Russell Martin

[The Cat]

10 minutes ago, Mr X said:

As this all but confirmed I think the club has made another big mistake hopefully it turns out I am completely wrong and they have played a blinder! Can't shake the feeling that we are a small club with an even smaller ambition 

We aren't a small club, we're a medium sized one. Someone like Mansfield or Rochdale or Stockport would be seen as a small club, not someone like us with a decent size stadium and fan base.

Also, why would you think there's a small ambition when the club spent crap loads on players in January and to appoint Jones and then more money to sack him?

Surely a club with small ambition wouldn't bother to sign relatively expensive players or pay compensation to a manager.

[Saint Garrett]

Classic saints for some fans to be writing him off before he’s even joined. Some seem to forget we’ve been relegated and are not the biggest draw right now. 

He gets full backing from me, seems he’s got the right characteristics to galvanise the club and build some solid foundations. If not, so be it, we’ll find someone else. Time for us to get behind him though and the full project. 

[Ed Rooney]

Just now, Saint Garrett said:

Classic saints for some fans to be writing him off before he’s even joined. Some seem to forget we’ve been relegated and are not the biggest draw right now. 

He gets full backing from me, seems he’s got the right characteristics to galvanise the club and build some solid foundations. If not, so be it, we’ll find someone else. Time for us to get behind him though and the full project. 

Deluded thinking we can get a top manager 

[Fan The Flames]

18 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Buddhists are all fucking twats.

Happy now?

I generally thought they were alright until Suella Cunting Braverman made me rethink.

[antialias]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Oh yes there is. Possession with no intent on attacking.

Possession with no intent of attacking is possession with intent on defending. So, no, there isn't such thing as a possession for possession sake.

[Roo1976]

4 hours ago, southamptonfc said:

Seems like we're trying to do it on the cheap like we did with our player signings last summer and with Jones and Seles. I predict similar results.

Fucking hope not..............................

[StrangelyBrown]

I'm happy to give Martin the benefit of the doubt, but we now have a relatively inexperienced manager who hasn't achieved much in football yet, working for a DoF who has never been a DoF, who is working for Ankerson who has already shown to be inept. Seems like a very brave move.

When everything gets a bit tricky there's no experience to fall back on so fingers crossed it all goes well from day one.

[egg]

9 minutes ago, antialias said:

Possession with no intent of attacking is possession with intent on defending. So, no, there isn't such thing as a possession for possession sake.

That's one way of looking at it. To win games you need to score goals. To do that possession needs to have, at some point, an attacking element, but knocking the ball around in your own half relentlessly is very much possession for possession sake. Possession with pace, movement and purpose in an attacking sense, and not losing the ball and conceding daft goals, is what makes possession based teams successful. 

[Dusic]

Swansea's attacking numbers have been very good (joint 4th most goals scored) so clearly shows a purpose to the possession.

Its been the defensive side that stopped them comfortably finshing in the playoffs.

[egg]

4 minutes ago, Dusic said:

Swansea's attacking numbers have been very good (joint 4th most goals scored) so clearly shows a purpose to the possession.

Its been the defensive side that stopped them comfortably finshing in the playoffs.

Yep... poor defending, including giving the ball away in dangerous areas, has led to them conceding the 5th most goals. Is keeping the ball near your own box, losing it time after time, and losing goals as a result, purposeful possession or pointless/dangerous.

You can't just focus on the goals scored. That doesn't lead to wins or promotion. 

[The Cat]

If we're good at attacking and a bit ropey at defending then surely we're in for some entertaining, high scoring games which should make for some well overdue excitement at St Mary's.

Would rather draw 3-3 than 1-1, or win 4-3 than 1-0. 

[suewhistle]

1 hour ago, Fan The Flames said:

I generally thought they were alright until Suella Cunting Braverman made me rethink.

I was just about to post something similar but luckily carried on reading the thread.. Generally politicians who make a thing of their faith seem to show a lack of understanding as to what it's all about. I hope that doesn't apply to football managers too where the Jones example doesn't inspire confidence..

[saint michael]

I’m not sure why we have to be experimental with a manager it just feels like an unnecessary risk.  
With the business model of developing and selling on, is he the best available manager at developing whilst creating high performance?

