One thing that has been deafening from Southampton Fc since the debacle at Blackburn Rovers, is comment. Aside from the highlights, if there were any put up on Sunday, there has been no mention of the game on the club website since Saturday, is this a good or bad thing for the manager ?

Usually at this time when a manager is not getting the results, there is a little spin doctoring going on, players trotted out saying how hard that the man under fires is working and how the squad is totally behind him etc etc, but aside from a few comments from Mads Roerslev straight after the game at Ewood Park, there has been deathly silence.

Not even the dreaded "Vote of Confidence" has been trotted out in defence of the manager.

Perhaps that is a good thing for Will Still, the club are saying nothing, hoping to ride out the storm and that a win over Preston on Saturday will but the manager a bit more time and give hope that the tide is turned.

But it may be something more sinister, the fact the club is saying nothing could be that they are buying themselves a little time, that they are considering what they are going to do now and that having not publicly backed their manager, a sacking could be imminent once they have sounded out a few candidates for the job.

However on that note, if Johannes Spors and those making the decision are of the opinion that Will Still is no longer their man, it surely would have been better to have done the deed swiftly & quickly & let Paul Trollope & Adam Lallana take charge , Trollope has experience both as a manager and as a coach and assistant manager at this Level & the Premier League.

I can only imagine the atmosphere at Staplewood yesterday, there must be a sense of uncertainty in the squad, the manager hasn't been backed or sacked, will he still be there in the dug out on Saturday ? or will things move quickly in the next day or so, either way it is not ideal preparation for a game that if the manager is still in situ, will surely be a make or break game.

Defeat to Preston is unthinkable, that would surely be the end, but some would contest that the point of no return has already been passed and one game isn't going to change much, so better to act now.

Either way this is not good for Saints, we go into the game on Saturday with that feeling of Last Chance Saloon, the mood of the fans has changed, they have had 3 years of calamity at St Mary's, mistake after mistake in managerial appointments and poor recruitment, there will be no leeway for Will Still & his team on Saturday if he is in charge, they have to score early and win well, a goal for Preston will turn the atmosphere from hostile to toxic in the space of seconds.

Johannes Spors has to be seen to acting decisively and from the front this week, he has to show that he and indeed the club are in charge of the situation, of course he cannot come out and say that they are giving Still time to turn things round, he certainly cannot set a timeframe, but he has to be seen talking about Southampton & not Juventus, he has to be showing his commitment to the club & determination to sort things out.

We are sick of a lack of leadership from managers, we are sick of a lack of leadership on the pitch, due to the failure of not only Will Still but previous managers to address this, we are sick of a lack of leadership from the board, we need to see that there is something there that can turn things around.

I am not sure what the silence from St Mary's will ultimately mean for Will Still, what I do know is that it is only fuelling discontent in the supporter base, at least one good thing, a raft of empty seats will not be able to boo & throw abuse at those running Southampton Football Club on Saturday.

All Photos Via Reuters

Ali_Diarea added 08:52 - Oct 28 When have SR ever acted swiftly and decisively? Keep up Nick!
1

Boris1977 added 09:21 - Oct 28 Yep. BAU.
0

Bowlercow added 11:26 - Oct 28 Far more important than Will's position is the financial position of Dragan Solak He is no longer a majority shareholder in thmedia empire that he set up This must affect his,and therfore our,financial clout It would explain a few things.We gambled on the likes of Ross Stewart because we can't afford another striker We keep Will because we can't afford to sack himj.We don't take extra reserves because we can't afford the extra hotel rooms Spors will go to Juve because we can't give him a buget etcetc At Sheff Wed they reckon to have 4 or 5 possible buyers Send the spare ones down here

-2

Bowlercow added 11:29 - Oct 28 Don't know what site your looking at Nick but highlights have been up since Sunday morning
-1

SaintPaulVW added 11:46 - Oct 28 I'm in the Will Still in camp to give him more time. However, let's face it Southampton have had what 29 managers? in the 21st Century, so even a long lasting manager only gets/ stays about 2 years. Yes give him more time, however to decide on this, the board need to do an investigation into why it isn't working atm and publicly back him. Failure to do these 2 basic requirements and we are all just stuck in limbo. If they won't do that then yes change manager. Only fair to Still, if you won't back, then sack and we all move on. COYR

