Saints are said to be willing to give under fire manager Ralph Hasenhuttl more time to show that he is the man to take the club forward in the next couple of years, however that will not go down well with a rising number of the fan base.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has been under fire in the past month after three straight defeats have seen the club drop out of the top 10 and now sit 16th in the Premier League, a position that is not likely to improve this weekend with a trip to Manchester City on the fixture list.

For some this is enough, a minority of the fan base has been on Hasenhuttl''s since the 9-0 drubbing at Manchester United a couple of years ago and use this result to highlight why he should have been long gone, however their thinking on this point is flawed, Ted Bates & Lawrie McMenemy, unarguably the two best managers in the club's history, both suffered thumping defeats in their history, Bates saw an 8-0 drubbing at Everton in November 1971 followed by a 7-0 thrashing at Leeds United just four months later.

Lawrie McMenemy took over from Bates in 1973/74 season and suffered relegation in his first season, that included a 7-0 defeat at Ipswich, but he still kept his job and although it would take to his third season to finally win the fans over and that FA Cup win in 1976, during the glory years of 1976-1985 under McMenemy, we weren't immune from the odd thrashing every now and then, not least 7-1 at then second division Watford in the League cup and a 6-0 reverse at Tottenham in 1982/83.

During his time we used to score for fun, but also leak them just as badly, in the Kevin Keegan Era in 1981/82 we finished 7th, with 72 goals we were the divisions third top scorers, but with 67 conceded we were the leakiest defence and despite topping the league for the longest period of any team that year, our defence cost us.

So in our history conceding goals and the odd thrashing every now and then has been part and parcel of being a Saints fan.

The truth is a manager has to be judged on the bigger picture and that means where he finishes in the league and that has to be judged on where our standing is as a club, 6th for Saints would be a cause for celebration, for Chelsea or Liverpool disaster, the Premier League is now polarised, it's big six really finish out of the top six and with Newcastle newly minted that situation is going to get worse.

Up to last season in the pecking order of the Premier League based on resources etc, the truth was that as a club Saints sat somewhere between 11th & 17th, in any given season there were 11 clubs with distinctly more money & resources than us, we sat in a middle group of 5 or 6 clubs all broadly even in their resources.

All were vying for somewhere between 11th & 17th with the hope that one of the bigger clubs such as Villa or Everton would have a nightmare season.

So in his 3 full seasons in charge Ralph Hasenhuttl has overperformed in an 11th place finish and in the last two seasons just about been at par score in 15th place both seasons.

At times in both seasons he looked like he might just take us up a notch, but ultimately we didn't have the spending power or squad quality to keep up the good results when they came.

So from this perspective it could be said Hasenhuttl has done a good job in keeping us up with such limited resources.

With the new owners things have changed, there has been money invested, they are looking for us to be pushing for the top 10, but they are realistic in their ambitions, they bought the club because they saw potential in the way it was being run, they did not buy it because they expected instant success.

They investor heavily in the summer, but they did so in youth not experience, it was difficult at the start of the season, we had 6 new squad members to assimilate in the team and just as we had done that we signed another 4 on deadline day.

7 of the starting line up against Everton were not at the club last season, add substitute Samuel Edozie and that is 8, look at the team and would anyone have picked much different, perhaps only Mohammed Salisu in defence, the same demanding the sacking of Ralph are not demanding the inclusion of Elyounoussi, Djenepo or even Adam Armstrong.

Saints are a work in progress and it is good that the new owners have not panicked at the first sign of turbulence, they knew that by buying in the main youngsters the results would not be instantaneous , things would take time and the manager needed time.

But there is a cut off point and I'm sure that Sport Republic are looking hard at the situation, sacking Ralph Hasenhuttl after 8 games is not giving him a fair crack of the whip, but when we reach the international break at 16 games is likely to be the first review period.

That gives them time to make a decision, find and appoint a new manager and give him 4-6 weeks to work with the squad, it is the natural point in this season at least to take stock,

This won't please some, the Ralph haters have spent two years on his back, they have shouted long and hard enough to the point that more people are listening, but that does not mean they are right.

Would the clamour have died down if we had beaten Everton and sat in 11th this morning ? or say also drawn with Villa and sat in 8th, that is how close we are to being where we want to be in the table, yes it didn't happen, both games were disappointing, but we only lost by a single goal against sides who were no better than us.

Under Ralph Hasenhuttl we have found stability we had lacked since the departure of Ronald Koeman with 3 managers in two seasons that took us to the brink of relegation, indeed the same people who have been demanding Ralph goes where the same people on social media demanding that Claude Puel was sacked as they weren't being entertained, this a manager who in getting us to 8th and a League Cup final had probably had just about the 6th or 7th best season in the club's history in terms of what he had achieved.

