Nathan Jones steps up to the Premier League

Nathan Jones occupation is a football manager. He is from Wales and is currently 49 years old. He managed Luton Town from 2016 until 2019 as he left to manage Stoke City. It did not last long at Stoke as he returned to Luton in 2020. Luton are currently in ninth position in 2022/2023 Sky Bet Championship but gave the Welshman permission to leave for Southampton this week.

Southampton have got some great results in the past under Ralph Hasenhutll by beating Manchester City in 2020 and Liverpool in 2021. The good results continued this season by beating Chelsea and a draw against top of the table Arsenal. Southampton have always been a strange team and their performances are mixed from one week to another. Even when Ralph lost nine nil to both Leicester & Man United, he still survived and managed to keep The Saints comfortably in the Premier League.

Southampton went for youth as they signed four young players from Man City in 2022 Summer Transfer Window. One of the players that they signed is Republic Of Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. Southampton are currently in the bottom three of 2022/2023 Premier League but only seven points off tenth place. The Saints were competitive under Ralph due to the deadly set-piece delivery of James Ward-Prowse. They are also a goal threat due to the height of forward Che Adams.

Southampton were given two big injury blows due to games in quick succession as both attacking defenders Kyle Walker-Peters and Valentino Livramento are ruled out until after 2022 World Cup. Ralph is a experienced Premier League manager as he has managed Southampton since 2018. Ralph’s final game ended in disaster as Southampton were outplayed in losing 4-1 to Eddie Howe’s Newcastle. With only one game left before the Premier League pauses for the World Cup and they could of waited until then. Jones is inexperienced when it comes to managing in the Premier League and my opinion is that it’s a strange decision to give the Welshman the job.

My opinion is that Ralph done an incredible job with Southampton and it is not his fault that his time at St Mary’s comes to an end. If they wanted experience they should of chosen former Burnley manager Sean Dyche but it’s a gamble changing your manager three months through the season.