Russell Martin

[Fitzhugh Fella]

I was talking to the mechanic who was fixing my car yesterday. A big Saints fan we often talk football. This season he splashed out on a ST having never been able to afford one before. He told me he's not going on Sunday. I asked if he had other commitments he said no. He just is fed up to the back teeth of "suicide football".

He said the tippy tappy football is bad enough but thats not enough to keep him away, however the crass stupidity of just watching us give the ball away in our own penalty area week in week out is hard to accept and is depressing. If only Martin would relent a bit on this it wouldn't be so unbearable. This is the biggest reason everyone one is so bloody fed up at present. We are managed by a robot it seems. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, LeBizzier69 said:

It's funny how people are so enraged by the club, team, management etc, and that we'll be dropping out of the PL at the end of the season, that they're now deciding to not go to games. Surely you'd want to go to games to watch PL football while it lasts.....oh, and to support your team.

 

95% of fans are disgusted by the shocking ‘football’ we are playing with a squad completely unsuited to doing so. There’s always a few oddballs that will applaud whatever is served up - a few supported Branfoot and there’s still a few weirdos supporting Martin and his ponderous, losing, one dimensional tat. I don’t think the division is the priority - I’ve watched us at Carlisle in League One, Brentford at the old Griffin Park in midweek - all over the country but all I ask for the cost and travel is for the manager and players to do their best to get results.

That isn’t happening, the ‘philosophy’ is over-riding the clubs wellbeing and that’s not right. Martin is not more important than Southampton Football Club. 

[Wade Garrett]

30 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I have been told from a decent source that Potter wants £8m salary.  

How much is The Idiot on?

[hypochondriac]

53 minutes ago, Oldandtired said:

…as he leaves the wreckage of Southampton Football Club in his wake.

Absolutely. I don't think he cares at all about Southampton - he's had little digs at the fans throughout his time here. I think Martin is really good at the PR side and saying the right things but he'd jump ship tomorrow if he thought he could get a leg up. 

[hypochondriac]

35 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I have been told from a decent source that Potter wants £8m salary.  

To come to saints? Last I heard he wanted the west ham job and I can't see him ever coming here but if there was a chance we should bite his hand off. 

[gurru991]

34 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I have been told from a decent source that Potter wants £8m salary.  

I get the feeling that Potter is not too interested in a relegation battle. He is set for life with the Chelsea money & seems to get lots of TV work to keep him current. Leicester were interested in him at one point but apparently "negotiations broke down"

[hypochondriac]

1 minute ago, gurru991 said:

I get the feeling that Potter is not too interested in a relegation battle. He is set for life with the Chelsea money & seems to get lots of TV work to keep him current. Leicester were interested in him at one point but apparently "negotiations broke down"

Agree not sure why he'd want to come to us. If there's even a small chance though he should be top of our list. I thought he'd be trying for the England job. 

[franniesTache]

29 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I was talking to the mechanic who was fixing my car yesterday. A big Saints fan we often talk football. This season he splashed out on a ST having never been able to afford one before. He told me he's not going on Sunday. I asked if he had other commitments he said no. He just is fed up to the back teeth of "suicide football".

He said the tippy tappy football is bad enough but thats not enough to keep him away, however the crass stupidity of just watching us give the ball away in our own penalty area week in week out is hard to accept and is depressing. If only Martin would relent a bit on this it wouldn't be so unbearable. This is the biggest reason everyone one is so bloody fed up at present. We are managed by a robot it seems. 

The slow death by a thousands passes is exactly what i hate personally, I forgave Martin for it last season because we won, but even when we were winning i found the style of playing boring and a chore.

We've seen tons of passing football from Saints all my life, from Nicholl's blistering attacks, WGS high work rate and even Puel, but this style just sucks the life out of the game, and the idea of sitting through another season or more of it makes me seriously consider if i'd bother renewing my season ticket (which i've had since the days the milton stopped being a terrace)

Edited 13 December, 2024 by franniesTache

[beatlesaint]

3 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

Our fans are so fucking pathetic - it's like those above who are selling their tickets instead of going and trying to make a difference.

