| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? 11:36 - Mar 25 with 2106 views | DorsetIan |
Eckert has now played 29 and won 18, putting him at the all time top of the list of Saints managers who have managed 29 games or more, with a win percentage of just over 62% (and he's also lost only 5 of those games).
So what he's done is clear enough but what are Uglies thoughts on how he has done it?
Any insights into how, tactically, he has turned the ship around so spectacularly?
But also any ITKs out there who have heard about things behind the scenes, because you don't achieve success like this (especially with a demoralised squad) without knowing how to motivate people?
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| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 13:07 - Mar 25 with 2026 views | Southamptonfan |
To state the obvious, he has done what we were all saying should be done, some of the things we have been saying it for years. To me it wasn't rocket science to have a good goalkeeper and a tall forward for the championship, but here we are.
- He brought in a decent, top quality goalkeeper. The benefits of this cannot be understated. The last three games, Peretz was a massive part of us winning. Bazunu wasn't good enough. We dropped too many points because of him.
- He brought in a tall, strong, experienced striker who holds it up and brings others into play.
- He went to a back 4, and has stopped that ridiculous passing out from the back and going sideways and backwards. We attack teams, and get crosses into the box. We shoot from range and are much braver.
- We have started some of the dark arts and have stopped being so nice. The advertising boards, Flynn Downes tearing teams apart etc.
- Tonda is playing our best players! Matsuki, Azaz, Fellows, Sciensa, Stephens, Downes, Charles, Harwood Bellis, Bree, Edozie, Bragg. Many of these were completely alienated by Will Still.
- The players obviously like him. He works hard. Will.Still who couldn't make the fans forum, who reportedly went straight home after games, whereas Tonda is apparently working all Saturday night looking at the next opposition, and as the players have said in interviews, he is so clear with attention to detail with his tactics. He leaves no stone unturned.
- Tonda never throws the players under the bus. He supports them in public, so they trust him.
I am surprised by just how good he is. Full credit to him. [Post edited 25 Mar 13:39]
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| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 13:29 - Mar 25 with 1969 views | Butty101 |
| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 13:07 - Mar 25 by Southamptonfan |
To state the obvious, he has done what we were all saying should be done, some of the things we have been saying it for years. To me it wasn't rocket science to have a good goalkeeper and a tall forward for the championship, but here we are.
- He brought in a decent, top quality goalkeeper. The benefits of this cannot be understated. The last three games, Peretz was a massive part of us winning. Bazunu wasn't good enough. We dropped too many points because of him.
- He brought in a tall, strong, experienced striker who holds it up and brings others into play.
- He went to a back 4, and has stopped that ridiculous passing out from the back and going sideways and backwards. We attack teams, and get crosses into the box. We shoot from range and are much braver.
- We have started some of the dark arts and have stopped being so nice. The advertising boards, Flynn Downes tearing teams apart etc.
- Tonda is playing our best players! Matsuki, Azaz, Fellows, Sciensa, Stephens, Downes, Charles, Harwood Bellis, Bree, Edozie, Bragg. Many of these were completely alienated by Will Still.
- The players obviously like him. He works hard. Will.Still who couldn't make the fans forum, who reportedly went straight home after games, whereas Tonda is apparently working all Saturday night looking at the next opposition, and as the players have said in interviews, he is so clear with attention to detail with his tactics. He leaves no stone unturned.
- Tonda never throws the players under the bus. He supports them in public, so they trust him.
I am surprised by just how good he is. Full credit to him. [Post edited 25 Mar 13:39]
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I want to pull you up there SouthamptonFan. Tonda is a coach and hasnt bought anyone in. Thats down Spors. |  |
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| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 13:35 - Mar 25 with 1953 views | Southamptonfan |
| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 13:29 - Mar 25 by Butty101 |
I want to pull you up there SouthamptonFan. Tonda is a coach and hasnt bought anyone in. Thats down Spors. |
After that Hull defeat at home, Tonda did his interview and said that there had been some home truths in the dressing room, lots of honesty about what needed to change but also he said "I know what needs to be done to turn this around. We have some things to sort out". I thought yeh, yeh, yeh, we have heard that before, but change did happen.
