coalman

I wonder if our piss poor decision making mid game is because we only trained when we are well rested. Then when the game starts and we're knackered we're not used to making game decisions tired under pressure. Would also help explain how we fade so badly.

You mean by getting the ball quickly to them and encouraging them to get down the line?

There definitely aspects of our play that improved under Martin. The club was a mess when he walked into it. Though the club is also a mess as he departs it. When he ran into his limitations he made no effort to learn or adapt. By the end it seemed more like a cult than a club where everyone was keen to say how it was working and about a long term plan. And boy does Russell Martin have limitations as a manager. His refusal to play out quickly. The high risk no reward passing around the back. The lack of fitness. The favouritism. The insistence on lightweight midfields. The excuses. The best pals approach. After the Leeds final I thought he had it in him to adapt but it turns out he didn't. He leaves behind a team that's unfit and infected with his losing mentality. Whoever comes in next has a big job on. On the plus side he'll never need to work again. Somehow I suspect some mugs will hire him. As for Saints the same clowns who oversaw this shit show are still in place. Rasmus continues his mission to bankrupt Dragan. Who, I suspect, is getting a bit cheesed off with it all now.

Martin's off down the tunnel like a scalded cat

Spurs are here for the taking this half

Don't tease about that

Man City have gone full Southampton.

I don't hate that line up. We'll offer pace down the wings. We have a central midfield. Lumley was never getting picked after the crowd cheered him. Hopefully Sulemana has something to prove. COYR

Wolves may approach Martin but we all know he's holding out for United. Was a real shock when they went with that Portuguese chancery rather than bringing total football to Manchester. Maybe Real Madrid in a push.

For all their possession City make decent decisions when to boot it clear. They almost never pass back into the middle of goal. We really play nothing like them.

Some might argue failing to score against our defence was a sackable offence on its own

There you have it. It's the fans fault for having unrealistic expectations and we need to stick with Martin. Sutton shows us how you say "I'm phoning it in" without saying you're phoning it in. At least Lawrenson only predicted Saints to lose every week.

If we just look at ourselves, trust the process and maintain our identity then we don't need to learn.

Ok. So when I said that at least Martin adapted in the final I was giving credit where it wasn't due. Somebody needs to keep him away from the press.

How is it hurtful? What's embarrassing is dealing with our points total by doing the same things that got us to our total.

The dog ate my tactics. No Russell, your tactics are a dog's arse.

Reckon the full Nathan meltdown is happening any day now. Brave.

Martin addressed Southampton's league position, saying: "It is incredibly hurtful and embarrassing to be on five points." He also insisted Saints should have won more points. On how he hopes to turn around Saints' fortunes: "We are not far away and we have to just keep working, keep concentrating on the process and ourselves and just keep trying to be better." On why Southampton have not done as well as he hoped: "There have been a few too many mistakes and a few too many moments that we haven't managed well" but his side "are growing and getting better." On helping to restore players' confidence: "The biggest job is to eliminate the external noise - it is so difficult. Maybe at times we are the only voices telling them that they are good enough. It is about being able to switch that off and zoom in and focus on what is really important." Martin has a lot of respect for Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou's brave aggressive tactics and his refusal to compromise: "I get criticised for the same thing, about being stubborn and all that stuff, but if you believe in something and it's taken you a certain way in life then to deviate too far from that is crazy." More on his shared style of play with Postecoglou: "People only criticise the ones who are a little bit different from the norm. So if we all believe the same thing that would be pretty boring, but we would be less open to criticism." I see that the problem is that the only people who love the players and believe in them are Martin and co. which sounds like a really toxic way of looking at the world. Extra bonus points for jumping on Gio's "they only criticise because we're different" schtick. The good news is it's going to click any week now. We just have to do more of the same.

Whistle blows, are you list'ning At the back we are pissing About with the ball Scoring fuck all Russell Martin doesn't have a plan In the table we know we're below them Cos we always give the ball away Russell Martin's waiting just to show them He won't change the stupid way we play And up next there is Tottenham Hoping we've not forgotten To give up a chance Playing so pants Russell Martin doesn't have a plan

Russell Martin was put out By a card for Stephens For hair pulling it turned out It's beyond believing We'd hoped he would get through sack For his stupid system Pissing about at the back Martin wouldn't list-en-n

(to Once in Royal David's City) Saints were playing Manchester City Guardiola said nice words Russell Martin stood there preening But our tactics were like turds Taking chances at the back Why won't this cunt get the sack

We're Southampton. We have no plan B

Agreed. It's not his fault. This is why he can't learn or adapt because at no point is it ever something he did or could have done.

You're right. That's much pithier. Fixed