No wonder we're being taken for idiots by the clowns in charge.

You are very quick to call just about everybody out arent you ? Why dont you go back to your C.O.T thread and make up stupid little riddles that mean fuck all ! 

Edited 13 December, 2024 by beatlesaint

[beatlesaint]

30 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I was talking to the mechanic who was fixing my car yesterday. A big Saints fan we often talk football. This season he splashed out on a ST having never been able to afford one before. He told me he's not going on Sunday. I asked if he had other commitments he said no. He just is fed up to the back teeth of "suicide football".

He said the tippy tappy football is bad enough but thats not enough to keep him away, however the crass stupidity of just watching us give the ball away in our own penalty area week in week out is hard to accept and is depressing. If only Martin would relent a bit on this it wouldn't be so unbearable. This is the biggest reason everyone one is so bloody fed up at present. We are managed by a robot it seems. 

Pretty much the reason I havent been to the last couple, add the journey to and from as well which Sotonians dont have added to the misery.....although getting into the city itself is pretty bloody painful these days.

[the saint in winchester]

47 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I have been told from a decent source that Potter wants £8m salary.  

So £8M a year? That's £150,000 a week, which is not much more than we are paying Ramsdale. And hopefully Potter won't get injured, so still able to do his job.

And the manager should be getting more than those who report to him, in any employment role. It's not outrageous at first reading, but if Pep and Maresca are only on £5M a year, let's negotiate with Potter.

[macca155]

The problem is we've had Puel, Pellegrino, and Jones. Martin for all his stubbornness is not in the same league as that bunch.

I know opinions are split on Puel, but for me his football was dire. I'd rather go down fighting than watch that season after season.

I agree with @Fitzhugh Fella if only he would adapt his style a little I'm sure he would feel less pressure from the fans.

Relegation is pretty much a cert. Perhaps use the time we have to fine tune his philosophy into something less predictable.

Potter won't come to Saints, don't be daft, but the board could at least think about what he would do if he did. Put someone in above Martin who'll get him to be flexible.

[Farmer Saint]

47 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

You are very quick to call just about everybody out arent you ? Why dont you go back to your C.O.T thread and make up stupid little riddles that mean fuck all ! 

...mean fuck all to people who don't get them. There were a number of people who made the links, were quoted and congratulated for their correct guesses.

I don't remember your name though, TBF.

Either way, I've tendered my resignation, it hasn't been appreciated (even though I was never wrong) and frankly my source was getting pissed off with me constantly bugging him. So yeah, don't worry, you won't have to read any of my "made-up" rumours.

In relation to the protests, I guess it depends how much of a fan you are as to whether you're happy to protest. Those that dint want to I'd just say aren't particularly big fans.

Edited 13 December, 2024 by Farmer Saint

[Farmer Saint]

42 minutes ago, the saint in winchester said:

So £8M a year? That's £150,000 a week, which is not much more than we are paying Ramsdale. And hopefully Potter won't get injured, so still able to do his job.

And the manager should be getting more than those who report to him, in any employment role. It's not outrageous at first reading, but if Pep and Maresca are only on £5M a year, let's negotiate with Potter.

What has Potter achieved to deserve that kind of money? He plays the same football as Martin, just not as attacking (but not quite as risky at the back).

[Bushey Saint]

On 12/12/2024 at 14:30, steve green said:

 

83% possesion of course.

I started to laugh at this, but the laughter turned to tears.  The man is an utter <expletive deleted>.

[Saint86]

2 hours ago, OldNick said:

I have been told from a decent source that Potter wants £8m salary.  

I mean, if we want him we should pay it.

We've gladly wasted far more than that on shite transfers and wages on a rolling yearly basis under SR - why the hell wouldn't they appoint a good manager who is actually interested?!

[aintforever]

£8mill is peanuts in the grand scheme of things if he gets results. 

[sadoldgit]

32 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

I mean, if we want him we should pay it.

We've gladly wasted far more than that on shite transfers and wages on a rolling yearly basis under SR - why the hell wouldn't they appoint a good manager who is actually interested?!

