Is it time for Southampton to move on from Ralph Hasenhuttl?
The Saints have picked up just seven points from their first eight games, winning twice, and there is a growing frustration amongst fans and those within the club as to how much time the Austrian will be given.
Hasenhuttl joined Southampton back in 2018 and, given the club’s propensity to sacking managers, it is laudable that he has been in charge for four years - the fourth longest in the Premier League. There have been many highlights in his tenure - the latest a 2-1 win over Chelsea last month - but there have been some damning lows coming in the shape of the two 9-0 losses.
The patience shown by the two groups of owners who he has worked under is something not seen amongst football clubs and the new owners - Sport Republic - have done more than most to work with him. You don't have to look too far down the south coast to see a quick reaction after a 9-0 defeat.
In his first three years, Hasenhuttl worked on a tight budget, seeing some of his best players leave and unable to really strengthen due to the constraints set by those above him.
That’s not to say he didn’t get the best out of some of his players. James Ward-Prowse (27) has been a stand-out performer under Hasenhuttl, as has Kyle Walker-Peters (25) since he signed from Tottenham Hotspur in 2019. Both players have been in and around the England squad since then, showing recognition for their consistency and their impact on Southampton’s first team.
Fans and pundits alike had given Hasenhuttl’s first three years in charge the benefit of the doubt. Consistency and morale ebbed and flowed throughout, but there was always a case to stick with him given the uphill battle he seemed to be facing with all sides of the club.
New owners, same issues?
When Sport Republic took over in March from former owner Gao Jisheng, this was the moment fans had been waiting for - the promise of investment, the financial backing Hasenhuttl had been crying out for and the dream that they would finally get to judge his management without his hands being tied behind his back.
It didn’t take long for things to change on the south coast. Out went Ralph’s old coaching staff of David Watson, Kelvin Davis and Craig Fleming, and in came new, sharper thinkers, who fans were told would bring a more thought-out plan to the team, a more joined-up philosophy than the up-and-down nature seen over the course of the previous season.
Ruben Selles already seems to have made an impact. In an article from The Athletic, he was called a “holy grail of coaches” and he can be seen giving instructions during games behind Hasenhuttl and during training sessions where he is getting to grips with players.
In recruitment, since 2018, Southampton has one of the lowest net spends of any Premier League side. That changed this summer. Hassenhutl was backed, bringing in young, exciting talents to give the squad a vibrancy that has been lacking throughout his time with the side.
In came the likes of Romeo Lavia (18), Gavin Bazunu (20), Armel Bella-Kotchap (20) and Samuel Edozie (19). Out went experienced players like Oriol Romeu (31), Fraser Forster (34), Nathan Redmond (28) and Jack Stephens (28).
In total they spent around £70million on players in the summer, a titanic shift from the frugality of previous windows. These fresh faces along with a rejuvenated coaching setup and a new head of recruitment in Joe Shields, gave a sense of optimism around St Mary’s not felt for some time.
Yet, after eight games of the new season, the old grumblings have returned. The lack of cohesion on the pitch is still there, the dejected looks from the manger after another home defeat is still there.
Wholesale changes in recruitment, coaching and players on the pitch has happened and yet those feelings of negativity cannot be ignored. Boos rang out at St Mary’s after their 2-1 home loss to Everton - an ominous sign of faults within the team that the manager seems unable to overcome.
In a piece by The Athletic, Saints’ hierarchy are reportedly giving Hasenhuttl more time whilst, at the same time, looking for alternatives. Given the split in the season because of the World Cup, it is likely that the Austrian could hang on until November if results turn around. Things need to happen quickly though.
If that happens, a change of approach from the manager could be useful. He is seen as a stand-off character, rarely taking time to talk to his players in detail, leaving that to his coaches. This has been confirmed by former defender Yan Valery (23) recently and given such a young squad at his disposal - the second youngest in the Premier League behind Arsenal - a more hands-on coach could be a better fit for the team.
Saints face the marauding Manchester City on Saturday, where any kind of result will be seen as a huge success. Given that, much rests on their next league encounter at home to West Ham United. Anything but a win in front of their home faithful in that fixture could be the last rites for a manager who seems to have run out of ideas.
He has been the constant on the coast in a sea of change, but now could be the time for Southampton to head in a new direction.
