Russell Martin

[Lord Duckhunter]

Here’s a summary of MG’s summary, in case you haven’t got a spare 38 mins to read it. 

Lego is still an arrogant cock who thinks he’s better than he is…

[Wade Garrett]

3 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

Really interesting, thanks very much for posting. 

Here's a summary of the key points/ stuff I found most interesting for those who don't have an hour to spend listening to it:

• Has turned down some jobs
• Was hurt and disappointed by the sacking
• Felt that at the point he was sacked the young players were growing, the foundation was there in the playing style that had been implemented, and that things were improving, even though the results weren't there
• Felt that the players were still with him
• 'People only care about results'
• Feels there's too much short-termism generally
• Thought that maybe the promotion would have been enough to buy him more time in the PL even when the results weren't there. Thought that maybe the club would stick with him even if we went back down, the way Burnley stuck with Dyche
• Had to deal with a lot of players leaving, but the expectations were still there to win every week like it had been in the Championship
• Became difficult when the players felt they were performing at the top of their abilities, they were doing well in games but weren't able to get wins
• There was fear there because half the squad had been relegated previously and half the squad had never played in the PL before - he became unable to convince them they could win games
• Just before half-time against Spurs he thought the time was up and needed the toilet
• Knew at half-time he was getting sacked that night, and told the players that. Told them not to let it get to eight or nine, just to dig in and defend
• Admires the way Ange Postecoglou watches the game with detachment
• Was told by Sibley at FT against Spurs, just before doing the media duties, that the sacking statement had been written. Did the presser and then was sacked immediately after 
• His dad had done prison time and used to knock his mum about. He used to have to protect his younger brothers from him (note: there's a lot of stuff about his family background which I won't type out but is interesting to listen to)
• Never felt like he was a good player, never felt he was the best at any level. Had imposter syndrome 
• Paul Lambert was the most influential coach he played under
• Really admires Pete Winkleman for moving MK Dons to Milton Keynes
• When he first became manager of MK Dons (having been a player there) in his first meeting as manager he said 'I'm your mate, still call me Russ if you want'
• Struggled at first with players treating him differently when he became their manager having been their teammate
• Favourite ever team to watch was the 2008 Barcelona team
• Couldn't coach a team or style he didn't believe in
• Swansea told him he got the manager's job there because of the style of play
• Felt like a traitor leaving MK Dons manager job for Swansea 4 days before the start of the season, wasn't sure about taking it
• The way he had them playing in his last 10 games at Swansea got him the Saints job - 'it was beautiful'
• His approach is very based on feeling and intuition
• Used to do Buddhist chanting when rooming with colleagues
• Not really religious but believes in the Buddhist principles like karma
• Feels like sometimes it helps players open up to him 'which is beautiful', but that sometimes it complicates things because they show him more than they maybe usually would to their manager
• Found it very difficult leaving 6-7 players out of the squad at Saints because the squad was too big
• Thinks he's very demanding on the training pitch, but once training is done he wants to be having a laugh and a joke with them in the canteen afterwards
• Saints job came about when Swansea didn't provide clarity on the plan for the future
• Got approached by 3-4 clubs
• Was approached by Wilcox, immediately felt very aligned with him from day one
• It was a thorough interview, Wilcox was very clear what he wanted him to present on
• Didn't think he was initially Saints first choice
• Wilcox time at City made him very aligned re style of play
• Wilcox told him which players were being sold and asked him how we would work with the rest
• Proud of the way the players reacted to the change of style in the Championship after relegation
• Lost 4 games on the bounce in the Championship when the transfer window was still open and there was still a lot of uncertainty about which players were going to stay and which would leave
• Started off first coaching session at Swansea by showing them how MK Dons had played in and out of possession
• Run and press, hunt the ball, be brave and you'll maximise your potential as a player
• At Saints, first showed how Swansea had played 
• To dominate the ball you have to press high and counter-press
• The results didn't come in the PL for Saints - but Saints have now changed manager and it hasn't improved
• If he had the chance again, would he change anything - no, but might tweak a few things
• Felt he changed formation too much, was searching for something
• It's not about set patterns, its about having a concept of the game
• Felt he over-thought it when he started changing shapes and formations
• Guardiola was very complimentary 
• Should have stuck with one system
• There were lots of brilliant moments, felt like there was always one moment very close
• Won't criticise the quality of players he had at Saints, loves those boys
• Felt the squad was weaker in the Premier League than it was in the Championship - lost some very key players
• Re Dibling - he is the most talented player he has ever worked with
• He has every capability and tool required to play for England for a long time
• He has qualities that he hasn't seen in an English player for a long time
• In the same bracket as Kane or Maddison at that age
• He'll play centrally, as an 8 or 10 eventually 
• Played him as a false 9 in pre-season, should have played him there
• He needs to be in the right environment and the right style of play to thrive
• Everyone at the club told him that Dibling was the one to watch
• He had to learn how to do the running side, without the ball, that's why he wasn't put in the side strightaway
• His best trait is how carefree he is, he is incredibly relaxed
• He is an incredible talent
• Adam Lallana massively rates him
• He lifts the crowd as soon as he gets the ball, hope that doesn't get coached out of him
• He's a lovely lad, needs the right coach to get the best out of him
• On management style - after five years, he is happy that he is authentic and very clear on what he wants
• If anything, has become more extreme about what he is looking for
• Needs to do everything he can to show people that it can work, and not just with the best players
• Now he's had a taste of the Premier League, wants to get back there. Feels he can compete
• Without being conceited, feels he is a decent coach
• Feels he has lots to learn and lots of ways to improve
• Players don't remember a 1-0 win away at Scunthorpe, they remember how you made them feel, they want to feel connected to something 
• Would love to have the chance to do pre-season somewhere
• Saints would have felt different if he had the chance to have the foundation of pre-season with a settled squad
• Is aware that he has limited his job options by the way he plays
• Very open to going abroad
• Dream is to manage at the highest level, in the Champions League, playing our way and winning

