Wade Garrett Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 I’m sick of Russball. It has become so predictable and easy to negate. The problem, as I see it, is that the manager looks at us as some sort of vanity project. He needs to wise up a bit. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SotonianWill Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 1 minute ago, Wade Garrett said: I’m sick of Russball. It has become so predictable and easy to negate. The problem, as I see it, is that the manager looks at us as some sort of vanity project. He needs to wise up a bit. The success of this system promotion wise is of little benefit or disadvantage to Martin. These days, the pure fact a manager plays this style is enough to gain their way up the pole of top jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 40 minutes ago, SotonianWill said: The success of this system promotion wise is of little benefit or disadvantage to Martin. These days, the pure fact a manager plays this style is enough to gain their way up the pole of top jobs. Ridiculous isn’t it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 11 hours ago, S-Clarke said: You don't have to be a genius to sniff out the narrative in your post - not just yours by the way, was a general observation. The undertone is very odd. We went 25 games unbeaten playing the same way, if we want to rip it all up again and start from scratch after 2 or 3 iffy results then that's just odd imo. As I said, there are seemingly people who have been waiting very impatiently in the background since September to ramp back up again. ‘Unbeaten’ doesn’t mean ‘winning’. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 47 minutes ago, SotonianWill said: The success of this system promotion wise is of little benefit or disadvantage to Martin. These days, the pure fact a manager plays this style is enough to gain their way up the pole of top jobs. It’s style over substance.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 (edited) 19 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said: To be fair to Martin he has had only a single season at a totally new club to teach his methods, recruit a reliable and resilient team and hone their skills to play the way he wants them to play and be expected to gain promotion at the first attempt. On that basis he has over-achieved by any measure of reasonable expectation as witnessed by our recent record unbeaten run of matches. Make up your mind(s) Charlie....! Edited February 29 by trousers 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErwinK1961 Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 3 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said: ‘Unbeaten’ doesn’t mean ‘winning’. It did 18 times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 5 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said: Get in! Sort that table by net spend and we're top of the league! Again! wtf are Stoke up to? I didn't realise they'd invested into their team at those levels. If they go down they are ruined. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted February 29 Share Posted February 29 2 hours ago, trousers said: Make up your mind(s) Charlie....! He keeps making those schoolboy mistakes by staying logged into the wrong account. I wonder who his positive persona is? always? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 On 28/02/2024 at 14:22, Wade Garrett said: He’s a young, relatively inexperienced manager. He has a philosophy. I’m hoping experience will steer him away from one way of playing. Unless your Man City, an identity, unfortunately, becomes a weakness. We seems to have been worked out. Time for a change in tactics. 2 centre forwards anyone? In many ways, with our comparative wealth and what we've spent, we are the Man City of the Championship and anything but automatic promotion represents failure. We've got the players to have a variety of tactics. Just like Ralph had the Plan A pressing style but no real Plan B, so RM seems to only have a Plan A. What is also concerning when watching the Liverpool game, is that his second stream defence is far less comfortable playing from the back and both the back four and midfield's first look was to see which backward pass they could make. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 21 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said: In many ways, with our comparative wealth and what we've spent, we are the Man City of the Championship and anything but automatic promotion represents failure. And yet, we are no where near the Man City of the Championship!! 5th highest spenders, but 1st in net spend. We may have wealth, but it's tucked up nicely in the bank! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Mulgrew Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 4 hours ago, Tommy Mulgrew said: Nobody on here, and I mean nobody, minds playing out from the back. What some do mind, however, is continuing to play around at the back when we are so effectively pressed that we cannot play out and so gift the ball to an opposition player, with the real possibility of us conceding a goal because we are still in or near our penalty area. All that is required is for us to vary our tactics when we find that our preferred way of playing is under too much pressure. By becoming less predictable we would become harder to play against. And thereby more successful. That is not an attack on RM; it is merely a wish that he should be more flexible and thereby more successful in what really matters: promotion (not the highest possible possession and pass completion statistics). Why some on here cannot see that completely defeats me. I posted that on a different thread. I think it is relevant on this one; so here it is. FWIW I thought we were pretty good for the first hour or so against Liverpool, mixing up our usual approach with a more direct one via Sully and Edozie, but then went back into our predictable and ponderous, shell fannying around and getting nowhere fast, coughing up two preventable and unnecessary goals. More of the first half please, mixing up our routes out from the back so that we are less predictable and more incisive. It would help if we could score from some of our carefully created chances, though. Looking forward to tomorrow in the Venice of England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusic Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 Absolutely nailed this: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24156403.southamptons-martin-feels-sick-online-abuse-player/ Easy to see why players like playing for him. