gio1saints

Games til he gets sacked or inadequate points by when he gets sacked by is a morbid subject of discussion - perfect for many dark-humour loving Saints fans. 😈 Half sister to that narrative suggests these last three matches have taught many fans nothing they did not already know (and fear) about RM, the team and its ability in the EPL. He was not good enough he is still not good enough - to summarise it politely. Opinions do seem mixed though and there is still some belief (or vain hope) in some ( like me) that RM and team have learned and are learning valuable lessons the best way - through bitter experience. The (perhaps vain) hope is that, surely, avoidable mistakes can be better avoided and the less avoidable mitigated somehow by improved tactical set-ups, formation changes, replacing players, giving starlets and newbies a chance etc etc. All possible without unduly compromising PB footie principles. But there’s also a quite noisy school that fears he will never change and Saints be relegated with fewest points ever etc etc. What cannot be changed with a magic wand swapping out a few players and removing a CB or playing 3 forwards and so on is the squad and team morale or indeed the manager and coaches morale, ultimately everyone’s belief. If that goes it does not matter what formation or who starts we are beaten. I happen to believe this is our strong suit. Given the time and the support ( from us especially) I feel that the new team spirit and the bond between players and manager - and fans - developed only in last 12 months, could be massively influential this season. It could make a team and a club and a support that on paper might appear inadequate versus most the rest overcome and defy the bookies and the rest of those already having us down as relegated. Lose the fan support and it just makes it 10X harder - indeed I’d say impossible to stay up without SMS being at max positive volume for every home match and our excellent away fans doing there stuff on every trip. We have a fair chance IMO if those two happen and the team pick up results.

Have you read what people say to me when I ( and others) simply state opinion on RM and team that is not anti or negative? There’s some respectful objective assessment but also plenty of personal abuse. I’d love an informed debate on the issues but with many posting there hit n run nastiness on here it’s so difficult. Your well meaning post is essentially victim blaming in that regard Hypo. Know you mean well but it’s NOT my fault for pointing out there’s an alternate pov - and consequently that I should get the abuse thats coming to me and stfu despite the anti saints craziness of what’s sometimes said.

SO …..I hear you …you’re saying I’m not a pretentious fracking wNker cubt for pointing out the inarticulate insanity of some of the anti RM posts on here - but I do use long words on occasion… so just gotta simplify what I say and make it much shorter. I think most of all - and you did not say it, but i can read between the lines - your advice is do NOT defend RM or the team from unfair criticism on here - and I should be fine and not get a bunch of personal abuse. Thank you. Message received. 😂

Smug and pretentious poster here: 🤫. If you come online and post “RM is a fracking idiot a cubt fracking useless piece of shit “ or words to that effect - that’s ok on here. Thats not smug arrogant or pretentious. Or even abusive. It’s just fact innit and standard match day industrial language. Especially match day posts. You will get likes, smileys and are in good company. Nobody will bat an eyelid. If you come on and say “ I don’t agree with your characterisation and here’s why “ - well for a start that’s a long word so poster MUST be a smug pretentious cubt most likely also a pribk (I’m sure there’s a fancy name for being a cubt and a pribk at same time but that would just piss you off more if I used it) plus they must be a happy clapping fracking wznker etc. Go away we hate you essentially for use of long words, having an alternate pov and occasionally being annoyingly right in showing up the nonsense bollox speak for the bollix it is. It’s a bit of a shame really that the debate gets bogged down by the name calling. 😁

Or don’t.😂Great riposte! ION: All Saints match day threads are X rated PG required stuff 😂😇. FREE BONUS CONTENT : And any Saints match day thread where we lose is the equivalent of XXX rated because the minority ( 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣) of posts put on there + the likes for that minority of XXX stuff (🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣) are impressively widespread despite it being from a tiny weeny minority of posters (🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣).

Keeps us up he will likely be in demand-and you may get your wish for a new manager. So in that scenario : max 9months time. If we go down he may also be gone this time via the Kompany route - again max 9 months time. So, looks like a win-win for you sooner or later within 9 months. As for renewing his and coaching staff contract - this see how it goes thing is wishful thinking and not how football works. NOT renewing their contract after last season is virtually the equivalent of asking them to leave - and leave they would. NOT renewing the contract after last season would be regarded as a massive ( and perverse) vote of no confidence in the results of his and his coaching staff methods. If you think telling your manager essentially you don’t rate him or his coaches in the EPL but you’ll give them a few matches see how it goes is going to end well you might be disappointed. Sounds fine in theory but not only would RM and coaches be undermined but the playing squad would be left wondering wether they should bother listening to this bloke & these coaches cos the owners don’t rate them and they will probably be gone in short while. So- maybe mistake- in your book - renewing the deal for RM & staff - but quite honestly SR did not really have much choice so it’s not something that should be used against them - or RM and the coaches either.