They have to be pretty sure that the combination of great development and great performances happens. I think it’s another roll of the dice by them. New young team, new manager for us, new league, 🤞🏻

[Saint Garrett]

48 minutes ago, egg said:

Yep... poor defending, including giving the ball away in dangerous areas, has led to them conceding the 5th most goals. Is keeping the ball near your own box, losing it time after time, and losing goals as a result, purposeful possession or pointless/dangerous.

You can't just focus on the goals scored. That doesn't lead to wins or promotion. 

He is, however, a young and upcoming manager, who will likely, learn from his experience at Swansea. 

Too much misery in recent years to be sat here whinging about a manager who isn’t even here yet. 

[West end Saints]

37 minutes ago, saint michael said:

I’m not sure why we have to be experimental with a manager it just feels like an unnecessary risk.  
With the business model of developing and selling on, is he the best available manager at developing whilst creating high performance?

They have to be pretty sure that the combination of great development and great performances happens. I think it’s another roll of the dice by them. New young team, new manager for us, new league, 🤞🏻

What is experimental? He's a manager from this league. 

Managers are either from a lower team, supposedly on their way up, 

Or

Failed at higher level and sacked. 

Which is why, for all the criticism there people are struggling to suggest a realistic and better option. 

But somehow he is, doing it on the cheap, not experienced enough or not successful enough. 

[goodymatt]

Martin also had a bottom five budget last season. Swansea faced the second least shots. I agree he is inexperienced and perhaps some tactical naivety has resulted in some of those additional goals conceded than expected. They should have had the 5th best defence (according to xGA) so the quality of players is also a big factor. I think I heard earlier 2 of their 3 keepers did their cruciates last season too, which is pretty unlucky! Signing nobody in January and losing Obafemi wouldn’t have helped.

I found the snippet that this appointment was influenced by Wilcox encouraging. Like other posters I’m cautiously excited by the prospect of a clear identity, Saints dominating the ball and scoring lots of goals. Time will tell if defence will continue to be an achilles heel for both Martin and Saints. For now, I’m happy to back Martin, even though the appointment comes with an element of risk and the absence of a galvanising ‘big name’ or an overqualified CV.

Edited 24 May, 2023 by goodymatt

[rallyboy]

This is as bad as when we appointed that ex-squaddie from Grimsby, or that physio bloke from Scunthorpe. 

 

[Miltonaggro]

I'm backing Russell Martin also, we are no longer a Premier League side and the chance to actually build something over a genuine close season into a new league should be rather refreshing after the dire shite of false dawns and predictable disasters we've had to endure over the last few years.  The Board must fully back him for this to work of course, and that includes a new spine of his choosing, hopefully no more silly gaming with YTS candidates it's about getting a similar blend to what we had in 2011/12.  As with Nathan Jones, since the news broke I have watched as much as I can in terms of RM teams and his interviews.  He is likeable and appears affable, but I think there is an edge there also, and he'll need that also - the touchline brawl and his sending off at Luton in March was a recent demonstration that the competitive edge is still there.  With football who knows how things will end up, but I can see the possible fit this time.  I wish him the very best and hope we tear up the Championship next season, possess the living shit out of it!  COYR. 

[Badger]

8 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

This is as bad as when we appointed that ex-squaddie from Grimsby, or that physio bloke from Scunthorpe. 

 

Both of whom had two promotions to their name before joining us. 

[egg]

1 hour ago, The Cat said:

If we're good at attacking and a bit ropey at defending then surely we're in for some entertaining, high scoring games which should make for some well overdue excitement at St Mary's.

Would rather draw 3-3 than 1-1, or win 4-3 than 1-0. 

But you surely wouldn't rather lose 4-3 than win 1-0?!

Seriously though, I hope the guy does well. He's young, knows the league, and despite my concerns about the defence of his teams, I'd rather see decent football with goals than a pressing game without them. 

Hopefully he'll get the players and back room that he needs so he can work in the way that he wants. 

[CB Fry]

38 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

This is as bad as when we appointed that ex-squaddie from Grimsby, or that physio bloke from Scunthorpe. 

