Will Still is just as fearsome as the criticism coming his way. In yet another example of that, the English manager has left it up to his players to get the Saints out of this mess.
It's been a disastrous start to the season for Southampton. The Saints sit just three points above the relegation zone, despite many considering them for promotion before a ball was kicked this season.
But that's nothing new for Southampton. In truth, the fanbase was more realistic than those outside of it, and there was always hesitation about making bold predictions before seeing how Will Still would operate.
Besides, let's face it, Still isn't entirely to blame. Sure, he's the easiest person to blame, but let's not overlook how badly the players have underperformed underneath him.
For all we know, there could very much be a plan in place. A manager can only lead a duck to water, but he cannot force it to drink.
Will Still's Southampton claim might not be loved, but it must be heard
Will Still was recently asked about Southampton's painfully obvious struggles this season, and he gave an answer which might seem ugly and blame-deflecting, but it is also almost impossible to deny.
In his own words (quoted by BBC Sport), Will Still told BBC Radio Solent: "We've got to fight back. It's time for the whole club to fight back a bit. This scenario is not new; it was happening last season, too."
"As a club, we need to stand up, fight back and show what this club is about and not moan about everything and find excuses for why things aren't going right.
"We need to manage games better and stop feeling sorry for ourselves - that's one thing I can't stand. In a rude way, shut up and get on with it.
"It's time, as a club, we turn the corner. We need everyone for that - we need the supporters as well, the team needs them.
"I understand things are difficult, not everything is perfect, we are conceding too many goals, but we're on the wrong end of a bit of luck for the moment. We need to start creating the luck."
Okay, that was the messaging that the players needed. Last season, it was sugarcoated way too much. But Will Still has thrown himself into the fire (as a fellow natural ginger myself, I can only imagine how brave that must be) and is attempting to pull the players out of it in the only way he knows how.
While fans will still point fingers at the manager, nobody can deny his messaging here. It's not just him, and it's not just the players who are responsible. Southampton is a club, and to get out of this position, everybody must stand up and make themselves accountable.
Next up, the Saints face Preston in the Championship. This game will serve as a real telling point about the mentality of this Southampton team. They've been told now, and we can only judge after this weekend how they react to being told.