Russell Martin

[notnowcato]

2 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

Agree with all of that but your original post did seem to speculate beyond that unless I'm misunderstanding.

"We’re 2 shit passes and a terrible penalty away from having a reasonable start to the season."

Yep, that post should definitely have the word potentially in it. Poor copy on my part. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, notnowcato said:

Wow sounds like we lost a lot of games from winning positions last season…. Or did we?? Did we really lose lots of games from a winning position? More than normal for a team finishing top 6? 
 

Leicester away was fucking annoying. 

I didn't say we end up losing loads of games from winning positions, I said there were plenty of examples, just maybe that could include draws as well? But if you want to pedantic, Cardiff away, Rotherham home, Watford away, probably a few more I would say. And before you mention it, i know Rotherham and Watford were draws.

[notnowcato]

3 minutes ago, SambaMaverick said:

3 losses then, 1 more than the best 2 teams of last season. 
The winning positions to draws is what cost us. 

[notnowcato]

1 minute ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I didn't say we end up losing loads of games from winning positions, I said there were plenty of examples, just maybe that could include draws as well? But if you want to pedantic, Cardiff away, Rotherham home, Watford away, probably a few more I would say. And before you mention it, i know Rotherham and Watford were draws.

I’m guilty of bad copy too. The way your post read was to suggest we had lost loads of games from winning positions. We know we didn’t, so all good. 

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, notnowcato said:

Your opinion is your point… gotcha. 
 

Realistically, I would replace expecting with aiming.

That's kind of how this forum works sweetheart. Everything I write is my opinon.

[Disco Stu]

First couple of minutes about Russell Martin for anyone interested. Say what you like about Alex Crook but I think he's right about one thing. Ipswich will change the way they play dependant on the opponent to grind out results. We will play Russell's way regardless of whether it gets results.

 

[notnowcato]

13 minutes ago, Disco Stu said:

First couple of minutes about Russell Martin for anyone interested. Say what you like about Alex Crook but I think he's right about one thing. Ipswich will change the way they play dependant on the opponent to grind out results. We will play Russell's way regardless of whether it gets results.

 

I’m not sure Ipswich do change their way of playing that much, from the admittedly few games I’ve seen of them over the past 13 months. They will sit in, they will look to hit you on the break. They were bloody good at it last season. 

[Disco Stu]

3 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

I’m not sure Ipswich do change their way of playing that much, from the admittedly few games I’ve seen of them over the past 13 months. They will sit in, they will look to hit you on the break. They were bloody good at it last season. 

That's what they've identified as the the best chance to grind out results against opponents so far this season sure. They have had an especially tough set of opening fixtures. That said, it's not always how they set up last season.

They played that way to get results against the likes of us and Leicester, but they averaged 53% possession last season which is more than the likes of Norwich, West Brom and Middlesbrough suggesting they tried to dictate the game when they could but were equally happy to sit in on the counter when necessary. Ipswich games such as Middlesbrough, Norwich and even Leeds are good examples where they had 60% possession and nearly double the shots on goal.

That pragmatism from McKenna is a huge factor in how they earned double promotion.

[Pamplemousse]

I guess we're forgetting then that we completely changed formation in the play-offs and had less possession in every game we played against Leeds.

To say Martin hasn't been pragmatic with us is just wrong.

[Disco Stu]

10 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

I guess we're forgetting then that we completely changed formation in the play-offs and had less possession in every game we played against Leeds.

To say Martin hasn't been pragmatic with us is just wrong.

The way I see it, Russell Martin is a "philosophy" manager. Kieran McKenna is a "pragmatism" manager. One is about producing football in ones own image and the other is about trying to get the best out of what's at your disposal even if it means straying from your ideals.

That's not to say Russell is incapable of showing any pragmatism or McKenna doesn't have his own ideals. All the best managers are a hybrid of the two as you need an element of identity in order for everyone in the team to know their roles. That being said, I would put Russell at the extreme end of the philosophy spectrum.

My issue isn't even about having more or less possession. Too often, we've looked like a team holding possession for possessions sake without showing enough attacking intent or moving the ball at any tempo to stretch play. We dominate possession whilst conceding more shots so it doesn't seem to help our attacking play or our defensive play. Our opponents this season have been noticeably faster and more direct on the ball compared to us. Forest being a great example of having 35% possession but having 23 shots to our 5 showing possession really doesn't matter at least in isolation. In fact, we've often looked better when we have deviated from our possession obsessed style and I wish Russell would do it more often.