Overall: 

I have been a big critic of his but I thought he came across well in that. Whether you think he's a good manager or not, he's intelligent and articulate and generally quite likeable. He didn't have nearly as much of the arrogance or defensiveness that was coming in when he was under pressure. 

I still find it mad that he genuinely seems to believe that style of play is ultimately more important than results, but I suppose we'll see who is right on that by whether he keeps getting jobs.

He doesn't really express any regret about how he approached things at Saints, with the exception of saying that if anything, he should have stuck more rigidly to his beliefs and not started chopping and changing formations.

I can see why a lot of his players like him, he still feels to me like a footballer talking, rather than a manager. It's pretty obvious that he loves feeling like one of the boys. I wonder if he'll realise that he probably needs to step away from that to be a truly successful manager.

The stuff about Dibling is very interesting. I think we're all expecting him to go, but if a manager came in who he immediately clicked with, and who played a style that he felt suited him, it would be interesting to see if that made a difference. I suspect however that that will simply be more of a consideration for him when he's picking which club he goes to next. 

He’s full of shit.  Thought the players were getting there!  We were 5 - 0 down at half-time in his last game.

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

2 hours ago, RedArmy said:

2 points that sum up what a cunt he is. 

2, that’s generous. Here’s a few more 

• When he first became manager of MK Dons (having been a player there) in his first meeting as manager he said 'I'm your mate, still call me Russ if you want'
• If he had the chance again, would he change anything - no,
• Found it very difficult leaving 6-7players out of the squad at Saints because the squad was too big
• once training is done he wants to be having a laugh and a joke with them in the canteen afterwards

 

And finally,

he thought the time was up and needed the toilet. What a fucking  ball bag…

 

[badgerx16]

6 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

He’s full of shit.  Thought the players were getting there!  We were 5 - 0 down at half-time in his last game.

 

But the results didn't matter, it was the style of football that was important.

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

MG you are usually very cutting, Im worried you are going soft lol. It was like a party political forecast, no tough questions. Tyically of Linaker he went along and said Shearer was critical, so was he talking about all the mistakes to goals etc. and critical of us.

Put up his win percentage for every team he has managed and the goals conceded column. He is as smooth as it comes but to tell us that he was getting it right is a complete falsehood. I look at him all calm and happy, me knowing he has taken 10M plus from the club all in the name of his own vanity project.  

Champions league ffs 

Oh thanks for the summary BTW it would have taken time to do so 

Haha, yes, probably. I think the relief of nearly being able to forget all about this season and focusing on maybe actually winning some games next year has mellowed me out! 

Agree it was a soft soap interview. Football / podcast interviews generally are tbh, they tend to be more opportunities for the interviewee to present their view on things, rather than Paxman-style grillings. It's all a pretty cosy boys' club. 

