Russell Martin

[Gloucester Saint]

8 minutes ago, LeBizzier69 said:

Would we? Why do you think that?

 

Yep, made more unforced errors before Xmas in PL history. The previous worst was Brentford and that was over a whole season https://www.football365.com/news/southampton-deluded-arrogance-relegation-opinion

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5950137/2024/11/27/southampton-russell-martin-errors-goals-conceded/

That is in large part of the high risk, low reward style of play Martin enforces. We’ve got the 4th worst attacking XG for fans who are into that data, but it does tell me the possession is for absolutely no purpose other than his ego.

With a better manager - not a high bar - even Branfoot or Jones would be an improvement tbh - I think we’d be on 10-12 points. Still in a huge battle but with a fighting chance. With this 🤡 SR have chucked this season and last season away.

It’s the definition of insanity. 

[Weston Super Saint]

2 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

I'm talking about Potter. Martin is on £2m PA. Potter reportedly wants £8m PA.

Source?

You've stated, repeatedly, it WILL cost.£12m to get rid of Martin, which we can't afford.

Maybe my maths is wrong but he has 2.5 years of his contract left, so where does £12m come from if 2.5 x £2m = £5m???

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Source?

You've stated, repeatedly, it WILL cost.£12m to get rid of Martin, which we can't afford.

Maybe my maths is wrong but he has 2.5 years of his contract left, so where does £12m come from if 2.5 x £2m = £5m???

His back room staff can’t be on equivalent sums to him. He’s about where you’d expect for a promoted club https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league-managers-salaries-how-much-are-they-paid/

If £8m was true, Potter would be very steep. I’d imagine that’s for his whole group, or he ain’t interested at all.

[Wade Garrett]

2 hours ago, macca155 said:

I wouldn't say that for one minute. He's a top manager, I'm a bit iffy about about his football style, but I bet he'd have us up cheering reasonably quickly.

Potter builds squads and style, a bit like Pochettino, but that takes time. He won't come to Saints in their current predicament. Absolute hiding to nothing.

Cooper or Robbins are more likely, and are they an upgrade on Martin? Who knows

I think you’ve ever so slightly misinterpreted my post.

[Wade Garrett]

I think Potter has tried it on with one of @Farmer Saint’s cow’s in the top field.

[Badger]

Saw them live in 1980. Brilliant.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

For anyone feeling a bit bad about not wanting to go or watch it, take a Hitchhiker's Guide approach.

Martin will do exactly the same things every game.
We will lose every game playing it.
Our opponents will exploit exactly the same things.
The feelings we have will be exactly the same every game.
SR are going to do exactly the same thing about it.

So, if we take it as read that every one of those things is going to happen anyway, one of these groups doesn't really have to turn up.

Since the outcome will be exactly the same, all the other groups can just take it for granted that the missing group is actually there. So, if our opponents wanted to nip off for a long weekend, our team could effortlessly concede a number of goals pulled out of a hat before kick off.

If supporters want to finish off Christmas shopping, both sides will be giving exactly the same outcome to make sure you're not missing a thing, you've not seen every other game.

Russ' press conferences will be exactly the same, and we'll have exactly the same number of points.

So don't feel bad about not going or watching. Martin and SR will make sure everything goes the same way, as if you'd actually been. 🙂

[Gloucester Saint]

7 minutes ago, Badger said:

Saw them live in 1980. Brilliant.

Did you buy any party poppers afterwards that went pop in the night?

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, LeBizzier69 said:

Would we? Why do you think that?

 

Ask yourself this. In any relegation season, the experts & pundits, ex pros and ex managers all say the following about teams down the bottom, “continue to play like that & they’ll be ok”, or words along the lines of they’re giving themselves a chance. I’ve yet to hear one pundit, one expert, one journo, or one supporter of another club say anything other than “continue to play like that & youre fucked”, not one. 
 

Lego’s fan boys on here  blame individual errors, bad luck and other pony for our pitiful points total. Nobody paid to give their opinions, says we’re playing the right way, we just need more luck or cut out errors. They just say we can’t play this way, and if we do, we’ll go down. Every fucking one….

[Badger]

25 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

I think Potter has tried it on with one of @Farmer Saint’s cow’s in the top field.

Perhaps it’s the duffle coat he wears. But does have that look about him.

Best summary of Potter I read on here was someone describing him as looking like a U-boat captain. Can’t recall who but good work whoever. 
 

Having said that, yes be pleasantly surprised  for him and his duffle coat to take the managers dug out at St Mary’s. Won’t happen of course. 

[Badger]

2 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Did you buy any party poppers afterwards that went pop in the night?

No, and I don’t think House of Fun had even been recorded then, this was after their second album, Baggy Trousers etc. 

