Southampton Post Match Comments

[Jimmy Badfellow]

MT: the reports of his demise were greatly exaggerated! I had my doubts but yesterday gave us hope. Get Odoffin fit will give us another option at centre back. Arvin starting for Green needs to happen. Points there to be had between now & the January transfer window.

MT alluded to his own demise in post match interviews.None of us know what conversations have been had with the Chairman.It maybe that TS would stick with him even in League 1 like he did with Warne on 3 occasions or he may take the view that with increased investment and the much talked about aim of mid table sustainability,the first 11 fixtures are know where near good enough and do what all other clubs would do........make a change. The 30th minute substitution yesterday,although brave and unorthodox,did have the feeling of a man playing his last card.I've always liked MT and desperately want it to work for him.He left Exeter overnight,leaving his Wife and newborn behind to take on a challenge that most managers would have stayed well clear of.That took guts and belief,and for that he deserves to succeed.

[Back of the net]

Very brave from MT yesterday. A small section of fans were singing you don’t know what your doing and getting sacked in the morning.
It took guts and more importantly tactical nouse.
I criticised him after Cardiff but you have to sit back and applaud him for yesterday.
Let’s hope we can build on this now.
Peltier has made a big difference to our defence.

[mellowmiller]

MT alluded to his own demise in post match interviews.None of us know what conversations have been had with the Chairman.It maybe that TS would stick with him even in League 1 like he did with Warne on 3 occasions or he may take the view that with increased investment and the much talked about aim of mid table sustainability,the first 11 fixtures are know where near good enough and do what all other clubs would do........make a change. The 30th minute substitution yesterday,although brave and unorthodox,did have the feeling of a man playing his last card.I've always liked MT and desperately want it to work for him.He left Exeter overnight,leaving his Wife and newborn behind to take on a challenge that most managers would have stayed well clear of.That took guts and belief,and for that he deserves to succeed.

I've said on previous posts that I don't know what to make of MT but that certainly doesn't mean I don't want him to succeed and that sentiment would surely apply to any reasonable Millers fan.
One of my biggest concerns has been about his tendency to make like for like substitutions when something different was needed. Well he certainly put that to bed at Southampton and the changes he made eventually turned the momentum in our favour even if it was in the latter stages of the game.
Hopefully what happened will give him more confidence to be brave in future games.
In my 68 years of supporting the Millers I've only ever wanted us to get rid of a handful of managers and they were George Kerr, Danny Bergara, Andy Scott and Alan Stubbs.
Matt Taylor won't be added to that list and I really hope yesterday will be a turning point in his fortunes.

[Jimmy Badfellow]

I've said on previous posts that I don't know what to make of MT but that certainly doesn't mean I don't want him to succeed and that sentiment would surely apply to any reasonable Millers fan.
One of my biggest concerns has been about his tendency to make like for like substitutions when something different was needed. Well he certainly put that to bed at Southampton and the changes he made eventually turned the momentum in our favour even if it was in the latter stages of the game.
Hopefully what happened will give him more confidence to be brave in future games.
In my 68 years of supporting the Millers I've only ever wanted us to get rid of a handful of managers and they were George Kerr, Danny Bergara, Andy Scott and Alan Stubbs.
Matt Taylor won't be added to that list and I really hope yesterday will be a turning point in his fortunes.

Your list of managers who you wanted rid of is exactly mine except Norman Hunter is an addition in my case! You're right about MT. At times I have felt that he is a manager that is going to take us places and at his best I have thought ''at this rate we are going to be the next Luton''.He is good with the media,honest,forthright and not afraid to make tough decisions.He ''gets'' the club,the fans and the area.Then at other times I feel we are going backwards and chaos doesn't feel too far away.The first half yesterday was as painful as it gets.Games that end up 8-0 are not as one sided as that.I don't think we have ever had a manager who is so confusing! What do you think TS's thinking is? Will he stick with him if we go to League 1 like he did with Warne on 3 occasions or do you think he'll make a change if things don't improve in a fortnight? Was yesterday a possible stay of execution?

[MILLERSTALE]

Your list of managers who you wanted rid of is exactly mine except Norman Hunter is an addition in my case! You're right about MT. At times I have felt that he is a manager that is going to take us places and at his best I have thought ''at this rate we are going to be the next Luton''.He is good with the media,honest,forthright and not afraid to make tough decisions.He ''gets'' the club,the fans and the area.Then at other times I feel we are going backwards and chaos doesn't feel too far away.The first half yesterday was as painful as it gets.Games that end up 8-0 are not as one sided as that.I don't think we have ever had a manager who is so confusing! What do you think TS's thinking is? Will he stick with him if we go to League 1 like he did with Warne on 3 occasions or do you think he'll make a change if things don't improve in a fortnight? Was yesterday a possible stay of execution?

As I said in my “We’re doomed post “ it’s going to be very difficult to turn anything round especially in league one with all the money invested in Hugill, Nombe and Eaves ? there will be very little money to work with because of these three in particular ? The only option to raise any money is to sell Victor and that won’t make up for the 8 million drop in income ?