Martin's a funny one for me. I don't dislike him as a person, and I don't subscribe to any of the culture war nonsense so I couldn't give a toss about his politics, his diet or his religious beliefs. Live and let live as far as I'm concerned. I've always just tried to base my opinions on him purely on a football level and in his case, what he delivered to Saints as manager. And I found him extremely frustrating in that respect. 

He clearly has his beliefs on how the game should be played, but I do find it odd in the extreme that having had his approach so ruthlessly exposed at the top level, he still comes across as having not even the slightest hint of doubt over whether he's got it completely right. It's good to have conviction, but you would think that 13 defeats in 16 games and getting sacked as a result would lead to a bit of soul-searching, but it doesn't appear that it has. That ties into the other thing I find bizarre about him, which is that he clearly would rather play beautifully and lose, than play ugly and win. I just can't compute that, as to me it clearly goes against the whole point of professional sport, where victory and winning is ultimately all that matters.  

Overall, my take on it is that he just isn't ruthless enough. I don't see that killer streak in him that real winners have. His approach to the game, the way he wants to be mates with his players, the whole 'beautiful and lovely' stuff he comes out with - I think it all points to a personal need that he has, which is to be liked. And the really, really top-level managers don't worry about being liked, they earn respect through their methods working and delivering success. They just want to win at all costs and act ruthlessly to achieve that. 

I'll be really interested to see what he does next, and how he gets on. I don't wish him any ill will, but I also don't think he'll ever be a successful manager at the very top level. I can see him getting another well-resourced team promoted, or maybe doing well in a minor foreign league, but unless he develops that win at all costs mentality then I think that will be his ceiling. Ultimately I can see him carving out a very nice career in the media, because I think he talks a far better game than he actually delivers. 

[Midfield_General]

30 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Here’s a summary of MG’s summary, in case you haven’t got a spare 38 mins to read it. 
 

And to think I cut out all the stuff about Norwich, Scotland, his mum, the genius of Paul Lambert...

[Lord Duckhunter]

4 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

• Started off first coaching session at Swansea by showing them how MK Dons had played in and out of possession
• At Saints, first showed how Swansea had played 

Think of the clog Jones got for bringing up Luton. This chump, seems to do it everywhere. When he replaces Pep, he’ll probably be showing Rodri videos of Flynn Downes…..

[Willo of Whiteley]

5 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

Really interesting, thanks very much for posting. 

Here's a summary of the key points/ stuff I found most interesting for those who don't have an hour to spend listening to it:

• Has turned down some jobs
• Was hurt and disappointed by the sacking
• Felt that at the point he was sacked the young players were growing, the foundation was there in the playing style that had been implemented, and that things were improving, even though the results weren't there
• Felt that the players were still with him
• 'People only care about results'
• Feels there's too much short-termism generally
• Thought that maybe the promotion would have been enough to buy him more time in the PL even when the results weren't there. Thought that maybe the club would stick with him even if we went back down, the way Burnley stuck with Dyche
• Had to deal with a lot of players leaving, but the expectations were still there to win every week like it had been in the Championship
• Became difficult when the players felt they were performing at the top of their abilities, they were doing well in games but weren't able to get wins
• There was fear there because half the squad had been relegated previously and half the squad had never played in the PL before - he became unable to convince them they could win games
• Just before half-time against Spurs he thought the time was up and needed the toilet
• Knew at half-time he was getting sacked that night, and told the players that. Told them not to let it get to eight or nine, just to dig in and defend
• Admires the way Ange Postecoglou watches the game with detachment
• Was told by Sibley at FT against Spurs, just before doing the media duties, that the sacking statement had been written. Did the presser and then was sacked immediately after 
• His dad had done prison time and used to knock his mum about. He used to have to protect his younger brothers from him (note: there's a lot of stuff about his family background which I won't type out but is interesting to listen to)
• Never felt like he was a good player, never felt he was the best at any level. Had imposter syndrome 
• Paul Lambert was the most influential coach he played under
• Really admires Pete Winkleman for moving MK Dons to Milton Keynes
• When he first became manager of MK Dons (having been a player there) in his first meeting as manager he said 'I'm your mate, still call me Russ if you want'
• Struggled at first with players treating him differently when he became their manager having been their teammate
• Favourite ever team to watch was the 2008 Barcelona team
• Couldn't coach a team or style he didn't believe in
• Swansea told him he got the manager's job there because of the style of play
• Felt like a traitor leaving MK Dons manager job for Swansea 4 days before the start of the season, wasn't sure about taking it
• The way he had them playing in his last 10 games at Swansea got him the Saints job - 'it was beautiful'
• His approach is very based on feeling and intuition
• Used to do Buddhist chanting when rooming with colleagues
• Not really religious but believes in the Buddhist principles like karma
• Feels like sometimes it helps players open up to him 'which is beautiful', but that sometimes it complicates things because they show him more than they maybe usually would to their manager
• Found it very difficult leaving 6-7 players out of the squad at Saints because the squad was too big
• Thinks he's very demanding on the training pitch, but once training is done he wants to be having a laugh and a joke with them in the canteen afterwards
• Saints job came about when Swansea didn't provide clarity on the plan for the future
• Got approached by 3-4 clubs
• Was approached by Wilcox, immediately felt very aligned with him from day one
• It was a thorough interview, Wilcox was very clear what he wanted him to present on
• Didn't think he was initially Saints first choice
• Wilcox time at City made him very aligned re style of play
• Wilcox told him which players were being sold and asked him how we would work with the rest
• Proud of the way the players reacted to the change of style in the Championship after relegation
• Lost 4 games on the bounce in the Championship when the transfer window was still open and there was still a lot of uncertainty about which players were going to stay and which would leave
• Started off first coaching session at Swansea by showing them how MK Dons had played in and out of possession
• Run and press, hunt the ball, be brave and you'll maximise your potential as a player
• At Saints, first showed how Swansea had played 
• To dominate the ball you have to press high and counter-press
• The results didn't come in the PL for Saints - but Saints have now changed manager and it hasn't improved
• If he had the chance again, would he change anything - no, but might tweak a few things
• Felt he changed formation too much, was searching for something
• It's not about set patterns, its about having a concept of the game
• Felt he over-thought it when he started changing shapes and formations
• Guardiola was very complimentary 
• Should have stuck with one system
• There were lots of brilliant moments, felt like there was always one moment very close
• Won't criticise the quality of players he had at Saints, loves those boys
• Felt the squad was weaker in the Premier League than it was in the Championship - lost some very key players
• Re Dibling - he is the most talented player he has ever worked with
• He has every capability and tool required to play for England for a long time
• He has qualities that he hasn't seen in an English player for a long time
• In the same bracket as Kane or Maddison at that age
• He'll play centrally, as an 8 or 10 eventually 
• Played him as a false 9 in pre-season, should have played him there
• He needs to be in the right environment and the right style of play to thrive
• Everyone at the club told him that Dibling was the one to watch
• He had to learn how to do the running side, without the ball, that's why he wasn't put in the side strightaway
• His best trait is how carefree he is, he is incredibly relaxed
• He is an incredible talent
• Adam Lallana massively rates him
• He lifts the crowd as soon as he gets the ball, hope that doesn't get coached out of him
• He's a lovely lad, needs the right coach to get the best out of him
• On management style - after five years, he is happy that he is authentic and very clear on what he wants
• If anything, has become more extreme about what he is looking for
• Needs to do everything he can to show people that it can work, and not just with the best players
• Now he's had a taste of the Premier League, wants to get back there. Feels he can compete
• Without being conceited, feels he is a decent coach
• Feels he has lots to learn and lots of ways to improve
• Players don't remember a 1-0 win away at Scunthorpe, they remember how you made them feel, they want to feel connected to something 
• Would love to have the chance to do pre-season somewhere
• Saints would have felt different if he had the chance to have the foundation of pre-season with a settled squad
• Is aware that he has limited his job options by the way he plays
• Very open to going abroad
• Dream is to manage at the highest level, in the Champions League, playing our way and winning

Overall: 

I have been a big critic of his but I thought he came across well in that. Whether you think he's a good manager or not, he's intelligent and articulate and generally quite likeable. He didn't have nearly as much of the arrogance or defensiveness that was coming in when he was under pressure. 

I still find it mad that he genuinely seems to believe that style of play is ultimately more important than results, but I suppose we'll see who is right on that by whether he keeps getting jobs.

He doesn't really express any regret about how he approached things at Saints, with the exception of saying that if anything, he should have stuck more rigidly to his beliefs and not started chopping and changing formations.

I can see why a lot of his players like him, he still feels to me like a footballer talking, rather than a manager. It's pretty obvious that he loves feeling like one of the boys. I wonder if he'll realise that he probably needs to step away from that to be a truly successful manager.