 

....or that Scot from Plymouth or that Dutchman who played in the World Cup in the 1970s or that former Liverpool assistant from Spain or the former Manchester United striker or the guy from Luton. Or Steve Wigley. Or Stuart Gray.

 

Edited 24 May, 2023 by CB Fry

[Bad Wolf]

15 minute window sweepstake for the announcement tomorrow. What's everyone going for? Please submit your answers in a 24 hour format. 

I'll say 10:15 - 10:30

With a cheeky trolly "look who's arrived" video at 10:00 and it turns out to be the tea lady or someone.

[Raging Bull]

1 hour ago, rallyboy said:

This is as bad as when we appointed that ex-squaddie from Grimsby, or that physio bloke from Scunthorpe. 

 

The physio bloke that took us to the premier league playing good football and was well on the way to keeping us in the league? 
 

[Bad Wolf]

3 minutes ago, Raging Bull said:

The physio bloke that took us to the premier league playing good football and was well on the way to keeping us in the league? 
 

I THINK it was sarcasm. I dunno who the ex-Grimsby squadie is though...Lawrie?

[Osvaldorama]

7 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

Classic saints for some fans to be writing him off before he’s even joined. Some seem to forget we’ve been relegated and are not the biggest draw right now. 

He gets full backing from me, seems he’s got the right characteristics to galvanise the club and build some solid foundations. If not, so be it, we’ll find someone else. Time for us to get behind him though and the full project. 

Disagree with this. We are a premier league club with a huge budget compared to the league. 
 

We are a great project for any manager out of work - we could easily attract one with experience of promotion to (or managing in) the premier league.

 

Yet again our hipster owners have forgotten that the only stat that matters is winning games. 
 

Willing to give it a go but I bet it will be another shite appointment. 

Edited 25 May, 2023 by Osvaldorama

[Dusic]

8 hours ago, egg said:

Yep... poor defending, including giving the ball away in dangerous areas, has led to them conceding the 5th most goals. Is keeping the ball near your own box, losing it time after time, and losing goals as a result, purposeful possession or pointless/dangerous.

You can't just focus on the goals scored. That doesn't lead to wins or promotion. 

Don't disagree with some of that but was making the point for the few here who have for some reason decided that the possession is all in the defensive third and is pointless.

Swansea scored the joint 4th amount of goals so clearly it achieves something from an attacking perspective.

I think there are some (not you btw) who don't really understand what some of the different styles of play actually are and just get fixated on the fact that sometimes defenders pass the ball to each other instead of launching it.

In our game with Brighton, Dunk and Colwill played more passes than our entire back four and midfield combined but it didnt mean they were some kind of pathetic attacking force.

 

And there are still some that will insist Saints have been trying to play a possession based style under Selles, which is just ridiculous.

[Smirking_Saint]

3 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

Disagree with this. We are a premier league club with a huge budget compared to the league. 
 

We are a great project for any manager out of work - we could easily attract one with experience of promotion to (or managing in) the premier league.

 

Yet again our hipster owners have forgotten that the only stat that matters is winning games. 
 

Willing to give it a go but I bet it will be another shite appointment. 

This keeps getting trotted out and still nobody is able to give a single viable name outside of, at a stretch, Mowbray (who’s still in post)

[goodymatt]

Assuming Leeds and Leicester are the teams to join us in the championship next season, it will be very interesting to see who they appoint and if they have promotion and PL experience. 

For Saints, I do feel it’s extremely important to get this appointment made ASAP to ensure alignment with recruitment, playing philosophy etc. So much work to do this summer, so little time to get it right.

I’m not sure if it was just agent talk but Leicester’s rumoured interest in Martin might mean they are looking for the same sort of ‘project’ manager? Surely Potter isn’t managing them in the championship?!

[waylander]

7 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

Assuming Leeds and Leicester are the teams to join us in the championship next season, it will be very interesting to see who they appoint and if they have promotion and PL experience. 

For Saints, I do feel it’s extremely important to get this appointment made ASAP to ensure alignment with recruitment, playing philosophy etc. So much work to do this summer, so little time to get it right.

I’m not sure if it was just agent talk but Leicester’s rumoured interest in Martin might mean they are looking for the same sort of ‘project’ manager? Surely Potter isn’t managing them in the championship?!