[MAMiller]

We all want MT to succeed as you said he left a very cosy number down here in Exeter. Fans loved him. L1 sustainability is what they want for now. They've invested heavily in their training ground. I know I deliver stuff there regularly. While it's gone downhill it's still a nice place to live and attracting young talent is much easier. The draw to live here is easy if you want to start a young family, likewise the youth game is massive and while Torquay, Tiverton, Saints SW get some of it, young lads still wanna get in Exeter academy. Look at the players they've got, made and sold on over the years..for really good money - we could certainly learn something. One thing they won't be though anytime soon is flirting with the Championship as we do and maybe MTs ambitions required that.

Changing managers every 5 minutes is no good for anyone but the manager is currently disconnected. He has nothing in the bank virtually in credit with the Rotherham fans as Warney did.

He therefore needs to earn it either by his own methodology being successful (which it's been a disaster so far incl last season). Or by taking the aforementioned s*it housery and taking it to another level. I'm talking Ronnie Macca, Swales Talbot Alan Lee level as really that's what the Rotherham public want to see. Why? Because we know we can't get technical players as good as other clubs and trying to match them toe to toe will just fail. I'm not saying punt it to Hughill and hope for the best but I am talking the high press, percentage football, good on set pieces and at least especially away giving teams a game. We've been served up too many games under MT where we sit off and have no players wiling (or ordered to break 3rds or breaks lines) it's total Gareth Southgate no risk football and that's not what we want to see. MT needs to understand the Rotherham ethic he'll then get the fans on board which will at least give him time to slowly and gradually change it to something else over 5-10years

[HensonsPRman]

We all want MT to succeed as you said he left a very cosy number down here in Exeter. Fans loved him. L1 sustainability is what they want for now. They've invested heavily in their training ground. I know I deliver stuff there regularly. While it's gone downhill it's still a nice place to live and attracting young talent is much easier. The draw to live here is easy if you want to start a young family, likewise the youth game is massive and while Torquay, Tiverton, Saints SW get some of it, young lads still wanna get in Exeter academy. Look at the players they've got, made and sold on over the years..for really good money - we could certainly learn something. One thing they won't be though anytime soon is flirting with the Championship as we do and maybe MTs ambitions required that.

Changing managers every 5 minutes is no good for anyone but the manager is currently disconnected. He has nothing in the bank virtually in credit with the Rotherham fans as Warney did.

He therefore needs to earn it either by his own methodology being successful (which it's been a disaster so far incl last season). Or by taking the aforementioned s*it housery and taking it to another level. I'm talking Ronnie Macca, Swales Talbot Alan Lee level as really that's what the Rotherham public want to see. Why? Because we know we can't get technical players as good as other clubs and trying to match them toe to toe will just fail. I'm not saying punt it to Hughill and hope for the best but I am talking the high press, percentage football, good on set pieces and at least especially away giving teams a game. We've been served up too many games under MT where we sit off and have no players wiling (or ordered to break 3rds or breaks lines) it's total Gareth Southgate no risk football and that's not what we want to see. MT needs to understand the Rotherham ethic he'll then get the fans on board which will at least give him time to slowly and gradually change it to something else over 5-10years

Best post I have seen in a while, the only thing I will add is we need to find a system stick with it and just tweak it slightly on a game by game basis depending on the opposition.

[Walt]

That was a great result, well done to the players and manager. It would have been so easy to collapse after the early goal, we rode our luck and relied on victor but we have been owed a bit of good fortune. If we are honest we could have been 3-0 down at HT but it is a typical Russel team, lots of tip tap and not much end product. What a difference it makes having a real CB there in Hall also I thought Peltier was outstanding. Great goal by Hugill and the best bit of the match was in injury time his dive to win a foul near the touch line. I think dropping him was a clever decision, also thought Kelly put a real shift in when he came on and agree with the comments about Appiah. Very happy that we showed real fight and desire against a big club, we now need to use the two weeks to get some more fit and build on that.

Spot on DM, great post
Georgie was immense when he came on - he made the goal by running onto the flick on and forcing the mistake
Appiah looked good too
Will taylor learn from this? Or will he revert to type?
This is his big chance - I'm praying that he learns...but I wouldn't bet on it

[Walt]

Best post I have seen in a while, the only thing I will add is we need to find a system stick with it and just tweak it slightly on a game by game basis depending on the opposition.

agreed HPR, good post - you should always listen to yer MAM

[Walt]

Your list of managers who you wanted rid of is exactly mine except Norman Hunter is an addition in my case! You're right about MT. At times I have felt that he is a manager that is going to take us places and at his best I have thought ''at this rate we are going to be the next Luton''.He is good with the media,honest,forthright and not afraid to make tough decisions.He ''gets'' the club,the fans and the area.Then at other times I feel we are going backwards and chaos doesn't feel too far away.The first half yesterday was as painful as it gets.Games that end up 8-0 are not as one sided as that.I don't think we have ever had a manager who is so confusing! What do you think TS's thinking is? Will he stick with him if we go to League 1 like he did with Warne on 3 occasions or do you think he'll make a change if things don't improve in a fortnight? Was yesterday a possible stay of execution?

I'd add taylor, Tommy Doc and Redfearn
The difference being that Taylor still has a chance to put it right - but will he learn from yesterday?
I hope so, I really hope so