 

Edited September 21 by Disco Stu

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Disco Stu said:

That's what they've identified as the the best chance to grind out results against opponents so far this season sure. They have had an especially tough set of opening fixtures. That said, it's not always how they set up last season.

They played that way to get results against the likes of us and Leicester, but they averaged 53% possession last season which is more than the likes of Norwich, West Brom and Middlesbrough suggesting they tried to dictate the game when they could but were equally happy to sit in on the counter when necessary. Ipswich games such as Middlesbrough, Norwich and even Leeds are good examples where they had 60% possession and nearly double the shots on goal.

That pragmatism from McKenna is a huge factor in how they earned double promotion.

I'd seen Ipswich know when to press an advantage and be attacking. Yes, more risks. But with the knowledge they were getting on top of their opponents, and keeping them penned in. Lots of chances. Then in other games, know to sit in, until they got that advantage. If not, see what they could get put of the game. Again. riskier and less controlled than we were.

When we clicked, our control, first time passing, movement and chances were the best in the league.

When we weren't clicking, we kept to the plan, giving up the drive and momentum Ipswich could imprint on a game.

One way of thinking is that our possession will result in lower risk across the season.

The argument is we watched a relegation season where we had an error resulting in a goal in us every game. And not much to show that has changed. With that, when we don't click we're not offering much at the other end.

Ipswich might get more reward by being willing to take those risks. They might also get punished because of it.

Hard to tell.

[Whitey Grandad]

5 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Wow sounds like we lost a lot of games from winning positions last season…. Or did we?? Did we really lose lots of games from a winning position? More than normal for a team finishing top 6? 
 

Leicester away was fucking annoying. 

How can any of them have been winning positions if we lost the games?

[Whitey Grandad]

7 hours ago, notnowcato said:

Again, you’re getting a bit excited. We’re 2 shit passes and a terrible penalty away from having a reasonable start to the season. Fundamental elements of playing football as a professional footballer. Those elements are not to do with formation, philosophy, picking the “right” players etc. 

Without those 2 shit passes and terrible penalty we’d still be sitting on 4 defeats but with a slightly better goal difference.

[ErwinK1961]

7 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Without those 2 shit passes and terrible penalty we’d still be sitting on 4 defeats but with a slightly better goal difference.

Impossible to know.

[Whitey Grandad]

8 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said:

Impossible to know.

Of course it is. Just as it’s impossible to say that without those we would have had a decent start.

[Viking Saint]

https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-southampton-set-sights-on-championship-boss-to-replace-russell-martin/

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

4 hours ago, Disco Stu said:

Our opponents this season have been noticeably faster and more direct on the ball compared to us. Forest being a great example of having 35% possession but having 23 shots to our 5 showing possession really doesn't matter at least in isolation. In fact, we've often looked better when we have deviated from our possession obsessed style and I wish Russell would do it more often.

Very good point. That Forest game struck home to me that even the average teams in the league played the ball so much quicker than us. We've got the players to so the same so I also wish RM would focus on tempo.

[saintant]

Just now, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

Very good point. That Forest game struck home to me that even the average teams in the league played the ball so much quicker than us. We've got the players to so the same so I also wish RM would focus on tempo.

Very hard to play RM's possession game at a high tempo unless you have exceptional players which we don't.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

3 minutes ago, saintant said:

Very hard to play RM's possession game at a high tempo unless you have exceptional players which we don't.

We don't necessarily need exceptional players. Fernandes looks to go forward quickly, Flynn Downes can see a pass and Sugu and KWP move with pace. We have the players, We just need the intent.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

7 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

We don't necessarily need exceptional players. Fernandes looks to go forward quickly, Flynn Downes can see a pass and Sugu and KWP move with pace. We have the players, We just need the intent.

The intent?

Or the Will ?

[sledger]

2 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

The intent?

Or the Will ?

haha aka the crab

[Norm]

Southampton have shortlisted Blackburn manager John Eustace as the Saints consider potential replacements for Russell Martin
 

BBC Gossip 

 

sorry, I didn’t notice this posted above🙄

Edited September 21 by Norm
Posted already

[Charlie Wayman]

2 hours ago, Norm said:

Southampton have shortlisted Blackburn manager John Eustace as the Saints consider potential replacements for Russell Martin
 

BBC Gossip 

 

sorry, I didn’t notice this posted above🙄

Ah! Somebody else made it up this time but the Beeb didn't verify the story before repeating it (for which they whole heartedly condemn others most of the time. BBC Verify on holiday?)

