Russell Martin

[Baird of the land]

5 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

Maybe he just wants to be fair to Everton and wolves and allow them the same opportunity to try for easy points that was awarded to Ipswich and Leicester.

[Lighthouse]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

This is his way of rubbing our noses in it - smugness at its worst.

I’m not saying you need to like him as a manager but you seem to be getting annoyed at a persona you’ve created in your own head.

[FarehamSaintJames]

It annoys me when I read “football can be cruel”. Yes, but do the basics right and it’s absolutely fucking simple.

😂

[Gloucester Saint]

31 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

They lost their first 4 games, sacked their manager and appointed Hodgson. Not quite 10.

No, I think he meant before that. 2013/14 IIRC, I was at the home game where Osvaldo and Lambert scored, latter a free kick. Ian Holloway was manager, actually a mutual consent departure and Pulis came in and kept them up.

Don't know if it was 0 from 10 but was as bad as now after they also won the play off final.

The first four games was De Boer in 17/18 when Palace and Saints were considering him and Pellegrino. What a choice 🤪

 

Edited 19 October, 2024 by Gloucester Saint
2013/14 was MP, 2014/15 RK

[musesaint]

I have never been a fan of Martin and I honestly believe that Saints were promoted last season despite him and not because of him - primarily as a result of Saints having one of the best squads in the Championship. Any lingering doubts went out the window today with his appalling substitutions which handed Leicester the game. Typically Martin negative and intended to “see out the game” at 2-1 rather than taking a positive approach and win it. He MUST be sacked sooner rather than later. Leave it much longer and the squad will be so broken that we’ll have zero hope of staying up. 
 

On the positive side Dibling will be worth £60m+ in a fire sale - another great young player who’ll be lost from Saints as a result of another relegation and sell off. One that is totally avoidable if The Board finally shows some balls and sacks Martin tomorrow. 

[saintant]

Can anyone explain why SR have decided they want us to play this style of football - other than the obvious that they have zero clue what they are doing. Let's face it there is not a snowball in hells chance of it working in the Premier League which is where we want to be. There are reasons no other team is stupid enough to try it but Semmens decided to flog our great club to these imbeciles and we have to suffer the consequences as they embarrass and destroy Southampton FC with their ridiculous vanity project. It's a long road back and the first step will not be taken until Rasmus and his motley crew of grifters are out of our club.

[Wade Garrett]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Can anyone explain why SR have decided they want us to play this style of football - other than the obvious that they have zero clue what they are doing. Let's face it there is not a snowball in hells chance of it working in the Premier League which is where we want to be. There are reasons no other team is stupid enough to try it but Semmens decided to flog our great club to these imbeciles and we have to suffer the consequences as they embarrass and destroy Southampton FC with their ridiculous vanity project. It's a long road back and the first step will not be taken until Rasmus and his motley crew of grifters are out of our club.

It’s utterly ridiculous.

[Saint NL]

8 minutes ago, saintant said:

This is his way of rubbing our noses in it - smugness at its worst.

That's before you remember he's going home to Lucy Pinder tonight 😂

[musesaint]

‘Pride Of The South”. Ask Bournemouth or Brighton 

[Wade Garrett]

Just now, musesaint said:

‘Pride Of The South”. Ask Bournemouth or Brighton 

The big banner looked like ‘Ride of the South’ from where I sit.

Which is ironic as we get fucked every Saturday afternoon.

[saintant]

5 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I’m not saying you need to like him as a manager but you seem to be getting annoyed at a persona you’ve created in your own head.

I judge as I see and hear - from listening to RM regularly my impression is that this remark was his way of saying we need to get used to it because he's going nowhere soon.  It's a little smug dig at those who dare to question or criticise him. He annoys me as you describe it because he along with SR are ruining our great football club and turning us into an embarrassment. If that is ok with you then that's your choice but I'll continue to call out this farce.

[Harry_SFC]

Just now, saintant said:

I judge as I see and hear - from listening to RM regularly my impression is that this remark was his way of saying we need to get used to it because he's going nowhere soon.  It's a little smug dig at those who dare to question or criticise him. He annoys me as you describe it because he along with SR are ruining our great football club and turning us into an embarrassment. If that is ok with you then that's your choice but I'll continue to call out this farce.

Totally get this. He does seem like a very arrogant person.

[Bad Wolf]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

I judge as I see and hear - from listening to RM regularly my impression is that this remark was his way of saying we need to get used to it because he's going nowhere soon.  It's a little smug dig at those who dare to question or criticise him. He annoys me as you describe it because he along with SR are ruining our great football club and turning us into an embarrassment. If that is ok with you then that's your choice but I'll continue to call out this farce.

