01 May 2026 19:50:29
SaintGGG

I like Tonda and I want to eat my words about him, I really do. I hope he is the manager everyone is claiming him to be.

But I don't get carried away with things. Yes, for me this is very much Will Stills team, because you cannot tell me our incompetent board had any plan involved when bringing Tonda in, for all accounts they got incredibly lucky. Everything was put in place for Still. Yes Tonda has gone on to get the team moving where Still didn't, but until the start of next season, when there is a fresh start, that is all just semantics because like I say, whoever took the initial job following our worst Premier League season in history, that manager was a dead man walking (shaking of the cobwebs/mentality/memories/cohesion ect).I don't think Tonda would have had enough about him/experience to have done differently then either.

For all of Tondas perceived tactical ability/management, there's a very real chance we won't get promoted this year and with that a genuine point has to be asked/made and that is.We even got promoted with Russel Martin, which overall was a sub par team to the one we have now.

One could also argue rather than bringing on offensive players for the ipswhich game in the final 10 minutes when we had the lead we could have brought Quashie, Romeu, Bragg even Jalert on to shore up the defence/midfield and protect the 1 goal lead, potentially giving us a shot at automatic promotion, which is gone now.

Wether we are in the premiership next year or not, I think there is a realistic chance Scienza won't be with us. She Charles, Finn azaz, Jander have all been making waves too.

So for me, I'll take whatever we can get this year i.e. promotion as a bonus, but it doesn't determine Tonda either way for me. That judgement of him comes/starts next season. When players go/are brought in, when he fully has his stamp on the team and wether he can repeat what it is he has done. If he is the genuine product, even if we in the championship next season, should be an exciting one.

My negativity is ultimately with the board, as I as say they got extremely lucky with Tonda, which isn't enough for me to say suddenly he's the greatest manager that we haven't had for the last few seasons or so. I'm hoping I'm wrong and will gladly eat my words.

1.) 01 May 2026
01 May 2026 20:21:53
Lesleee I'm sorry but some of this is deluded. Tonda might not get us promoted? He took over a team outside the drop zone on goal difference. On his form over a season we'd be competing for the title. Until Still we may have been going down.

Again, he picked up a side without four wins in 50, went on an unbeaten run immediately, and we're currently on a 17 match unbeaten run in the league. Tonda is good. He may well get snapped up. If Still was so good, why is he still unemployed.

The fact we're in the play offs should be enough to eat your words. Getting to the top five is a miracle and being in with a shout of autos going into the final week is an obscene run.

Tonda has taken 'Still's team' from 21st to 5th with no pre season. Still took his own team to the brink of the drop zone with a pre season.

2.) 01 May 2026
01 May 2026 21:12:24
So what happens if Tonda doesn't get us promoted?

You have to agree by all accounts he's working with a far superior team than Russel Martin had and Russell Martin was dire.

Will Still and in the drop zone, you're talking fine margins and variables. We weren't getting smashed, and we also didn't have a reliable keeper or fit/decent striker.

I said from the beginning that if Ross Stewart didn't get injured when he did than Will Still would still be here.

The fundamental thing that our team needed, that we have needed for many seasons now (something I have been banging on about for that same amount of time) is a strong physical/clinical striker who can hold up the ball but also bring players into play and a keeper between the sticks who instills confidence.

The goalkeeping situation was already being looked at when Still was here and I believe it was him/his team that brought Petetz in. I also believe that things were in motion to replace/help Stewart because if his injuries (possibly pointing towards Larin)

I don't find it a coincidence whatsoever that our upturn in fortunes happened at the same time Stewart came back fit/along with Tonda being appointed. Not that the dip in form changed when a new keeper was installed.

Because of this I can't fully back Tonda. I'm grateful for the way he's got people playing, but like I say I cannot believe it's all on him until he has a fresh season to either repeat what he's has done in the championship or have a decent go at the Premier League.

The key signings that have transformed our team we're ones already being carried out with Still on instigated and carried in behind the scenes.

I'll gladly eat my words like I say.

But also if we get promoted because of my concerns I'd happily act ruthlessly the way we did with adkins and go after Eddie Howe. I hear the Newcastle fans are becoming disgruntled with. I'd gladly take him, for me, that's premiership safety guaranteed.

As for Still being unemployed there are many variables, his girlfriend has a long-term illness I believe, I think that's why he moved back here in the first place, so I'm guessing he's on no rush to return to management.

Let's just hope your singing Tonda's praises when/if we're losing SaintsGGG ?

3.) 02 May 2026
02 May 2026 16:36:06
Leslee
It's time to take down the Martin and Still posters from your bedroom wall.
Nothing else to say on the subject

4.) 02 May 2026
02 May 2026 21:08:02
This is Millertime reincarnated - the second coming if you will.

If anyone had to eat their words it's me - I said Tonda was out of his depth and couldn't command the dressing room. As it turns out, I couldn't be more wrong.

That is why Lesleee you make no sense at all. There is no logic to your argument. You are either the ultimate wind up merchant or you have seriously lost your marbles.

Just let it pass, move on and enjoy the anticipation.

Quick question, do all those who said we should stay where we are for a couple of years to rebuild, hope we miss out now we've made the play offs?

No, I thought not!