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSA96 Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 12 minutes ago, Dusic said: Absolutely nailed this: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24156403.southamptons-martin-feels-sick-online-abuse-player/ Easy to see why players like playing for him. To spare a trip to the awful Echo website - comments in full here. Russell Martin gave a four-minute response to the Will Smallbone abuse earlier today: I feel really sorry for Will that it's got to that point and I don't like social media for that reason. It has become a cesspit of negativity and toxicity and a place where people feel they can say something they would never say to their face. About someone they don't know as well. Everybody is so quick to pass judgement and express an opinion. I am not on it but I have been made aware of it and some of the stuff I have seen, I just don't understand what human being says those things. It is to someone who, if you are a supporter, tries to give everything every day to your football club - a football club he loves. He has been desperate to play for this football club and he has been here since he was a kid. You then have to understand some of the things Will has been through on his journey and the pain he has been through. Whatever you think of him, he plays a lot because he is brilliant and he is a fantastic young man who is growing a lot. It has been a privilege to work with him and to understand his story and what he has been through to get to this point. Judge people as footballers but some of the stuff written has been disgusting. I'd love to sit down with that person and understand why. What is going on in their life that they feel they have to write something like that? I am really protective of my players. Will is one of the best people I have ever worked with so it makes me angry and sad that it has come to this. Will has dealt with it in a way he feels is fit and if I had my choice, none of them would be on social media - I don't see the advantage. There are a lot of, for want of a better word, idiots and unhappy people that want to project their unhappiness on other people. When I first started, it was the start of message board and online forums. The lads told me about it. The first three things I read about myself, one said I was functional but drone-like in midfield and they were probably right. I thought, 'I'm not reading that again'. Then you start questioning everything if you don't have a strong sense of self. I believe Will does have a strong sense of self with what he has been through so I don't worry about Will. I really hope that I get to celebrate on the pitch with Will having achieved something special and this means absolutely nothing. It would be a slap in the face for someone who wrote it. Of course, criticise players as footballers - but don't overstep the line. There are more important things in life, although it doesn't feel like it at times, but there really are. I love Will and we will support him however he needs but I have no worries and if he is on the pitch tomorrow, he will be great. I have also asked him to perform a different role recently and I think he has been great but that's my fault if you don't agree. Don't judge him on that if you don't think he has performed well there. But he is so tactically flexible and will continue to be. I am upset if it comes to that but I guess that is the modern day and age. I don't like my children on it and I fear for the next generation. There is no accountability at all and it makes me feel sick. 8 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangelyBrown Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 4 minutes ago, CSA96 said: To spare a trip to the awful Echo website - comments in full here. Russell Martin gave a four-minute response to the Will Smallbone abuse earlier today: I feel really sorry for Will that it's got to that point and I don't like social media for that reason. It has become a cesspit of negativity and toxicity and a place where people feel they can say something they would never say to their face. About someone they don't know as well. Everybody is so quick to pass judgement and express an opinion. I am not on it but I have been made aware of it and some of the stuff I have seen, I just don't understand what human being says those things. It is to someone who, if you are a supporter, tries to give everything every day to your football club - a football club he loves. He has been desperate to play for this football club and he has been here since he was a kid. You then have to understand some of the things Will has been through on his journey and the pain he has been through. Whatever you think of him, he plays a lot because he is brilliant and he is a fantastic young man who is growing a lot. It has been a privilege to work with him and to understand his story and what he has been through to get to this point. Judge people as footballers but some of the stuff written has been disgusting. I'd love to sit down with that person and understand why. What is going on in their life that they feel they have to write something like that? I am really protective of my players. Will is one of the best people I have ever worked with so it makes me angry and sad that it has come to this. Will has dealt with it in a way he feels is fit and if I had my choice, none of them would be on social media - I don't see the advantage. There are a lot of, for want of a better word, idiots and unhappy people that want to project their unhappiness on other people. When I first started, it was the start of message board and online forums. The lads told me about it. The first three things I read about myself, one said I was functional but drone-like in midfield and they were probably right. I thought, 'I'm not reading that again'. Then you start questioning everything if you don't have a strong sense of self. I believe Will does have a strong sense of self with what he has been through so I don't worry about Will. I really hope that I get to celebrate on the pitch with Will having achieved something special and this means absolutely nothing. It would be a slap in the face for someone who wrote it. Of course, criticise players as footballers - but don't overstep the line. There are more important things in life, although it doesn't feel like it at times, but there really are. I love Will and we will support him however he needs but I have no worries and if he is on the pitch tomorrow, he will be great. I have also asked him to perform a different role recently and I think he has been great but that's my fault if you don't agree. Don't judge him on that if you don't think he has performed well there. But he is so tactically flexible and will continue to be. I am upset if it comes to that but I guess that is the modern day and age. I don't like my children on it and I fear for the next generation. There is no accountability at all and it makes me feel sick. Fair play to RM for defending his player publically - nothing wrong with this and very admirable. However, I hope privately he's working on Smallbone's inability to defend, track back and tackle - it's not been addressed all season and is causing more problems than ever with he playing in a DM role. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSA96 Posted March 1 Share Posted March 1 Just now, StrangelyBrown said: Fair play to RM for defending his player publically - nothing wrong with this and very admirable. However, I hope privately he's working on Smallbone's inability to defend, track back and tackle - it's not been addressed all season and is causing more problems than ever with he playing in a DM role. Seems that Downes is back now and so he won't be asked to play the deeper role of the three any more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 Don't really get why Smallbone would be getting more abuse than anyone else. He's been a solid member of the team this season and despite the usual discourse he does actually put some good passes and crosses in, as well as getting in good forward positions and bagging himself some goals. Our best midfield combo for me would be Downes and Aribo so what we're essentially asking is if Smallbone is good enough to be third choice in a championship side and the answer is absolutely yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade Garrett Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 8 hours ago, CSA96 said: To spare a trip to the awful Echo website - comments in full here. Russell Martin gave a four-minute response to the Will Smallbone abuse earlier today: I feel really sorry for Will that it's got to that point and I don't like social media for that reason. It has become a cesspit of negativity and toxicity and a place where people feel they can say something they would never say to their face. About someone they don't know as well. Everybody is so quick to pass judgement and express an opinion. I am not on it but I have been made aware of it and some of the stuff I have seen, I just don't understand what human being says those things. It is to someone who, if you are a supporter, tries to give everything every day to your football club - a football club he loves. He has been desperate to play for this football club and he has been here since he was a kid. You then have to understand some of the things Will has been through on his journey and the pain he has been through. Whatever you think of him, he plays a lot because he is brilliant and he is a fantastic young man who is growing a lot. It has been a privilege to work with him and to understand his story and what he has been through to get to this point. Judge people as footballers but some of the stuff written has been disgusting. I'd love to sit down with that person and understand why. What is going on in their life that they feel they have to write something like that? I am really protective of my players. Will is one of the best people I have ever worked with so it makes me angry and sad that it has come to this. Will has dealt with it in a way he feels is fit and if I had my choice, none of them would be on social media - I don't see the advantage. There are a lot of, for want of a better word, idiots and unhappy people that want to project their unhappiness on other people. When I first started, it was the start of message board and online forums. The lads told me about it. The first three things I read about myself, one said I was functional but drone-like in midfield and they were probably right. I thought, 'I'm not reading that again'. Then you start questioning everything if you don't have a strong sense of self. I believe Will does have a strong sense of self with what he has been through so I don't worry about Will. I really hope that I get to celebrate on the pitch with Will having achieved something special and this means absolutely nothing. It would be a slap in the face for someone who wrote it. Of course, criticise players as footballers - but don't overstep the line. There are more important things in life, although it doesn't feel like it at times, but there really are. I love Will and we will support him however he needs but I have no worries and if he is on the pitch tomorrow, he will be great. I have also asked him to perform a different role recently and I think he has been great but that's my fault if you don't agree. Don't judge him on that if you don't think he has performed well there. But he is so tactically flexible and will continue to be. I am upset if it comes to that but I guess that is the modern day and age. I don't like my children on it and I fear for the next generation. There is no accountability at all and it makes me feel sick. That is admirable and I share his thoughts on social media. The fact is though, that the team doesn’t function well whenever Smallbone is played in Downes position. I don’t blame him for that, you wouldn’t moan if MLT couldn’t play defensive midfield. Martin is right, he should be accountable for that, not the player. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 If you want to hear it from the managers mouth it’s here https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/video/press-conference-part-two-martin-looks-to-birmingham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErwinK1961 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 3 hours ago, Saint_clark said: Don't really get why Smallbone would be getting more abuse than anyone else. He's been a solid member of the team this season and despite the usual discourse he does actually put some good passes and crosses in, as well as getting in good forward positions and bagging himself some goals. Our best midfield combo for me would be Downes and Aribo so what we're essentially asking is if Smallbone is good enough to be third choice in a championship side and the answer is absolutely yes. Because majority of our fanbase are complete melts. 