Edited September 21 by Charlie Wayman
Too early in the day to think straight. Sod these darker mornings.

[Midfield_General]

11 hours ago, Viking Saint said:

https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-southampton-set-sights-on-championship-boss-to-replace-russell-martin/

Ah, good old Football Insider. The stalwart of tier 5 bullshit literally made up for clicks. 

[david in sweden]

The possession style of football has many advantages - namely denying the opposition a look at the ball, but we still lack creativity in midfield.

We won't be seeing Lallana playing many 90 min. games, but you can certainly notice his influence when he is on the pitch.

Despite the shortcomings of points lost (see texts above), in the end ...we won promotion namely because we managed to beat Leeds three times, 

with a team that built around 5 loaned players (all who thankfully DAJFU at various times).  Now that we are in the top tier every game is more

of a challenge -and once again we start every game with half a team of new faces who, having been introduced to each other, have new skills to learn.

Some players were not first choices, or even high on our list of potential buys, and it will take time that RM doesn't have - to get them to gell as a unit. 

 

Last season went first 4 games undefeated despite being second best on several occasions, and then lost the next 4 before recovering form in beating

Leeds - the first time.  It's easy to forget the following 20-odd games we went undefeated but those games was the foundation of our eventual promotion.

This season we have played some great football - in 30 minute spells - but with disappointing results that might have earned a few points on another day.

Defeats that were down to several individual defensive errors, and a gaggle of 4 or 5 strikers ...who have yet to score a league goal between them.

 

I think RM will be given a bit longer before feel the axe on his neck, but he needs to see the team getting some points on the board  PDQ. 

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

It was a few days ago, but was listening to a fairly short news item on fixture congestion. Going into the CL games they started with Rodri's quotes. They mentioned the expanded FIFA club tournament. So, top club level.

So a bit of a surprise when the manager's opinion they quoted was our Russ. Getting mentions in the same chat as the big clubs he hopes to be leading one day.

Barcelona calling... 🙂

[gio1saints]

I feel passionately that all Saints fans should support the team ( and that includes the Manager ) even more in the hard times than in the good. 
 

Growing up I always felt uncomfortable and mystified by “ glory hunter” supporters who revelled in winning everything ( you know- the Man Utd, Chelsea’s, Arsenals, Liverpools and nowadays Man City’s etc of this world) and who wore the shirts proclaiming allegiance. They, Incomprehensively to me, enjoyed the glory of winning trophies. But literally had no “ feeling” than that for their club. It was all about the prestige and bragging rights. 
 

I translated that in my young mind as “ if you support the right team it means you are a winner- successful- clever - and conversely “if you support the wrong team - a loser - failure- stupid.” 
 

That really got me in the core of my rebellious stomach. 
 

Consequently I never felt anything in common with those glory hunter people at all. My every sympathy and support was unerringly with the underdogs and often the sneered upon. Maybe my background as the son of immigrants to this country impacted that but all the same, where there was a little un against a big un I always knew where my support lay. 

One day I happened to chance upon some footage of Leeds United on TV humiliating this team called Southampton 7-0 playing “Ole” football. Even the commentators were smirking. Bastards! I hated it and I hated the commentary even more. Public humiliation was funny was it? That was when I first started to support Saints. Think it was 1973 or 1974. 
 

Fast forward what is it - over 50 years - and I realise I am an extremist - a partisan idealist when it comes to Saints ~ and it shows in my defence of team and manager from ( what I consider) unfair criticism.
 

So there’s a few on hear prob get triggered into saying ever more unfair things about RM the Club, the players (and me) but you all ought to know that I’m 100% Saints wether it’s in National League or EPL , wether we win 1-0 or lose 10-0.
 

My support transcends results because Saints have always represented far more to me than “ just “ a football team and a match result. 
 

So, if we end up ( predictably) losing today I will be cheesed off like everyone but the results will never change my attitude about Saints.
 