No, he's going to Nice

[CB Fry]

22 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

This keeps getting trotted out and still nobody is able to give a single viable name outside of, at a stretch, Mowbray (who’s still in post)

You had definitely identified Russell Martin as our absolute undeniable number one choice a few weeks back, then?  The single only guy we should appoint because there is absolutely no one else?

Edited 25 May, 2023 by CB Fry

[benjii]

Key to this being successful will be having the right centre backs on the pitch. We will likely need a complete rebuild in that department unless Stephens and Bednarek stay. 

[Smirking_Saint]

34 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

You had definitely identified Russell Martin as our absolute undeniable number one choice a few weeks back, then?  The single only guy we should appoint because there is absolutely no one else?

No not at all, I said if I were to have a choice Id of had Potter, Cooper or potentially Corberan

But Ive spoken about the ‘alternatives’ quite a lot and the reason why they aren’t viable for one reason or another

Potter won’t drop to the Championship, Cooper is in post and Corberan is happy at WBA (as a Bielsa disciple doesn’t play possession football either)

I wouldn’t want a coach from abroad in truth either, Id prefer one that is aware/comfortable coaching in the Championship

The point is Martin isn’t the absolute only choice, but I do think, all things considered, he is a strong choice who will establish a new impetus to the team

Like Ive said previously everyone is a gamble and we actually stand to be more hamstrung in the backroom then forefront footballing departments (although both look like being addressed early), but Martin does show a good level of underlying success and dare I say it (sorry) favourable metrics that complement a good character, opinion within the game and a strong footballing philosophy

I understand the calls of his lack of promotion experience, but as Ive said, there just isn’t any ‘real’ viable names available to us at this moment that don’t offer similar risks

[Nolan]

you look at the most recent promoted Managers, where is the evidence that 'experience' is the essential quality for Promotion?

I'd argue youthful fresh thinking is the way forward.

 

2023 Kompany, Heckingbottom

2022 Parker, Silva, Cooper

2021 Frank, Munoz, Farke

2020 Parker, Bilic, Bielsa

 

Edited 25 May, 2023 by Nolan

[rooney]

My Swansea supporting pal states he did not know much about him before he came to Swansea, had a mixed season, nothing spectacular and hopes the Premier League is not too much of a jump for him. Then he remembered we shall not be in the Premier League!

[CB Fry]

34 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

No not at all, I said if I were to have a choice Id of had Potter, Cooper or potentially Corberan

But Ive spoken about the ‘alternatives’ quite a lot and the reason why they aren’t viable for one reason or another

Potter won’t drop to the Championship, Cooper is in post and Corberan is happy at WBA (as a Bielsa disciple doesn’t play possession football either)

I wouldn’t want a coach from abroad in truth either, Id prefer one that is aware/comfortable coaching in the Championship

The point is Martin isn’t the absolute only choice, but I do think, all things considered, he is a strong choice who will establish a new impetus to the team

Like Ive said previously everyone is a gamble and we actually stand to be more hamstrung in the backroom then forefront footballing departments (although both look like being addressed early), but Martin does show a good level of underlying success and dare I say it (sorry) favourable metrics that complement a good character, opinion within the game and a strong footballing philosophy

I understand the calls of his lack of promotion experience, but as Ive said, there just isn’t any ‘real’ viable names available to us at this moment that don’t offer similar risks

Yes fine but there's no point asking for people to list other alternatives just to knock them all down. Eg: you could make a case for or against the Ipswich guy or the Plymouth guy or Viera or Lampard or Carrick or Chris Wilder or whoever you like.

But if we'd have recruited any of those the narrative immediately shifts to that guy is the only guy we could have got and no one can name any other alternatives. 

The minute we recruit, that person by default becomes the only person we could have realistically got. If we'd have recruited the Ipswich guy there's no way you'd be pining for Russell Martin, you'd be saying that guy is the best we could have got.

 

We had it with Puel and Pellegrino and Hughes and Jones and so on. No one else would come, no one else is realistic apart from the guy we just so happened to have employed.