Why would he NOT be that way?

He had a relatively comfortable job, he took another one, relocated, got promoted, got offered a new contract, signed it and now he's somehow the bad guy for not wanting to walk away from a huge pay out.

As for "great football club"....That's just adorable.

[Lighthouse]

5 minutes ago, saintant said:

I judge as I see and hear - from listening to RM regularly my impression is that this remark was his way of saying we need to get used to it because he's going nowhere soon.  It's a little smug dig at those who dare to question or criticise him. He annoys me as you describe it because he along with SR are ruining our great football club and turning us into an embarrassment. If that is ok with you then that's your choice but I'll continue to call out this farce.

He gave a bog standard response to media questioning but basically saying the owners have faith in him. How you’ve managed to extrapolate that into him gleefully rubbing our noses in the present situation, and by extension me being happy with our current results, I cannot fathom. 
 

It was a standard, textbook interview response. Personally I haven’t listened to any interview with any player or manager for years, they’re all generic in the extreme, to the point of being meaningless.

[Wade Garrett]

Just now, Lighthouse said:

He gave a bog standard response to media questioning but basically saying the owners have faith in him. How you’ve managed to extrapolate that into him gleefully rubbing our noses in the present situation, and by extension me being happy with our current results, I cannot fathom. 
 

It was a standard, textbook interview response. Personally I haven’t listened to any interview with any player or manager for years, they’re all generic in the extreme, to the point of being meaningless.

I agree.  I wouldn’t take much notice of these interviews.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Lighthouse said:

He gave a bog standard response to media questioning but basically saying the owners have faith in him. How you’ve managed to extrapolate that into him gleefully rubbing our noses in the present situation, and by extension me being happy with our current results, I cannot fathom. 
 

It was a standard, textbook interview response. Personally I haven’t listened to any interview with any player or manager for years, they’re all generic in the extreme, to the point of being meaningless.

he does not give bog standard responses to Adam Blackmore or Alfie house on a more local level at times.

[saintant]

2 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

Why would he NOT be that way?

He had a relatively comfortable job, he took another one, relocated, got promoted, got offered a new contract, signed it and now he's somehow the bad guy for not wanting to walk away from a huge pay out.

As for "great football club"....That's just adorable.

You my not agree but Southampton FC has a proud history having spent many seasons in the top league which is an achievement for a relatively small club. We have never had the riches that might have enabled us to win trophies but, in our way, we've done very well.  To me that makes us a great club and I'm angry that we are now being run by amateurs.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

He gave a bog standard response to media questioning but basically saying the owners have faith in him. How you’ve managed to extrapolate that into him gleefully rubbing our noses in the present situation, and by extension me being happy with our current results, I cannot fathom. 
 

It was a standard, textbook interview response. Personally I haven’t listened to any interview with any player or manager for years, they’re all generic in the extreme, to the point of being meaningless.

He can’t really say anything else can he? Not unless if he wants to unemployable in the future or mess up his compensation package/break clause. I very much doubt Dragan is happy about the situation nor that Martin will be in post within a few days. 

Edited 19 October, 2024 by Gloucester Saint

[Harry_SFC]

It gets even worse for Martin - looks to me that the player who (he claims) should've been marking the penalty spot was Smallbone - who he brought on with Fraser! 

Edited 19 October, 2024 by Harry_SFC

[saintant]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

he does not give bog standard responses to Adam Blackmore or Alfie house on a more local level at times.

Agree.

[Whitey Grandad]

7 hours ago, Graffito said:

Well that’s the difference between fact (saints won) and speculation (how many might saints have won by with a different approach). We’ll never know with speculation because it’s, well….speculation. Surely we can only go with the facts. 

Troo dat, but the origins l premise was that it was the passing principle that led directly to the goal.

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

Carbon copy of the Ipswich last minute winner. How do you not learn from that. That is a tactical set up, not on the players.

Imagine bringing Smallbone and Fraser on ahead of Taylor and Lallana. Stackable offences in their own right.

Yep and Leicester had obviously watched that and worked it out, simple pulled back corner two players unmarked goal. 