And, this is my main point I guess, in Russell Martin I see someone with what to many seems a self destructive insistence on doing it his way and not Kow-towing to what everyone who knows better says he should do. It’s obstinacy by another word, doggedness another. Stupidity for some or even many.  Fighting back against the status quo is a way I look at it. He fucking challenges most preconceptions of what’s winning football in the EPL right now. Will he succeed? Will he fail? I don’t really care - though obvs hope he succeeds. What matters is he - Saints - are resisting the prevailing paradigm and refusing to play the way they are supposed to. A big FU to all the glory hunters and a role model for those wishing to achieve in life- with honour and integrity, against the odds.

That’s Saintly, for me.  

Don’t get why anyone would not want to support Saints who gets that.
 

As for fan debates- criticise tactics yes- blow off steam yes - have a hate on a player or Manager if you must -  but as for the critical underlying premise that Southampton Football Club represents? 

Support, Support, Support. 😇
 

 

Edited September 21 by gio1saints

[Badger]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

I feel passionately that all Saints fans should support the team ( and that includes the Manager ) even more in the hard times than in the good. 
 

Growing up I always felt uncomfortable and mystified by “ glory hunter” supporters who revelled in winning everything ( you know- the Man Utd, Chelsea’s, Arsenals, Liverpools and nowadays Man City’s etc of this world) and who wore the shirts proclaiming allegiance. They, Incomprehensively to me, enjoyed the glory of winning trophies. But literally had no “ feeling” than that for their club. It was all about the prestige and bragging rights. 
 

I translated that in my young mind as “ if you support the right team it means you are a winner- successful- clever - and conversely “if you support the wrong team - a loser - failure- stupid.” 
 

That really got me in the core of my rebellious stomach. 
 

Consequently I never felt anything in common with those glory hunter people at all. My every sympathy and support was unerringly with the underdogs and often the sneered upon. Maybe my background as the son of immigrants to this country impacted that but all the same, where there was a little un against a big un I always knew where my support lay. 

One day I happened to chance upon some footage of Leeds United on TV humiliating this team called Southampton 7-0 playing “Ole” football. Even the commentators were smirking. Bastards! I hated it and I hated the commentary even more. Public humiliation was funny was it? That was when I first started to support Saints. Think it was 1973 or 1974. 
 

Fast forward what is it - over 50 years - and I realise I am an extremist - a partisan idealist when it comes to Saints ~ and it shows in my defence of team and manager from ( what I consider) unfair criticism.
 

So there’s a few on hear prob get triggered into saying ever more unfair things about RM the Club, the players (and me) but you all ought to know that I’m 100% Saints wether it’s in National League or EPL , wether we win 1-0 or lose 10-0.
 

My support transcends results because Saints have always represented far more to me than “ just “ a football team and a match result. 
 

So, if we end up ( predictably) losing today I will be cheesed off like everyone but the results will never change my attitude about Saints.
 

And, this is my main point I guess, in Russell Martin I see someone with what to many seems a self destructive insistence on doing it his way and not Kow-towing to what everyone who knows better says he should do. It’s obstinacy by another word, doggedness another. Stupidity for some or even many.  Fighting back against the status quo is a way I look at it. He fucking challenges most preconceptions of what’s winning football in the EPL right now. Will he succeed? Will he fail? I don’t really care - though obvs hope he succeeds. What matters is he - Saints - are resisting the prevailing paradigm and refusing to play the way they are supposed to. A big FU to all the glory hunters and a role model for those wishing to achieve in life- with honour and integrity, against the odds.

That’s Saintly, for me.  

Don’t get why anyone would not want to support Saints who gets that.
 

As for fan debates- criticise tactics yes- blow off steam yes - have a hate on a player or Manager if you must -  but the critical underlying premise of Southampton Football Club?

Support, Support, Support. 😇
 

 

That’s a good and thought provoking post, or essay which could inspire a lot of debate.

For me the main difference between “then” ( 1960’s to perhaps 2014) and more recent times and “now”, is that in the past there was a tremendous sense of ‘in it together’ , players, manager, fans. This was especially true at The Dell, even with Branfoot fans identified with many of the players, even the ‘overseas’ players (Monkou and Kachloul spring to mind) appeared to be motivated and care.

Now it’s more difficult to identify with players who in  your heart you know are likely to piss off at the first opportunity.

Agree with you about supporting the team on the field, and wish this could be cranked up a bit. This is perhaps over to the younger generation, I’m getting a bit too old for it all, but did my ‘apprenticeship’ and served my time on various  terraces and stands at The Dell after many a beer. 
 