 

Last point, I still cannot believe people are still mentioning Potter. He was never coming, pie in the sky. Cooper we were relying on another club being insane, lucky for them they got over it. WBA guy yeah fine alongside other Championship guys like Martin.

[Miltonaggro]

5 hours ago, Osvaldorama said:

Disagree with this. We are a premier league club with a huge budget compared to the league. 
 

We are a great project for any manager out of work - we could easily attract one with experience of promotion to (or managing in) the premier league.

 

Yet again our hipster owners have forgotten that the only stat that matters is winning games. 
 

Willing to give it a go but I bet it will be another shite appointment. 

With you on this, and giving it a go. Nowt else we can do as fans. He seems likeable, mentally stable and at least played at the top level, so there is a slight learning curve 🙂

[Convict Colony]

If wilcox rates him thats good enough for me and he will give him the tools to get the most out of that system he has helped develop and support at city.

If he fails, wilcox fails and given he's incharge of transfers as well I am sure he's going for the sexiest players possible including some man city talents. 

[Smirking_Saint]

1 hour ago, Smirking_Saint said:

No not at all, I said if I were to have a choice Id of had Potter, Cooper or potentially Corberan

But Ive spoken about the ‘alternatives’ quite a lot and the reason why they aren’t viable for one reason or another

Potter won’t drop to the Championship, Cooper is in post and Corberan is happy at WBA (as a Bielsa disciple doesn’t play possession football either)

I wouldn’t want a coach from abroad in truth either, Id prefer one that is aware/comfortable coaching in the Championship

The point is Martin isn’t the absolute only choice, but I do think, all things considered, he is a strong choice who will establish a new impetus to the team

Like Ive said previously everyone is a gamble and we actually stand to be more hamstrung in the backroom then forefront footballing departments (although both look like being addressed early), but Martin does show a good level of underlying success and dare I say it (sorry) favourable metrics that complement a good character, opinion within the game and a strong footballing philosophy

I understand the calls of his lack of promotion experience, but as Ive said, there just isn’t any ‘real’ viable names available to us at this moment that don’t offer similar risks

To an extent yeah… I mean my critique really wasn’t aimed at you, more so at those that are happy to attack an appointment like Martin without actually attempting to debate any real/concrete alternatives or even those that are slightly out of our reach

I personally wouldn’t of been happy with any of the League 1 guys, promoted or not, equally I wasn’t comfortable at the time with Hughes OR Pellegrino… Puel I didn’t really know enough to comment but was worried, at the time, moving away from Koeman/Poch tactics
 

There probably is ‘other’ options out there but almost all of the others have atleast as many detrimental factors as Martin, I didn’t necessarily think that at first, but plenty of background reading, asking in industry opinion and maybe a hint of optimism has changed my mind to a degree

[Dman]

3 hours ago, Smirking_Saint said:

This keeps getting trotted out and still nobody is able to give a single viable name outside of, at a stretch, Mowbray (who’s still in post)

Utter nonsense. There are loads of managers out there who we could (maybe should have) gone for who’d have been viable. 

By your very logic, Leicester and Leeds are going to be absolutely fucked when they drop then. 

[Dman]

1 hour ago, CB Fry said:

Yes fine but there's no point asking for people to list other alternatives just to knock them all down. Eg: you could make a case for or against the Ipswich guy or the Plymouth guy or Viera or Lampard or Carrick or Chris Wilder or whoever you like.

But if we'd have recruited any of those the narrative immediately shifts to that guy is the only guy we could have got and no one can name any other alternatives. 

The minute we recruit, that person by default becomes the only person we could have realistically got. If we'd have recruited the Ipswich guy there's no way you'd be pining for Russell Martin, you'd be saying that guy is the best we could have got.

 

We had it with Puel and Pellegrino and Hughes and Jones and so on. No one else would come, no one else is realistic apart from the guy we just so happened to have employed.

 

Last point, I still cannot believe people are still mentioning Potter. He was never coming, pie in the sky. Cooper we were relying on another club being insane, lucky for them they got over it. WBA guy yeah fine alongside other Championship guys like Martin.

Puel… ironically, he probably would have been a pretty decent option for us if we were looking to move towards a possession based approach. 