I like SamE a lot & believe he can elevate his level. This loan to a decent attacking side will help him find that level. RM has determined that Sam still needs time and frankly, it’s hard to disagree : He did not show any improvement on last year in pre-season - not fitter not faster not quicker thinker not more confident not more powerful - It was much the same- but with worse finishing and worse final ball. Others given the chance looked starkly more impactful on the eye - SAA and TD especially of the forwards and even BBD held the ball up better and did score “ that” goal v Lazio. Bringing back Wee Man and borrowing Maxwell Cornet are sensible /pragmatic calls. Both can do a job - Wee Man in particular has high levels of football intelligence - and we still have the livewire that is SAA. Will be watching Sam E play and like all Saints fans - and the club - hoping he has a brilliant season & comes back a star that must start.

Like your theory that if you don’t think RM is an idiot then you must be a sycophant or over defensive eh? 🥳

I personally think that he could be dropped too - but not because I agree he’s crap - but rather for technical reasons : not playing 3CB’s every match. Being replaced by Lallana further up the field seems an obvs move to me in such 433-like formations. Arguably we’d lose no on pitch tempo-determining leadership but gain ball retention ability and offensive impetus, especially at home. Him and Flynn don’t give the ball away too often and when he gets tired we simply put Les on. Oh, and this has the added benefit that Saints do not need to sack RM and his team (giving them millions to go on garden leave ) whilst we hope to find someone willing to work at Saints. There are many tweaks twists changes adjustments revisions substitutions tactical variances and flexible amendments call it what you like available to RM. Anyone who thinks he is too thick or too arrogant to avail himself of them are mistaken imo. Time will tell.

Fair enough. Small point- I do not claim he is revolutionary. In response to his insistence on playing the way we do being called footballing insanity I agreed. It’s insane is probably a synonym for “ way different than what fans and managers are supposed to do when they go up.”. RM has not invented anything. All he is currently doing is trying his best to get our team playing a possession based style. He is simply more determined ( or stupid depends on your take) than most other managers to make it work. His “ changes” happen though- sometimes belatedly like Saturday hooking AA and WS - other times it takes a few games- such as last season reverting to a 5 on a couple of occasions- belatedly or not he does tinker. Just not enough and fast enough for some is all. I wonder if he were sacked tomorrow how many matches the new manager would get to acclimatise to the EPL with this squad before some on here demand he is sacked and shower him with nasty abuse? Three? Ten? Three is already enough for Russell on this forum,m for some.which, to me, is laughable.

You are probably right. What RM and SR are doing is sporting insanity. I’m delighted at the epithet. Whats maybe going to upset you and the anti RM bandwagon that’s rolling rather nicely is that RM will probably find that description inspiring. Anyone anywhere that’s ever tried to do things differently has been called mad at some point. And usually they get run out of town ( or burnt at the stake!). Does it mean RM and Saints are destined to fail - as you and so many others on here predict? Probably. We are very very likely to get relegated. And the nub of this issue to me is how do you want to go down? With principles and ideals you are prepared to proudly live and die by - or like last time in a no idea chaotic mess? I do t feel Saints fans should get too upset by the defeats as long as there seems to be some progress and development. It’s easy to be blind to that when we lost theee in a row - but certain things already areevident and - Tyler is a star, Yuki is a star, Mateus has quality, Ramsay is seriously better, RM has hooked AA and WS off at Halftime!!! I see these small individual things all clicking at some point. My patience is just longer than most of the responses I will get in here of course. And my acceptance that either way we will prob go down. So I’m going to enjoy seeing how it pans out and not join the booing and nastiness that’s inevitable. Dont be frustrated and angry. Be proud Saints.

Maybe I am. Except that past was only four matches ago . This notion that RM cannot and will not make changes to the team and tactics is - to my mind- a misunderstanding of his football philosophy. Examples: He started Ramsdale when he could easily have bedded him in and played AM, he hooked AA and WS ( both big favourites of his allegedly) off at Halftime last match. Unprecedented. That he cannot and will not make changes that some are taking as fact on here is simply, blatantly not true. Are you looking forward to us playing 433 v Man Utd? If he starts with 5 at the back incl Capt. Jack he will get crucified on here… But will we also get murdered on the pitch playing a more open game? I’ve no idea what’s a good formation for Man Utd is cos if we play like we have done we are sure to lose - but if we play more attacking it’s probably the same outcome maybe even more goals conceded - we let Cardiff youth score 3 against us the other night don’t forget. My hope though is we do go more front foot - drop the third CB insert Adam Lallana as the new on pitch keep calm person from MF, drop Will for Mateus and give Tyler a start instead of Joe. As for up front- give AA a chance to redeem himself at SMS but between Archer and BBD on current form I’d choose Archer- but playing more central. And Cornet will get at least 30 minutes - probably for AA if he’s not scored.

Of course you can - but it’s also possible to be a fan AND rate the manager - and defend him when others say weird and disgusting things about him. It is possible to respond to an OP weird implication (that I won’t repeat because its just sick ) with humour rather than dropping to their level. Admittedly, deliberately, my response was sardonic - but we all use the language we feel most comfortable with - as you so often ( and funnily) show.