The stuff about Dibling is very interesting. I think we're all expecting him to go, but if a manager came in who he immediately clicked with, and who played a style that he felt suited him, it would be interesting to see if that made a difference. I suspect however that that will simply be more of a consideration for him when he's picking which club he goes to next. 

Excellent write up 👏🏻👏🏻

[redandwhitey]

Quite enjoyed the interview which understandably offered his views on how things panned out, and it’s not necessary for us to all agree with it, especially from our fans’ point of view.

i wish him well getting his next job, hopefully meaning we don’t have to keep paying him his inflated salary, although I will be surprised if it is at a top club.

Lineker seems to want to provide a platform to out of work managers with these articles….

[Willo of Whiteley]

I’ve said it before; I really liked Russell Martin and the unity he clearly brought to the club, what a fun wave it was to ride last season and with a Wembley win at the end of it.

He did well, but equally he was his own worst enemy at times - things he’s now alluded to: formation, loyalty to players etc.

If he’d found a way to change or tweak things then he would still have had the backing I think by our fans, but ultimately it’s a results business. Nothing wrong with principles, but you have to be big enough to admit when it’s not working or that there might be another way to win points.

Wish him all the best.

[Whitey Grandad]

6 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

So he claims to have turned down several job offers. If that’s true I bet he wouldn’t have if we weren’t still paying him a fortune.

He comes across as completely deluded, unaware, or in denial, on how utterly crap his football is. Hopefully he can fool another club to hire him on wages similar to what we are paying him so that we don’t have to flush any more of that money down the toilet. 

McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King… ?

[Ekelund]

20 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King… ?

Bants

[Saint Fan CaM]

I’ll summarise. All style and no substance. There you go….thank me later.

[Saint_clark]

14 hours ago, warsash saint said:

You were not on this forum last season i take it??

He's talking about this season. Martin is claiming he was still expected to win every game THIS season, which is absolutely nonsense. 

I actually think the club would have stood by him, as he says he thought they would, if we'd gone down but once they realised we were heading for the lowest ever points total they couldn't justify it at all. 

He talks such utter shit that he contradicts himself at several points in that interview. It only served to confirm everything I suspected about him - cared more about being the players mate than their manager, cared more about performance to stroke his ego than results to help the club, utterly delusional.

[tdmickey3]

14 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Think of the clog Jones got for bringing up Luton. This chump, seems to do it everywhere. When he replaces Pep, he’ll probably be showing Rodri videos of Flynn Downes…..

I suspect his first signing will be Smallbone , makes him happy or something 

[saintoaks]

The last question was asked was what is your dream job or something like that. he said "manage in the champions league" and Lineker replied "yes and win games." That says it all for me, all fart and no shit. He could still be here is he changed a few things but didnt. 

[Midfield_General]

3 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

cared more about being the players mate than their manager, cared more about performance to stroke his ego than results to help the club, utterly delusional.

Can't really argue with that - that's the root of his issue in a nutshell I think

[kitch]

I've gone from loving the man at one point, to liking him, to being frustrated by him and now, finally, angry with him and his ego. Why?

Because if you are wedded to a style of play - above all else - you can't lose. He cannot be criticised. He can lose a game and then have the nerve to stand there in an interview and tell everybody how beautifully we played, and how brave the players were, and how their courage shone through, and other bullshit like that. By telling everybody the way of playing is more important than the result, he can only lose if the players stop playing for him. The results can't be used against him.

This style of play comes ahead of EVERYBODY else's interests. The fans, the boardmembers and staff of the club, and even the players themselves. In fact, particularly the players, because despite the fact it being obvious to anyone with eyes that they are not able to do the things he's asking them to do (when he himself couldn't have done these things, either), he persists. It has to be HIS way. As a result, our mentally delicate squad ended up being made to look like absolute donkeys in front of viewers of the biggest domestic league in the world. He hung them out to dry.

I don't know the guy, but I don't think I need to. He has a desire to be loved. He wants to be popular. He wants to be the main character. His insatiable need for attention came ahead of the players' (and therefore the club's) best interests. He's not supposed to be their mate, he's supposed to be their boss. They're supposed to respect him and to a degree, fear his wrath! He talks brilliantly - an excellent communicator - which means he was able to hoodwink so many people into believing the issue was anything other than the 'system' he himself was implementing. Even today, there are people who weirdly believe we should have kept him. Really?! The only person who should want that is Ralph, because the ignamy of the 9-0 defeats would probably have been eclipsed by a larger scoreline had he stayed.