[Smirking_Saint]

12 minutes ago, Dman said:

Utter nonsense. There are loads of managers out there who we could (maybe should have) gone for who’d have been viable. 

By your very logic, Leicester and Leeds are going to be absolutely fucked when they drop then. 

 

lets have em then

[Dman]

12 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

 

lets have em then

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trainer/verfuegbaretrainer/statistik
 

20 pages of managers, currently unemployed, sat there just waiting to reject us. 
 

Russell Martin was the only man foolish enough to take on the poison chalice. The only ONE.

[edprice1984]

Well surely we should be getting Hassan Khalifa based on the stats alone....😉

[Wyn]

Swans fan here, in peace.

Swansea fans have become well acquainted with various flavours of possession football down the years, with the likes of Martinez, Rodgers, Laudrup and Potter, but it's fair to say that Martin has been the most ideological of all. That's saying something when you consider how Swansea played under Rogers. Possession and control are everything to Martin, and it's fair to say that he has a blind spot for the downsides to his philosophical approach. Midway through last season I worked out for games in which Swansea had more than 60% possession the points return was, if calculated for a whole season, would have given us 48 points - i.e. borderline relegation form. For games in which we had between 50 and 60% possession our season-equivalent points tally would have been over a 100 - a title winning tally. On the pitch, this obsession with possession and control has far too often translated into turgid, walking football, with no intensity or tempo. A lot of Swansea fans have become fed up with this is, in spite of our history. To be fair to Martin there have been signs of him becoming less fixated on possession. A switch to a back four certainly helped the run of 7 wins and two draws at the end of the season. He has also started talking about adaptability in his pressers, so perhaps he's learning. 

Swansea's poor defence can partially attributed to having a very inexperienced lineup, with an average age of just 23 for the back line. A season-ending injury to Benda, our first choice goalie, led to the introduction of Fisher, who made several blunders, but improved at the end of the season. Playing out at the back has led to some goals (with the odd goal scored starting from the goalie), so that's on Martin. Swansea's defending of set pieces hasn't been great, and scoring from them has been even worse, although things did improve slightly this season. 

In spite of the negatives, I still think Martin is a good coach, and has a decent chance of succeeding with you, if the fans and board are prepared to be patient. One thing that's easy to forget is just how poor the standard of the Championship is compared to the Premier League. Lots of your players who've struggled this season will suddenly look top drawer dropping down a division. Kompany managed to turn Burnley into a possession based outfit overnight with very few acquisitions, so I can't see why Martin can't succeed too. 

As for our players, I can see you coming after Manning, Piroe and Grimes. Manning is available on a free (having run down his contract), and whilst a mediocre defender, he is excellent going forwards, with plenty of goals and assists. Leeds are sniffing, so you'll have to get in there early. Piroe is a class act. His finishing is of the highest standard, having the ability to stroke the ball into the corners of the net time after time. The only reason he doesn't seem to be attracting much Premier League attention is his lack of pace - but he's certainly top drawer at Championship level. He's only got a year left on his contract so Swansea's owner's will be desperate to sell. He could be yours for about £12 million. Grimes is the personification of the manager on the pitch. He's technically very adept, and very composed on the ball (the best pass completion of any midfielder in the Championship I think). However, he is a bit marmite, as he's the fulcrum of everything good and bad, and so attracted a lot of unfair flak when Swansea played walking football. I imagine Martin would be very keen to sign him, and that Grimes would want to move. About £8 million should seal the deal.

I'll be intrigued to see how you fare next season. It should be apparent by Xmas whether Martinball translates to a better calibre of side. In the meantime, I'm hoping Swansea bring in Ian Evatt, who has a far better possession-based pedigree than Martin had before he joined us.

[Bad Wolf]

1 minute ago, Wyn said:

Swans fan here, in peace.