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

I'm talking about Potter. Martin is on £2m PA. Potter reportedly wants £8m PA.

I have never argued for Potter. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

1 hour ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Source?

You've stated, repeatedly, it WILL cost.£12m to get rid of Martin, which we can't afford.

Maybe my maths is wrong but he has 2.5 years of his contract left, so where does £12m come from if 2.5 x £2m = £5m???

He’s full of manure 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

I didn't appreciate them until much later. Easily one of the biggest bands to write about Saints with...

Our Club (at the bottom of the league)

Night boat to Cardiff

One Pass Beyond

and

House of No Fun

[Sunglasses Ron]

2 hours ago, Bazzyfryer said:

Definition of madness doing the same over and over again and expecting a different result sums us up perfectly 

This is one of the worst, and most overused, quotes used by football fans.

As someone who runs a lot, I don’t even agree with it. Practice makes perfect and all of that!

[Whitey Grandad]

2 minutes ago, Sunglasses Ron said:

This is one of the worst, and most overused, quotes used by football fans.

As someone who runs a lot, I don’t even agree with it. Practice makes perfect and all of that!

Practice makes perfect...

...failure.

[Farmer Saint]

53 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

I think Potter has tried it on with one of @Farmer Saint’s cow’s in the top field.

I just think he's massively overrated, as do most Brighton fans, but no-one here has the actual football knowledge to challenge and tell me why they actually think he'd be a good appointment. 

[Sheaf Saint]

12 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

I didn't appreciate them until much later. Easily one of the biggest bands to write about Saints with...

Our Club (at the bottom of the league)

Night boat to Cardiff

One Pass Beyond

and

House of No Fun

We're definitely an Embarrassment. And I'd like to see Russ driving in his car - anywhere away from Southampton would do.

[Farmer Saint]

1 hour ago, Gloucester Saint said:

His back room staff can’t be on equivalent sums to him. He’s about where you’d expect for a promoted club https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league-managers-salaries-how-much-are-they-paid/

If £8m was true, Potter would be very steep. I’d imagine that’s for his whole group, or he ain’t interested at all.

 

Will people please stop quoting thick as shit @Weston Super Saint I know he's posting about me yet again, but I'd prefer it if I couldn't see his posts.

I never said it would cost £12m to sack him, I said it would cost £12m to sack him, his backroom staff AND replace them all. Others said the figure was £12m just to sack him.

If you're going to continue to follow me around to try, oh so damn hard to get my attention, get it right.

Edited 13 December, 2024 by Farmer Saint

[Weston Super Saint]

10 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

 

 

I never said it would cost £12m to sack him, I said it would cost £12m to sack him,

Sure.

[Farmer Saint]

50 of 54 now.

I love how I get to live inside your mind rent free.

[Costa del Solent]

Saw a post earlier that said:

’Russell Martin is treating Southampton the same way Vincent Kompany treated Burnley.

Sacrificing his current club with an unachievable playing style to boost their own personal careers.’

This nails the current situation with Martin. He is CV building at saints and he will not care about us going down if he can appeal to prospective employers as a man that plays attractive football. High possession statistics. Blame lack of quality in the squad and individual errors. Martin will sink us and then move on to a better role without losing a wink of sleep.  

Edited 13 December, 2024 by Costa del Solent

[sadoldgit]

Alternatively both of them could believe passionately in the way they want to play the game and stick to their philosophy.

Whatever you think about Martin and his tactics, the people responsible are the people who employ him. 

[The Kraken]

2 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

I just think he's massively overrated, as do most Brighton fans, but no-one here has the actual football knowledge to challenge and tell me why they actually think he'd be a good appointment. 

You really do take yourself so very seriously. Well done you, I suppose 👍

[Dark Munster]

Offer Potter something like £2m for the rest of the season, with a £8m bonus if he keeps us up, along with an automatic pay raise and contract extension. If we go down the contract ends and he's free to walk (with his reputation intact giving the shit we're in), unless both parties agree to an extension (e.g. if we fall just short after a good second half of the season).

[gurru991]

10 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

What makes him a good Manager? What do you particularly like about his style of play?

He knows how to put a team together & play to its strengths. He likes an offensive style but is flexible depending on the players available. 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

9 hours ago, Costa del Solent said:

Saw a post earlier that said:

’Russell Martin is treating Southampton the same way Vincent Kompany treated Burnley.

Sacrificing his current club with an unachievable playing style to boost their own personal careers.’

This nails the current situation with Martin. He is CV building at saints and he will not care about us going down if he can appeal to prospective employers as a man that plays attractive football. High possession statistics. Blame lack of quality in the squad and individual errors. Martin will sink us and then move on to a better role without losing a wink of sleep.  

