Russell Martin

[Oldandtired]

The crap that comes out of this  man's mouth. We're on a journey alright, and with him steering most can see where the destination is.

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Osvaldorama said:

This is a stupid argument, because if you have a shite team that’s even more reason to bring in a manager that isn’t trying to reinvent football. 
 

Why the fuck are we asking a low quality squad to play high quality football?

 

Worse squads than ours have stayed up, just by applying a modicum of common sense. Something which sadly Southampton FC has lacked for a long fucking time 

That's a good point to be fair, hard to argue against 

[derry]

If the team had learned anything they would have told him to shove his possession straitjacket where the sun doesn't shine.

[Toussaint]

13 minutes ago, Oldandtired said:

The crap that comes out of this  man's mouth. We're on a journey alright, and with him steering most can see where the destination is.

He and Rasmus are a perfect pair , the spout the same psycho-babble. 

[Gloucester Saint]

59 minutes ago, Oldandtired said:

The crap that comes out of this  man's mouth. We're on a journey alright, and with him steering most can see where the destination is.

I’d be reassured if he was talking more about how we’re going to beat the high press or even just the fact that we need to bypass it sometimes and blend the playing pattern more often.

[Dark Munster]

1 hour ago, Toussaint said:

He and Rasmus are a perfect pair , the spout the same psycho-babble. 

The pair from hell for us Saints fans. 

[Whitey Grandad]

7 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

Mate, been banging this drum for ages - people won't have it. 

But we could at the very least make a go of it instead of pandering to someone’s ego.

[Whitey Grandad]

On 06/10/2024 at 06:36, AlexLaw76 said:

Of course, lets discount a pass where the ball travels more than 10 yards above head height

Is that actually legal?

[Whitey Grandad]

16 hours ago, washsaint said:

Have you whining babies not figured out yet?......this squad is not (a couple of players apart, and I don;t count KWP in that couple of players) a Premiership quality squad.

This season was always going to be a mighty struggle - you can't legislate for stupid errors like Downes made yesterday (there's a reason he was not a starter at WHU).  Most of our squad is a strong Championship squad but it is not (Ramsdale, Fernandes, Dibling aside) a Premiership squad.

But we could play a lot better and try to be competitive.

[gio1saints]

5 hours ago, trousers said:

 

Name 5 forum members who don't think our squad is anything other than "strong championship" level....  

(Clue: you won't be able to)

So, if you are right and it’s not or only partly because Russell is “ out of his depth” why the hysteria when our unproven EPL Manager  and “ strong championship level” squad are essentially where every bookie and every other saints fan thought they’d be? It’s a self righteous wankathon of I told you so on here atm…
 

But hey ho. Saints will try to get Potter then told to eff off with a smirk and end up with either an ex premier league superstar fancies being a gaffer, and/or a German Portuguese or Italian coach who is meant to be the next coming of the Lord football-wise that nobody has heard of before or the even less EPL unproven in management Adam Lallana as a caretaker. 

All infinitely better choices of course and all instantly “wrong” for the I told you sos on here. And all, indeed, offering far greater chances of staying up & playing good non boring not defensive but super tight high scoring football than sticking with the Antichrist RM. Guaranteed. That is if they last the 7 match probation. 
 

Just hope that the new Manager can teach our forwards which is the goal and remind them they are there to score or even shoot from, say penalties or three yards out. 
 

Hopefully new manager will get Saints to play better, proper, football( no GK to CB passing allowed) only proper goal kicks for TP to fight for every time - oh and the rule about no shots for forwards to be reversed plus the one about no long balls or crosses also.
New Manager will need to get a few of those motivational posters on the home changing room wall saying “ get it in the mixer “ or the cunts cannot score from Row Z”.
Id imagine a fines system in place - if we hit more than say four passes before we get into last third everyone gets fined£1000 each so we end up playing proper direct attacking football minimal touches ~ not that fancy passing it around shit like last year which obvs don’t work at EPL unless you are a “ good” club, like most of them are.
 

Maybe one day too we would be a “ good “ club though not sure how we are ever going to get there trying to replicate 1980’s Wimbledon FC. 

Edited October 7 by gio1saints

[Give it to Ron]

16 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

But we could play a lot better and try to be competitive.

Let’s see the Saints v Leicester starting 11 and if TP not in it he has lost the last bit of credibility with me.

We finally had an outlet and focal point someone the better players could play off. 

Edited October 7 by Give it to Ron

[saintant]

6 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

So, if you are right and it’s not or only partly because Russell is “ out of his depth” why the hysteria when our unproven EPL Manager  and “ strong championship level” squad are essentially where every bookie and every other saints fan thought they’d be? It’s a self righteous wankathon of I told you so on here atm…
 

But hey ho. Saints will try to get Potter then told to eff off with a smirk and end up with either an ex premier league superstar fancies being a gaffer, and/or a German Portuguese or Italian coach who is meant to be the next coming of the Lord football-wise that nobody has heard of before or the even less EPL unproven in management Adam Lallana as a caretaker. 