Of course the Ralph rumours will surface, ex players and journalists in the know will troll out stories of how he has lost half the dressing room or has no relationship with certain players etc, they do so as it sells newspapers and gets page hits, but it is the Saints board and indeed the owners who know the real picture and see that after a good start we have hit a small blip, yes perhaps that blip will get better, but now is not the time to panic, now is the time to stay focused on what the club is trying to achieve.

16th might not look good in the Premier League this morning, but if we finish there in May it will see us right in the pack of clubs we are competing against, the Premier League has changed over the past 7 years, the rich have got richer and the rest of us just stay where we are, that is not a lack of ambition it is reality, if you don't believe me look at the Premier League tables or FA & League cup winners since 2016.

Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will the resurgence of Southampton Football Club be achieved in 8 games, Sport Republic seem to believe that and so should Saints fans, perhaps Ralph Hasenhuttl is not the man to take us forward, but let's see where we are on November 11th.

This isn't a defence of Ralph Hasenhuttl, it is just clarifying the facts of the situation as I see them and trying to put things in perspective, if anyone things that I am wrong and that we should be in the top 6 year in year out I am truly interested in their views why.

This situation could drag us down, we need to trust the new owners to get things right.

Photo: Action Images

landsdownsaint added 10:47 - Oct 4 Saturday was the first time Iv left the stadium thinking Ralph’s tenure might be coming too an end .iv allways been in Ralph’s corner but I’m starting too think he’s disrespecting players for his eternal persuit of his first 11 .Their was absolutely no reason to start Larios on Saturday & if I was Perraud or Djeneppo I’d be very put out especially as Everton targeted Larios . But still RH has allways given 100% to us & I can see what he’s trying to achieve so I still want him at the club.

-1

saintmark1976 added 10:51 - Oct 4 Nick, with the greatest of respect you are simply starting to make yourself look silly now. Comments such as “ Would the clamour have died down if we had beaten Everton and sat in 11th this morning, or say drawn with Villa and sat in 8th, just show how far you have become detached from reality. Your love of the club is to be applauded but that sort of remark does you no favours whatsoever given that we lost both games and performed pitifully on each occasion. It’s a little like saying “ If your Aunt had balls she would have been your Uncle”. It’s quite evident from the tone of comments on this site over the weekend that the vast majority of posters have lost faith in Ralph and don’t want to continue with a manager who has obtained only twelve points from the last sixty available. If as you appear to suggest, our owners have taken a different view then obviously there is nothing that we as mere supporters can do about it. However, having a fan base which is completely out of step with the Club’s owners and manager, has never in all my time watching football, ever resulted in a happy outcome.

8

PaleRider added 10:53 - Oct 4 "This isn't a defence of Ralph Hasenhuttl, it is just clarifying the facts of the situation as I see them and trying to put things in perspective, if anyone things that I am wrong and that we should be in the top 6 year in year out I am truly interested in their views why. This situation could drag us down, we need to trust the new owners to get things right." This is genuinely one of the most childish arguments I have ever seen! Nobody that I know has ever claimed that we should be in the top 6 year in year out! The issues are deeper; 1) Ralph appears to have lost the dressing room - I don't believe this was either the case for Bates or McMenemy; 2) He has certainly lost the confidence of the majority of fans over a sustained period of time - I don't believe this was either the case for Bates or McMenemy; 3) His tactics and selections are baffling - I don't believe this was either the case for Bates or McMenemy; 4) How long does the club "remain a work in progress"? 5) Many of our matches are now truly dire - as you yourself claim, this was often not the case under McMenemy or Bates; 6) We have no leaders on the pitch. It is clear that ralph does not like people who challenge his position - again, this was not the case under McMenemy or Bates. 7 Etc.... "Would the clamour have died down if we had beaten Everton and sat in 11th this morning ? or say also drawn with Villa and sat in 8th, that is how close we are to being where we want to be in the table, yes it didn't happen, both games were disappointing, but we only lost by a single goal against sides who were no better than us." For some reason, you don't mention the Wolves game. Also, if we won all our games we would be top, if we lost all our games we would be bottom. There is no point in presenting the "if" argument - it makes no difference and is again childish! If you had presented a well rounded argument then perhaps you might have some credibility - unfortunately just cherry picking facts and points to try and justify your own position means that all credibility has been lost for some time now!