He set in the rot for the worst season in living memory, and it was all because of his ego. Those players are all broken (and many of them weren't brilliant to begin with), but I don't blame them one bit. They were led up the creek with no paddle.

 

[S-Clarke]

He's one of those types you bump into a lot in corporate/high end positions. They talk such a good game, sound like they're so grounded and full of great ideas, but the reality is they are just a mouthpiece for their own showboating.

He is just talk really, I wasn't never endeared with him a great deal last season. For someone who comes across in these interviews as an intelligent and grounded bloke, he doesn't half get spikey when he's ever questioned during pressure moments - that should tell you all you need to know about the underlying character behind all the fluff.

If you hear some of his soundbites now, they should be ringing alarm bells to any prospective clubs

1) Criticising Tottenham for passing it around the back, critising spurs for creating their own problems. Totally blind to the fact that is what he preaches at his own teams. I'm not sure if he was just being stupid with that comment, or he knew exactly what he was doing.

2) The snippets coming out that we didn't have enough 'physicality', or we didn't get the players he wanted, we were weaker than we were in the Champ etc. He was pretty much main man number 1 in our transfer committee during the summer, he oversaw the decisions to sign BBD, Taylor, Fraser, Archer, Wood and sell Charly and such. Wood and Fraser in particular were his own picks, the fact he thought either were suited to PL football raises question marks about his game knowledge and decision making.

As I said, he talks a good game, but beyond that it's all a load of fluff and propaganda really.

Edited Thursday at 09:38 by S-Clarke

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

He was pretty much main man number 1 in our transfer committee during the summer, he oversaw the decisions to sign BBD, Taylor, Fraser, Archer, Wood and sell Charly and such. Wood and Fraser in particular were his own picks

According to Blackmore, Parsons, Ankerson, Kraft & Lego were the transfer  committee. Also said Frasier & Taylor were the managers signings. 

[Midfield_General]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

1) Criticising Tottenham for passing it around the back, critising spurs for creating their own problems. Totally blind to the fact that is what he preaches at his own teams. I'm not sure if he was just being stupid with that comment, or he knew exactly what he was doing.

Completely agree with your post. On this point though, what do you think he had to gain when he was doing that? I was watching it while it went out and couldn't believe the hypocrisy of what he was saying because as you say, he was criticising Spurs for doing exactly what he had been doing all season, with the same results. What was in that for him? 

[HKsaint]

Pathetic. He is just another Nathan Jones.

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, HKsaint said:

Pathetic. He is just another Nathan Jones.

He’s not that good.

[Badger]

7 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

According to Blackmore, Parsons, Ankerson, Kraft & Lego were the transfer  committee. Also said Frasier & Taylor were the managers signings. 

Yet he never played him.

Got to say I feel a little sorry for Mowbray who seems to have taken the blame for the clusterfuck. Wonder who specifically wanted BBD and Archer.

[HKsaint]

8 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

He’s not that good.

But I admit that he is better than Juric.

[S-Clarke]

20 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

Completely agree with your post. On this point though, what do you think he had to gain when he was doing that? I was watching it while it went out and couldn't believe the hypocrisy of what he was saying because as you say, he was criticising Spurs for doing exactly what he had been doing all season, with the same results. What was in that for him? 

Making him look/sound better and knowledgeable on what is right or wrong, whilst he was knowing full well he'd been promoting that exact way of playing.

non-clued up club owners (of which there are a few) will buy the fluff that he comes out with.

That's why you can't believe anything that comes out of his mouth, everything he says and does is to promote himself and how he's viewed.

[Dr. Kucho]

21 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

According to Blackmore, Parsons, Ankerson, Kraft & Lego were the transfer  committee. Also said Frasier & Taylor were the managers signings. 

I listened to Blackmore’s show online and it was clear he was holding back. Talked about SR but definitely knew more what’s going on behind the scenes and went on last summer. Fact that he mentioned that Wilcox has more freedom at United then whilst at us was surprising.

[Saint Garrett]

7 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Making him look/sound better and knowledgeable on what is right or wrong, whilst he was knowing full well he'd been promoting that exact way of playing.

non-clued up club owners (of which there are a few) will buy the fluff that he comes out with.