All infinitely better choices of course and all instantly “wrong” for the I told you sos on here. And all, indeed, offering far greater chances of staying up & playing good non boring not defensive but super tight high scoring football than sticking with the Antichrist RM. Guaranteed. That is if they last the 7 match probation. 
 

Just hope that the new Manager can teach our forwards which is the goal and remind them they are there to score or even shoot from, say penalties or three yards out. 
 

Hopefully new manager will get Saints to play better, proper, football( no GK to CB passing allowed) only proper goal kicks for TP to fight for every time - oh and the rule about no shots for forwards to be reversed plus the one about no long balls or crosses also.
New Manager will need to get a few of those motivational posters on the home changing room wall saying “ get it in the mixer “ or the cunts cannot score from Row Z”.
Id imagine a fines system in place - if we hit more than say four passes before we get into last third everyone gets fined£1000 each so we end up playing proper direct attacking football minimal touches ~ not that fancy passing it around shit like last year which obvs don’t work at EPL unless you are a “ good” club, like most of them are.
 

Maybe one day too we would be a “ good “ club though not sure how we are ever going to get there trying to replicate 1980’s Wimbledon FC. 

Presumably you don't exonerate yourself from being one of the 'I told you so's' seeing as your post contains a number of predictions which, if they come true, will give you the same opportunity as others to say 'I told you so.' Or does it only apply to those with different opinions to your own?

[Toussaint]

10 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

So, if you are right and it’s not or only partly because Russell is “ out of his depth” why the hysteria when our unproven EPL Manager  and “ strong championship level” squad are essentially where every bookie and every other saints fan thought they’d be? It’s a self righteous wankathon of I told you so on here atm…
 

But hey ho. Saints will try to get Potter then told to eff off with a smirk and end up with either an ex premier league superstar fancies being a gaffer, and/or a German Portuguese or Italian coach who is meant to be the next coming of the Lord football-wise that nobody has heard of before or the even less EPL unproven in management Adam Lallana as a caretaker. 

All infinitely better choices of course and all instantly “wrong” for the I told you sos on here. And all, indeed, offering far greater chances of staying up & playing good non boring not defensive but super tight high scoring football than sticking with the Antichrist RM. Guaranteed. That is if they last the 7 match probation. 
 

Just hope that the new Manager can teach our forwards which is the goal and remind them they are there to score or even shoot from, say penalties or three yards out. 
 

Hopefully new manager will get Saints to play better, proper, football( no GK to CB passing allowed) only proper goal kicks for TP to fight for every time - oh and the rule about no shots for forwards to be reversed plus the one about no long balls or crosses also.
New Manager will need to get a few of those motivational posters on the home changing room wall saying “ get it in the mixer “ or the cunts cannot score from Row Z”.
Id imagine a fines system in place - if we hit more than say four passes before we get into last third everyone gets fined£1000 each so we end up playing proper direct attacking football minimal touches ~ not that fancy passing it around shit like last year which obvs don’t work at EPL unless you are a “ good” club, like most of them are.
 

Maybe one day too we would be a “ good “ club though not sure how we are ever going to get there trying to replicate 1980’s Wimbledon FC. 

If you were Dragan, what would you do?

[CB Fry]

5 hours ago, derry said:

That doesn't mean we can't put out a team that dispenses with the high risk ball rotation in our own half and actually plays high tempo and stands a better chance of conceding less and maybe winning a few matches.

Exactly - the opportunity is that a different manager and a different approach could get more out of this squad. 
 

 

 

[OldNick]

17 hours ago, washsaint said:

Have you whining babies not figured out yet?......this squad is not (a couple of players apart, and I don;t count KWP in that couple of players) a Premiership quality squad.

This season was always going to be a mighty struggle - you can't legislate for stupid errors like Downes made yesterday (there's a reason he was not a starter at WHU).  Most of our squad is a strong Championship squad but it is not (Ramsdale, Fernandes, Dibling aside) a Premiership squad.

Nail on head. Thankfully the load of spoilt kids we have on here at times is not a fair reflection of our fanbase.

Most fans I believe realise that we dot have a top level squad and realistic to know it is going to be a hard season.

I read last season how the brains on here were saying that Flynn and THB were destined for greatness, well the harsh truth is that they are both lower PL players at best.

They both may get better but we need Flynn to start winning midfield battles.

RM is adapting and I was pleased he has pulled TP out from the cold and now will gain confidence to play him more. Although many think TP is no good, but I have faith in him to prove fans wrong

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

4 hours ago, saintant said:

He will go at some stage and the only question is, how long will SR leave it? The more games they allow him to continue with his vanity project which will not work the less games a new man will have to extract us from trouble. 

