Russell Martin

[tdmickey3]

23 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Jesus. I can see him sitting it out for a fair while on our dollar then. Fantastic. 

Nah ,his ego will get the better of him, he will take on job soon and impose the ridiculous style upon some other unfortunate club and his team will concede a shed full of goals.

He will keep bulshitting everyone, telling them how brave they are, how they are enjoying it, we stick to the process and we are close.
 

All this while bumbling along in mid table

[Dr. Kucho]

Thinking back of Martin’s sacking, it happened so soon after the match and that’s something you don’t see very often. I wonder if it was decided during the match that he had to go or if Dragan demanded it was done immediately.

With Jones I believe it was rumored that he had to get a result against Wolves (and we all know JWP squared the ball instead of hitting the target in the last minute). Even then it was the day after that the news came we sacked Jones. 

Just thinking back and maybe someone had heard something how it led up to his removal. 

 

[Matthew Le God]

3 hours ago, Cabrone said:

Nothing personal but bottom half of the championship is his level. 

His last two Championship seasons were 4th and 10th in a 24 team league.

[CB Fry]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

His last two Championship seasons were 4th and 10th in a 24 team league.

And the two before that were 15th in the Championship and 13th in League One.

[Matthew Le God]

3 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

And the two before that were 15th in the Championship and 13th in League One.

He improved his finishing position in each of the 4 seasons with MK Dons and Swansea. His last two seasons in the top half show he is capable of managing a team above the bottom half of the Championship. I'm not going to deny he was clearly was out of his depth in the Premier League.

Edited 29 December, 2024 by Matthew Le God

[Midfield_General]

6 minutes ago, Dr. Kucho said:

Thinking back of Martin’s sacking, it happened so soon after the match and that’s something you don’t see very often. I wonder if it was decided during the match that he had to go or if Dragan demanded it was done immediately.

With Jones I believe it was rumored that he had to get a result against Wolves (and we all know JWP squared the ball instead of hitting the target in the last minute). Even then it was the day after that the news came we sacked Jones. 

Just thinking back and maybe someone had heard something how it led up to his removal. 

 

Wasn’t the rumour that Dragan watched the carnage of the first half against Spurs and put the call in at half-time, or possibly just before? No idea how much truth there is in that but it was such a clusterfuck that I can totally believe his patience snapped, and if the word had got to RM then it would explain why he bolted down the tunnel before HT while the game was still on, which was pretty strange behaviour. 

[Oldandtired]

1 hour ago, tdmickey3 said:

Nah ,his ego will get the better of him, he will take on job soon and impose the ridiculous style upon some other unfortunate club and his team will concede a shed full of goals.

He will keep bulshitting everyone, telling them how brave they are, how they are enjoying it, we stick to the process and we are close.
 

All this while bumbling along in mid table

How does he convince any team with ambition that he is the manager for them? One lottery win, abject failure at the top level and mediocrity complete his CV.

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

1 hour ago, Dr. Kucho said:

Thinking back of Martin’s sacking, it happened so soon after the match and that’s something you don’t see very often. I wonder if it was decided during the match that he had to go or if Dragan demanded it was done immediately.

With Jones I believe it was rumored that he had to get a result against Wolves (and we all know JWP squared the ball instead of hitting the target in the last minute). Even then it was the day after that the news came we sacked Jones. 

Just thinking back and maybe someone had heard something how it led up to his removal. 

 

That statement the club put out was obviously prepared well in advance of that game and that was probably Martins "win or sacked" game.

His demeanor throughout the entire match suggested that.

The way that first half went, Dragan was more than likely swearing down the phoneline which suggested the speed at which he was sacked.

It was on SkySports App within about 45 minutes of the final whistle, so the sacking probably happened within minutes.

[Midfield_General]

41 minutes ago, ApprenticeBillionaire said:

That statement the club put out was obviously prepared well in advance of that game and that was probably Martins "win or sacked" game.

His demeanor throughout the entire match suggested that.

The way that first half went, Dragan was more than likely swearing down the phoneline which suggested the speed at which he was sacked.

It was on SkySports App within about 45 minutes of the final whistle, so the sacking probably happened within minutes.

Yeah that makes sense. The subbing off of Sulemana after 15 mins, the signs he was making to the players that looked to read as ‘you’ve just got me fired’, the running off down the tunnel while the game was still on - it all stacks up.