That's why you can't believe anything that comes out of his mouth, everything he says and does is to promote himself and how he's viewed.

When did you become so bitter?

Admittedly I've avoided this place this season, so came back on here last week or so, surprised how much views have changed 

[obelisk]

23 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

When did you become so bitter?

Admittedly I've avoided this place this season, so came back on here last week or so, surprised how much views have changed 

What did you expect? A consensus that everything had all gone swimmingly?

[Fabrice29]

 

On 10/04/2025 at 10:37, S-Clarke said:

1) Criticising Tottenham for passing it around the back, critising spurs for creating their own problems. Totally blind to the fact that is what he preaches at his own teams. I'm not sure if he was just being stupid with that comment, or he knew exactly what he was doing.

It's probably worth remembering that Russell Martin didn't criticise Spurs for playing out the back tbh. 

In fact here's the video where you can judge for yourself whether he's criticising Spurs for playing out the back or whether he's questioning the decisions made when to and whilst doing so. 

Tottenham Hotspur vs Bournemouth: Jamie Carragher and Russell Martin break down how Cherries' press caused chaos for Spurs! | Football News | Sky Sports

Edited Friday at 16:06 by Fabrice29

[Toussaint]

4 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

When did you become so bitter?

Admittedly I've avoided this place this season, so came back on here last week or so, surprised how much views have changed 

It’s an astute summary of a man with undoubted narcissistic personality disorder who is at least in part responsible for the situation we find ourselves in. You do now narcissists do not take responsibility for their destructive behaviours? 

[Gloucester Saint]

4 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

When did you become so bitter?

Admittedly I've avoided this place this season, so came back on here last week or so, surprised how much views have changed 

It’s pretty reflective of the fanbase overall. I don’t think the club still realises the level of frustration at just how badly the club has been run. The applause at Spurs has continued to mask it but unless next season sees the club have a similar impact on the Championship as Birmingham has done League One to make some amends, the fury amongst the fanbase could get a lot worse than this.

Personally I don’t feel that the football club I’ve followed for 40+ years is reflective of me in any way but there are plenty who disagree and feel humiliated by the 10 points and Groundhog Day every week. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

6 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

It’s pretty reflective of the fanbase overall. I don’t think the club still realises the level of frustration at just how badly the club has been run. The applause at Spurs has continued to mask it but unless next season sees the club have a similar impact on the Championship as Birmingham has done League One to make some amends, the fury amongst the fanbase could get a lot worse than this.

Personally I don’t feel that the football club I’ve followed for 40+ years is reflective of me in any way but there are plenty who disagree and feel humiliated by the 10 points and Groundhog Day every week. 

Brave Saints fans try to prove their club isn't reflective of them, and join the armed forces...

 

 

[S-Clarke]

18 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

When did you become so bitter?

Admittedly I've avoided this place this season, so came back on here last week or so, surprised how much views have changed 

Not bitter, I just see right through those sorts of people - and after a season like this it's no surprise on the views towards anyone who contributed to it.

I'm sure he's a nice enough bloke, but the proof is in the pudding at the end of the day, and he put together the worst PL side in history - yet still comes out speaking as he's an expert.

[LGTL]

He’s trying to save his career. And he will, some moronic owner will fall for his bollocks. 

Should have been sacked after Bournemouth away. Our biggest mistake was that we sacked him too late. 

[tdmickey3]

6 minutes ago, LGTL said:

He’s trying to save his career. And he will, some moronic owner will fall for his bollocks. 

Should have been sacked after Bournemouth away. Our biggest mistake was that we sacked him too late. 

We should of said goodbye in May after playoffs 

[Lighthouse]

33 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

We should of said goodbye in May after playoffs 

That’s a ludicrous thing for any club to do with any manager. We’d have been the laughing stock of English football, the players would probably have taken it very poorly and this season would have gone no better than it has in real life.

[tdmickey3]

21 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

That’s a ludicrous thing for any club to do with any manager. We’d have been the laughing stock of English football, the players would probably have taken it very poorly and this season would have gone no better than it has in real life.

We are a laughing stock now in case you missed our pathetic points and performance showing.

Russell Martins style was obvious to all not to work at this level 

A better manager at the start may have purchased better in the summer

[Lighthouse]

1 minute ago, tdmickey3 said:

We are a laughing stock now in case you missed our pathetic points and performance showing.