That said supporting Davies, McGrath, Channon, et al was a lot easier to get worked up about than the current crop. 

 

Edited September 21 by Badger

[bpsaint]

14 hours ago, Viking Saint said:

https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-southampton-set-sights-on-championship-boss-to-replace-russell-martin/

[gio1saints]

Thanks @Badger for your comments. 
Russell is one of the clearest examples ( to me- I make no assumptions a for the reader!) of ( perhaps or even probably) foolhardy resistance to life’s unfairness. 

The powerlessness often inherent in life due to “ the way it is”. The reality in our world is that the EPL is like an oligarchy and it’s really unwise for anyone to speak up or defy the masters. 

RM is Berated everywhere for his insistence on playing this way. Carries on not winning that will get him sacked. Terribly  weak, short term decision that IMO. 

This conviction he has is often transmuted into arrogance - by his detractors. There’s no doubt you need strong character and will to keep saying the paradigm is faulty and there must be another way when everyone is calling you an arrogant prick etc. 

Yet persist he does. Good for him. And good for Saints. I’m proud he is our Manager and is sticking to his principles. 
 

I predict the time he gives up those principles- his main strength - and tries playing football likes he is told, Saints will have blown any chance of breaking this achievement stranglehold for another X years. Back to mediocrity and knowing our place. 

Edited September 21 by gio1saints

[Whitey Grandad]

13 hours ago, saintant said:

Very hard to play RM's possession game at a high tempo unless you have exceptional players which we don't.

It can never be a night tempo game if moving the ball upfield ten yards requires taking ten passes moving the ball a hundred yards. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

30 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Thanks @Badger for your comments. 
Russell is one of the clearest examples ( to me- I make no assumptions a for the reader!) of ( perhaps or even probably) foolhardy resistance to life’s unfairness. 

The powerlessness often inherent in life due to “ the way it is”. The reality is that the EPL is like an oligarchy and it’s really unwise for anyone to speak up or defy the masters. 

RM is Berated everywhere for his insistence on playing this way. Carries on not winning that will get him sacked. Terrible m, weak, short term decision IMO. 

This conviction he has is often transmuted into arrogance - by his detractors. There’s no doubt you need strong character and will to keep saying the paradigm is faulty and there must be another way when everyone is calling you an arrogant prick etc. 

Yet persist he does. Good for him. And good for Saints. I’m proud he is our Manager and is sticking to his principles. 
 

I predict the time he gives up those principles- his main strength - and tries playing football likes he is told, Saints will have blown any chance of breaking this achievement stranglehold for another X years. Back to mediocrity and knowing our place. 

Lots of interesting points in those 2 posts Gio.

[Badger]

47 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

 Yet persist he does. Good for him. And good for Saints. I’m proud he is our Manager and is sticking to his principles. 
 

I predict the time he gives up those principles- his main strength - and tries playing football likes he is told, Saints will have blown any chance of breaking this achievement stranglehold for another X years. Back to mediocrity and knowing our place. 

This is where we have to agree to disagree Gio. Unfortunately I don’t share your unrelenting enthusiasm or confidence in RM to turn things round.

Hope he can for all our sakes as I dread where or who they’ll turn to next, and it could very well end up in 2023/4 free fall with three managers in a season. Mention of Eustace, less experienced than RM even ! 

[AlexLaw76]

Please leave the club

[Wade Garrett]

He has to go.

[Mr X]

2 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

He has to go.

No win at Bournemouth and the tide will turn 

[saintant]

1 minute ago, Mr X said:

No win at Bournemouth and the tide will turn 

It usually does down there.

[Harry_SFC]

5 minutes ago, Mr X said:

No win at Bournemouth and the tide will turn 

A draw wouldn't be a bad result but then it's Arsenal away which is a loss. Very hard to see where we are going to win a game. Everton at home is our best chance I guess. 

[Osvaldorama]

Can’t see the logic in sticking with him. 
 

He’s clearly not tactically astute enough to win games at this level. Need someone with PL experience who can organise a defence and set us up to be difficult to beat.

 

 

 

[Galway saint]

24 minutes ago, Mr X said:

No win at Bournemouth and the tide will turn 

can’t see it making much difference when the forward line is so poor. 