[Turkish]

48 minutes ago, saintant said:

Can anyone explain why SR have decided they want us to play this style of football - other than the obvious that they have zero clue what they are doing. Let's face it there is not a snowball in hells chance of it working in the Premier League which is where we want to be. There are reasons no other team is stupid enough to try it but Semmens decided to flog our great club to these imbeciles and we have to suffer the consequences as they embarrass and destroy Southampton FC with their ridiculous vanity project. It's a long road back and the first step will not be taken until Rasmus and his motley crew of grifters are out of our club.

Because they want us to be Man City lite. Signing their academy players, the multi club set up the philosophy and identity bollocks. That’s what they want but the flaw in their plan is that Man City can do it because they’ve got the best manager in the world, the best players in the world, more money than god and can pretty much make their own rules as the premier league is scared that anything goes against them they’ll along with the other big clubs clear off into a European league and the premier league brand is gone

[Saint86]

If they're not going to sack him, at least get him some proper quality support on the bench re tactical setup and defensive coaching. We were good for most of the game with 11men, really should have been out of sight in fact...and then he's just utterly shat the bed. Taylor absolutely murdered us decision wise, but Martin just has to be better - he needs to react sooner, and he needs to not completely shit the bed with his changes. 

What is even more frustrating is that Martin has shown that with a bit of prep time, he can get his teams setup right. The playoffs vs West brom. The final vs Leeds, Newcastle first game, even today and vs Ipswich etc... But he gets out coached tactically by the other managers in the games and it's a real problem. They react well and he doesn't and makes a mess. That and we are getting bad luck. 

Edited 19 October, 2024 by Saint86

[verlaine1979]

4 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Because they want us to be Man City lite. Signing their academy players, the multi club set up the philosophy and identity bollocks. That’s what they want but the flaw in their plan is that Man City can do it because they’ve got the best manager in the world, the best players in the world, more money than god and can pretty much make their own rules as the premier league is scared that anything goes against them they’ll along with the other big clubs clear off into a European league and the premier league brand is gone

The annoying thing is that overplaying in your own final third and moving the ball slowly ISN'T part of the City playbook. When their CBs are pinging it about between themselves it's more often than not on the halfway line. Looking at Guardiola's managerial career and taking the lesson that possession anywhere on the pitch and at any pace of play is the key is utterly moronic.

[sotonjoe]

2 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

If that is true then it shows how out of their depth SR actually are. Martin Fucking Semmens again selected this shower. I don’t know why Dragan doesn’t just set fire to tens of millions of pounds on a Scottish island like the KLF did rather than tortuously throw it away constantly via Rasmus, Kraft, Russell Martin and other clueless cretins. If I was him, I’d try for a former top level manager who fancies a director role, bit of overseas travel and understands how medium-large football clubs work, and give Rasmus the heave-ho, if he can.

Sounds like a job for Les Reed

[Gloucester Saint]

4 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

If they're not going to sack him, at least get him some proper quality support on the bench re tactical setup and defensive coaching. We were good for most of the game with 11men, really should have been out of sight in fact...and rhen he's just utterly shat the bed. Taylor absolutely murdered us decision wise, but Martin just has to be better - he needs to react sooner, and he needs to not completely shit the bed with his changes. 

Agree in principle but I don’t think Martin is a personality that would cope with it. We tried this with Ralph in SR’s first summer and that didn’t work. We just need a more experienced and organised hand whilst SR sort out Rasmus’s future and the whole direction of their group as they are a rudderless mess in need of even more top level football leadership than Saints are. They probably need another major investor with Dragan who is a bit more ruthless and to walk the basics before they try to run with more business nous and capital behind them.

Edited 19 October, 2024 by Gloucester Saint

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, sotonjoe said:

Sounds like a job for Les Reed

I think he’s quite happy with his Hollywood assignment. That bloke always lands on all 4 paws.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

46 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Totally get this. He does seem like a very arrogant person.

I don't think I've disliked a Saints manager as much as Martin. Even Branfoot wasn't as bad as this twat.

[Colinjb]

5 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

If they're not going to sack him, at least get him some proper quality support on the bench re tactical setup and defensive coaching. We were good for most of the game with 11men, really should have been out of sight in fact...and rhen he's just utterly shat the bed. Taylor absolutely murdered us decision wise, but Martin just has to be better - he needs to react sooner, and he needs to not completely shit the bed with his changes. 

Don't forget fitness coach.

[Saint NL]

4 minutes ago, sotonjoe said:

Sounds like a job for Les Reed

Les Dennis would be a step up from the current guy.

[Saint86]

Just now, Colinjb said:

Don't forget fitness coach.

