Russell Martin

[OldNick]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

I was a big fan of Ralph, but we've had stacks of good times this century above anything he cooked up for us. Poch, Koeman, Adkins and even some of Burleys moments surely have to equate to better memories than what Ralph delivered.

Football goes through eras though and this is an odd one. Lots of progressive young managers trying to be the next Pep and emulate tika-taka with players a million levels below what Pep has available to him.

Personally for clubs without the best players I've always been for an aggressive high pressing approach, you don't need to have the best technical players for that - you just need to be fit as hell, run, press and understand the triggers - then 1 or 2 bits of quality up top can be all you need.

This tika-taka approach with inferior players to the ones Barca had in their pomp, or City have today, is a recipe for disaster for all the lesser clubs who are trying it. There's a reason this approach was successful for Spain, Man City, Barcelona - think Messi, Hallanad, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Pedro, Busquetts etc. It's all about player quality and picking an approach that suits the quality at the disposal.

as much as it galls you Puel also provided some brlliant times

[East Kent Saint]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz6wnvw5z71o
 

Martin is not going to change , says Ramsdale !

[bangkoksaint]

Talk Sport now talking about his situation

[m4]

7 minutes ago, bangkoksaint said:

Talk Sport now talking about his situation

What has been said?

[tdmickey3]

4 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz6wnvw5z71o
 

Martin is not going to change , says Ramsdale !

Well, its what we all thought, he is to arrogant and stubborn to change so unless the board do the right thing and sack the fool we will be relegated in record time with the worst goal difference, a possible breaking of our own record by receiving a double figures defeat and lowest points total in PL history

Another embarrassing record for us

[SaintsBarry74]

27 minutes ago, East Kent Saint said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz6wnvw5z71o
 

Martin is not going to change , says Ramsdale !

He says he didn’t want to sit on the bench, he wants action. Well, he came to the right club for that, because he’s going to get peppered in goal every game.

[beatlesaint]

12 minutes ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

He says he didn’t want to sit on the bench, he wants action. Well, he came to the right club for that, because he’s going to get peppered in goal every game.

Yeah but if we go down he's off so why should he worry.

[Midfield_General]

46 minutes ago, m4 said:

What has been said?

Re: The conversation on TalkSport: 

It was interesting - it seems that someone at the club is now leaking to the press because they were giving a direct quote attributed to "a senior source behind the scenes".

I don't have the quote word-for-word, but to paraphrase it was along the lines of "There is concern over the way that results have gone at the start of the season. We are looking to Russell Martin to rise to the occasion and prove that he can make the changes necessary to improve. The club wants him to succeed and he's got the support of the board for now."

The two bits that really leapt out were:

- The bit about looking to Russ to make changes - suggesting to me that they are not happy with the style of play and the gifting of goals and aren't prepared to sit back and let that continue. Which is slightly awkward timing, given that Ramsdale has also done an interview today talking about how Russ won't change the way he plays for anyone. 

- The little 'for now' kicker at the end. On the radio that was something that they jumped on and mentioned several times over, as it feels like it has been very deliberately mentioned in that quote to show that the microscope is very much on him

Overall, it felt like a 'real' quote that was being read out, rather than Crook or some other knobhead giving it their 'I've been led to believe' nonsense. What we don't know of course is who at the club might have said it. Could have been the tea lady. But it seems that the club are very much watching how we do in the next few games and are looking for change and improvement, and want that to be known enough that they're now briefing the press on the quiet. 

Edited October 4 by Midfield_General

[m4]

10 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Re: The conversation on TalkSport: 

It was interesting - it seems that someone at the club is now leaking to the press because they were giving a direct quote attributed to "a senior source behind the scenes".

I don't have the quote word-for-word, but to paraphrase it was along the lines of "There is concern over the way that results have gone at the start of the season. We are looking to Russell Martin to rise to the occasion and prove that he can make the changes necessary to improve. The club wants him to succeed and he's got the support of the board for now."

The two bits that really leapt out were:

- The bit about looking to Russ to make changes - suggesting to me that they are not happy with the style of play and the gifting of goals and aren't prepared to sit back and let that continue. Which is slightly awkward timing, given that Ramsdale has also done an interview today talking about how Russ won't change the way he plays for anyone. 

