Who do we want next as Saints manager?

[Gloucester Saint]

16 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

He’s one of four ex-Saints in the top six of Ligue 1.

SAA, Salisu, Maitland-Niles, Caleta-Car.

 

If Carlsberg did damning statistics about the state of coaching and management at Southampton Football Club…

[CB Fry]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

My (semi-serious) underlying point is that we'll merrily spend money willy nilly on dross players yet, seemingly, baulk at the notion of splashing the cash on a decent manager....

I think the point is if you spend £100m on the manager you can't then say "sorry it's frees and loans for the players because we spent the budget on you".

[Holmes_and_Watson]

6 minutes ago, trousers said:

My (semi-serious) underlying point is that we'll merrily spend money willy nilly on dross players yet, seemingly, baulk at the notion of splashing the cash on a decent manager....

SR look to keep the wages on those individuals as low as they can. That seems to override any sense of squad management. For example, our numbers at left back, left midfield or multiple forwards when our main targets get better offers. That seems to apply to their managers too. Always looking for a cheaper, up and coming manager.

If we got him in the building...

"Right, Ronald. Here's the transfer software with your selection of players on it. No, we only use this now. We've already clicked the left field bargain filter for you.

No, you can't get any of those. You'll have to manually check to see if they can play left back, and have never been a DM. Our video scouts are checking to ensure they have no leadership qualities at all. That means Jack can be captain and your assistant manager, Adam can still play.

Enough of this for now. Let me introduce you across our multi club model. First up is Rasmus, who will tell you, Ronald Koeman, about all the secrets behind football success."

[Whitey Grandad]

7 hours ago, Turkish said:

football is all cyclical, im sure it wont be long before some genius manager comes up with the brilliant idea of playing two lines of 4, with pacy wingers, a big lad up front next to a good little 'un to get on the end of his flicks. It'll be lapped up by the hipsters as genius with the number 7 and 11s being the new gold standard in modern football with them being given cool positions like wide layer outer offensive forwards. Their job will be to provide cross field penatration assists into the number 9 or as he'll be called the deep lying attacking pivot. Any team with two great wide layer outer offensive forwards and a strong deep lying attacking pivot is gonna cook in the XG numbers bro!

Brillo !

[Matthew Le God]

53 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

He’s one of four ex-Saints in the top six of Ligue 1.

SAA, Salisu, Maitland-Niles, Caleta-Car.

 

 

40 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Sekou Mara and Minamino too. Players do better when they're not playing for Saints. 😁

 

35 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

If Carlsberg did damning statistics about the state of coaching and management at Southampton Football Club…

I think that is more damning about the standard of the French league than it is of Saints! 

[Gloucester Saint]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

 

I think that is more damning about the standard of the French league than it is of Saints! 

Bit of both isn’t it? It’s not as competitive as the PL, certainly not the PL of old, but it’s still stronger than most European leagues. Even you’d agree that Saints haven’t got anywhere near the best out of their players in the way we used to 10-15 years ago when top clubs would sniff. Just Dibling and Fernandes of the current lot, and the latter is more down to the individual than anything else.

[Lighthouse]

18 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Bit of both isn’t it? It’s not as competitive as the PL, certainly not the PL of old, but it’s still stronger than most European leagues. Even you’d agree that Saints haven’t got anywhere near the best out of their players in the way we used to 10-15 years ago when top clubs would sniff. Just Dibling and Fernandes of the current lot, and the latter is more down to the individual than anything else.

I’d say it was like 90:10 the French league being much worse than the PL. Just look at José Fonte, who looked finished at this level playing for West Ham, then went on to have years of success at Lille. As poorly managed as we’ve been, none of those players were PL material. If they were then other PL teams would have snapped them up when we went down. Just look at AMN - not even our player, Arsenal just didn’t rate him at all. He was basically the Maxwel Cornet of two years ago.

[Oisin]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

 

I think that is more damning about the standard of the French league than it is of Saints! 

Yeah, the French league is rubbish; just look at how their sides do in European competitions, especially in direct comparison with English premier league teams

[Maggie May]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

 

 

I think that is more damning about the standard of the French league than it is of Saints! 