If this is true he sounds more interested in the money rather than the job itself. 

[Farmer Saint]

Sorry, why should we break the bank for someone with a resume in the Championship of a 41% win record (Martin is 38%, Cooper is 44% after following him into the job at Swansea) and Premier League of finishing in 15th, 16th, and 9th (Hughton had finished 15th and 17th before him), De Zerbi 5th directly afterwards.

And he plays the same type of football as Russell Martin, only more defensive? I genuinely think you guys didn't watch Brighton under him, you just think he'd be good because he's built up a brand and reputation for being better than he actually is.

It's not happening anyway, but I just don't understand the obsession with him. I'd prefer Steve Cooper tbh (as I think you lot would to considering how Potter's teams actually play).

[gurru991]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

Agree not sure why he'd want to come to us. If there's even a small chance though he should be top of our list. I thought he'd be trying for the England job. 

I thought Potter would have been a perfect fit for England but it was not to be !!

Potter is a very good manager & I think he could save your season but it seems that he wants a higher profile position.

 

[Farmer Saint]

Look, read this and come back to me and tell me you still want Potter:

https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/graham-potter-chelsea-brighton-tactics/

[Farmer Saint]

Just now, gurru991 said:

I thought Potter would have been a perfect fit for England but it was not to be !!

Potter is a very good manager & I think he could save your season but it seems that he wants a higher profile position.

 

What makes him a good Manager? What do you particularly like about his style of play?

[Turkish]

33 minutes ago, aintforever said:

£8mill is peanuts in the grand scheme of things if he gets results. 

that would make him to joint 3rd highest paid manager in the premier league and joint 7th in the world, so as usual you're talking out of your arse.

[aintforever]

4 minutes ago, Turkish said:

that would make him to joint 3rd highest paid manager in the premier league and joint 7th in the world, so as usual you're talking out of your arse.

And he would be worth it if he somehow keeps us up. 

I'm not saying he will, but it would be cost effective IF he did.

[macca155]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

What has Potter achieved to deserve that kind of money? He plays the same football as Martin, just not as attacking (but not quite as risky at the back).

That's my take on him, elements of Puel but a little more attacking.

With all this debate on Martin I am reminded of one of Brian Clough's great quotes.

"Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes”

He's right really, but RM really needs to ask himself why his team concede so many goals from mistakes. Probably a good place to start.

[Farmer Saint]

4 minutes ago, macca155 said:

That's my take on him, elements of Puel but a little more attacking.

With all this debate on Martin I am reminded of one of Brian Clough's great quotes.

"Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes”

He's right really, but RM really needs to ask himself why his team concede so many goals from mistakes. Probably a good place to start.

Agreed.

People expecting a huge change when we get rid will be disappointed, a bit like when we brought in Jones after Ralph, and then Selles. All very different tactics, all with relegation form. Makes you think it may just be the players...

Edited 13 December, 2024 by Farmer Saint

[Wade Garrett]

The thought that Potter would be a poor appointment is hilarious.

 

[Harry_SFC]

3 hours ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

I was talking to the mechanic who was fixing my car yesterday. A big Saints fan we often talk football. This season he splashed out on a ST having never been able to afford one before. He told me he's not going on Sunday. I asked if he had other commitments he said no. He just is fed up to the back teeth of "suicide football".

He said the tippy tappy football is bad enough but thats not enough to keep him away, however the crass stupidity of just watching us give the ball away in our own penalty area week in week out is hard to accept and is depressing. If only Martin would relent a bit on this it wouldn't be so unbearable. This is the biggest reason everyone one is so bloody fed up at present. We are managed by a robot it seems. 

Not another fair weather fan...😎

[Dell McDellFace]

Having endured some pretty poor stubbornness and tactics in the past including Branfoot and the season under Ted Bates where we constantly played long diagonal balls for Ron Davies to head on to the runner (that never worked), I have pretty much always been there to support the team regardless of how I felt about the tactics.