- The little 'for now' kicker at the end. On the radio that was something that they jumped on and mentioned several times over, as it feels like it has been very deliberately mentioned in that quote to show that the microscope is very much on him

Overall, it felt like a 'real' quote that was being read out, rather than Crook or some other knobhead giving it their 'I've been led to believe' nonsense. What we don't know of course is who at the club might have said it. Could have been the tea lady. But it seems that the club are very much watching how we do in the next few games and are looking for change and improvement, and want that to be known enough that they're now briefing the press on the quiet. 

That's good news I suppose. My guess would be they'll give him Leicester and he'll be gone after then if no improvement.

[Roo1976]

20 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Re: The conversation on TalkSport: 

It was interesting - it seems that someone at the club is now leaking to the press because they were giving a direct quote attributed to "a senior source behind the scenes".

I don't have the quote word-for-word, but to paraphrase it was along the lines of "There is concern over the way that results have gone at the start of the season. We are looking to Russell Martin to rise to the occasion and prove that he can make the changes necessary to improve. The club wants him to succeed and he's got the support of the board for now."

The two bits that really leapt out were:

- The bit about looking to Russ to make changes - suggesting to me that they are not happy with the style of play and the gifting of goals and aren't prepared to sit back and let that continue. Which is slightly awkward timing, given that Ramsdale has also done an interview today talking about how Russ won't change the way he plays for anyone. 

- The little 'for now' kicker at the end. On the radio that was something that they jumped on and mentioned several times over, as it feels like it has been very deliberately mentioned in that quote to show that the microscope is very much on him

Overall, it felt like a 'real' quote that was being read out, rather than Crook or some other knobhead giving it their 'I've been led to believe' nonsense. What we don't know of course is who at the club might have said it. Could have been the tea lady. But it seems that the club are very much watching how we do in the next few games and are looking for change and improvement, and want that to be known enough that they're now briefing the press on the quiet. 

a so called club insider................(lol) wow pr departments in full swing ! says unless the tactics change the manager will, although they still have faith.Good god how stubborn has the club got to be to not see the deficiency in the formations he( RM) keeps trying.4 or 5 attackers on the bench away to Bournemouth? why ,we dont even score goals and when were loosing we still take stupid passes out of the back,and still dont play with any chance of creating moments to try and stay in the game.  Keown was saying Ankersun  should also be gone as the clubs recruitment has been below par culminating in the situation were seeing right now. Make the right call after the heavy defeat at Arsenal, and get someone with some new ideas and gel the whole team to play for each other and give us some belief that were going to make it difficult to play against and  possibly score?............

[Toussaint]

31 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Re: The conversation on TalkSport: 

It was interesting - it seems that someone at the club is now leaking to the press because they were giving a direct quote attributed to "a senior source behind the scenes".

I don't have the quote word-for-word, but to paraphrase it was along the lines of "There is concern over the way that results have gone at the start of the season. We are looking to Russell Martin to rise to the occasion and prove that he can make the changes necessary to improve. The club wants him to succeed and he's got the support of the board for now."

The two bits that really leapt out were:

- The bit about looking to Russ to make changes - suggesting to me that they are not happy with the style of play and the gifting of goals and aren't prepared to sit back and let that continue. Which is slightly awkward timing, given that Ramsdale has also done an interview today talking about how Russ won't change the way he plays for anyone. 

- The little 'for now' kicker at the end. On the radio that was something that they jumped on and mentioned several times over, as it feels like it has been very deliberately mentioned in that quote to show that the microscope is very much on him

Overall, it felt like a 'real' quote that was being read out, rather than Crook or some other knobhead giving it their 'I've been led to believe' nonsense. What we don't know of course is who at the club might have said it. Could have been the tea lady. But it seems that the club are very much watching how we do in the next few games and are looking for change and improvement, and want that to be known enough that they're now briefing the press on the quiet. 

It could be the tea lady, conversely it could be a “strategic” leak by someone of seniority. 

[Saint_clark]

I just realised there is no way they'll sack him before the international break because they have that charity game arranged Saints legends V "Martins legends". 

Have to admit it'll be rather entertaining to see a team of Saints players who made their name playing direct attacking football and being solid at the back take apart a side of the players who Martin thinks played his football style the best.

[Lord Duckhunter]

14 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

It could be the tea lady, conversely it could be a “strategic” leak by someone of seniority. 