Imagine going into a game you’ve been told you need to get something out of to save your job, then being 0-5 down, at home, before it’s even half time. 

[Wade Garrett]

16 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Yeah that makes sense. The subbing off of Sulemana after 15 mins, the signs he was making to the players that looked to read as ‘you’ve just got me fired’, the running off down the tunnel while the game was still on - it all stacks up.

Imagine going into a game you’ve been told you need to get something out of to save your job, then being 0-5 down, at home, before it’s even half time. 

That’s the stupidity of the board.  He had so many games before Spurs, and anyone could see how shit we were and how intransigent he was.  To give him a win or sack game was brainless.  They should have just sacked him anyway.

Dragan needs to move some of the decision-makers out.  They have massively let him down.

[Midfield_General]

12 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

That’s the stupidity of the board.  He had so many games before Spurs, and anyone could see how shit we were and how intransigent he was.  To give him a win or sack game was brainless.  They should have just sacked him anyway.

Dragan needs to move some of the decision-makers out.  They have massively let him down.

Not only that, but according to national media reports, the sacking still came us such a surprise to the rest of the SR board that they hadn’t even lined up or sounded out any possible replacements. They literally only started the process from scratch after RM was sacked. 

These are the people who are meant to be running the club. It should be their only focus. Absolute fucking jokers. 

[West end Saints]

It was right for him to go, and probably few would argue against the case for it being done sooner.

However, this team is poor. I doubt Juric, or Danny Rohl or whoever would have had us safe , maybe we would have edged the games against Ipswich and Wolves and Leicester and be in sight of the others.

Bottom line likes of Downes, Aribo, Archer and Armstrong would not be likely to get any starts at any other side.

[Badger]

2 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Dragan needs to move some of the decision-makers out.  They have massively let him down.

How can he not see this ? 

If he had a Mr Internet, or  a Mr Telecommunications , in his main business on a par with ‘Mr Football’ within SR, then I suspect the fucker would have been out the door long ago without his or her feet touching the ground. 

[warsash saint]

Luke Williams: Head coach set to leave Swansea City after slump in form - BBC Sport

Odds on RM heading back ?  Very short i guess

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, warsash saint said:

Luke Williams: Head coach set to leave Swansea City after slump in form - BBC Sport

Odds on RM heading back ?  Very short i guess

Would need a lot of bridge building given the circumstances of his departure. Fell out with the owners and they were extremely unhappy with how he left.

[Turkish]

On 29/12/2024 at 12:26, Midfield_General said:

Wasn’t the rumour that Dragan watched the carnage of the first half against Spurs and put the call in at half-time, or possibly just before? No idea how much truth there is in that but it was such a clusterfuck that I can totally believe his patience snapped, and if the word had got to RM then it would explain why he bolted down the tunnel before HT while the game was still on, which was pretty strange behaviour. 

it wasn't a rumour, they decided at half time on the Spurs game.

[Midfield_General]

3 minutes ago, Turkish said:

it wasn't a rumour, they decided at half time on the Spurs game.

Was he informed at half time? 

[danjosaint]

By all accounts yes, during the game something happened can't remember if it was a cock up by our player or ref but he could be seen mouthing and gesticulating that had put him out the door

[notnowcato]

If true, it just shows what a cluster fuck this operation is.

[The Kraken]

36 minutes ago, danjosaint said:

By all accounts yes, during the game something happened can't remember if it was a cock up by our player or ref but he could be seen mouthing and gesticulating that had put him out the door

I remember something like that happening but it wasn’t the Spurs game. Saints had a bad ref call against them and Martin was on the pitch at half time and/or full time telling the ref that he’d cost him his job. Cant remember which game it was but def a bit before the Spurs capitulation.

[miserableoldgit]

47 minutes ago, danjosaint said:

By all accounts yes, during the game something happened can't remember if it was a cock up by our player or ref but he could be seen mouthing and gesticulating that had put him out the door

Didn't RM disappear down the tunnel just before half time and missed a Spurs goal?

[Midfield_General]

46 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

Didn't RM disappear down the tunnel just before half time and missed a Spurs goal?

Yep. Bailed before the fifth one went in. 