Russell Martins style was obvious to all not to work at this level 

A better manager at the start may have purchased better in the summer

TBH the majority of comments I’ve seen on social media are more aimed at PSR rules and pointing out that the three promoted clubs are going straight back down in back to back seasons. Ipswich and Leicester had brighter starts and got a handful of extra points on the board but since around Christmas, we’ve all been equally awful.

If we’d been promoted with literally any manager then replaced him in summer, everyone would be saying, “serves them right, ridiculous decision,” looking at our current form. I’ve no idea why you want us to look that stupid.

[tdmickey3]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

TBH the majority of comments I’ve seen on social media are more aimed at PSR rules and pointing out that the three promoted clubs are going straight back down in back to back seasons. Ipswich and Leicester had brighter starts and got a handful of extra points on the board but since around Christmas, we’ve all been equally awful.

If we’d been promoted with literally any manager then replaced him in summer, everyone would be saying, “serves them right, ridiculous decision,” looking at our current form. I’ve no idea why you want us to look that stupid.

We couldn't look any more stupid than we do and it's on SR

[Wade Garrett]

The snake -oil salesman will find another sucker.

[pimpin4rizeal]

On 10/04/2025 at 10:37, S-Clarke said:

He's one of those types you bump into a lot in corporate/high end positions. They talk such a good game, sound like they're so grounded and full of great ideas, but the reality is they are just a mouthpiece for their own showboating.

He is just talk really, I wasn't never endeared with him a great deal last season. For someone who comes across in these interviews as an intelligent and grounded bloke, he doesn't half get spikey when he's ever questioned during pressure moments - that should tell you all you need to know about the underlying character behind all the fluff.

If you hear some of his soundbites now, they should be ringing alarm bells to any prospective clubs

1) Criticising Tottenham for passing it around the back, critising spurs for creating their own problems. Totally blind to the fact that is what he preaches at his own teams. I'm not sure if he was just being stupid with that comment, or he knew exactly what he was doing.

2) The snippets coming out that we didn't have enough 'physicality', or we didn't get the players he wanted, we were weaker than we were in the Champ etc. He was pretty much main man number 1 in our transfer committee during the summer, he oversaw the decisions to sign BBD, Taylor, Fraser, Archer, Wood and sell Charly and such. Wood and Fraser in particular were his own picks, the fact he thought either were suited to PL football raises question marks about his game knowledge and decision making.

As I said, he talks a good game, but beyond that it's all a load of fluff and propaganda really.

Martin is a smarmy bullshitter and this is all self promotion as always . He reminds me of the type that tries to be popular with everyone .  As a manager he seems bang average and can’t organise a defence . The only reason he was any more successful then Jones or juric is the success was in a lower league 

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

15 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

If we’d been promoted with literally any manager then replaced him in summer, everyone would be saying, “serves them right, ridiculous decision,” looking at our current form. I’ve no idea why you want us to look that stupid.

Correct.

But it was absolutely beyond fucking obvious he wasn't up to it by October.

We held on and on and on and on.

That WAS stupid.

[Pamplemousse]

He lost the plot towards the end. I won't forget how he blamed the fans for us losing at Aston Villa because we ironically cheered a long ball from the goalkeeper which supposedly encouraged him. 

[ErwinK1961]

Decent bloke, did a good job turning the club around and getting promotion. Will always be grateful for Wembley.

Completely lost it by the end, was evidently out of his depth and had no idea of the difference in levels.

Good luck to him in his future career.

 

[ApprenticeBillionaire]

6 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

He lost the plot towards the end. I won't forget how he blamed the fans for us losing at Aston Villa because we ironically cheered a long ball from the goalkeeper which supposedly encouraged him. 

He should have been sacked well before that but CERTAINLY for me, I was expecting to see a corner flag on the club's Twitter account after that statement. I thought he was genuinely gone when he said that.

I've never seen a manager survive attacking the fans to the press when results were as bad as they were.

[AlexLaw76]

He did remarkably well to keep his job as long as he did

nothing special at all for us in the championship 

[aintforever]

11 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

nothing special at all for us in the championship 

I guess next season we are going to see how easy it is to bounce straight back up with this bunch of players.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, aintforever said:

I guess next season we are going to see how easy it is to bounce straight back up with this bunch of players.

This bunch is different from the last bunch

 

[ErwinK1961]

1 minute ago, aintforever said:

I guess next season we are going to see how easy it is to bounce straight back up with this bunch of players.

‘Literally anyone could have got us promoted’