You could bring in someone to tighten up the defence but you’re not going to get enough goals from AA, BBD, Archer or Stewart for it to make any real difference

[Patches O Houlihan]

I see the usual gang are back on this thread. This is my thought

1 hour ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

There was nothing wrong with the tactics or team selection: Play out to encourage a 4 or 5 man press - then play it over them into space for Archer and Fraser to run on to.

Way way too easy to try to pin that on Martin. 

Archer missed one after doing well to enable it

BBD missed a couple of opportunities

Stewart could have done better getting on a couple of crosses. 

 

If we replayed that game with a Lambert, Ings or Pelle as our striker we likely win 2-0 or 3-0 

Striker recruitment, not team selection and tactics was the issue today.

[FarehamSaintJames]

Fucking reactive this forum in the last hour. 😂

A few more minutes and two more points and you’d be singing his praises going tactically great decisions, team sheet etc. 

Not a good result, but he isn’t the one that deflected the shot in ffs.

[Whitey Grandad]

2 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

Fucking reactive this forum in the last hour. 😂

A few more minutes and two more points and you’d be singing his praises going tactically great decisions, team sheet etc. 

Not a good result, but he isn’t the one that deflected the shot in ffs.

We needed to score more than one and we spent most of the game trying not to.

[Colinjb]

It says a lot for Martin that he can take us to promotion back up after the worst Premier League season in our history, deliver the longest unbeaten run in our history and attract a leading English goalkeeper to our based on the togetherness and working environment he has clearly created in our squad and still be so coldly viewed by so many of the fanbase.

Me included.

Should he be sacked I wouldn't feel sad, I would feel relieved. Despite the good he has clearly done.

Edited September 21 by Colinjb

[SambaMaverick]

I thought we played ok today. Another day (maybe with Che instead of Archer up front), we'd have won easily.

That being said, it was the most anti-Martin performance I can remember.

Long balls, balls being played straight into the centre-forward, proper 'chase that' balls over defender's heads.

We played forward with a decent zip 50% of the time thanks to Fernandes, Sugawara and Dibling, which is a big improvement on the usual 10%.

It was a basketball match at times, which Martin has said he really hates because there is no 'control'. 

For all his posturing about having a strict style, no plan B because it means you don't believe in plan A, etc etc - he played today to win at all costs because his arse is on the line.

That's what he should've been doing from day dot in this league. Build your system in block by block, don't just chuck it like shit at a wall and see what sticks.

Hopefully he's similarly pragmatic against Bournemouth or his time is up.

Edited September 21 by SambaMaverick

[Patches O Houlihan]

No doubt Whitey will hate it but I'm going to post some stats: So look away now if you don't like this sort of thing

• PL Table sorted by xG - ie the chances we create, we are 8th - ie we're pretty good at creating chances - the players and Russ's methods work. BUT the forwards aren't finishing them

• PL Table sorted by xG against - we are 17th - we give up lots of chances. We are newly returned to the league. No real surprises there.

• PL Table sorted by xPTS - ie how many points we should have if our results had matched the xG - we are 12th. Pretty good for a newly promoted side. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If our strikers can find some form we could do ok. Signing someone handy in January would probably be too late to save us though if our current forwards can't get it together. 

Edited September 21 by Patches O Houlihan
formatting

[Badger]

37 minutes ago, Colinjb said:

It says a lot for Martin that he can take us to promotion back up after the worst Premier League season in our history, deliver the longest unbeaten run in our history and attract a leading English goalkeeper to our based on the togetherness and working environment he has clearly created in our squad and still be so coldly viewed by so many of the fanbase.

Me included.

Should he be sacked I wouldn't feel sad, I would feel relieved. Despite the good he has clearly done.

Incredible how he's polarised opinion. Should be called Russell Marmite.

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

I see the usual gang are back on this thread. This is my thought

If we replayed that game with a Lambert, Ings or Pelle as our striker we likely win 2-0 or 3-0 

Striker recruitment, not team selection and tactics was the issue today.

This was Ralph's undoing, think it will be the same for RM.

[Matthew Le God]

Not marking any player on the edge of the box at set pieces is a ridiculous tactical choice.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

59 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

Fucking reactive this forum in the last hour. 😂

A few more minutes and two more points and you’d be singing his praises going tactically great decisions, team sheet etc. 

Not a good result, but he isn’t the one that deflected the shot in ffs.

That's the pace of it in real time. The replay shows it going off his Lego head, through Stephens legs and low and to the left past Bazunu. 🙂