[Badger]

2 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Would need a lot of bridge building given the circumstances of his departure. Fell out with the owners and they were extremely unhappy with how he left.

Last thing I read on the Martin-Swansea relationship was that the club were suing him personally, presumably for breach of contract.

Nothing read on that for some time, not that it needs to be in the public gaze. 
 

It would certainly take  a major climb down from somewhere for him to be back at Swansea 

[Miltonaggro]

12 hours ago, Badger said:

Last thing I read on the Martin-Swansea relationship was that the club were suing him personally, presumably for breach of contract.

Nothing read on that for some time, not that it needs to be in the public gaze. 
 

It would certainly take  a major climb down from somewhere for him to be back at Swansea 

Hope he does return to Swansea, would likely be an easy six points next season with tactics identifiable from outer space! 

[trousers]

He's not been snapped up by a major European club yet then, à la Vincent Company?

[saintoaks]

RM didnt have to do alot to keep his job but he refused to change a few things, if he did he could have still been here. His constant arogance to play so dangerously along the back line and play suicidal balls into the holding midfielder was his downfall. Always looking for the perfect goal (and there wasnt may of them). Lets face it the club threw the towel in during the Jan window by not helping the new manager with new signings and the one that did come in (Gronbaek) doesnt even play. It really is a proper sh*t show currently 

[pimpin4rizeal]

Seems a bit disrespectful to juric that players like dibling and ramsdale have recently been coming out with comments praising RM. We know downes is stropping and someone mentioned THB too .. I’m not usually one to judge what happens behind the scenes but makes you wonder if some of the players are making juric life more difficult 

[notnowcato]

3 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Seems a bit disrespectful to juric that players like dibling and ramsdale have recently been coming out with comments praising RM. We know downes is stropping and someone mentioned THB too .. I’m not usually one to judge what happens behind the scenes but makes you wonder if some of the players are making juric life more difficult 

Nah Juric's team selections are taking care of making his life more difficult.

[CB Fry]

The players loved Steve Wigley and Stuart Gray.

The England players loved Steve McClaren.

Nicknames and cuddles only get you so far. In our case one win in 16 and relegated before the Advent Calendars came out.

 

Edited Tuesday at 12:55 by CB Fry

[kitch]

2 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Nah Juric's team selections are taking care of making his life more difficult.

Wondering if his team selections are down to the attitudes of certain players, rather than playing Aribo as a centre-back for a laugh. The ones that are playing for him were cast aside by RM (e.g. TP, big Les, Sully), and the ones RM loved aren't getting much of a look in (Downes, Fraser, Stephens etc, though I know the latter has also been injured).
Just shows what a shitstorm the whole place is tbh. Players should give 100%, regardless of who's the boss. They play for the club and the badge, not the man in charge of the teamsheet.

[pimpin4rizeal]

1 hour ago, kitch said:

Wondering if his team selections are down to the attitudes of certain players, rather than playing Aribo as a centre-back for a laugh. The ones that are playing for him were cast aside by RM (e.g. TP, big Les, Sully), and the ones RM loved aren't getting much of a look in (Downes, Fraser, Stephens etc, though I know the latter has also been injured).
Just shows what a shitstorm the whole place is tbh. Players should give 100%, regardless of who's the boss. They play for the club and the badge, not the man in charge of the teamsheet.

Seems like there was a big mates thing going on with russ I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the ones he alienated   Are not english,charly,sulemana onuachu,Abk Les to a degree this season  we are seeing for ourselves now that they are better then many of his mates that got the nod instead 

[Football Special]

5 hours ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Seems a bit disrespectful to juric that players like dibling and ramsdale have recently been coming out with comments praising RM. We know downes is stropping and someone mentioned THB too .. I’m not usually one to judge what happens behind the scenes but makes you wonder if some of the players are making juric life more difficult 

It's something I've noticed, he clearly held a lot of influence within the squad, going to take a while to change the culture, Ramsdale basically saying he signed for Martin 

[Pamplemousse]

19 hours ago, kitch said:

Wondering if his team selections are down to the attitudes of certain players, rather than playing Aribo as a centre-back for a laugh. The ones that are playing for him were cast aside by RM (e.g. TP, big Les, Sully), and the ones RM loved aren't getting much of a look in (Downes, Fraser, Stephens etc, though I know the latter has also been injured).
Just shows what a shitstorm the whole place is tbh. Players should give 100%, regardless of who's the boss. They play for the club and the badge, not the man in charge of the teamsheet.