Swansea fans have become well acquainted with various flavours of possession football down the years, with the likes of Martinez, Rodgers, Laudrup and Potter, but it's fair to say that Martin has been the most ideological of all. That's saying something when you consider how Swansea played under Rogers. Possession and control are everything to Martin, and it's fair to say that he has a blind spot for the downsides to his philosophical approach. Midway through last season I worked out for games in which Swansea had more than 60% possession the points return was, if calculated for a whole season, would have given us 48 points - i.e. borderline relegation form. For games in which we had between 50 and 60% possession our season-equivalent points tally would have been over a 100 - a title winning tally. On the pitch, this obsession with possession and control has far too often translated into turgid, walking football, with no intensity or tempo. A lot of Swansea fans have become fed up with this is, in spite of our history. To be fair to Martin there have been signs of him becoming less fixated on possession. A switch to a back four certainly helped the run of 7 wins and two draws at the end of the season. He has also started talking about adaptability in his pressers, so perhaps he's learning. 

Swansea's poor defence can partially attributed to having a very inexperienced lineup, with an average age of just 23 for the back line. A season-ending injury to Benda, our first choice goalie, led to the introduction of Fisher, who made several blunders, but improved at the end of the season. Playing out at the back has led to some goals (with the odd goal scored starting from the goalie), so that's on Martin. Swansea's defending of set pieces hasn't been great, and scoring from them has been even worse, although things did improve slightly this season. 

In spite of the negatives, I still think Martin is a good coach, and has a decent chance of succeeding with you, if the fans and board are prepared to be patient. One thing that's easy to forget is just how poor the standard of the Championship is compared to the Premier League. Lots of your players who've struggled this season will suddenly look top drawer dropping down a division. Kompany managed to turn Burnley into a possession based outfit overnight with very few acquisitions, so I can't see why Martin can't succeed too. 

As for our players, I can see you coming after Manning, Piroe and Grimes. Manning is available on a free (having run down his contract), and whilst a mediocre defender, he is excellent going forwards, with plenty of goals and assists. Leeds are sniffing, so you'll have to get in there early. Piroe is a class act. His finishing is of the highest standard, having the ability to stroke the ball into the corners of the net time after time. The only reason he doesn't seem to be attracting much Premier League attention is his lack of pace - but he's certainly top drawer at Championship level. He's only got a year left on his contract so Swansea's owner's will be desperate to sell. He could be yours for about £12 million. Grimes is the personification of the manager on the pitch. He's technically very adept, and very composed on the ball (the best pass completion of any midfielder in the Championship I think). However, he is a bit marmite, as he's the fulcrum of everything good and bad, and so attracted a lot of unfair flak when Swansea played walking football. I imagine Martin would be very keen to sign him, and that Grimes would want to move. About £8 million should seal the deal.

I'll be intrigued to see how you fare next season. It should be apparent by Xmas whether Martinball translates to a better calibre of side. In the meantime, I'm hoping Swansea bring in Ian Evatt, who has a far better possession-based pedigree than Martin had before he joined us.

Thank you very much for that. Very interesting. 

[Chez]

11 minutes ago, Wyn said:

On the pitch, this obsession with possession and control has far too often translated into turgid, walking football, with no intensity or tempo.

Many thanks for your post. I look forward to the trip to South Wales next season. 

I think this sentence above is the one that will concern a lot of Saints fans. 

[edprice1984]

I went to Uni in Swansea, loved the place and have a real soft spot for them as a football club. I was at the famous Hull City Survival match (Can't believe that it was 20 years ago) and it was the greatest football atmosphere I have ever experienced. Hoping that the stars align and I can get down to the Away game next season as it's been 10 years since I was last there and I have heard its changed a bit!

 

[Smirking_Saint]

53 minutes ago, Dman said:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/trainer/verfuegbaretrainer/statistik
 

20 pages of managers, currently unemployed, sat there just waiting to reject us. 
 

Russell Martin was the only man foolish enough to take on the poison chalice. The only ONE.

Not at all what I said was it ?

Who do you propose from that illustrious list ? Zidane ? Nagglesman ? Conte ? Ralph ?

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, Smirking_Saint said:

 

lets have em then

Stop asking for lists of managers.

You're still making out that the only person on planet earth that is suitable for us is Russell Martin who conveniently enough just so happens to be the guy we've chosen.

Ridiculous.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

30 minutes ago, Chez said:

Many thanks for your post. I look forward to the trip to South Wales next season. 

I think this sentence above is the one that will concern a lot of Saints fans. 

Indeed. This sort of football will drive away fans and alienate those that can’t stay away.