I thought Kompany was on a vanity project and look where it got him...and look where it got Burnley. My concern is that Russ has this scheme/plan/master philosophy or whatever you want to call it and fuck Saints, he's going to stick with it. 

And I don't buy in to this 'we've got the worst squad in the league, that's why we're at the bottom' way of thinking. Football at this level is fine margins. There really isn't much between lots of clubs. Forest were just better organised than us; Ipswich seemed to have more determination; Bournemouth seemed to be quicker, even Brentford just seemed to have that press which we didn't know how to deal with. But their players aren't miles better. The only team we've played so far where we looked the more inferior team because their players look better players has been Arsenal - and their complacency could have cost them. 

[Miltonaggro]

On 06/10/2024 at 10:34, Toussaint said:

Who would be responsible for appointing the new manager, that is the scary bit?. If it’s Rasmus then God help us. We need a total rebuild on the footballing staff de of the business, that won’t happen anytime soon.

If I was Dragan I'd drop into the ex-Saints dressing room after the charity match and do a quick brainstorm and poll.  They'll be more footballing nous and acumen in that room than the club has had in 8 years.  Short-shortlist gleaned and Spanish archer for Russ before Lucy brews his pre-beddy byes green tea.

[saintant]

2 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

I thought Kompany was on a vanity project and look where it got him...and look where it got Burnley. My concern is that Russ has this scheme/plan/master philosophy or whatever you want to call it and fuck Saints, he's going to stick with it. 

And I don't buy in to this 'we've got the worst squad in the league, that's why we're at the bottom' way of thinking. Football at this level is fine margins. There really isn't much between lots of clubs. Forest were just better organised than us; Ipswich seemed to have more determination; Bournemouth seemed to be quicker, even Brentford just seemed to have that press which we didn't know how to deal with. But their players aren't miles better. The only team we've played so far where we looked the more inferior team because their players look better players has been Arsenal - and their complacency could have cost them. 

Agree but Russ can hardly be compared to Kompany and no huge club is going to be monitoring him just because he has a philosophy that involves trying to play possession football. Anyone can say their mantra is to play possession football but it's much easier said than done as RM is finding out. I still think he's flogging snake oil to anyone who'll buy,

[saintant]

39 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Nail on head. Thankfully the load of spoilt kids we have on here at times is not a fair reflection of our fanbase.

Most fans I believe realise that we dot have a top level squad and realistic to know it is going to be a hard season.

I read last season how the brains on here were saying that Flynn and THB were destined for greatness, well the harsh truth is that they are both lower PL players at best.

They both may get better but we need Flynn to start winning midfield battles.

RM is adapting and I was pleased he has pulled TP out from the cold and now will gain confidence to play him more. Although many think TP is no good, but I have faith in him to prove fans wrong

I see few spoilt kids on here. What I do see is differences of opinion and there is nothing wrong with that unless you happen to be one of those who call those with opposite views to your own, spoilt kids. Some think RM is doing a good job and are happy for him to continue whereas others would prefer to see a change of manager. Both viewpoints have their merits and time will tell which group was on the money.

[Badger]

6 minutes ago, saintant said:

Agree but Russ can hardly be compared to Kompany and no huge club is going to be monitoring him just because he has a philosophy that involves trying to play possession football. Anyone can say their mantra is to play possession football but it's much easier said than done as RM is finding out. I still think he's flogging snake oil to anyone who'll buy,

Or flogging a dead horse.

[trousers]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Presumably you don't exonerate yourself from being one of the 'I told you so's' seeing as your post contains a number of predictions which, if they come true, will give you the same opportunity as others to say 'I told you so.' Or does it only apply to those with different opinions to your own?

Indeed. The "told you so" syndrome has worked both ways on here on the past, and will continue to do so whilst human beings have different opinions... If we were comfortably nestled in mid-table right now, there'd be plenty of "told you so"s on the other side of the divide puffing their chests as we speak... If I had my way, we'd all be sitting on the fence rather than craving a medal for how "right" we are at any given moment in time....

Edited October 7 by trousers

[tdmickey3]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

So, if you are right and it’s not or only partly because Russell is “ out of his depth” why the hysteria when our unproven EPL Manager  and “ strong championship level” squad are essentially where every bookie and every other saints fan thought they’d be? It’s a self righteous wankathon of I told you so on here atm…
 

But hey ho. Saints will try to get Potter then told to eff off with a smirk and end up with either an ex premier league superstar fancies being a gaffer, and/or a German Portuguese or Italian coach who is meant to be the next coming of the Lord football-wise that nobody has heard of before or the even less EPL unproven in management Adam Lallana as a caretaker. 