It’s a damning indictment they’d rather be challenging for Europe in this “lower standard French league” than playing for us. 

[Matthew Le God]

Growing number of names linked with RB Leipzig. Rohl just one of many linked.

 

[leesaint88]

14 hours ago, trousers said:

My (semi-serious) underlying point is that we'll merrily spend money willy nilly on dross players yet, seemingly, baulk at the notion of splashing the cash on a decent manager....

The Championship is a horrible league to get out of and even with parachute payments it doesn't mean you'll be up there. So for a lot of 'established' managers its just not worth the risk, why drop down when you can get a job in the top flight and challenge the best. Taking a job with 'less' money at someone like Wolves is far more attractive than us..

[Dman]

57 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Growing number of names linked with RB Leipzig. Rohl just one of many linked.

 

I can't help but feel like the Rohl link is just his agent getting his name out there to drive a better deal with whatever club he signs for.. I.e us. 

Would be ridiculous gamble from RB, who aren't short of cash, to take a punt on such an inexperienced manager.. Especially after RB salzburg were bitten by appointing that assistant from liverpool. 

FWIW - I've got all my eggs in the Rohl camp. Put his name forward as a someone to potentially look at before we appointed Martin and I think he's done a brilliant job under farcial circumstances at Sheff Weds. Make no mistake, based on player ability, they're a L1 side without him. 

I just think he needs a step between a european club like RB and where he is atm. We'd provide a good stepping stone for him and a good year or 2 with us and he'll be jumping clubs like RB. 

Failing Rohl, Cooper would be a safe pair of hands. Not the most exciting, but would be on board with that - Honestly just cannot see it happening though.. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

According to Graham Bailey in the last ten minutes, Liam Rosenior is no longer in contention - he basically isn’t interested.

The supposed shortlist includes Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Danny Rohl, the latter is pushing hardest.

[Matthew Le God]

6 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

According to Graham Bailey in the last ten minutes, Liam Rosenior is no longer in contention - he basically isn’t interested.

The supposed shortlist includes Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Danny Rohl, the latter is pushing hardest.

He also says David Wagner and Will Still.

Edited April 16 by Matthew Le God

[AlexLaw76]

 

[Maggie May]

I’d take all three.

[revolution saint]

26 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

I’d take all three.

Who would you want as manager though?

[Harry_SFC]

Very much doubt Wagner is in contention. Failed at Norwich playing a dull defensive style of football. Reportedly the opposite of the type of manager we are after. 

[Suhari]

56 minutes ago, Maggie May said:

I’d take all three.

That midfield would never work together.

[Dusic]

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

He also says David Wagner and Will Still.

So he basically understands the shortlist is all the names mentioned in the media. They taught him well at Football Insider!

[Draino76]

On 15/04/2025 at 13:04, Matthew Le God said:

He backtracked on that!

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13243854/jose-mourinho-exclusive-fenerbahce-manager-on-life-in-istanbul-his-relationship-with-uefa-and-a-premier-league-return

"I made a joke, I'm never going to a team fighting relegation. I will never go. I get upset, and I'm not in the period of my career to get upset. I'm in the period of my career to be happy all the time and at this moment playing in European competitions, I am getting upset all the time.

But I'm not going to fight relegation. It's too hard! Honestly, I believe that has to be the hardest thing. It's more difficult than playing for titles. It has to be very hard emotionally, because it's something that changes lives. I think it's brave guys that do it."

So he has quietly quitted management.  That's not we need.

[HKsaint]

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will be surprising and Danny Rohl will be another gambling 

[Kermitzasaint]

22 hours ago, gurru991 said:

The problem for me is that so many managers just imitate managers who have success at other clubs. They see Pep play possession based football & decide to copy that style when truthfully they don't have players with the necessary skillset.

Quality managers are able to develop a style that fits what their players are capable of.  I believe Danny Rohl is getting the most out of his players at Wednesday & could be successful at either Southampton or Leicester. 

 

What equates to success exactly? 

