It's safe to say things are not going well at Southampton. Rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table with only 12 points as we approach the midway point of the season, Saints fans are fuming with recent performances.
Since the return from the World Cup, things have gone from bad to worse.
Their only win since the winter break came in the League Cup against Lincoln, and they have now fallen to six consecutive Premier League defeats after recent losses to Brighton, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest.
The heavy home loss to Brighton was particularly dire and, after another poor performance by Southampton handed Nottingham Forest their first away league win of the year on Wednesday night, the club's fans have turned on new manager Nathan Jones.
Southampton: Fans at St. Mary's fuming with shocking start under Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones took over at Southampton after the sacking of Ralph Hassenhuttl in early November, but has struggled to implement his playing style on the south coast.
Former Stoke boss Jones has not seen his side score one goal from open play in the Premier League since taking over, and Wednesday night's 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest sees them remain bottom of the table with 18 games played.
Speaking on Match of the Day on Wednesday night, Arsenal legend Ian Wright questioned Jones' attitude, and noted that he had struggled to implement any element of style to his Southampton team:
Six consecutive league defeats now. No clean sheets. No shots on target today. I feel for the manager, I know he's only been there for a couple of months, but I don't think he's helped himself by saying he's not a miracle worker. We have seen Southampton get a couple of hammerings but, at the same time, they've always had a little bit of structure to the way they're playing. At the moment, I can't see it. Hopefully they can sort that out sooner rather than later.
They are damning numbers for Jones. After Wednesday's loss to Nottingham Forest, the fans made their feelings abundantly clear for their new manager.
Boos were heard ringing around St. Mary's at full-time, and fans could even be heard joining in with Forest fan's goading chants.
The Athletic's Southampton correspondent Jacob Tanswell gave a damning assessment of Jones' long-ball style of play, saying that the tactic made Tony Pulis' Stoke side of the late 2000s look like Barcelona.
I know #SaintsFC are a direct team now, but that half made Tony Pulis and his Stoke side look like Barcelona.
Boos started ringing when Lyanco played a long ball (in space and in his own half) into the box which Henderson came out to simply scoop up.— Jacob Tanswell (@J_Tanswell) January 4, 2023
Nathan Jones got 'You Don't Know What You're Doing'-ed by the Southampton fans last night. Four games in - is that a record?
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller79) January 5, 2023
The unrest in the ground was clear, but fans also made their feelings clear on social media at full-time.
Several memes were shared about the current state of affairs at Southampton, while plenty of fans were already calling for Jones to be sacked, after just four Premier League games in charge.
Some fans, however, also directed anger at the ownership of the club for their poor decision making.
Southampton fans joining in with the chants "Sacked in the morning"
Oh mate. #SaintsFC— Southampton Page (@SouthamptonPage) January 4, 2023
As disappointing & depressing a night as I can remember as a Southampton fan at St Mary’s#SaintsFC
— Ed Chamberlin (@chamberlinsport) January 4, 2023
"Nathan Jones, you're a wanker, you're a wanker" and "sacked in the morning" being sung loud and proud at Southampton. The jury's out on which set of fans are singing it...
— northstokie (@northstokie) January 4, 2023
1 year of Sport Republic and they've been pretty consistently poor and not got an awful lot right.
They need to quickly put their hands up and admit that Nathan Jones was the wrong appointment if we're going to have a chance of staying up this season. #SaintsFC— Stuart Jones (@StuartJones7) January 5, 2023
Hear me out, but Jones Unqualified is an amazing TV idea. Nathan Jones goes into a role he is totally unqualified for, he has 4 weeks to swat up and have a crack. 1st ep footy manager / 2nd ep taking out someone’s appendix / 3rd pilot etc #saintsfc
— Leon Robbins (@Lelon86) January 4, 2023
I am 100% sure if we lose to Everton Nathan Jones will be sacked I think the club are going to give him one more chance. Because there is no way they will accept another loss in the PL, no way. #SaintsFC
— Ben (@bensfc4) January 5, 2023
Sports Republic and the Southampton board since appointing Nathan Jones #saintsfc pic.twitter.com/edhVAehRNr
— Nick Edwards (@Nedatron) January 5, 2023
Nathan Jones didn't inherit a good situation at Southampton. But after 8 weeks, close to zero sign he knows what he's doing with this squad. Chopping and changing players, formations, everything. No evidence of any raw motivation skillset either. Doomed.
— Nick Harris (@sportingintel) January 4, 2023
Nathan Jones' predecessor Ralph Hassenhuttl was sacked after a start to the season which saw Southampton earn just 12 points from their first 14 Premier League games - they have earned 0 since his departure.
It seems as though Jones is not only battling to turn around Southampton's fortunes on the pitch, but is also fighting against the ill feeling from the club's fans, even so early in his reign.
With cup games against Crystal Palace and Manchester City followed by a run of games which includes two relegation six-pointers against Everton and Wolves, it's set to be a crucial few weeks for Nathan Jones at Southampton.
SEE ALSO: Graeme Souness: "Conte Playing Dangerous Games At Spurs"