All infinitely better choices of course and all instantly “wrong” for the I told you sos on here. And all, indeed, offering far greater chances of staying up & playing good non boring not defensive but super tight high scoring football than sticking with the Antichrist RM. Guaranteed. That is if they last the 7 match probation. 
 

Just hope that the new Manager can teach our forwards which is the goal and remind them they are there to score or even shoot from, say penalties or three yards out. 
 

Hopefully new manager will get Saints to play better, proper, football( no GK to CB passing allowed) only proper goal kicks for TP to fight for every time - oh and the rule about no shots for forwards to be reversed plus the one about no long balls or crosses also.
New Manager will need to get a few of those motivational posters on the home changing room wall saying “ get it in the mixer “ or the cunts cannot score from Row Z”.
Id imagine a fines system in place - if we hit more than say four passes before we get into last third everyone gets fined£1000 each so we end up playing proper direct attacking football minimal touches ~ not that fancy passing it around shit like last year which obvs don’t work at EPL unless you are a “ good” club, like most of them are.
 

Maybe one day too we would be a “ good “ club though not sure how we are ever going to get there trying to replicate 1980’s Wimbledon FC. 

What a load of crap but as you are a Martin cheerleader it’s not surprising 

[Weston Super Saint]

7 hours ago, CB Fry said:

You’re, like, the most insightful person this forum has ever known.

Everyone knows our squad is not full Premier League standard. 

I have to admit, it's a revelation to me.

I wish we were Wolves or something something.

[gio1saints]

1 hour ago, Toussaint said:

If you were Dragan, what would you do?

I’d stick.If you want to get good at something best is to learn the hard way.Want to stay up and prosper Dragan well, you  have to be good - not just a EPL survival specialist.  PS which is what we used to be btw. 

Play these EPL teams, learn from them get battered at times by then but still heads up competing and the second half of season return fixtures use what we learned first time out from enough hard lessons to start winning games and those 3 points. 
 

There’s no fast way. First half of season is essentially back to school.
 

The Best managers ( see How close Arteta was to losing his job back then..) somehow get continuity. Despite fan mood changing by the last result. 

 

I say they Just have to keep playing - and yeah getting battered- but have the right attitude to learn learn learn and never give up. 

 

Longer answer ( don’t read if you get bored by such stuff as this) : 

I want Saints to be one of those “good” teams that can play differing styles of football, all at the very highest level. Long ball or  high press or PBF or full press or low block always great set pieces with the best work rate strikers who are deadly, ie they fucking score - defenders who can defend- and attack-  class mf’s. But wishing for that is not going to make them appear next week EPL ready. The squad for this year is largely set give or take. 
 

Can they play better? Can they be more motivated? Ideally I’d like them to be both but I don’t sense a real issue with motivation- just play style and it’s execution plus a certain dark resignation once the first goal goes in has set in. 

The play styles to be unpredictable and to change as many times as is necessary as per opponent and in play/match as often as manager sees fit. So they don’t know what to expect unlike now. 
 

Back to realism though : Far as I can tell two years ago Saints were shit at EVERY style of football versus EVERY type of opponent and our version of mixing it up in-play involved swopping the Lucazade for red bull at half time. And team morale was “ all for one and all for one” it was terrible and what we have now is miles better believe it or not catastrophe theorists aside. 

Last year we got quite good at a certain type of football and towards the end even showed ability to mix it up somewhat tactically. 

This year that certain style and even the mixing it up have all been not working. The certain style of play has not been good enough- largely imo because the fuckers who were meant to score for us are all useless atm - and our defence seems to have a three goals conceded minimum written into contracts for  every time we enter the field of play despite a bloody good goalie (imo). 
 

A new Manager is not going to sign five new quality starting players to join Tyler, Aaron, mateus and err THB make that 7 new oven ready decent EPL players. He’s going to have to coach-out all the bad stuff and coach-in the better stuff - all in a matter of weeks because if we are ditching the boss after seven games after what he gave us last year the new guy has got zero credit in his bank of saints fan goodwill. Sure as eggs is eggs unless we have got, say at least 7 /8 points from seven games ( relegation form still for latter part of season and from where we start from - but better than what we have atm) the fans will turn on him too.
I’d give him a 60/40 against chance which means fair chance we’d need another new manager come January. That one will probably be Adam Lallana until end of season though so rest easy everyone will be happy with that lol.😂 

So, getting rid of RM, aside from being effing expensive will not be the only managerial change for us this season is a fair bet. So why go to all that traumatic drama and we look like clowns charade when we can stick with the Manager and give him this season ( and maybe the next if we go down?) Eh stupid idea is it, terrible notion is it? I don’t think so. 

Seems sensible longer term planning to me especially if by end of year we are down but we sold Tyler for £75m to fund our championship campaign. 