Not now. I literally cannot bring myself to watch it. Partially it's the predictable, pedestrian nature of modern football but I really can't persuade myself that short pass exchanges between Bednarek and Stephens is "entertainment". I just can't .... 50 years and I just can't. RM has killed the joy. I hope I can get it back one day.

[hypochondriac]

People writing off Potter when he almost certainly would never come here so we will almost certainly end up with an inferior manager is very funny. 

[Miltonaggro]

3 hours ago, franniesTache said:

The slow death by a thousands passes is exactly what i hate personally, I forgave Martin for it last season because we won, but even when we were winning i found the style of playing boring and a chore.

We've seen tons of passing football from Saints all my life, from Nicholl's blistering attacks, WGS high work rate and even Puel, but this style just sucks the life out of the game, and the idea of sitting through another season or more of it makes me seriously consider if i'd bother renewing my season ticket (which i've had since the days the milton stopped being a terrace)

There was an interview a while back with Steve Williams talking about the great Saints sides he played in. These were sides which were always competitive and couldn’t give a shit about who they were playing, you score three we’ll score four. It was based on attacking football, team spirit, work ethic and the blended ability of the players - greater than the sum of the parts. We used to infuriate opposition managers not get patronised by them, Paisley, Clough, Robson respected the club on merit but hated playing us, neutrals rooted for us. Every good saints side I’ve watched in almost forty five years of going to games has had that about them, that’s the thing that sets our club apart from the other provincial clubs. When the club clicks, when it is together it’s a great feeling and a match for anyone. The current moribund mess is about as far away from that as you can get. Despite a snapshot in the play off semi and final, I’ve reached the conclusion that this manager, board and some of the players don’t have a fucking clue about our club! 

[macca155]

50 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

The thought that Potter would be a poor appointment is hilarious.

 

I wouldn't say that for one minute. He's a top manager, I'm a bit iffy about about his football style, but I bet he'd have us up cheering reasonably quickly.

Potter builds squads and style, a bit like Pochettino, but that takes time. He won't come to Saints in their current predicament. Absolute hiding to nothing.

Cooper or Robbins are more likely, and are they an upgrade on Martin? Who knows

[Farmer Saint]

59 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

The thought that Potter would be a poor appointment is hilarious.

 

Not necessarily poor, but not great. What has he achieved?

Edited 13 December, 2024 by Farmer Saint

[Lord Duckhunter]

59 minutes ago, Dell McDellFace said:

RM has killed the joy. I hope I can get it back one day.

He’s sucking the life out of the supporters. Even last year was pretty fucking boring, 🥱 

[Saint Gifford]

10 minutes ago, macca155 said:

I wouldn't say that for one minute. He's a top manager, I'm a bit iffy about about his football style, but I bet he'd have us up cheering reasonably quickly.

Potter builds squads and style, a bit like Pochettino, but that takes time. He won't come to Saints in their current predicament. Absolute hiding to nothing.

Cooper or Robbins are more likely, and are they an upgrade on Martin? Who knows

I’d take Mark Robbins in a heartbeat, over pretty much anyone else. Unless there is an unknown foreign coach with track record. 
 

But probably still give Robbins a shot, at least that would give us stability and half a chance of staying up. 

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

The thought that Potter would be a poor appointment is hilarious.

 

I’d even prefer this one than Rusty! 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

Agreed.

People expecting a huge change when we get rid will be disappointed, a bit like when we brought in Jones after Ralph, and then Selles. All very different tactics, all with relegation form. Makes you think it may just be the players...

I've got news for you. It's not the players.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

1 hour ago, Miltonaggro said:

Despite a snapshot in the play off semi and final, I’ve reached the conclusion that this manager, board and some of the players don’t have a fucking clue about our club! 

Said to my son, that'll be the best ten days he'll ever see supporting Saints. Fantastic atmosphere. I don't blame the players. In fact, I think their sum of the parts could make them over-achievers and, from a distance, it looks like they've got a good camaraderie among them. The problem is the manager and the inability of the club to do something about it.

