Ralph Hasenhuttl: Right man, wrong time

Not only did Hasenhuttl have to implement his pressing, high-octane vision onto the players, he also had to educate the coaches. Compare this to Jurgen Klopp, who was allowed to bring in his trustee assistants that shared a common belief on how football should be played.

Instead, Hasenhuttl contended with Dave Watson and Kelvin Davis, the pair that were in the dugout for Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes’ reigns. All of which are so dissimilar to Hasenhuttl, it does not even bear comparison.

Are Southampton supporters expected to believe that this current backroom staff, the staff that coach the players day in, day out, can implement exactly what Hasenhuttl wants? Yet, it’s the manager that will end-up the sacrificial lamb. It always is.

The creator of a philosophy that relies so much on intensity, front-foot action and positivity, has been reduced to very little. Speaking to the media after Southampton’s most recent defeat, Hasenhuttl appeared a man with none of those traits. Hunched over and downtrodden, the 52-year-old seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders.

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Perhaps what is most disappointing is the lack of response from the side, considering their last outing at St Mary’s was the 9-0 demolition to Leicester, the heaviest defeat in their 133-year-history. Most fans have come to accept that these players are not very good, those reasons may be revealed later. But what is unacceptable for any footballer is the downing of tools this team show, time and time again.

Instead of getting frustrated, supporters watching were apathetic. They had grown too tired of complaining – they simply had enough. With the lack of quality in the squad, coupled with the ineptitude to show any sort of resolve, the Saints were only going to head in one direction.

After the 9-0 defeat on that fateful Friday night, it was unsurprising to see the mental scars still laid bare against Everton – that’s when you need your leaders. That is when you need someone to stick their hand up, take risks and drag their team out of the dirt. At the weekend, not one player did.

Since arriving in December 2018, Ralph Hasenhuttl has attempted to construct a complete overhaul within the club. The training pitches were transformed in the summer and the manager had re-established a connection with the supporters, something that had been missing since the Europa League days under Ronald Koeman.

However, those efforts have proven to not be enough. This club, this side require a dramatic culture shift. Yes, there was an immediate boost when a fresh face walked in, there always is. But eventually, it reverted back to type.

Some could argue how do supporters know, they aren’t at Staplewood every day. Fair point. But those supporters have been there long enough to know when a comfort zone has been created.

In what’s difficult to describe, these players keep their head just above the water, but don’t want to swim. They are all happy to follow others lead but hide when the seas get rough.

And now, everything is unravelling. Unfortunately Ralph Hasenhuttl will be the one that bears the brunt. That Leicester game, that 90 minutes, is a culmination of years and years of stagnation and complacency, where the club have fallen behind in their expectations placed onto a Premier League player.

When you think of all the Austrian’s ongoing issues, the defence immediately springs to mind. Gone are the days of Virgil Van Dijk, Jose Fonte and Toby Alderweireld.

Southampton are left with a whole host of centre-backs, none you can depend on. As a result, the current manager is forced to play three central defenders, to cover each ones glaring deficiencies.

Admittedly he has made mistakes, playing players in unnatural positions is certainly one that can be pinpointed. Still, the cold harsh truth remains. He simply cannot trust these players, so is compelled to think outside the box.

Is it the squads fault they are playing in Europe’s outstanding league when most are not good enough? While it seems this is a piece targeting the players of Southampton, in truth, these issues should be traced back to the hierarchy.

Started by former vice-chairman Les Reed, and now being firmly finished off by Gao Jisheng, Southampton’s majority shareholder, there should be little wonder. Purchasing 80% of the club in August 2017, the latter has refused to invest further.

“I am not treating Southampton as a pig to be fattened and sold,” said Mr Gao. “I am treating it as a child. But my children must believe they cannot depend on the boss. I have said to Southampton: ‘I am now your father. But I am putting you on the right track: you need to feed yourself.’”

Months on, that infamous quote remains an ever-increasing concern. Although it is just a few words, the line epitomises almost everything which is wrong at the club.

In January 2018, Southampton received the biggest transfer fee paid for a defender in football history. £75 million pounds for future World Player of the Year, Virgil Van Dijk. To the owners credit, all of which was used to bolster the squad.

For a club that has the reputation of buying astutely and identifying players with boundless potential, most believe Southampton wasted every single penny. The infamous ‘Black Box’ – a live database which provides instant analytics on every player of every major league – failed.

From the £75 million splashed out, only Angus Gunn and Jannik Vestergaard remain at the club, and neither have proven to be shrewd buys. The others? Already discarded as deadwood.

How could a ‘revolutionary’ device that has infinite amounts of information get it so wrong? Despite the failure of the Black Box, you cannot blame the six analysts who were able to utilise it. They almost certainly identified players that would have fitted. However, like everything at St Mary’s, it comes down to the finances.

The most taxing case of scrimping and saving at St Mary’s was Wesley Hoedt. Southampton were in the market for a centre-back (as they always seem to be) they had the option of Hoedt or the alternative Dutchmen, Nathan Ake.

But Les Reed, in all his wisdom, went for the former. Not because he was better, it was because he was cheaper – seven million pounds cheaper.

And now, the deep lying issues that always threatened to strike have been exposed for all to see. In what appears to be an irretrievable situation, Ralph Hasenhuttl falls as the unlucky victim. Despite being the best manager the club have had for years, the Austrian – who once caught the eye of Bayern Munich – will end up the fall guy.

For him and the supporters, they wish things could be different. Imagine if he had replaced Koeman in 2016 and had the squad that was built for a European assault?

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein

The acclaimed ‘We March on’ slogan that represents the ambition and the constant drive of the football club, have merely become a couple of meaningless words. Trusting the same players, the same coaches and the same owner to somehow to change their habits, cannot be done.

When the inevitable occurs, there will be regrets. But none will be more prominent than what might have been under Ralph Hasenhuttl.