Edited October 7 by gio1saints

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Give it to Ron said:

Let’s see the Saints v Leicester starting 11 and if TP not in it he has lost the last bit of credibility with me.

We finally had an outlet and focal point someone the better players could play off. 

And more than one up front.

[manji]

12 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

I’d stick.If you want to get good at something best is to learn the hard way.Want to stay up and prosper Dragan well, you  have to be good - not just a EPL survival specialist.  PS which is what we used to be btw. 

Play these EPL teams, learn from them get battered at times by then but still heads up competing and the second half of season return fixtures use what we learned first time out from enough hard lessons to start winning games and those 3 points. 
 

There’s no fast way. First half of season is essentially back to school.
 

The Best managers ( see How close Arteta was to losing his job back then..) somehow get continuity. Despite fan mood changing by the last result. 

 

I say they Just have to keep playing - and yeah getting battered- but have the right attitude to learn learn learn and never give up. 

 

Longer answer ( don’t read if you get bored by such stuff as this) : 

I want Saints to be one of those “good” teams that can play differing styles of football, all at the very highest level. Long ball or  high press or PBF or full press or low block always great set pieces with the best work rate strikers who are deadly, ie they fucking score - defenders who can defend- and attack-  class mf’s. But wishing for that is not going to make them appear next week EPL ready. The squad for this year is largely set give or take. 
 

Can they play better? Can they be more motivated? Ideally I’d like them to be both but I don’t sense a real issue with motivation- just play style and it’s execution plus a certain dark resignation once the first goal goes in has set in. 

The play styles to be unpredictable and to change as many times as is necessary as per opponent and in play/match as often as manager sees fit. So they don’t know what to expect unlike now. 
 

Back to realism though : Far as I can tell two years ago Saints were shit at EVERY style of football versus EVERY type of opponent and our version of mixing it up in-play involved swopping the Lucazade for red bull at half time. And team morale was “ all for one and all for one” it was terrible and what we have now is miles better believe it or not catastrophe theorists aside. 

Last year we got quite good at a certain type of football and towards the end even showed ability to mix it up somewhat tactically. 

This year that certain style and even the mixing it up have all been not working. The certain style of play has not been good enough- largely imo because the fuckers who were meant to score for us are all useless atm - and our defence seems to have a three goals conceded minimum written into contracts for  every time we enter the field of play despite a bloody good goalie (imo). 
 

A new Manager is not going to sign five new quality starting players to join Tyler, Aaron, Nateus and err THB make that 7 new oven ready decent EPL players. He’s going to have to coach-out all the bad stuff and coach-in the better stuff - all in a matter of weeks because if we are ditching the boss after seven games after what he gave us last year the new guy has zero credit in bank of goodwill. Sure as eggs is eggs unless we have got, say at least 7 /8 points from seven games the fans will turn on him too. I’d give him a 60/40 against chance which means fair chance we’d need another new manager come January. That one will probably be Adam Lallana until end of season though so rest easy everyone will be happy with that lol.
So getting rid of RM aside from being effing expensive will not be the only managerial change for us this season is a fair bet. So why go to all that traumatic drama and we look like clowns charade when we can stick with the Nabager and give him this season ( and maybe the next if we go down?) Seems sensible longer term planning to me especially if by end of year we are down but we e sold Tyler for £75m to fund our championship campaign. 

It’s refreshing to hear someone talking sense being pragmatic. You will get the divs adding laughing emojis and of course some slagging but you are right sacking RM isn’t an option . Arteta is a good example there are plenty of managers that clubs have stuck with.

its social media it allows certain bedwetters the opportunity to post kneejerk reactions. I’m not just talking about this forum Twitter is worse and there’s a national audience play to. 
and there’s been a clique that have been waiting for this to happen . All the dopey hipster comments this is the way all top level football is going.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, manji said:

It’s refreshing to hear someone talking sense being pragmatic. You will get the divs adding laughing emojis and of course some slagging but you are right sacking RM isn’t an option . Arteta is a good example there are plenty of managers that clubs have stuck with.

its social media it allows certain bedwetters the opportunity to post kneejerk reactions. I’m not just talking about this forum Twitter is worse and there’s a national audience play to. 
and there’s been a clique that have been waiting for this to happen . All the dopey hipster comments this is the way all top level football is going.

If sacking RM is not an option…. What will you say when he is sacked for constantly losing?

[Weston Super Saint]

Just now, manji said:

It’s refreshing to hear someone talking sense being pragmatic. You will get the divs adding laughing emojis and of course some slagging but you are right sacking RM isn’t an option . Arteta is a good example there are plenty of managers that clubs have stuck with.

its social media it allows certain bedwetters the opportunity to post kneejerk reactions. I’m not just talking about this forum Twitter is worse and there’s a national audience play to. 
and there’s been a clique that have been waiting for this to happen . All the dopey hipster comments this is the way all top level football is going.

