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Ralph Feels He Can Achieve His Ambitions With Saints
Saturday, 28th Nov 2020 08:59

Ralph Hasenhuttl has revealed his ambitions for the future, but he feels that in the long term he can achieve them at St Mary's, his words are music for Saints fans ears, at last a manager who doesn't just chase a big pay day.

Since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United are a shadow of their former selves, yes they have won the odd cup or two, but they have returned to a similar pattern that emerged after the late great Sir Matt Busby stood down from the Old Trafford job some 50 years ago.

Then they entered a football wilderness where they failed to win a League title throughout the 70's & 80's, they won a few cups but that is not good enough for United or their fans and their armchairs and they are heading for that type of period again as manager after manager is tried and failed.

Saints of course where partly responsible for their resurgence when a win over the Red Devils in 1986 in the League cup saw Ron Atkinson sacked and the then just plain Alex Ferguson appointed, but it took the Scot nearly 6 years to win the title and in the current climate of football, managers don't get that time anymore, at least not at the Big Six clubs.

But Ralph Hasenhuttl and Saints are different and it seems that he feels that he has found a club where he can build a dynasty and in doing so achieve his own ambitions, of course he won't be here for ever, but Ralph Hasenhuttl is a man that chases ambition not money.

He knows that at the moment he could probably move to a bigger club for more money sooner than later, but he also knows that his moment in the sun could be fleeting, as it was for David Moyes when he left Everton for Manchester United.

Speaking ahead of the visit of Manchester United at St Mary's, Ralph had this to say.

When asked if he aspired to manage a club like United one day, the 53-year-old turned the question around to signal his intentions for Saints.


“No, a club of Man Utd, not. But maybe a Champions League club or a Euro League club.

“But that doesn’t mean that I cannot manage this club and go there.

“I have big, big targets with this club here.”

“To speak of the international spots in the Premier League (ie Euro spots) it’s not really helpful because when you speak of the names you’re competing with, I don’t have to tell you, there are six spots normally and you can fight for the seventh one.

“It’s not really a target you can seriously take. But you never know.

“At the moment we have a good average of points. We have nearly two points average, this is definitely an average of points you can reach international spots.

“Our goal is to keep this average of points as high as possible"

The Big Six are starting to crumble a little, there are several clubs who are hovering to take advantage this season including Saints, some like West Ham or Everton have more money, but I know who I would want as manager of Saints and it none of the other Premier League managers ahead of Ralph Hasenhuttl, long ay that be the case.



Photo: Action Images



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underweststand added 11:16 - Nov 28
very few people have one job - for life, but Ralph has been given a " free-hand " to organise things as he wishes, and the club have backed him with a long term contract even after the Leicester debacle. I think he is "an honest man " who appreciates the trust that the club has shown and he wants to a make a good side that will be the foundation for the future.
Our club history shows that most of our successful players have either come through the generations of youth football or - with are exceptions - have cost a pittance compared with the fees that the Big Clubs regularly pay-out every season.
Man U are typical of those clubs who think they have a God-given right to win every trophy and always have a row of excuses why they didn't. One can't deny that they have a lot of top class individuals , but the present squad is a group of players acquired by; Moyes, Van Gaal and Mourinho and now Ole has his work cut out getting them to perform.

No-one can predict the future but Ralph has " nailed his colours to the Saints mast " , and obviously wants to achieve success in the coming seasons. Let's hope the players will produce the goods on the pitch and not give him a reason to change his mind.

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SanMarco added 12:07 - Nov 28
I think Ralph genuinely is his own man. He will go eventually but not just because some struggling big-sixer has a vacancy or cash is being splashed by the likes of Everton. The club has to play a role too - the didn't sack him after the 9-0 narrative will only lst so long and while he won't be demanding massive investment there will come a moment when the club has to say 'yes' to something that Ralph wants.
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A1079 added 15:47 - Nov 28
I am sure in his own mind, Ralph has an aim of what he wants to achieve with Southampton and in what period of time and also what he expects from the board and the club to help make that possible. There are of course no guarantees - there never can be. Ralph will move on when either he has felt he has hit a ceiling with the club and cannot progress further or if the "right" club come calling for him that he simply cannot turn down in fear of that opportunity not coming again.

In the meantime, we hope that Ralph will take us to places that we have not been for a long while in the league and some cup competitions (including possibly Europe). When Ralph does move on, lets hope that he has built a legacy and a succession that will make any move less painful that so often has left us reeling when good managers have left in the past.
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AirFlorida added 09:24 - Nov 29
I hope so. But let's face it, there is no longevity in Prem management anymore. Unfortunately we're in the shop window category- if we over perform or start making headlines with any of our personnel, Spuds or Liverhampton come ker-ching-ing. I really hope RH breaks the mould and creates a legacy. That said, this time next year we'll probably be calling for his head after going two games without a win lol
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WestSussexSaint added 10:30 - Nov 29
Everyone has their motivations and will stay at a club for as long as they feel they can achieve those ambitions, whether driven by money, medals, happiness or something else. It applies to managers and players alike.

Ralph’s motivation is about taking a club with a solid youth set up and philosophy of coaching players to make them better. He did the same at RB Leipzig. This approach takes time as you mould those players into a way of playing that you believe in. Talk of him going to Man U or another big 6 club is misplaced as Ralph recognises that the situation at that club does not align with his philosophy. These clubs expect instant success and where this doesn’t happen the answer is to throw money at it rather than take young talent and develop them.

There will come a time when Ralph decides he cannot achieve his ambitions with Saints. He left Leipzig after taking them to the cusp of the German league title and a champion league spot so with Munich dominating the league it was arguably as far as he could take Leipzig. If he were to take Saints to the same level I’m sure most fans would take that.
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