I was going to suggest a job swap, the tea lady for Russ. Won’t affect the first team much, but he’ll take so long pushing the trolly sideways & backwards it’ll be cold by the time it arrives. 

[Chez]

1 hour ago, beatlesaint said:

Yeah but if we go down he's off so why should he worry.

you don't think he cares whether the club he has joined stays up or not? 

[Wade Garrett]

1 hour ago, m4 said:

That's good news I suppose. My guess would be they'll give him Leicester and he'll be gone after then if no improvement.

If we’re embarrassed tomorrow, I wouldn’t take the risk of giving him the Leicester game.

To be fair, I wouldn’t have given him tomorrow’s game either.

[Wade Garrett]

48 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

I just realised there is no way they'll sack him before the international break because they have that charity game arranged Saints legends V "Martins legends". 

Have to admit it'll be rather entertaining to see a team of Saints players who made their name playing direct attacking football and being solid at the back take apart a side of the players who Martin thinks played his football style the best.

It’s Mickey Mouse time if a friendly is keeping him in a job.

[Kermitzasaint]

From all his direct quotes I can honestly say that I don't think he cares about the club at all. This whole thing for him is a vanity project, an opportunity for him to show how amazing he is. He will keep doing the exact same thing regardless of the results. He is solid in his belief that we will go on a winning streak. It's nonsense of course, he is exactly what fans of his previous teams say he is. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Toussaint said:

It could be the tea lady, conversely it could be a “strategic” leak by someone of seniority. 

 

11 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

It’s Mickey Mouse time if a friendly is keeping him in a job.

For all those who ask who can come in and improve us, and there's two right there. The tea lady and Mickey Mouse. 🙂

[beatlesaint]

57 minutes ago, Chez said:

you don't think he cares whether the club he has joined stays up or not? 

i didnt say that! I said if we are relegated he's got his get out clause.....we havent !!

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, Kermitzasaint said:

From all his direct quotes I can honestly say that I don't think he cares about the club at all. This whole thing for him is a vanity project, an opportunity for him to show how amazing he is.

I found it very telling that when speaking to Sky before the Boscombe game he mentioned “we” had been on a 5 year journey with this playing style. “We” obviously not being Saints. I don’t know much about his coaching team, so it could have been his team. He could also being using the royal “we”, or even using “we” as his preferred pronoun, he’s such a cock either of those two wouldn’t surprise me. 

[FarehamSaintJames]

I mean a few players have come out in recent days saying that Russell Martin is a really good coach.

Would you risk alienating the player staff if that wasn’t the case?

Personally I think he’ll get until the international break after this one.

[Toussaint]

34 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

I mean a few players have come out in recent days saying that Russell Martin is a really good coach.

Would you risk alienating the player staff if that wasn’t the case?

Personally I think he’ll get until the international break after this one.

Strange admission, if he’s a good coach, then they must be the problem. 

…or good coach = good mate

[Whitey Grandad]

6 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

Strange admission, if he’s a good coach, then they must be the problem. 

…or good coach = good mate

They would say that, wouldn’t they.

[derry]

Over the years every time I've heard of players praising the manager it's usually in the middle of a clusterfuck or ending up in one. I never heard of anybody praising Ferguson but I have heard of boots or other flying objects if he wasn't happy. He never lost the dressing room, they didn't dare and in his time cleared out a lot of famous internationals long before they were waning.

[Whitey Grandad]

5 minutes ago, derry said:

Over the years every time I've heard of players praising the manager it's usually in the middle of a clusterfuck or ending up in one. I never heard of anybody praising Ferguson but I have heard of boots or other flying objects if he wasn't happy. He never lost the dressing room, they didn't dare and in his time cleared out a lot of famous internationals long before they were waning.

CHDAJFU ?

[Weston Super Saint]

21 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

CHDAJFU ?

Prop him up in the corner and he'll likely be more effective.

[Turkish]

33 minutes ago, derry said:

Over the years every time I've heard of players praising the manager it's usually in the middle of a clusterfuck or ending up in one. I never heard of anybody praising Ferguson but I have heard of boots or other flying objects if he wasn't happy. He never lost the dressing room, they didn't dare and in his time cleared out a lot of famous internationals long before they were waning.

when you're manager of one of the worlds biggest clubs with some of the worlds best players who are winning major trophies every season with most players in the world desperate to take you place at said club then you can do that. Martin isn't and doesn't have that luxury, he's never even beat a top flight team over 90 minutes has he?