Is 1 single, solitary point from 7 matches (21 points) a 'knee jerk reaction'?

If so, put me down as a knee jerker.

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, gio1saints said:

So, if you are right and it’s not or only partly because Russell is “ out of his depth” why the hysteria when our unproven EPL Manager  and “ strong championship level” squad are essentially where every bookie and every other saints fan thought they’d be? It’s a self righteous wankathon of I told you so on here atm…
 

But hey ho. Saints will try to get Potter then told to eff off with a smirk and end up with either an ex premier league superstar fancies being a gaffer, and/or a German Portuguese or Italian coach who is meant to be the next coming of the Lord football-wise that nobody has heard of before or the even less EPL unproven in management Adam Lallana as a caretaker. 

All infinitely better choices of course and all instantly “wrong” for the I told you sos on here. And all, indeed, offering far greater chances of staying up & playing good non boring not defensive but super tight high scoring football than sticking with the Antichrist RM. Guaranteed. That is if they last the 7 match probation. 
 

Just hope that the new Manager can teach our forwards which is the goal and remind them they are there to score or even shoot from, say penalties or three yards out. 
 

Hopefully new manager will get Saints to play better, proper, football( no GK to CB passing allowed) only proper goal kicks for TP to fight for every time - oh and the rule about no shots for forwards to be reversed plus the one about no long balls or crosses also.
New Manager will need to get a few of those motivational posters on the home changing room wall saying “ get it in the mixer “ or the cunts cannot score from Row Z”.
Id imagine a fines system in place - if we hit more than say four passes before we get into last third everyone gets fined£1000 each so we end up playing proper direct attacking football minimal touches ~ not that fancy passing it around shit like last year which obvs don’t work at EPL unless you are a “ good” club, like most of them are.
 

Maybe one day too we would be a “ good “ club though not sure how we are ever going to get there trying to replicate 1980’s Wimbledon FC. 

 

26 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

I’d stick.If you want to get good at something best is to learn the hard way.Want to stay up and prosper Dragan well, you  have to be good - not just a EPL survival specialist.  PS which is what we used to be btw. 

Play these EPL teams, learn from them get battered at times by then but still heads up competing and the second half of season return fixtures use what we learned first time out from enough hard lessons to start winning games and those 3 points. 
 

There’s no fast way. First half of season is essentially back to school.
 

The Best managers ( see How close Arteta was to losing his job back then..) somehow get continuity. Despite fan mood changing by the last result. 

 

I say they Just have to keep playing - and yeah getting battered- but have the right attitude to learn learn learn and never give up. 

 

Longer answer ( don’t read if you get bored by such stuff as this) : 

I want Saints to be one of those “good” teams that can play differing styles of football, all at the very highest level. Long ball or  high press or PBF or full press or low block always great set pieces with the best work rate strikers who are deadly, ie they fucking score - defenders who can defend- and attack-  class mf’s. But wishing for that is not going to make them appear next week EPL ready. The squad for this year is largely set give or take. 
 

Can they play better? Can they be more motivated? Ideally I’d like them to be both but I don’t sense a real issue with motivation- just play style and it’s execution plus a certain dark resignation once the first goal goes in has set in. 

The play styles to be unpredictable and to change as many times as is necessary as per opponent and in play/match as often as manager sees fit. So they don’t know what to expect unlike now. 
 

Back to realism though : Far as I can tell two years ago Saints were shit at EVERY style of football versus EVERY type of opponent and our version of mixing it up in-play involved swopping the Lucazade for red bull at half time. And team morale was “ all for one and all for one” it was terrible and what we have now is miles better believe it or not catastrophe theorists aside. 

Last year we got quite good at a certain type of football and towards the end even showed ability to mix it up somewhat tactically. 

This year that certain style and even the mixing it up have all been not working. The certain style of play has not been good enough- largely imo because the fuckers who were meant to score for us are all useless atm - and our defence seems to have a three goals conceded minimum written into contracts for  every time we enter the field of play despite a bloody good goalie (imo). 
 

A new Manager is not going to sign five new quality starting players to join Tyler, Aaron, mateus and err THB make that 7 new oven ready decent EPL players. He’s going to have to coach-out all the bad stuff and coach-in the better stuff - all in a matter of weeks because if we are ditching the boss after seven games after what he gave us last year the new guy has got zero credit in his bank of saints fan goodwill. Sure as eggs is eggs unless we have got, say at least 7 /8 points from seven games ( relegation form still for latter part of season and from where we start from - but better than what we have atm) the fans will turn on him too.
I’d give him a 60/40 against chance which means fair chance we’d need another new manager come January. That one will probably be Adam Lallana until end of season though so rest easy everyone will be happy with that lol.😂 

So, getting rid of RM, aside from being effing expensive will not be the only managerial change for us this season is a fair bet. So why go to all that traumatic drama and we look like clowns charade when we can stick with the Manager and give him this season ( and maybe the next if we go down?) Eh stupid idea is it, terrible notion is it? I don’t think so. 