A record breaking run is a record breaking run. We ought to be a little less scornful a little bit more respectful.

You never been a fan of Russell Martin I take it. Getting us promoted must have fucked you right off.

Was it just me or did I imagine Saints broke our all time unbeaten record playing a possession based football last season. We got pretty good, apparently, at it. So good in fact this club has never gone so unbeaten for so long no matter what league. SO…obviously, RM, listening carefully to the hindsight pundits on here should now ditch the style our players know and that many specifically joined for - and can actually play well - in favour of not-that something else with a n other manager anyone anyways will do as long as it’s not possession football - because we lost three in a row. Sounds like many of you think acclimatising to the EPL is as simple as downloading your latest phone update. Wait a few mins and you are good. IF his crime 3 matches in is being too cautious in selecting 3CB’s , yup a frankly nuts U formation v Forest and the horrible-to-me insistence on playing out from defence every time ( which I personally hate but ho hum apparently we do also score from this) then the sentence for this that many here are pronouncing is sack the guy three matches in? Him and team that got us promoted first time ? That gave us that day at Wembley? His and teams bank of credit with you - INGRATES- is three matches before you have turned on him quicker than a Camembert on a sunny day. Loyal supporters my arse.

Think that’s our go-to offensive approach - which I think plays more to our current squad players strengths than how we’ve started season - too conservatively. Dropping a CB ( prob. Stephens) and inserting another player, most likely a MF, would probably mean less chance of the 3CB’s ( now 2CB’s) passing to each other too much in dangerous areas. It would instead be most likely a Flynn or new other MF who is available for the pass after Jan and THB have played pat-a-cake with the ball for a while - or one of the others. Either way the ball is further away from our goal - there are more recipients ahead/forward for the ball ( as opposed to behind or sideways) and the option to go long still exists.

https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1830611087466828063?s=46&t=l5Q4mkKSxz5qdVtggXqogw Fab Romano is reliable so must be true - but conditional on an outgoing to Saudi so it’s not a done deal..

Fingers crossed he agrees to go play some football out there.

It’s beyond parody. But I will try below…😂 Because quite literally it’s the same cry babies saying the same things and the same few refuting the hysteria - just in a different league. Just how many different ways can people say SR are bad? RM football is shite? He won’t learn? I’ve always hated him? We will never go up/ not get relegated ? Get rid of him now and get anyone else instead? His football sucks? He is an idiot arrogant whatever? All these and more views are readily available in another place apart from this forum - which quite rightly airs all types of expression for and against and from every side of the spectrum of opinions on RM. That other best selling ( in Hampshire) book is available on Amazon only - so for anyone interested look it up - it’s a cracking read : “ The true Saints book of Disposable Nappy wearers”. Some of the reviews are amazing ; ” I pissed in my pants three times during the Forest match” - concerned Saint “ After a particularly bad back pass fannying session I too felt an issue with my back passage which necessitated a visit to the wc at Brentford” Brown trousers Saint “ Woe is us woe is us woe is us” - Cassandra Saint. “ Saints fans won’t win anything on cold wet midweek evening matches in Manchester without waterproof diapers” : Damp patches Saint.

Glad to see most Saints fans accept that we have “L plates” on in this league, as does our Manager. Learning how to win - and much more relevant given our early woes - learning how NOT to lose is Russell’s and Saints big task this season. Clearly, giving teams a goal head start by penalty area fannying around comes under “ how to avoid losing” as does “ playing a U formation so badly that Saints can play until XMAS and never score”. Are there any more lessons in store? For sure. We’ve not even played anyone all that good, yet. So if you are angry now God help us! I expect multiple baptisms of fire before we approach even anything like “competitive ” let alone winning in this league. I hope we can chart an upward trajectory on that and come good second half of the season - like RM and team did after that poor start last year - but a bad start and a SMS full of boos encouraged by the faint hearts on here are the most certain guarantee of not only relegation but entering a downward death spiral for the club. All goes to plan we stay up. But if we go down it must be the right way such that we are we able to return not a fucked up no heart shell of a club like last time.

Go report yourself to the Bureau of Hindsight. They could do with some of your skills. Or go work for the Royal Shakespeare Company, your talent as a drama queen on Saints match thread is impressive.

5 in three games. Why are you so hysterical after three matches. Oh I forget you were hysterical same time last year also.

Given the choice would you consider it wisest to start season playing the way that got us promoted playing v Leeds and West Brom - or go back to the way we played prior to them v inferior teams which saw us lose all hope of automatic??? You are implying the latter and suggest you thought so all season - which sounds as utterly ludicrous as it is. I guess your - and some other hysterical folk on here - football knowledge skill tells us that we should have reverted to the formation incapable of beating those football titans - or a magic plan C that nobody had yet shared and is obviously invisible to RM - but im not buying it. I think three matches of failure is enough to require change though. Pretty much. But seriously- all of you with “ reservations” to put it mildly about RM that are having an unseemly orgasmic feeding frenzy over this terrible selection, set up and performance just take a chill pill. Success and failure, those two twin imposters.