8

DorsetIan added 10:54 - Oct 4 "Under Ralph Hasenhuttl we have found stability we had lacked since the departure of Ronald Koeman..." That's exactly what we haven't had under Ralph. For the last two seasons we have blown hot, and then we have blown very very very cold. If we managed to avoid relegation it was because we picked up enough points in the hot periods to compensate for the bang on relegation form in the latter parts of the season. "Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will the resurgence of Southampton Football Club be achieved in 8 games". Nothing is ever 'built'. It always falls back down. And the resurgence isn't built over 20 games either - we've lost 14 of the last of them. The real concern now is that with the Chelsea win followed by three losses against teams we could have beaten, history seems to be repeating itself again - but much earlier in the season this time.

5

felly1 added 11:23 - Oct 4 The bottom line is, we better start winning a few games very soon otherwise the atmosphere will turn truly toxic. Forget the City Game.. Starting with the West Ham at home.
10

stmichael added 11:31 - Oct 4 Fans are bored of Ralph they are bored to the point of apathy with the club. When you can’t even be bothered to moan is actually worse than moaning passionately about your club. It’s boring and should have been dealt with months ago. I wouldn’t go Saturday if somebody offered to pay my expenses and put me up in a hotel. I’m just bored with my club.
6

SanMarco added 11:54 - Oct 4 With the greatest respect "IF" we had done this or that is nonsense. IF we'd won all 7 we'd be top of the league. It is a funny sort of stability when form and quality of football behave like a wave with brief peaks and regular deeper troughs with a few negative all-time records thrown in. Yes, fortunately, they stuck with Lawrie Mac but the cup win came two years after relegation, Ralph has had four (and managers weren't sacked every two minutes in those days). As for "Ralph-haters" I don't think there are many. I think more in sorrow than anger many are simply now wondering where we are going under Ralph. In difficult times we hope for football to distract us and cheer us up - Ralph may be distracting us but it is for the wrong reasons. I don't 'hate' him I just feel it may be time for him to go. This article actually supports that because I can't see one argument in it that really stands up. I'd love it if Ralph won the next five and we stormed up the table but at the moment I just don't see it - he is fast running out of time to prove me wrong.

5

Centurion added 12:17 - Oct 4 Hi Nick... Crisis? What Crisis?
4

kingolaf added 12:47 - Oct 4 Keeping him on is just delaying the inevitable. He is garbage, and I would put my mortgage on us losing our next 2 games.
6

Ifonly added 12:59 - Oct 4 "...when we reach the international break at 16 games is likely to be the first review period. That gives them time to make a decision, find and appoint a new manager and give him 4-6 weeks to work with the squad, it is the natural point in this season at least to take stock" That is simply wrong. If a new manager is to have 4-6 weeks working with the squad then they need to be appointed at the start of the world cup break. That gives us 6 weeks from now to find the right man, negotiate and get them in place. If we wait until the world cup before taking stock it will be a rushed appointment of whoever is available. Many of the good ones wont fancy the coming relegation battle. So we should be looking seriously now. But, if that right man is available then why wait? Who knows how long they will be available? What sense does it make to keep Ralph on temporarily, hoping he will change? We know all about Ralph now, certainly enough to take a decision. The owners should be looking now and if they can find the right man then he should be brought in immediately.

2

SAINTSNIL added 13:02 - Oct 4 He is just a snake oil salesman. Very good at selling his passion,love for the game,empathy with supporters ( on the odd occasion when we win),his tactical awareness (once again debatable),being an overall 'good guy'...but in the end that's all he is pure and simple
2

ItchenNorth added 13:08 - Oct 4 Steve Cooper, he would have been great. Maybe go the Watford rout now. Is Nigel Quashie still playing: he'd add experience to our midfield. Heck, bring back Harry or Hughes 😆. F*** it, lets go all in for Kane with a cheeky bid + Walcott + Willy + Samantha Saint. InLizWeTrussIMeanRalphIMeanMe!
0

WestSussexSaint added 13:39 - Oct 4 Firstly I will always support the incumbent because I want to see our manager succeed whether that is Ralph or whoever. However having watched the body language of both Ralph and the players on Saturday it’s clear things are not right. I could understand the argument about giving more time if he was consistent in his tactics, formation or team selection but it seems a random mix each week as if Ralph will try any combination in the hope something works. Although I applaud Ralph for his efforts with limited funds up to the takeover this is no longer the case. The board have invested and I don’t think you will hear many fans say that we didn’t have a good transfer window. Possibly getting a striker would have been the icing. But the fact is Ralph has to start delivering with what he now has. I just don’t see that he has the belief in the team nor they in him. Typically he will now go and pull out a win at City but even if he does I don’t see his style being sustainable as proven by the win against Chelsea and the subsequent performances. For me it is now a case of when and not if he goes. Better to do it sooner rather than later as long as we can get the right manager in.