Seems sensible longer term planning to me especially if by end of year we are down but we sold Tyler for £75m to fund our championship campaign. 

any chance of bullet points?

[Weston Super Saint]

Just now, Turkish said:

 

any chance of bullet points?

To paraphrase: I lUv rUsSElL ❤️ 

[AlexLaw76]

9 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Is 1 single, solitary point from 7 matches (21 points) a 'knee jerk reaction'?

If so, put me down as a knee jerker.

6 points a season - sign me up!!!

[Charlie Wayman]

4 hours ago, Oldandtired said:

The crap that comes out of this  man's mouth. We're on a journey alright, and with him steering most can see where the destination is.

Meaningless drivel! The man has lost the plot. 

[miserableoldgit]

7 hours ago, badgerx16 said:

Nor is our manager.

No manager is.....until they are.....even Pep had to start somewhere. Poch. Koeman etc had no Prem experience......

[Gloucester Saint]

2 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Is that actually legal?

Not legal, but Alan Ball when he took over as manager apparently banned it from training to knock the Branfoot launches forward by the defenders every time. Players who launched into the channels in training matches without targeting a specific striker/winger were fined.

Edited October 7 by Gloucester Saint

[Gloucester Saint]

31 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Is 1 single, solitary point from 7 matches (21 points) a 'knee jerk reaction'?

If so, put me down as a knee jerker.

Better than a knee trembler I suppose..

[badgerx16]

9 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

No manager is.....until they are.....even Pep had to start somewhere. Poch. Koeman etc had no Prem experience......

But they proved they had the potential, Russ has not. He is on course to be worse than Nathan Jones.

Edited October 7 by badgerx16

[Gloucester Saint]

31 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

To paraphrase: I lUv rUsSElL ❤️ 

🤩 = Saint Gio

[Turkish]

22 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Is 1 single, solitary point from 7 matches (21 points) a 'knee jerk reaction'?

If so, put me down as a knee jerker.

Im always amused by people that bang on about continuity often quoting a manager at a really big club as a reason why things dont turn around overnight. It seems Arteta is the current example of look how great it is if you stick with the manager. People used to quote that Alex Ferguson took 4 years to win anything at Man United almost like sticking with a manager however shite they are is suddenly some guarantee of success years down the line. 

Martins defences leaked goals in the championship, this season we're currently on course to conceded 82 which would be the 4 highest of any club in the last ten years and guarantees relegation. If Martin had a history of water tight defences then he might have a defence but he hasn't, every team he has managed concedes a bucket load and i think MOTD showed on saturday that 7 of our goals conceded this season have been due to errors playing out in dangerous areas.

Im sure if we stick with him in 4 years time it'll be worth it though 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

Im always amused by people that bang on about continuity often quoting a manager at a really big club as a reason why things dont turn around overnight. It seems Arteta is the current example of look how great it is if you stick with the manager. People used to quote that Alex Ferguson took 4 years to win anything at Man United almost like sticking with a manager however shite they are is suddenly some guarantee of success years down the line. 

Martins defences leaked goals in the championship, this season we're currently on course to conceded 82 which would be the 4 highest of any club in the last ten years and guarantees relegation. If Martin had a history of water tight defences then he might have a defence but he hasn't, every team he has managed concedes a bucket load and i think MOTD showed on saturday that 7 of our goals conceded this season have been due to errors playing out in dangerous areas.

Im sure if we stick with him in 4 years time it'll be worth it though 

If he stayed all of this season, I think it could more than 82, we are yet to face Liverpool or City yet, and they’ve more forward quality than we’ve faced so far.

[Dark Munster]

9 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

No manager is.....until they are.....even Pep had to start somewhere. Poch. Koeman etc had no Prem experience......

They managed at the top leagues elsewhere though. Also as footballers they played at the highest level (not a guarantee of success by itself, but adds to their potential as managers and garners respect from their players).

[Whitey Grandad]

10 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Im sure if we stick with him in 4 years time it'll be worth it though 

I don’t think he’ll ever learn. I don’t think he’s capable of learning. He’s been a manager long enough to have learnt what makes a good defence and there are no signs that he ever will.