Exactly. If we had been successful and Juric was pissing off the players then it would be a red flag but we're not, so the fact some players have effectively downed tools just shows you about their overall mentality, whilst others have stepped up.

This is why I wouldn't be so against Juric still being here for next season.

[Fabrice29]

12 minutes ago, Pamplemousse said:

Exactly. If we had been successful and Juric was pissing off the players then it would be a red flag but we're not, so the fact some players have effectively downed tools just shows you about their overall mentality, whilst others have stepped up.

This is why I wouldn't be so against Juric still being here for next season.

Well we did have success didn’t we? Albeit at a different level but it was playing a very specific way which some fans might not have taken to but the players certainly did and some of them cited that way for the reason for joining this season. We have seemingly done a u turn on that way of playing now, which is well within the clubs rights but even in the bad times this season the players seemingly still bought into that way of playing and it’s well within their human nature for some of them to still feel aligned with the previous way. 

Obviously there is a desire for players to be adjustable (or as some people put it ‘man up pussy’) and obviously there will be some players that prefer this way but it’s a mess at the top that has created this, not the players. It’s no surprise Juric recently talked about wanting players in who suit his style. If he or the next manager is given that a then we get a new way of doing things, the same issue will arise.

Edited Wednesday at 10:21 by Fabrice29

[Lee On Solent Saint]

22 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Well we did have success didn’t we? Albeit at a different level but it was playing a very specific way which some fans might not have taken to but the players certainly did and some of them cited that way for the reason for joining this season. We have seemingly done a u turn on that way of playing now, which is well within the clubs rights but even in the bad times this season the players seemingly still bought into that way of playing and it’s well within their human nature for some of them to still feel aligned with the previous way. 

Obviously there is a desire for players to be adjustable (or as some people put it ‘man up pussy’) and obviously there will be some players that prefer this way but it’s a mess at the top that has created this, not the players. It’s no surprise Juric recently talked about wanting players in who suit his style. If he or the next manager is given that a then we get a new way of doing things, the same issue will arise.

The players who brought into Martin's playbook are the very players that would have difficulty in securing a place in any other Premier League team. It doesn't take a genius to work out why they are aligned and feel loyalty to him.

[Lighthouse]

10 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

The players who brought into Martin's playbook are the very players that would have difficulty in securing a place in any other Premier League team. It doesn't take a genius to work out why they are aligned and feel loyalty to him.

All of our players, bar four, would have difficulty securing a place in any other PL team, so that’s a much broader statement than you were perhaps intending.

[Fabrice29]

11 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

The players who brought into Martin's playbook are the very players that would have difficulty in securing a place in any other Premier League team. It doesn't take a genius to work out why they are aligned and feel loyalty to him.

As opposed to the players that don't feel aligned and loyal to him you mean? For example...

[Lee On Solent Saint]

6 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

As opposed to the players that don't feel aligned and loyal to him you mean? For example...

 

9 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

All of our players, bar four, would have difficulty securing a place in any other PL team, so that’s a much broader statement than you were perhaps intending.

Possibly. But still, the likes of Armstrong and Downes have seemingly nailed their colours to the mast as it were. Players like TP and Sule have shown a little more since Martin's departure, not saying that is much but they certainly aren't Martin type players. Same could be said for Les too. 

[Fabrice29]

5 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

 

Possibly. But still, the likes of Armstrong and Downes have seemingly nailed their colours to the mast as it were. Players like TP and Sule have shown a little more since Martin's departure, not saying that is much but they certainly aren't Martin type players. Same could be said for Les too. 

Yes, some players will perform better under different managers. That's the case for the previous manager, this manager and any future managers we have. My point was that it's only natural. Lesley I think will get a chance at Chelsea one day but I'm not convinced that any other player has improved under Juric enough to be getting into other PL teams which you seemed to suggest. The only players even debatably getting into other PL teams will be the ones we knew about under Martin too.