[Bazzyfryer]

Definition of madness doing the same over and over again and expecting a different result sums us up perfectly 

[Farmer Saint]

37 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

I’d even prefer this one than Rusty! 

But this is not the choice.

Whoever we are getting in is not keeping us up. We need someone to get us promoted next year and allow us to grow again in the Prem. I'm not sure spending £8m a year on a money hungry Martin tactics clone is really the sensible option here.

[Whitey Grandad]

4 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

But this is not the choice.

Whoever we are getting in is not keeping us up. We need someone to get us promoted next year and allow us to grow again in the Prem. I'm not sure spending £8m a year on a money hungry Martin tactics clone is really the sensible option here.

There are a lot of points left to play for. With this clown in charge we are clearly doomed. With someone competent however there is a small but not infinitesimal chance.

[Farmer Saint]

3 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

There are a lot of points left to play for. With this clown in charge we are clearly doomed. With someone competent however there is a small but not infinitesimal chance.

Considering you are one of Martin's biggest critics over the past 18 months on slow build up possession based football, I'm surprised you'd want to pay a Manager 4 times as much as ours to watch the same thing (with a few less mistakes at the back, granted).

[Whitey Grandad]

6 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

Considering you are one of Martin's biggest critics over the past 18 months on slow build up possession based football, I'm surprised you'd want to pay a Manager 4 times as much as ours to watch the same thing (with a few less mistakes at the back, granted).

Where have I ever said that? Martin is on higher pay than you might think but even so it wouldn't cost that much to employ someone more pragmatic who doesn't have an ego which is bigger than the club.

You are right though that more of the same idiotic football will not make any difference. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

He’s sucking the life out of the supporters. Even last year was pretty fucking boring, 🥱 

Exactly this. I have zero enjoyment going to St Marys anymore. Even under Branfoot, I still enjoyed going to the games, maybe that was more to do with being younger and witnessing the greatest ever player to wear a Saints shirt. Now I just go for my son's benefit, so he maintains an interest in his local team. 

[LeBizzier69]

5 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

95% of fans are disgusted by the shocking ‘football’ we are playing with a squad completely unsuited to doing so. There’s always a few oddballs that will applaud whatever is served up - a few supported Branfoot and there’s still a few weirdos supporting Martin and his ponderous, losing, one dimensional tat. I don’t think the division is the priority - I’ve watched us at Carlisle in League One, Brentford at the old Griffin Park in midweek - all over the country but all I ask for the cost and travel is for the manager and players to do their best to get results.

That isn’t happening, the ‘philosophy’ is over-riding the clubs wellbeing and that’s not right. Martin is not more important than Southampton Football Club. 

Fair enough, but to say they’re not doing their best is ridiculous. It’s clearly a flawed system with the players we have but barring a couple of players, I’ve not come away from many games thinking the whole team haven’t done their best.

Personally I think we’d be in the same situation if we didn’t play this way. How do you think he should be playing with this squad? 
 

If 95% of the fans aren’t happy now, then they probably haven’t been happy for years. That’s life as a saints fan, and the shit times make the good ones call the sweeter. Which I know is an odd way to look at it.

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

2 minutes ago, LeBizzier69 said:

Personally I think we’d be in the same situation if we didn’t play this way.

We’d have more than 5 points. 

[Sarnia Cherie]

5 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

How much is The Idiot on?

Whatever it is, it's too much.

[LeBizzier69]

3 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

We’d have more than 5 points. 

Would we? Why do you think that?

 

[Whitey Grandad]

6 minutes ago, LeBizzier69 said:

Would we? Why do you think that?

 

Because of the unnecessary goals that we have conceded. Plus the fact that we might, just might, actually try to have a shot at the other goal.

[Farmer Saint]

45 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Where have I ever said that? Martin is on higher pay than you might think but even so it wouldn't cost that much to employ someone more pragmatic who doesn't have an ego which is bigger than the club.

You are right though that more of the same idiotic football will not make any difference. 

I'm talking about Potter. Martin is on £2m PA. Potter reportedly wants £8m PA.

Edited 13 December, 2024 by Farmer Saint