter productive but id be asking Johann Spors for 

2 x Left Footed Central Defenders 

2 x centre forwards with some physical presence 5,11 foot plus but with some mobilty and stamina 

2 x Attacking central midfielders

1 x Central Midfielder with Defensive capabilites 

1 x Attacking Right MIdfielder

1xGK

 

I would expect to lose 

Ramsdale, Walker peters , Aribo, Ounacho, Harwood Bellis, Fernandes, Sulemana , Fraser, Edozie  and one other central defender my preference would be stephens.

 

Approx a squad revamp of a third.. 

	1st	2ND
GK	Mccarthy	Bazunu
RB	Bree	Sugawara
LCB	NEW	NEW
RCB	Bednarek	Abk   edwards wood
LB	Wellington	Manning
CM	Downs	Smallbone
CM	Charles	NEW
AMC	NEW	NEW
IwL	Archer	Armstrong
CF	NEW	NEW
IWR	Dibling	NEW

 

 

Edited March 1 by chivvy

[pimpin4rizeal]

I totally disagree with those saying we need a mass clearout the gap between premiership and championship is huge as you can see by Leicester and Ipswich also being shit.. all three of us very strong last season if we keep most of the squad together  most of our players are really strong for championship level and even Martin managed to get promoted with bazunu in goal 

to add to that what is the point in having a huge revamp n the championship when we will not be able to attract the players we would if in the premiership . Meaning they could end up like downes and Thb or worse again when we get promoted .. surely makes more sense to keep a very championship proven team together and keep our powder mainly dry for when we go up that’s when we need the clear out 

[Matthew Le God]

7 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I wouldn't release the 2025 version, choosing a 2026 version instead.

Sounds like a plan!

 

[EBS1980]

1 hour ago, chivvy said:

I think a total rebuild will be counter productive but id be asking Johann Spors for 

2 x Left Footed Central Defenders 

2 x centre forwards with some physical presence 5,11 foot plus but with some mobilty and stamina 

2 x Attacking central midfielders

1 x Central Midfielder with Defensive capabilites 

1 x Attacking Right MIdfielder

1xGK

 

I would expect to lose 

Ramsdale, Walker peters , Aribo, Ounacho, Harwood Bellis, Fernandes, Sulemana , Fraser, Edozie  and one other central defender my preference would be stephens.

 

Approx a squad revamp of a third.. 

	1st	2ND
GK	Mccarthy	Bazunu
RB	Bree	Sugawara
LCB	NEW	NEW
RCB	Bednarek	Abk   edwards wood
LB	Wellington	Manning
CM	Downs	Smallbone
CM	Charles	NEW
AMC	NEW	NEW
IwL	Archer	Armstrong
CF	NEW	NEW
IWR	Dibling	NEW

 

 

Bringing players in to be backup / squad fillers has been half our problem over recent years. 

[SotonianWill]

On 25/02/2025 at 21:19, S-Clarke said:

The players I consider as good players won't stay, and we'll be left with the scraps of utter shit.

Other than Ramsdale, I don't consider any of these players to be good. 

[Matthew Le God]

On 25/02/2025 at 21:19, S-Clarke said:

The players I consider as good players won't stay, and we'll be left with the scraps of utter shit.

Which players meet that description at Championship level?

[SaintsBarry74]

1 hour ago, SotonianWill said:

Other than Ramsdale, I don't consider any of these players to be good. 

Bazunu?

[pimpin4rizeal]

2 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Which players meet that description at Championship level?

Exactly this .. we have a strong championship side that’s been proven .. not sure why everyone is shitting their knickers just because the strong championship players are getting found out at premiership level .. 

the likes of archer onuachu Armstrong will score a shit ton in the championship AA and archer are proven  and they ain’t even good enough to start for us atm 

[Lighthouse]

It’s all just guess work at this stage as we have no idea who will actually stay and leave but a team of:

Bazunu

Bree THB Bednarek Welly

Downes Charles

Armstrong Aribo Fraser

Archer

Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Edwards, Manning, Smallbone, Edozie, BBD, Sully, TP

Is perfectly competent as a Championship side and that’s after selling all our best players and signing nobody.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

55 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

It’s all just guess work at this stage as we have no idea who will actually stay and leave but a team of:

Bazunu

Bree THB Bednarek Welly

Downes Charles

Armstrong Aribo Fraser

Archer

Subs: McCarthy, Stephens, Edwards, Manning, Smallbone, Edozie, BBD, Sully, TP

Is perfectly competent as a Championship side and that’s after selling all our best players and signing nobody.

Yes, that team would be perfectly competent as a Championship side but in 18 months time, if we get promoted and need to strengthen the squad, we'll be in the same situation as this season when we struggled to attract quality players to the club.

We should be looking this summer to bring in players who can take us up and stay with us when we get promoted. 

[Lighthouse]

18 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Yes, that team would be perfectly competent as a Championship side but in 18 months time, if we get promoted and need to strengthen the squad, we'll be in the same situation as this season when we struggled to attract quality players to the club.

We should be looking this summer to bring in players who can take us up and stay with us when we get promoted. 

We'll only stuggle if we keep shopping for bargain, Championship quality players when we've been promoted to the PL, like we did this season. You're not going to attract the majority of players you need to stay up before you've actually been promoted. It's about bringing in the right players at the right time.

[chivvy]

It's the season we get promoted where the changes need to be wholesale . Hopefully the recruitment will be better and some newbies can make the step up.