2

highfield49 added 11:51 - Oct 28 The silence is a bit deafening but if Will Still really wants to create a rod for his own back he only has to put Captain Jack on the team sheet this weekend. As for replacements, thankfully Brendan Rodgers is the favourite to take over at Wolves. Please tell me that he hasn't been seen at Southampton airport!
3

Centurion added 11:57 - Oct 28 Silence. I think the Board are going to tough it out, hoping for a turn around.
2

WestSussexSaint added 12:47 - Oct 28 It could be that Spors is too busy reviewing the contract proposal from Juventus to worry about WS. Even if that is a bit of exaggeration it could be that the lack of stability at the top works in WS favour in the short term at least. I actually want WS and the players fully focussed on Saturdays match so the lack of PR from them is a good thing. That said as most posters have said, defeat against Preston and there won’t be any hiding place for WS or the decision makers.

2

ItchenNorth added 13:27 - Oct 28 Maybe the club and manager are just getting on with the business of preparing for Saturday. They probably do not feel the need to create unnecessary debate in the media at this time by releasing statements or opening the manager/players up to further criticism. Colum inches will be written regardless, just like on TUI, so why hand it to the media on a plate? It's a results business, so let's see after Saturday's game, when we are at home, and nowhere to hide come 5pm.

-2

saintmark1976 added 16:04 - Oct 28 I’m with Centurion and of the opinion that whatever the result on Saturday our owners and their employees will stick with Still. Why, you may well ask ? Simply because we now have no realistic chance of promotion, either automatically or through the playoffs. From here on in to season end they will just set a target for Still that given the quality of our squad and Sheffield Wednesday’s points deduction, even he will be able to achieve. The target being avoiding relegation. Fewer seats will now be filled for the remainder of the season but that revenue loss is a drop in a bucket compared to the cost of sacking and replacing Still.

4

jameslastfan added 16:31 - Oct 28 Well, it must be a weird atmosphere the man tasked with running the football club and I suppose sacking the manager is being linked and maybe in talks with Juve. Perhaps he has left already and took the online account passwords. Who knows? Fingers crossed we can get in the stadium on Saturday and he didn't take the keys! Come on Saints whatever is or isn't going on please sort this out.

2

underweststand added 17:02 - Oct 28 There are two distinct camps on this issue. Those who shout from the rooftops because they (like those at Leicester and Ipswich) together with one particular journo´ are screaming that the manager must be replaced PDQ, because as a relegated club we ought to be in the top 3 and preferably undefeated. It's not much better for them either. However, I belong in the other group, who are more pedantic and see that everything takes time, whilst some players have already come forward and admit that they believe in Will's methods and it is they (on the pitch) who are at fault. The problem some years ago was when we were short of class players, but now we are overstaffed and we are looking to move some out in January. We are already one of the biggest spenders in this League, and so I don't see us splashing out many more millions in the January window. Now we finally have wingers, but no target man / striker to take advantage of their service. The answers lies with a better formation utilising the best talents of those who remain. I don't think The Board are likely to make any rash decisions unless this is still a headline issue after New Year. Having to sack Will, may only reflect on their poor judgment in employing numerous managers and unsuitable players who just don't " fit the bill."

3

kingolaf added 19:49 - Oct 28 The silence is just the board’s best procrastination. Russell Marting last season repeating itself. They are so incompetent it makes my blood boil.
1

Jesus_02 added 22:56 - Oct 28 Only mnager for us is Pep. Only modern manager to achieve anything without a recognised centre forward. Or maybe Kelvin Davis. At least he could play himself in goal?
0

BigbadBarry8myboat added 23:16 - Oct 28 Regardless, if he picks Stephens again, then he needs demoting and we'll have his assistant or Lallana manage.
2

BigbadBarry8myboat added 23:21 - Oct 28 Damion Down purchase when we had discussed Semenyo, now tearing up the Prem with Bournemouth and Stephens 3 year deal show it's not just Stll and other managers desperation for odd selection that is the problem. Whoever is doing the purchasing needs firing. Semenyo 8m to Bournemouth, Down £10m to us... Just saying.
2

Boris1977 added 12:52 - Oct 29 What a choice. Turin or Southampton. Juve in serie C would be my option every time. Wonderful culture, food, sunshine, wine, quality of life and sensible cost of living. Spors, get on the plane you will not regret it.
1

Blogs 30 bloggers

Queens Park Rangers Polls