[John B]

20 hours ago, Turkish said:

Depends on your definition of doing well. We've seen many top clubs change managers and with virtually the same players look a shadow of themselves. Or new managers come in and transform a team. 

I suggest you become a politician as you are spouting nonsense we have a really poor squad of players probably the worst I have seen whilst we have been in the top flight in the last 60 years

[Turkish]

7 minutes ago, John B said:

I suggest you become a politician as you are spouting nonsense we have a really poor squad of players probably the worst I have seen whilst we have been in the top flight in the last 60 years

I suggest you read my post properly. Your claim that any team with top players would do well whoever the manager was is nonsense and has been proven nonsense time and again. You’re not the say guy who said even Alan Pardew could have done as well as Alex Ferguson did at Man United are you?

[gurru991]

47 minutes ago, Kermitzasaint said:

What equates to success exactly? 

For me it's quite simple.

Success for me initially would be automatic promotion. On top of that, real success would be building a team & style that is capable of avoiding relegation the first season back in the Premier League.

What would equate to success for you ?

 

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

Lampard our Gerrard would be awful appointments. They're a notch above Rooney.

I can see SportsRepublic going for one of those more than Rohl though. Tbh.

[Forester]

Neither Lampard or Gerrard would be high on my list.  However I cannot deny that Lampard has a good track record in championship.  Took Derby to play offs and has turned Coventry season around looking good for play offs.

[SNSUN]

I'd take Christine Bleakley over Alex Curran tbf. Not sure what Danny Rohl's missus looks like though. 

[Saint Fan CaM]

If it’s truly Garrard or Lampard I’m not sure whether I’d laugh or cry…they are not the answer in my opinion and that’s being kind. Rohl has the qualities to turn things around playing the right type of football and has knowledge of the club already. He has as good a chance of getting the supporters on side as anyone. If it’s not him, then it needs to be someone with better experience - not just an ex-player with a name and it’s not easy identifying who that might be.

[Badger]

10 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

According to Graham Bailey in the last ten minutes, Liam Rosenior is no longer in contention - he basically isn’t interested.

The supposed shortlist includes Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Danny Rohl, the latter is pushing hardest.

Good news if Rosenior is out of the running, but any relief from that is replaced by living in fear that we might consider Gerrard.

Can’t see Lampard leaving Coventry for us, seems an unlikely one. Gerrard …. another fuck off candidate 

[CB Fry]

The forum hero worship of this Spors guy will disappear pretty rapidly if we end up appointing Steven Gerrard.

[benali-shorts]

Gerrard a good name to leak to get the fan base firmly behind the other candidate 

[E_H_Saints]

Its a dammed if you do or don't situation.  We need a manager so that they can start building a plan with their preference for the following season and can start the rebuild asap but that means potentially making a rash decision and regretting it.  

If we wait we limit the impact a new manager could have on signings and lose the interest of interested managers as there won't be time to influence the outgoing and incomings and in which case could be too late to get the manager we would want.  

So all in all its crap either way with little chance of a silver lining ATM.

[woodsaint1]

8 hours ago, Forester said:

Neither Lampard or Gerrard would be high on my list.  However I cannot deny that Lampard has a good track record in championship.  Took Derby to play offs and has turned Coventry season around looking good for play offs.

Just on his Derby record, they finished 6th the season before he joined and he took them to 6th again. There is no doubting that he has improved Coventry however

[Yorkshire Saint]

7 hours ago, CB Fry said:

The forum hero worship of this Spors guy will disappear pretty rapidly if we end up appointing Steven Gerrard.

Or ONeil (Gary not Martin 😊)

Edited April 17 by Yorkshire Saint

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

14 hours ago, Forester said:

Neither Lampard or Gerrard would be high on my list.  However I cannot deny that Lampard has a good track record in championship.  Took Derby to play offs and has turned Coventry season around looking good for play offs.

Yeah.

With Mel Morris breaking every FFP rule there was to break and signing Premier League players and half of Chelsea's best young talent.

They had the best team in the Championship by miles and should have absolutely walked that League and he didn't get promoted.