We cannot afford to have a Premier League novice in control of our football. Not to replace him now is an expensive mistake.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

2 hours ago, Turkish said:

MOTD showed on saturday that 7 of our goals conceded this season have been due to errors playing out in dangerous areas

 

2 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

I don’t think he’ll ever learn. I don’t think he’s capable of learning

Sadly, he's not learning. He can't seem to see that in the premier league everything is played at a faster pace, the players are fitter, the opposition's press is tighter and our players aren't skilled enough to play the type of possession football he seems to desire. He talks a good talk but he's really struggling.

How long does he have? Leicester we draw, Man City we lose, Everton we draw...then it's practically all over. We need someone soon. Saints manager recruitment seems to have been totally crap or inspired. Let's hope they can find a Poch, Koeman or Ralph. Potter/Moyes - would they accept a challenge?

[The Kraken]

I think we need to bring back little Nicola Cortese on a short term contract to pick our next manager. Say what you want about the man but he had a good eye for a manager:

Alan Pardew - oversaw some great player recruitment and brought us some silverware.

Nigel Adkins - double promotion and looked likely to comfortably keep us up in his first season in the PL.

Mauricio Pochettino - 14th then 8th in the PL.

Little Nic may have been given his P45 in Jan 2014 but it’s likely he had already identified Ronald Koeman as Poch’s successor late that summer, such was his footballing CEO vision.  Get the wee man in on a short term contract and let him identify our next saviour.

[trousers]

It could be worse...

 

[Give it to Ron]

3 hours ago, manji said:

It’s refreshing to hear someone talking sense being pragmatic. You will get the divs adding laughing emojis and of course some slagging but you are right sacking RM isn’t an option . Arteta is a good example there are plenty of managers that clubs have stuck with.

its social media it allows certain bedwetters the opportunity to post kneejerk reactions. I’m not just talking about this forum Twitter is worse and there’s a national audience play to. 
and there’s been a clique that have been waiting for this to happen . All the dopey hipster comments this is the way all top level football is going.

Can you tell me which other club plays a U formation with strikers 60 yards apart? Can you show me a club that leaves 5 strikers on bench and best 2 midfielders out of position? Just brings players in from nowhere like Manning Saturday (although did well). Where is our German international?

if that is being hipster then I am glad I can’t grow a beard.

Unless we get a Potter or a Moyes I don’t see point in just changing to a Corberon who Russ beat a few time last season tactically. Eustace isn’t the experienced manager this club needs to run it with the lack of know have at board level.

Thing in back of my mind is the way we just abandoned the play throughout club to appoint Jones how do I trust them to get the right man and coaching team.

[Gloucester Saint]

43 minutes ago, trousers said:

It could be worse...

 

He’s lost 4 games already at that level and Charlton have invested in the playing squad as well as being one of the biggest clubs. They’ve been a bin fire for a while as a club but new ownership and expectations will have risen. 

[Osvaldorama]

5 hours ago, OldNick said:

Nail on head. Thankfully the load of spoilt kids we have on here at times is not a fair reflection of our fanbase.

Most fans I believe realise that we dot have a top level squad and realistic to know it is going to be a hard season.

I read last season how the brains on here were saying that Flynn and THB were destined for greatness, well the harsh truth is that they are both lower PL players at best.

They both may get better but we need Flynn to start winning midfield battles.

RM is adapting and I was pleased he has pulled TP out from the cold and now will gain confidence to play him more. Although many think TP is no good, but I have faith in him to prove fans wrong

What a crock of shit. 
 

THB is steadily improving week by week.  And Flynn is being thrown under the bus consistently by the managers shite tactics. 
 

Of all the people to criticise at the club, those 2 are toward bottom of the list

[Oldandtired]

25 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

What a crock of shit. 
 

THB is steadily improving week by week.  And Flynn is being thrown under the bus consistently by the managers shite tactics. 
 

Of all the people to criticise at the club, those 2 are toward bottom of the list

Martin could turn Messi into Manning after a month of Russball.

[Galway saint]

He’s not done anything this season to show me he can keep us up, allowing for the fact it was a tall order anyway. As a coach he’s always had a poor goals against record and now he’s got a below average attack he’s not going to win enough games. 

The warning signs were there last season - Hull away for example where we were blown away by a high pressing side that attacked with pace and it was key stone cops at the back.

Fair enough it’s Arsenal but on Saturday Flynn was overwhelmed in the middle of the park trying to get things moving forward. There was a glimmer when TP came on and see you could see there was a finally a focal point for players to make runs off. God knows if he will play him from the start against Leicester. I find it bizarre that instead of TP he played Stewart from the outset who has looked very ordinary - has he had a shot on target  yet for Saints ?

Equally there’s no point sacking him unless there is a decent replacement and the record to date has been poor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

3 hours ago, trousers said:

It could be worse...

I don’t usually disagree with you, trews, but this time I do (if I may be so bold).  Charlton has a manager who is offering to resign; hence, “I wish we were Charlton!”.

(Agree about Jones, though.)