After that, 4 at the back, Armstrong was sold, Bazunu left, Aribo left, in came the tall, strong striker, a brilliant new experienced goalkeeper, back came Bree as a proper right back, no more sideways passing. I would hazard a guess that Tonda had a big say in what went on in January. [Post edited 25 Mar 13:40]
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| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 16:37 - Mar 25 with 1787 views | Butty101 |
| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 13:35 - Mar 25 by Southamptonfan |
After that Hull defeat at home, Tonda did his interview and said that there had been some home truths in the dressing room, lots of honesty about what needed to change but also he said "I know what needs to be done to turn this around. We have some things to sort out". I thought yeh, yeh, yeh, we have heard that before, but change did happen.
After that, 4 at the back, Armstrong was sold, Bazunu left, Aribo left, in came the tall, strong striker, a brilliant new experienced goalkeeper, back came Bree as a proper right back, no more sideways passing. I would hazard a guess that Tonda had a big say in what went on in January. [Post edited 25 Mar 13:40]
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To be honest i doubt he had much input at all. | |
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| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 17:11 - Mar 25 with 1737 views | shotters |
Few years ago I did some work for a member of the BBC concert orchestra
I asked him what made one conductor better than another? His reply was the one that treats us with respect will be liked and we'll play well for him
Whilst I appreciate that it's more nuanced than that, it was apparent pretty early on that the players didn't take to Will Still, if I remember correctly there was a story going around it September that a recently relegated club who's players didn't like the new manager.
Better goalkeeper, settled back 4 which seems to suit the players better and a focal point up front has already been mentioned. It's also worth bearing in mind that Ben Garner was appointed in January, whilst I sarcastically scoffed at his appointment at the time, his appointment has tied in with our upturn in form |  |
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| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 17:25 - Mar 25 with 1712 views | kernow |
In addition to all of the above:
He has re- introduced the concept of shithousery. | | | |
| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 20:39 - Mar 25 with 1584 views | mushinexile |
He has a flexible mind on match day. He always plays his best team. He has a plan which is well explained to the team so they know what to do and he knows where to put a player on the pitch. He got the defence working properly by working on the problems until they were solved.
The squad's value has increased massively so the boardroom take him seriously and the players want to wear the shirt.
He has put the pride back into them.
I hope he stays here for the rest of his working life because he is going to be a legendary figure in the sport. | |
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| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 22:02 - Mar 25 with 1537 views | kingslandstand1 |
| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 17:25 - Mar 25 by kernow |
In addition to all of the above:
He has re- introduced the concept of shithousery. |
And don't we all love that! |  |
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| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 12:28 - Mar 26 with 1379 views | Bridders2 |
| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 13:35 - Mar 25 by Southamptonfan |
After that Hull defeat at home, Tonda did his interview and said that there had been some home truths in the dressing room, lots of honesty about what needed to change but also he said "I know what needs to be done to turn this around. We have some things to sort out". I thought yeh, yeh, yeh, we have heard that before, but change did happen.
After that, 4 at the back, Armstrong was sold, Bazunu left, Aribo left, in came the tall, strong striker, a brilliant new experienced goalkeeper, back came Bree as a proper right back, no more sideways passing. I would hazard a guess that Tonda had a big say in what went on in January. [Post edited 25 Mar 13:40]
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Agreed. I would also say Spors has had a big influence on our success and his recruitment has been superb, he clearly works very well with Tonda.
Another factor in Tonda's success is the way he manages injury/fatigue in the squad, he is very conscious of not 'overdoing' a player, especially those that have an injury history or are important for the long haul. He's very astute and thoughtful in this respect.
On the whole he thinks things through very carefully. Get a 4 year contract ready. | |
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| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 10:53 - Mar 27 with 1207 views | Ifonly |
| Tonda Eckert - how has he worked his miracle? on 13:29 - Mar 25 by Butty101 |
I want to pull you up there SouthamptonFan. Tonda is a coach and hasnt bought anyone in. Thats down Spors. |
That's nonsense. It's just not how recruitment works. Tonda was in charge for 2 months before the window opened and would have been central to what they were trying to do.
In January, we completely reversed policy on some key things. These would have been down to the manager:
- Getting rid of Baz. Why would Spors have changed his mind mid-season when Baz wasn't playing any worse than normal?
- Trying to get rid of all 3 of our utility forwards. Why change a long standing policy now?
- Trying to bring in 2 centre forwards. Again, why change policy now?
- Reducing the size of the squad. Why not have done that in the summer?
It's Spors and his team who go out and find the players, do the deals etc. but the recruitment (and moving on) will be done to try and get what the manager wants. | | | |
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