9

halftimeorange added 14:26 - Oct 4 I suppose we can always look at the positive - if we are in the Championship next season we should at least figure amongst those clubs battling for promotion with the squad we have - even if Ralph is still the manager. It would be satisfying to have a decent run of results downstairs - that's what Brentford did and look at them now.
-5

derbydog added 14:34 - Oct 4 I wrote weeks ago that avoiding relegation was the only aim this season to give this young side a year to mature. Add Livramento to this squad, get Romeo back playing, and we are only a striker away from being a very exciting team indeed. I think the squad is brilliant, better than anyone else’s outside the top six or so. Does Ralph get credit for this, or is it board/owners/recruitment staff? Whichever, it’s hard not to see Ralph’s fingerprints on it somewhere. The huge amount spent in the summer has to have been spent with his coaching in mind. What if we fire him and the next guy wants to do things differently? That surely would be going backwards.

-3

kingolaf added 14:39 - Oct 4 If only we gave Branfoot more time….
3

cocklebreath added 15:42 - Oct 4 WALOB
1

EasyToger added 15:49 - Oct 4 Kingolaf makes an amusing and good point. Knowing whether to give managers more time only works in hindsight. Yes, it turned out to be right for Bates and Mac but wasn’t right for Hughes or Portvleit… or Branfoot. The trouble is, the consequences of getting that decision wrong now has bigger consequences for the club finances than it ever had before. I have been a Ralph supporter (I named my dog after him!), but I’m afraid the form over the last 20+ games linked to player unrest and strange decision making means I now think it’s time to freshen things up with a new voice, new ideas and new energy. It might prove to be the wrong decision, but sometimes you have to twist as sticking doesn’t look like it’s going to work. I would be prepared to give him until the WC break to prove me and lots of others wrong though.

0

saintpete01 added 17:32 - Oct 4 OMG Fan Dabby Dozy 🤯😫
-1

YosemiteSaint added 17:50 - Oct 4 I thought we should have let Ralph go at the end of last season. I guess, though, the hope was that he'd be good at blooding a new raft of youngsters that arrived in the summer. Perhaps, then, we're still a work in progress. There's also the weirdness of this season, in the middle of which we'll have the five-week World Cup break, with twenty-two of our EPL fixtures occurring after it. Perhaps then we ride out this first portion of the season and then make decisions during the January transfer window after the first few results are in. I have to say, though, that insofar as one cannot teach an old dog new tricks I can't see Ralph learning or trying anything resolute and new between now and then. So perhaps he makes it just about up to the time he said he would go (after this season).

1

wessexman added 18:29 - Oct 4 We'll lose the Man City game. The big question will be HOW we lose it. A cricket score will be the end of Ralph......surely? I just hope the board have used the last international brake wisely and put some serious contingency plans in place. I have no doubts in my mind.....carry on like this and we WILL go down.
4

wessexman added 18:29 - Oct 4 We'll lose the Man City game. The big question will be HOW we lose it. A cricket score will be the end of Ralph......surely? I just hope the board have used the last international brake wisely and put some serious contingency plans in place. I have no doubts in my mind.....carry on like this and we WILL go down.
1

1962saint added 14:56 - Oct 5 I have to take issue with some of the posting from Pale Rider. Some of his points are valid but not all of those comparing Ralph with Ted Bates and Lawrie McMenemy. I clearly remember, standing at the Milton End, masses of fans (not me) shouting ‘Bates Must Go’. After we got relegated under Lawrie Mac some fans were predicting a second relegation into what was then Division 3. Fans are always impulsive and quick to suggest sacking the manager after some poor results. Of course if you have a poor manager such as Branfoot, Jan Poortlviet, Mark Wotte, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and others it is soon apparent that they are out of their depth or incompetent. I don’t believe this is the case with Ralph who has had to work with limited resources and done an OK job. The immediate reply to those shouting for him to go is who should replace him. You could easily get someone no better or even worse. Given the size of our club and the budget we have, you could appoint Pep or Jurgen and not guarantee a significant higher position in the table. I say don’t be hasty and stick with Ralph until the end of the season and then see how this exciting young squad has progressed.

-1

Saint_Chunk added 20:45 - Oct 5 Correct analysis of our position. I think a new team and coaching staff need time to bed in. If we are in real trouble at the break action may be taken. However I suspect another par performance this season is more likely. I have had enough of the neanderthal fans on social media full of doom But that has always been part of the club's problem and why we never quite reach out full potential. Keep up the good work.

-1

Monksway added 12:52 - Oct 6 I'm a big supporter of Ralph in general and agree with a number of Nick's points. However, I feel we have lost our way and with new young players and a new coaching set up a new manager is needed. Ralph as had a good girl and at times had us playing some excellent football. (Normally for 45 minutes per game and for half a season admittedly) . But I don't feel the system changes are really to his liking and the players seem confused. Time for a change.

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Chelsea Polls