[beatlesaint]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

They would say that, wouldn’t they.

Yeah, especially those who wouldn’t get a look in under someone else !!

[Dark Munster]

4 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I was going to suggest a job swap, the tea lady for Russ. Won’t affect the first team much, but he’ll take so long pushing the trolly sideways & backwards it’ll be cold by the time it arrives. 

That’s a bit harsh Lord D.  I reckon the first team would improve. 

[Turkish]

8 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

I was a big fan of Ralph, but we've had stacks of good times this century above anything he cooked up for us. Poch, Koeman, Adkins and even some of Burleys moments surely have to equate to better memories than what Ralph delivered.

Football goes through eras though and this is an odd one. Lots of progressive young managers trying to be the next Pep and emulate tika-taka with players a million levels below what Pep has available to him.

Personally for clubs without the best players I've always been for an aggressive high pressing approach, you don't need to have the best technical players for that - you just need to be fit as hell, run, press and understand the triggers - then 1 or 2 bits of quality up top can be all you need.

This tika-taka approach with inferior players to the ones Barca had in their pomp, or City have today, is a recipe for disaster for all the lesser clubs who are trying it. There's a reason this approach was successful for Spain, Man City, Barcelona - think Messi, Hallanad, Xavi, Iniesta, Silva, Pedro, Busquetts etc. It's all about player quality and picking an approach that suits the quality at the disposal.

You even get it at kids football. Last week we played away against a Leeds team and they had the goalkeeper taking goal kicks to one of two players inside the penalty area like you see premier clubs do FFS. We absolutely thrashed them of course. So far this season they've played 4 games scored 3 and conceded 46. The worst thing is they aren't bad players and could be a better team but It was absolutely ridiculous to watch as another coach. Trying to get 11 year old grass roots kids to play like Man City is absurd when most of them haven't even got ball mastery yet. Everytime the tried it they got pressed and either lost it, misplaced the pass or kicked it out for a throw in.

Edited October 4 by Turkish

[derry]

6 minutes ago, Turkish said:

You even get it at kids football. Last week we played away against a Leeds team and they had the goalkeeper taking goal kicks to one of two players inside the penalty area like you see premier clubs do FFS. We absolutely thrashed them of course. So far this season they've played 4 games scored 3 and conceded 46. The worst thing is they aren't bad players and could be a better team but It was absolutely ridiculous to watch as another coach. Trying to get 11 year old grass roots kids to play like Man City is absurd when most of them haven't even got ball mastery yet. Everytime the tried it they got pressed and either lost it, misplaced the pass or kicked it out for a throw in.

I rest my case.

[Badger]

4 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I was going to suggest a job swap, the tea lady for Russ. Won’t affect the first team much, but he’ll take so long pushing the trolly sideways & backwards it’ll be cold by the time it arrives. 

Don't expect real milk, bound to be some soya substitute.

[Gloucester Saint]

33 minutes ago, Turkish said:

So far this season they've played 4 games scored 3 and conceded 46.

Makes Saints seem like George Graham era Arsenal with Adams, Dixon, Bould and Winterburn by comparison.

[Tommy Mulgrew]

It won’t be “one nil to the AAARSenal” tomorrow, though, will it?

Time for RM to get Ralph’s playbook out.  It got us a few good results against Arsenal and Man City when we used to press high and break fast.

[saintant]

7 hours ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

I mean a few players have come out in recent days saying that Russell Martin is a really good coach.

Would you risk alienating the player staff if that wasn’t the case?

Personally I think he’ll get until the international break after this one.

Has anyone ever heard a player at any club say their manager is a hopeless coach? When asked the question or even in general conversation they will always praise the coach.

[Weston Super Saint]

2 hours ago, Tommy Mulgrew said:

It won’t be “one nil to the AAARSenal” tomorrow, though, will it?

 

It will for a short while.

[imadirtyurchin]

Just listened to the latest Press conference - basically said that the fans’ opinions are irrelevant - arrogant tosspot.

[Dark Munster]

3 hours ago, imadirtyurchin said:

Just listened to the latest Press conference - basically said that the fans’ opinions are irrelevant - arrogant tosspot.