With the squad and backing he had, he massively screwed that up and it was a far weaker League when he was there.

He's doing "ok" with Coventry, not doing anything fucking sensational by any stretch.

He's better than effing Gerrard though that's for sure. But that's not saying much.

 

Edited April 17 by ApprenticeBillionaire

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

14 minutes ago, Yorkshire Saint said:

Or ONeil (Gary not Martin 😊)

Gary O'Neil does a decent job everywhere he's been. 

Not a fucking chance in hell I'd have him here though and neither would he come here.

I think that's a given.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Strange that Cooper's name doesn't even make the gossip "know nothings" columns.

[Gloucester Saint]

15 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

Strange that Cooper's name doesn't even make the gossip "know nothings" columns.

Agree, has to be to do with aesthetics or that he already said no because based on what the club needs he is the blatantly obvious candidate. Him #1 choice, Rohl #2. Happy with either, not sure beyond that. 

[Dman]

1 hour ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

Strange that Cooper's name doesn't even make the gossip "know nothings" columns.

its not really though. Copper isn't a hipster choice. SR are all about hipster choices. 

[West end Saints]

9 minutes ago, Dman said:

its not really though. Copper isn't a hipster choice. SR are all about hipster choices. 

Nathan Jones? Juric??

You could class Martin with your label but he was a Wilcox appointment 

Also we have a new decision maker who I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt and starts with a clean sheet

[Holmes_and_Watson]

47 minutes ago, West end Saints said:

Nathan Jones? Juric??

You could class Martin with your label but he was a Wilcox appointment 

Also we have a new decision maker who I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt and starts with a clean sheet

I used to hear Nathan's name fairly regularly on football programmes, as up and coming and one to watch.

When I next heard his name, I realised I'd not heard it for a while. That turned out to be his time at Stoke. At which point the programmes dropped his name, adding the next up and coming, one to watch manager instead.

[Appy]

Wagner isn’t true, purely agents chucking his name about. 

[Doctoroncall]

30 minutes ago, West end Saints said:

Nathan Jones? Juric??

You could class Martin with your label but he was a Wilcox appointment 

Also we have a new decision maker who I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt and starts with a clean sheet

Depends if there is a directive he needs to follow (or restrict by, take your choice). 
 

My list of four:

Cooper - known and experienced, maybe limited but has also worked well with young players. Could just need a bit of direction and support.

Rohl - done well with little budget, has pedigree coaching, potential to grow.

Jaissle - was part of red bull, pragmatist but likes fullbacks to attack as well as press. In last year of contract with Al-Ahli. 

Terzić - wild card. Progressed through Dortmund backroom, not currently in a job, prefers possession but has shown pragmatism when needed. 
 

[Badger]

13 hours ago, benali-shorts said:

Gerrard a good name to leak to get the fan base firmly behind the other candidate 

Expect Phil Brown to be in the tabloid speculation columns soon

[Midfield_General]

4 hours ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

Strange that Cooper's name doesn't even make the gossip "know nothings" columns.

He’s never been anywhere in any of the bookie’s odds, no mentions, no links. Seems pretty obvious we’re not interested in him (or maybe him in us, though I’d find that surprising). 

Seems mad to me. Even if we have a preferred candidate (eg Rohl, who I’m pretty sure we’ll end up getting), Cooper should still be one of the first people we speak to if we’re doing proper due diligence, it’s a no-brainer. But this is SR. 

[OldNick]

5 hours ago, ApprenticeBillionaire said:

Gary O'Neil does a decent job everywhere he's been. 

Not a fucking chance in hell I'd have him here though and neither would he come here.

I think that's a given.

SR not understanding the fans and dislike of anybody with Pompey connections, could well employ him as another slap in the face

[Convict Colony]

Honestly do we think spors who has contacts throughout world football would end up plumbing for the same failed English managers that always get their names in the papers.

[Charlie Wayman]

On 16/04/2025 at 08:43, Matthew Le God said:

Growing number of names linked with RB Leipzig. Rohl just one of many linked.

 

Yes but they can appoint only one.