Thread by @AdamBlackmore

Ok, the morning after the day before, and I have some #SaintsFc thoughts ….please bear with me, this might be long 😂

We all have opinions and they are all valid - here are mine

Firstly, I don’t wish ill of anyone & I try to be positive & fair to people always

But …

…yesterday #SaintsFc boss Nathan Jones dug himself a big hole with his words

I’ve been openly saying for weeks I just want him to ‘own’ the job and part of that is I wanted him be big enough to take responsibility for his team and players, because I think that is leadership

But you can’t take responsibility and at the same time still bang on about the past and blame it for current failings

I also said my biggest problem was the lack of identity the #SaintsFc team had after 5 weeks of training in the break - his answer on this yesterday was poor

You cannot keep calling the players “they” and say things that allude to the failings of #SaintsFc longest serving manager for 30 years - it’s petty and disrespectful - I don’t remember Ralph blaming his predecessors, but i do remember him being crestfallen after bad losses

Nathan was appointed by Rasmus Ankersen, who rightly in principle justified the risk by saying the metrics were right and other managers have stepped up well and taken their chance in the PL

But none of that matters if the man in charge can’t show himself to be a leader of men

It’s not my fault or the players or the media or Ralph’s or Caleta-Car’s or Lavia’s or the defenders if the team are no better than they were 3 months ago

Nathan took the job as #SaintsFc manager on the basis that he would improve things - results haven’t improved - bottom line

And they’re less likely to improve over time if you create division in a football club

He might be right in the long run - if he’s given the time (he’s been given the tools now) he can turn it around

But he wasn’t brought in to develop a side slowly - #SaintsFc need results

On that basis, and on the evidence we have so far, Sport Republic have made a mistake and need to address it - because Nathan is who he is, and the fan base doesn’t want him

There are top class players at #SaintsFc - they need to be led and inspired & I don’t see that from him

I got a lot of stick last year for apparently ‘defending’ Ralph - I could see the writing on the wall & results weren’t good

But I also respected his tenure and knew how he deeply cared about #SaintsFc

It was change I was worried about - it comes with risk in football & life

And the change Sport Republic made hasn’t worked - they need to show their leadership - which includes humility and admitting mistakes - and do something to save #SaintsFc season

Maybe if that 40M on deadline day had been spent in the summer on a striker ? That’s on them too

Don’t get me wrong - I think Sport Republic can take #SaintsFc forward way more than Gao ever could

They have bought a lot of good players and spent a lot of money

But they said they wouldn’t get involved in the club day to day - they have & they are accountable for decisions

Managing a club the size of #SaintsFc on & off the pitch in the huge arena of the Premier League takes total focus and drive, passion and commitment - and it takes ingenuity, the ability to squeeze every ounce to get any advantage

It’s not about pats on the back or bravado

Managers and owners don’t need to be popular with players or wise after the event

They need to be respected and decisive and rigorous in their behaviour - and to do what’s good for the club

In this case, it’s #SaintsFc and there’s a fan base waiting to see it SR & co