Fitzhugh Fella

Is the Echo still around?

Is there a link?

Did SD not promise us a further statement after relegation was confirmed as soon as the season ended?

Good point. Guess that means he was a twat

It would be nice if the fans were actually told the truth now the season is over. Is he a villain or was there genuine reasons for him not playing? Wasn’t there going to be more openness from the club?

Alex Gross now leaving.

Yes a silver lining and one that cheered me slightly yesterday

I respect your thoughtful reply and understand your logic in places. Indeed I would like you to be correct in your analogy but taking everything I have read and watched so far into consideration I remain dubious he is what we need right now. Everyone needs a lift and galvanising and not sure the sort of football he promotes would do that. But hey this is a forum where differences of opinions is what it is all about.

He’s with Bristol City who are in the same Division as us and Swansea?

I saw an article the other day giving him some credit with building the Leicester squad which went on to win the PL. I know it’s slightly left field but to me he’s less of a metrics hipster and that is what we need right now.

Yes I know we are not spoiled for choice. Initially I thought Potter could be persuaded (decent salary, a healthy budget etc) but it seems that wish has been unrealistic. it seems Martin isn’t even Wilcox’s first choice which is a worry. I would have preferred Nigel Pearson over Martin. He has experience in both PL and the C plus he is a no nonsense manager who may be able to whip the remnants of our squad into some sort of cohesive shape. And an added minor bonus is he knows his way around the corridors of St Mary’s and something of our back story.

Take your point re the scoring but their defensive record is poor. Having a 20 goal marksman in the Dutch forward (Pirhoe) would have helped things.

In my experience the best people to judge a manager are by and large the ones who have just had a couple of years experience watching his teams week in week out. Yes those two Swansea fans could be imposters, but I doubt it as there’s not much in it for them. I had my doubts about Martin before they posted so their views are just a reinforcement of my fears. The proof is always in the eating so my negativity could be misplaced but of course by the time the dish is consumed it’s too late to send it back. What’s pissed me off so much at St Mary’s recently is playing out from the back, tip tappy football up to the half way line, turning back then passing back to the goalkeeper who lumps it out for a throw in. From everything I have read and from everything I have seen RM seems to embrace this mantra of safety first non dynamic football. Forgive me for setting off some alarm bells, I should instead donned my happy clappy bells, stuck my rose coloured glasses on and become a fully signed up member of the Rasmus Ankerson fan club. Of course you are more than welcome to ram this post down my throat this time next year should we be celebrating promotion. Indeed I would welcome it but deep down I somehow doubt you will get the chance.

Possession football is fine as long as there is some serious intent at the end of it. The Swansea fans (the ones that came on here anyway) seem to think there wasn’t. That has had my alarm bells ringing loud and clear. But it seems it’s already a fait accompli so I guess I am going to have to follow your approach, grit my teeth and hope for the best. I am prepared to be hugely surprised or very disappointed.

Trouble is we’ve been here before when the Jones rumours started. Had the club listened to the doubters (of whom I was one) or even stopped to consider a nano second we could possibly still be in the PL. it’s called heading off at the pass before it’s too late.

Of course they are well-intentioned, they have invested far too much to be anything else. I understand we are all fed up, I comprehend the rallying calls urging us to get behind Martin, but the reality is we are about to appoint an inexperienced manager who has a reputation of playing meaningless possession football as well as being stubborn over certain favourites. If we only believe half of what the two Swansea fans have told us on here then it looks like we are about to make a giant leap from the fireplace into the fire. This is not the right time to make an implausible leap of faith. The club has just experienced its worst-ever season in its history in terms of points per games. We desperately need a steady hand, a sensible pragmatic manager who can rebuild the shattered morale of the players and the fans. Martin is not that man. I suspect the fans will have had enough by Xmas. Saints supporters have always appreciated good football as much as they have victories, but by all accounts, we are about to appoint a man who is consumed by tactics that sends everyone to sleep. The club is at the crossroads. The right path needs to be chosen but the well-intentioned owners do not seem, in my opinion, to have what it takes to make the right decision.

A fresh start with a manager who seems to have plenty of flaws according to the fans of the club he is leaving? Sounds ominous enough to be very concerned the club is making another bad error that won’t be rectified by looking at it with fresh eyes.

That will take more effort and ingenuity than I've seen all season at SMS

I have been umming and ahing about going on Sunday but I’ve just discovered I have lost my ST so I can’t go. The feeling of relief that has accompanied the knowledge I can’t go is overwhelmingly palpable.

Indeed. This sort of football will drive away fans and alienate those that can’t stay away.

And you don’t know he will so that’s us all back to square one.

Trouble is we all said "let's give the guy a chance" when Jones was given the job. Once bitten twice shy is an adage that comes to mind.

If it's very much a question of have they learned from their mistakes then I would ask have they up to now admitted/accepted they made some? Next week's statement will tell us more I guess but I didn't see too much humility in last week's message.

It was the launch of Dell Diamond. We paid for his flight over from the States for him to attend. Later on we launched the Give It to Ron appeal which raised over 20,000 in a fortnight. We sorted out all Ron’s medical bills, paid off the loan on his trailer, bought him a car and even arranged to have a lot of dental work done. He was very grateful but then his partner died and he started mixing with some right Herbert’s in his trailer park and hit the booze big time. I am in touch with his sisters and brother in Wales still and they are very touched by what the Saints fans did for Ron. His brother Paul played for Arsenal and Charlton.

Cheers BS. I was pleased the BBC picked up on the story. Ron’s feat never got the credit it was due.