Yes. Fair. But I would have just settled for having Taylor on at left back vs fatawu when it was still 2-1... Ideally at 2-0 given we knew all about him from last year 😢

[sotonjoe]

1 hour ago, Saint NL said:

That's before you remember he's going home to Lucy Pinder tonight 😂

Is he gonna rub his nose in it tho?

[Turkish]

After last seasons unbeaten run he’s about to set another record at Man City. 

[Bad Wolf]

54 minutes ago, saintant said:

You my not agree but Southampton FC has a proud history having spent many seasons in the top league which is an achievement for a relatively small club. We have never had the riches that might have enabled us to win trophies but, in our way, we've done very well.  To me that makes us a great club and I'm angry that we are now being run by amateurs.

I can only comment on our most recent top flight stint - We spent 11 years up. At least 7 of them were whinged about as "not being good enough". So the fact that these top flight seasons are meant to be make up some kind of pride in this club is something I just can't take seriously.

[Gloucester Saint]

14 minutes ago, Bad Wolf said:

I can only comment on our most recent top flight stint - We spent 11 years up. At least 7 of them were whinged about as "not being good enough". So the fact that these top flight seasons are meant to be make up some kind of pride in this club is something I just can't take seriously.

Only by a minority - Alpine and a handful of others. I can only speak for myself - I loved 2012-16, and 2009-12 rebuilding, bits of 2016/17 as well, 2017 was awful with Pellegrino the sleeping tablets king, but some brighter patches under Ralph early on, project re-start and two-thirds of 2021/22 until the West Ham cup game and whatever went on behind the scenes. 

And it ignores the 70s and 80s - a trophy, should have been more, European runs, signing top players. And the 90s and early 00s battling v the odds, new stadium, WGS and Cup Final.

Edited 19 October, 2024 by Gloucester Saint

[Saint Matty 76]

Did the job last year, deserved a chance this year but a constant lack of willingness to change alongside constantly public reminders that he won’t is enough for me.

Always wanted him to do well as he seems a good guy but we have absolutely zero hope in staying up with him in charge. I’m not sure it increases massively with anybody else but you have to twist at some stage.

He wasn’t helped very much with shocking recruitment this Summer, but I’m fed up of him sticking with some of his mates over players who have actually shown glimpses of talent at this level.

Probably give him the City game and then get somebody in for Everton & Wolves, where anything less than 6 points would confirm what is pretty much a formality at this point anyway.

Throw a Mark Hughes sized bonus at Moyes, but I’m not sure there’ll be anybody decent rushing to take the job.

[Badger]

10 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

People wanted Martin gone after six games, I'm prepared to give him longer.

Do you mean six games, last season or this ? 

[Dark Munster]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Can anyone explain why SR have decided they want us to play this style of football - other than the obvious that they have zero clue what they are doing. Let's face it there is not a snowball in hells chance of it working in the Premier League which is where we want to be. There are reasons no other team is stupid enough to try it but Semmens decided to flog our great club to these imbeciles and we have to suffer the consequences as they embarrass and destroy Southampton FC with their ridiculous vanity project. It's a long road back and the first step will not be taken until Rasmus and his motley crew of grifters are out of our club.

I think you have answered your own question there. Dragan too, for continuing to support them.

The lunatics are in total control of the asylum.

[Farmer Saint]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

You my not agree but Southampton FC has a proud history having spent many seasons in the top league which is an achievement for a relatively small club. We have never had the riches that might have enabled us to win trophies but, in our way, we've done very well.  To me that makes us a great club and I'm angry that we are now being run by amateurs.

We haven't been a team to be proud of for fucking years. My proudest recent moment was when we lost 9-0 twice under Hassenhuttl. What was yours?

[Gloucester Saint]

48 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Because they want us to be Man City lite. Signing their academy players, the multi club set up the philosophy and identity bollocks. That’s what they want but the flaw in their plan is that Man City can do it because they’ve got the best manager in the world, the best players in the world, more money than god and can pretty much make their own rules as the premier league is scared that anything goes against them they’ll along with the other big clubs clear off into a European league and the premier league brand is gone

But without the budget. It might work better if Dragan was one of the main investors, not the only. I’d see £3-5BN as a minimum for what they’re trying to do. If they got Saints top 10 PL established again, it would lift the rest of the group but when the main club performs below its typical benchmark since 1966 bar 05-09 as an outlier, that’s not attractive.

Other investors with a bit more drive and ruthlessness would see the likes of Rasmus down the road PDQ with less of his ‘Funky’ decision-making.

[Badger]

2 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Before today's match, he was asked what would be a good season for him. RM replied "still being the Southampton manager."