Lose heavily tomorrow, and lose at home to Leicester, and then I think the fans will be giving him rather strong "opinions" from the stands which will be hard for him to find irrelevant.

[sfc4prem]

3 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

Lose heavily tomorrow, and lose at home to Leicester, and then I think the fans will be giving him rather strong "opinions" from the stands which will be hard for him to find irrelevant.

Swing Russ, Swing Russ Martin...

[austsaint]

7 hours ago, imadirtyurchin said:

Just listened to the latest Press conference - basically said that the fans’ opinions are irrelevant - arrogant tosspot.

If he said that he’s a dead man(ager) walking.

[Weston Super Saint]

1 minute ago, austsaint said:

If he said that he’s a dead man(ager) walking.

I think he said 'the only opinions that matter are those of the board', which is slightly different but amounts to the same thing.  We'll see what the board think of the 'customers' opinions after another couple of loses, but until then, his statement is largely the truth.

[danjosaint]

As above said he's only interested in his bosses and his players opinions  everything else is just irrelevant noise, I get what he means but he is such a smarmy prick and he's got an aura about him that f***ing grates on me 

Edited October 5 by danjosaint

[pingpong]

Think he was quite specific that he was talking about social media noise, and that since letting it affect him as a player he has learnt to ignore it, both in good times, and bad times.

So specifically, he is ignoring the likes of x and sainstweb.

Which sounds very sensible, to be fair.

[ErwinK1961]

9 hours ago, imadirtyurchin said:

Just listened to the latest Press conference - basically said that the fans’ opinions are irrelevant - arrogant tosspot.

No he didn’t.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

I'd expect him to fight his corner, he's being mocked and his (repetitively unsuccessful) tactics are ripped apart each week by all and sundry.

But I think he's half expecting it from fans, what's probably really hurting is criticism from his peers. Pundit ex-players and coaches are questioning (some almost pointing and laughing) his continually ineffective game plan. Maybe he needs to wake up to the fact that all his clubs concede 60+ goals season after season..

[Sheaf Saint]

Haven't seen this posted anywhere so apologies if thus has already been discussed on another thread...

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24628989.martin-accepts-played-striker-bournemouth/

WTF!? How could a supposed professional manager need hindsight to see something so fucking obvious to literally everyone else?

He's losing the plot.

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Haven't seen this posted anywhere so apologies if thus has already been discussed on another thread...

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24628989.martin-accepts-played-striker-bournemouth/

WTF!? How could a supposed professional manager need hindsight to see something so fucking obvious to literally everyone else?

He's losing the plot.

he is now talking utter shyte. Nathan Jones with a better haircut 

[Lord Duckhunter]

18 hours ago, Turkish said:

he's never even beat a top flight team over 90 minutes has he?

Today is his 7th attempt. 8 is all Jones got, and even he won a game. Let’s look at some of our other “failures” first 8 matches. 
 

Jones-3 points

Pelligrino-9 points

Mark Hughes-8 points

Ian Branfoot-5 points 

Suart Gray- 5 points 

Wigley-3 points 

Redknapp- 6 points

 

Redknapp won his 8th game in charge, so unless we win today or beat Leicester he will be chasing Wigleys record of winning at his 11th attempt. 
 

When bare in mind that only Branfoot & Pelligrino had a pre season, and only Redknapp & Hughes had ever managed in the top flight before, it does show his record at this level is pretty pathetic. It’s not like we’ve faced a particularly daunting set of fixtures either. 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 5 by Lord Duckhunter

[Holmes_and_Watson]

38 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Haven't seen this posted anywhere so apologies if thus has already been discussed on another thread...

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24628989.martin-accepts-played-striker-bournemouth/

WTF!? How could a supposed professional manager need hindsight to see something so fucking obvious to literally everyone else?

He's losing the plot.

From his quotes, his data is telling him we're creating enough chances, but just not converting them.

That supports his possession based game, and is why he's rotating through his strikers. When he did that, and to try and focus on exploiting Bournemouth weaknesses, he came up with Monday's team. They worked on it for over a week.

He felt that making changes early would look bad. I'm reading his intention as bad for the players, rather than his tactics with that quote. But, he says he's learned from that.

Some worrying things in there, to say the least.

[Mr X]

Love you Russ! Bootiful football bootiful ❤️