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAlehouseBrawlers Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 3 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said: Because majority of our fanbase are complete melts. Just ours? I post on one football forum and a family WhatsApp thingy so social media kind of passes me by, I haven't got the slightest interest in it and am getting a bit long in the tooth to be posting on here for much longer tbh. Loved the old paper fanzines and original football phone-ins (Danny Baker, Lofty) but haven't listened in to them for years for all the dinlos that now call in. I'm aware the laws protect all these anonymous abusers but I would imagine a lot of them probably ain't fans of that club but 'rivals' masquerading - laws may change and come back and bite some on butt, we all leave a footprint posting online and I'd bet a lot of the abuse would filter back to some gutless cunts who have absolutely no connection to the victim other than a target for their hate and bile. Weirdos. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangelyBrown Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 3 hours ago, Saint_clark said: Don't really get why Smallbone would be getting more abuse than anyone else. He's been a solid member of the team this season and despite the usual discourse he does actually put some good passes and crosses in, as well as getting in good forward positions and bagging himself some goals. Our best midfield combo for me would be Downes and Aribo so what we're essentially asking is if Smallbone is good enough to be third choice in a championship side and the answer is absolutely yes. Perhaps because he's only half a player. I don't disagree that he's good enough with the ball, but a midfielder really should be able to add something defensively - the only thing he offers defensively are sloppy fouls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gio1saints Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 (edited) It’s extremely sad for Will, Saints and for every supporter that “one of our own” has had to do this. Literally no one is immune to the nasty personal stuff that gets posted every day online by our own “fans” about RM & our players, and anyone who defends them. You’d think it was supporters of other clubs trying to destroy player, manager and supporter morale with the vile stuff but no, it’s as likely to be a saints so-called “ fan” as anybody else. More likely in fact on here. The list of Saints players who are meant to show maximum loyalty to the club yet are ritually abused by some supporters grows longer. RM was 100% correct - it’s idiots and unhappy people projecting their unhappiness onto others. Only upside is that it’s a human condition not limited to Saints fans to be like this. Not everyone is like that, fortunately. Anyhow- COYS ! - a morale boosting 3pts and a good performance do everyone the world of good! Edited March 2 by gio1saints 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 3 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said: Perhaps because he's only half a player. I don't disagree that he's good enough with the ball, but a midfielder really should be able to add something defensively - the only thing he offers defensively are sloppy fouls. Complete midfielders are a rarity in the championship. Even when we last went up, we had Morgan who couldn't shoot, Hammond who wasn't really creative, chaplow who couldn't defend, Cork who couldn't shoot or pick out a killer ball...the search for an all rounder at this level means you end up with someone who is below average at everything, good at nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintant Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 23 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said: Because a minority of our fanbase are complete melts. Corrected that for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weston Super Saint Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 12 minutes ago, gio1saints said: It’s extremely sad for Will, Saints and for every supporter that “one of our own” has had to do this. Literally no one is immune to the nasty personal stuff that gets posted every day online by our own “fans” about RM & our players, and anyone who defends them. You’d think it was supporters of other clubs trying to destroy player, manager and supporter morale with the vile stuff but no, it’s as likely to be a saints so-called “ fan” as anybody else. More likely in fact on here. The list of Saints players who are meant to show maximum loyalty to the club yet are ritually abused by some supporters grows longer. RM was 100% correct - it’s idiots and unhappy people projecting their unhappiness onto others. Only upside is that it’s a human condition not limited to Saints fans to be like this. Not everyone is like that, fortunately. Anyhow- COYS ! - a morale boosting 3pts and a good performance do everyone the world of good! Sticks and stones.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 That's a great statement from Martin. Absolutely spot on. It's not just social media either, some of the stuff written on here can be quite nasty too. I very much doubt any players trawl this forum but it's totally unnecessary to call a player or a manager a cunt or fucking useless just because you don't consider them to be as good at their job as you want them to be. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintant Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 6 minutes ago, Saint_clark said: Complete midfielders are a rarity in the championship. Even when we last went up, we had Morgan who couldn't shoot, Hammond who wasn't really creative, chaplow who couldn't defend, Cork who couldn't shoot or pick out a killer ball...the search for an all rounder at this level means you end up with someone who is below average at everything, good at nothing. Did we have two players called Chaplow? The one I remember was a tenacious little bugger who gave 100%, always got stuck in and put his body on the line. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 2 minutes ago, saintant said: Did we have two players called Chaplow? The one I remember was a tenacious little bugger who gave 100%, always got stuck in and put his body on the line. He was tenacious and got stuck in yes but in a Shane Long kind of way, he was at his best further forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErwinK1961 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 28 minutes ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said: Just ours? I post on one football forum and a family WhatsApp thingy so social media kind of passes me by, I haven't got the slightest interest in it and am getting a bit long in the tooth to be posting on here for much longer tbh. Loved the old paper fanzines and original football phone-ins (Danny Baker, Lofty) but haven't listened in to them for years for all the dinlos that now call in. I'm aware the laws protect all these anonymous abusers but I would imagine a lot of them probably ain't fans of that club but 'rivals' masquerading - laws may change and come back and bite some on butt, we all leave a footprint posting online and I'd bet a lot of the abuse would filter back to some gutless cunts who have absolutely no connection to the victim other than a target for their hate and bile. Weirdos. No not just ours, it’s true of most. But in this instant, it’s not other fan bases abusing our player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErwinK1961 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 19 minutes ago, saintant said: Corrected that for you. Not sure you have tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 On 26/02/2024 at 14:46, Noodles34 said: Watching Burnley over the weekend, well, that's us basically. And that's what is going to happen if or when we go up. Just wondering what the point is? People who say they love the EPL (as a Saints fan) are basically there to watch the big clubs, aren't they? There is going to be nothing enjoyable about going up and thinking this kind of football is going to have any effect. I like Martin and if he's happy to stay for the next few years in the EFL, and gives us some entertaining football i.e. Swansea first half, some bat shot crazy football like the Huddersfield game and okay, we'll have some shit, like Saturday, well, all in all, I'd take that. This is the fact of the matter. People cite their reasons for wanting to be in the premier league they are usually no no particular order, for the finances it brings to the club, for the quality of the football and for the chance to see Saints play against the best. People of clubs of Saints size who are desperate to be in the Premier league are the classic Premier League consumer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 20 minutes ago, The Cat said: That's a great statement from Martin. Absolutely spot on. It's not just social media either, some of the stuff written on here can be quite nasty too. I very much doubt any players trawl this forum but it's totally unnecessary to call a player or a manager a cunt or fucking useless just because you don't consider them to be as good at their job as you want them to be. You are right in what you say. For Smallbone i dont really get why he seems to the target, he's not the greatest player but he's not bad and does a decent job, plus being "one of our own" you'd think he'd get a bit more slack. It's weird. Unfortuanatly there are an awful lot of pricks in the this world and social media has given them a lounder voice 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintant Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 14 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said: Not sure you have tbh. So you really do believe a majority of our fan base are melts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusic Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 10 hours ago, StrangelyBrown said: Fair play to RM for defending his player publically - nothing wrong with this and very admirable. However, I hope privately he's working on Smallbone's inability to defend, track back and tackle - it's not been addressed all season and is causing more problems than ever with he playing in a DM role. Not sure its primarily about defending Smallbone - afterall what has he done that needs defending? He misplaced a pass after being very good for most of the season - you would have to be an absolute tool to give him vile abuse for that. I see it as RM attacking the types of lowlifes who wish illness and death on in this case someone who is seemingly a great lad and has obviously been through a lot for a person in their early 20s. The "However...." bit of your post suggests you haven't really grasped it. There is no "however" in this situation. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErwinK1961 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 4 minutes ago, saintant said: So you really do believe a majority of our fan base are melts? Yes, that’s why I said it.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pingpong Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 7 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said: Yes, that’s why I said it.. Think that's harsh, you are missing the silent majority. I reckon about 35%, maximum. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 11 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said: And yet, we are no where near the Man City of the Championship!! 5th highest spenders, but 1st in net spend. We may have wealth, but it's tucked up nicely in the bank! That's an interesting table, but I guess it's when was the start and end date. Our balance in the bank looks really positive but we forked out loads in the previous summer and January windows. Still think when we've got £15m players on our bench other Championship clubs can only look and dream of having the same. It's no coincidence our league is looking like the premiership with a few wealthy clubs at the top. If we weren't in that group, then our fans can rightly question RM's methods/tactics. I think he's one dimensional but can't really complain too much given the season we've had so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrangelyBrown Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 12 minutes ago, Dusic said: Not sure its primarily about defending Smallbone - afterall what has he done that needs defending? He misplaced a pass after being very good for most of the season - you would have to be an absolute tool to give him vile abuse for that. I see it as RM attacking the types of lowlifes who wish illness and death on in this case someone who is seemingly a great lad and has obviously been through a lot for a person in their early 20s. The "However...." bit of your post suggests you haven't really grasped it. There is no "however" in this situation. Fair point regarding the abuse and I haven't condoned it at all. I suspect what underlies the abuse is that people are frustrated with his performances but unable to express themselves without resorting to vile insults - I'm not saying this is ok. And you are right I naively hadn't realised the abuse was that nasty. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VectisSaint Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 47 minutes ago, The Cat said: That's a great statement from Martin. Absolutely spot on. It's not just social media either, some of the stuff written on here can be quite nasty too. I very much doubt any players trawl this forum but it's totally unnecessary to call a player or a manager a cunt or fucking useless just because you don't consider them to be as good at their job as you want them to be. 'On here' is social media. Some of the stuff written on here is as bad as stuff on X at times (though I think the comments about WS were more extremely disgusting). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 1 hour ago, The Cat said: That's a great statement from Martin. Absolutely spot on. It's not just social media either, some of the stuff written on here can be quite nasty too. I very much doubt any players trawl this forum but it's totally unnecessary to call a player or a manager a cunt or fucking useless just because you don't consider them to be as good at their job as you want them to be. Unless it’s Nathan Jones? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintant Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 34 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said: Yes, that’s why I said it.. So you've just insulted the majority of this fan forum 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 5 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said: Unless it’s Nathan Jones? 173 #whataboutnathanjonescounter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trousers Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 (edited) 4 minutes ago, saintant said: So you've just insulted the majority of this fan forum 🙂 It's ok to offend others when you're defending the offended though... #goingaroundincircles Edited March 2 by trousers 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 57 minutes ago, Turkish said: You are right in what you say. For Smallbone i dont really get why he seems to the target, he's not the greatest player but he's not bad and does a decent job, plus being "one of our own" you'd think he'd get a bit more slack. It's weird. Unfortuanatly there are an awful lot of pricks in the this world and social media has given them a lounder voice I didn’t realise how many twats there actually were in the world until social media came along! Fuck me there’s loads and loads. Suppose it just proves the old adage that birds of a feather….. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexLaw76 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 Nathan Jones came in for dogs abuse from Saints fans on here and on social media (and still does to a lesser degree) But lets ignore that 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 (edited) 22 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said: Nathan Jones came in for dogs abuse from Saints fans on here and on social media (and still does to a lesser degree) But lets ignore that What's that got to do with anything? Some of the abuse Jones got was also utterly detestable and was posted in main by the same trolls who target Smallbone. Neither scenario is right, fans who throw disgusting comments (well, any human to be fair) at people on social media do not deserve any spotlight Edited March 2 by S-Clarke 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S-Clarke Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 5 hours ago, Saint_clark said: Don't really get why Smallbone would be getting more abuse than anyone else. He's been a solid member of the team this season and despite the usual discourse he does actually put some good passes and crosses in, as well as getting in good forward positions and bagging himself some goals. Our best midfield combo for me would be Downes and Aribo so what we're essentially asking is if Smallbone is good enough to be third choice in a championship side and the answer is absolutely yes. Personally for me the best combo still is Smallbone and Downes, that hasn't changed. Smallbone was terrific in that 25 game run for us, he was as pivitol in that as THB was at the back. Basically what we've seen in recent weeks is Smallbone playing a role that he's not necessarily suited to physically, so it's showed up more of his limitations than his positive attributes. So with Downes back we will get to see Smallbone deployed higher up the pitch in the area's where his positive attributes can come to the fore, where physicalness or positional awareness isn't as critical as it would be in the 6. There's nothing wrong with Smallbone at this level and some of the fans OTT comments towards him are drivel and are born out of a lack of understanding of football from themselves. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdmickey3 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 (edited) 4 hours ago, ErwinK1961 said: Yes, that’s why I said it.. Do you class yourself as a melt or do you think you are something special After reading your odd reply, I guess you do think you are special and better than the rest of the forum but delusion can be difficult to realise Edited March 2 by tdmickey3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexLaw76 Posted March 2 Share Posted March 2 36 minutes ago, S-Clarke said: What's that got to do with anything? Some of the abuse Jones got was also utterly detestable and was posted in main by the same trolls who target Smallbone. Neither scenario is right, fans who throw disgusting comments (well, any human to be fair) at people on social media do not deserve any spotlight Because no one gave a toss, but do now. Selective outrage 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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