 

No mention of beating Derby’s record low points then. That should be the first target. 

Edited 19 October, 2024 by Badger

[Dellyears]

28 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

Did the job last year, deserved a chance this year but a constant lack of willingness to change alongside constantly public reminders that he won’t is enough for me.

Always wanted him to do well as he seems a good guy but we have absolutely zero hope in staying up with him in charge. I’m not sure it increases massively with anybody else but you have to twist at some stage.

He wasn’t helped very much with shocking recruitment this Summer, but I’m fed up of him sticking with some of his mates over players who have actually shown glimpses of talent at this level.

Probably give him the City game and then get somebody in for Everton & Wolves, where anything less than 6 points would confirm what is pretty much a formality at this point anyway.

Throw a Mark Hughes sized bonus at Moyes, but I’m not sure there’ll be anybody decent rushing to take the job.

Don't think the summer signings were shocking. We've got some very good additions, just a coach who is incapable of using their talent.

[Gloucester Saint]

8 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

We haven't been a team to be proud of for fucking years. My proudest recent moment was when we lost 9-0 twice under Hassenhuttl. What was yours?

That’s relatively more recent though in our overall history - October 2019 and what, 2021? Project re-start we played some lovely stuff and we were far more competitive in both those seasons overall. 

I agree it’s been a crap few years but back to back bad owners will do that. And not SR hasn’t spent unlike Gao - it’s just had an overgrown kid playing computer games and one of City’s castoffs in charge of recruitment. 

Common thread is Martin Semmens in terms of both dud owners.

[Galway saint]

Just now, Dellyears said:

Don't think the summer signings were shocking. We've got some very good additions, just a coach who is incapable of using their talent.

the forward recruitment wasn’t good enough and we bought too many middling players rather than a few stars 

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, Dellyears said:

Don't think the summer signings were shocking. We've got some very good additions, just a coach who is incapable of using their talent.

Some of them were good - Fernandes (I was wrong there), Lallana, THB, Archer, Taylor - but in the forward areas we needed a better player instead of BBD/AA new contract/Cornet loan. Just one example of quantity over quality, and it’s how Nathan Jones couldn’t fit his squad into a single dressing room it was so bloated. And it just happened again. Alcaraz - good player, good lad, but sack the managers and bring in a slower tempo possession obsessed one which didn’t suit Carlos. 

The SR approach of just focusing on single transactions is flawed, you have to recruit to the overall plan and invest in more quality where you really need it.

Edited 19 October, 2024 by Gloucester Saint

[Farmer Saint]

2 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Some of them were good - Fernandes (I was wrong there), Lallana, THB, Archer, Taylor - but in the forward areas we needed a better player instead of BBD/AA new contract/Cornet loan. Just one example of quantity over quality, and it’s how Nathan Jones couldn’t fit his squad into a single dressing room it was so bloated. And it just happened again.

The SR approach of just focusing on single transactions is flawed, you have to recruit to the overall plan and invest in more quality where you really need it.

The more youngsters you buy, the more likely you are to find a Livramento or a Lavia.

[lambtiss]

Just when you thought it couldn't get any more embarrassing, even Roy Cropper taking the piss ... 

https://x.com/awaydays_/status/1847687842362733031?s=48&t=Ll4_R0i8BeBKwwtE8XHBxA

[Lighthouse]

2 minutes ago, Dellyears said:

Don't think the summer signings were shocking. We've got some very good additions, just a coach who is incapable of using their talent.

It was shocking. Archer, Ramsdale and Fernandes look reasonably okay. They wouldn't get a game for anyone in the top half but they're alright enough for us. The rest though...

• Wood - Crap Championship defender
• Edwards - Decent League 1 defender (you can split hairs between those two if you want)
• Suga - Looks okay in patches but some horrendous errors too.
• Big Les - Done nothing do far.
• BBD - Absolute donkey
• Lallana - Apparently a great bloke to have in the dressing room and a calm/experienced head to have on the training pitch. As with Walcott two years ago, thank f**k he's here because without him the team would be really sh*t and clueless... oh right.
• Fraser - He was a good option in the Championship but at this level... well he was cheap, that's as good as I can say.
• Cornet - What was the f**king point
• Taylor - A free transfer from Burnley.  Doesn't seem to be favoured above Manning right now.

[Saint Matty 76]

Ramsdale and Fernandes were good signings. Sugawara not too far off that bracket and I like Edwards for the future.

I don't think anyone else gets a game for another side in the league.