[OldNick]

On 19/02/2025 at 11:30, Fabrice29 said:

Yes, some players will perform better under different managers. That's the case for the previous manager, this manager and any future managers we have. My point was that it's only natural. Lesley I think will get a chance at Chelsea one day but I'm not convinced that any other player has improved under Juric enough to be getting into other PL teams which you seemed to suggest. The only players even debatably getting into other PL teams will be the ones we knew about under Martin too.

I doubt many players are going to show improvement after 8 weeks, RM had 18 months or so and I cant think of any who upped their standard. You believe the players were keen on the playing out of the bacjk style, but to me they lost faith as it takes only so many times to be caught playing out and conceding until they like the fans lost faith. 

[Badger]

On 20/02/2025 at 16:33, OldNick said:

I doubt many players are going to show improvement after 8 weeks, RM had 18 months or so and I cant think of any who upped their standard. You believe the players were keen on the playing out of the bacjk style, but to me they lost faith as it takes only so many times to be caught playing out and conceding until they like the fans lost faith. 

As said before, Poch had about 48hours before his first match.

Juric and Jones have had 8 and 6 weeks. 

[Farmer Saint]

God, I am SOOOO glad we got rid of RM.

[Gloucester Saint]

On 20/02/2025 at 16:33, OldNick said:

I doubt many players are going to show improvement after 8 weeks, RM had 18 months or so and I cant think of any who upped their standard. You believe the players were keen on the playing out of the bacjk style, but to me they lost faith as it takes only so many times to be caught playing out and conceding until they like the fans lost faith. 

It needs players comfortable on the half-turn - peak Lallana plus rock solid DMCs - Oriol - to work at mid-level clubs. And Saints won’t pay for those calibre players now. Even then, if your squad gets too old like City’s have, you can still be vulnerable even with the billions their squad is (or was) worth. 

Leave it for Real and Barca of 10 years ago. Bayern aren’t doing that well on it.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

It needs players comfortable on the half-turn - peak Lallana plus rock solid DMCs - Oriol - to work at mid-level clubs. And Saints won’t pay for those calibre players now. Even then, if your squad gets too old like City’s have, you can still be vulnerable even with the billions their squad is (or was) worth. 

Leave it for Real and Barca of 10 years ago. Bayern aren’t doing that well on it.

Sadly, when told about the need for an Oriol midfield, SR misheard it as "Oreo" and bought in one that crumbles like a cookie.

[Dr Who?]

We are worse now as a team, togetherness, and as having any identity at all about our playing style. We have gone backwards again and we are terrible to watch. I would 100% prefer to have RM in charge at the start of our championship season, because we are no better now as a mid table championship side. 

[The Kraken]

13 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

We are worse now as a team, togetherness, and as having any identity at all about our playing style. We have gone backwards again and we are terrible to watch. I would 100% prefer to have RM in charge at the start of our championship season, because we are no better now as a mid table championship side. 

Quite right. 0-5 at half time to Tottenham was perfectly good. Admirable, even. Definitely gotten worse since that display. No doubt.

[CB Fry]

17 minutes ago, Dr Who? said:

We are worse now as a team, togetherness, and as having any identity at all about our playing style. We have gone backwards again and we are terrible to watch. I would 100% prefer to have RM in charge at the start of our championship season, because we are no better now as a mid table championship side. 

This is bullshit being that the team were putting out is basically the one that came up. The squad we have right now would be top 4 no bother.

RM conceded 63 goals against last season. The man can't set up a defence even the Championship with one of the most expensive squads. 

We're well shot of him and other managers are available to take us back up. "Togetherness" and "identity" just comes from winning. 

Edited 12 hours ago by CB Fry

[The Kraken]

I think Dr Who is the one who made up some complete bunkum about new boy Johannes Spores. Tried to appear itk but got his facts completely muddled. So I’m gonna go out on a limb and suggest he might, just maybe, be full of it.

[Farmer Saint]

6 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

Quite right. 0-5 at half time to Tottenham was perfectly good. Admirable, even. Definitely gotten worse since that display. No doubt.

0-5 against the worst away team in the League...that's worse.

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

I think Dr Who is the one who made up some complete bunkum about new boy Johannes Spores. Tried to appear itk but got his facts completely muddled. So I’m gonna go out on a limb and suggest he might, just maybe, be full of it.

Rhyming slang innit - that meal and those pints of IPA have hit my stomach, need to go for a Dr Who

Edited 12 hours ago by Gloucester Saint