Totally agree with this sentiment. I would add "possession football" is a fad which is already losing its appeal. RM is likely to become a dinosaur if he doesn't adapt.

And many don't find this style attractive at all. I find it boring, plodding and unexciting. Trips to Blackburn & Huddersfield last year convinced me this style was not going to conquer the leagues.

[East Kent Saint]

Even when Barcelona were dominant playing the tippy tappy style it did lack excitment for long periods . They did have the likes of Messi to eventually break the monotomy , even he might struggle at Saints with the lack of final third action !

[Convict Colony]

Posted this in the monkey chicken petting zoo post but more relevant here.

Ah, the Championship conundrum: where our players are "too good" for the league yet not quite good enough for the Premier League.  I am not even sure the squad we had last year was "too good" for the league.

If we're to bounce back, we need more than just the gravitational pull of parachute payments; we need the kinetic energy of tactical innovation, something to galvanise both the team and probably more importantly the fans.

We were fortunate last year in the championship that only a few of the team's high pressed enough into mistakes leading to goals, next time round everyone will be doing it next year, we need a different approach.

[Saint_T]

13 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Yep, made more unforced errors before Xmas in PL history. The previous worst was Brentford and that was over a whole season https://www.football365.com/news/southampton-deluded-arrogance-relegation-opinion

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5950137/2024/11/27/southampton-russell-martin-errors-goals-conceded/

That is in large part of the high risk, low reward style of play Martin enforces. We’ve got the 4th worst attacking XG for fans who are into that data, but it does tell me the possession is for absolutely no purpose other than his ego.

With a better manager - not a high bar - even Branfoot or Jones would be an improvement tbh - I think we’d be on 10-12 points. Still in a huge battle but with a fighting chance. With this 🤡 SR have chucked this season and last season away.

It’s the definition of insanity. 

I've seen this quoted a few times but it's not right, that Brentford stat was the record last year. Almost every other season has a club making more errors. I believe the highest ever was 21 by Spurs back in 2013/14 - https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/error_lead_to_goal?se=22

[obelisk]

9 minutes ago, Saint_T said:

I believe the highest ever was 21 by Spurs back in 2013/14

That's another record that Rusty's Saints are well on track to beat.

[stknowle]

11 hours ago, Costa del Solent said:

Saw a post earlier that said:

’Russell Martin is treating Southampton the same way Vincent Kompany treated Burnley.

Sacrificing his current club with an unachievable playing style to boost their own personal careers.’

This nails the current situation with Martin. He is CV building at saints and he will not care about us going down if he can appeal to prospective employers as a man that plays attractive football. High possession statistics. Blame lack of quality in the squad and individual errors. Martin will sink us and then move on to a better role without losing a wink of sleep.  

Note to prospective employers: He doesn’t.

[OldNick]

17 hours ago, aintforever said:

And he would be worth it if he somehow keeps us up. 

I'm not saying he will, but it would be cost effective IF he did.

Would it also affect our FFP position? Also we could be saddle with a maanger on £8m a year in the Championship. Interesting reading Farmer Saints post, it was as I thought when Brighton were playing pretty football but couldnt score, they were very frustrating for their fans. In my opinion his football is not for a relegation scrap

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, OldNick said:

Would it also affect our FFP position? Also we could be saddle with a maanger on £8m a year in the Championship. Interesting reading Farmer Saints post, it was as I thought when Brighton were playing pretty football but couldnt score, they were very frustrating for their fans. In my opinion his football is not for a relegation scrap

He’s an upgrade on Martin but it does seem to be a bit emperors new clothes with Potter. Did reasonably well at Brighton but they were quite pragmatic and defensive, although that was probably right for them at the time to establish themselves in the premier league. Whereas Martin and saints seem to think we’re going to prove everyone wrong with our pound shop Man City football 

[Miltonaggro]

13 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

I think Potter has tried it on with one of @Farmer Saint’s cow’s in the top field.

More likely Steve ‘gene pool’ Cooper to be honest, Potter possibly knocking on farmhouse door on a hiking holiday looking to buy some fudge. 

[StrangelyBrown]

28 minutes ago, stknowle said:

Note to prospective employers: He doesn’t.

To be fair it depends on your perspective - opposition fans undoubtedly enjoy the comedy of our defending and the gifted goals. Russ is clearly thinking of the big picture - why please 50,000 fans when he can please millions?

Watch as we fill our ground with half and half scarf dinlos and away fans

Edited 14 December, 2024 by StrangelyBrown

[InvictaSaint]

2 minutes ago, StrangelyBrown said:

To be fair it depends on your perspective - opposition fans undoubtedly enjoy the comedy of our defending and the gifted goals. Russ is clearly thinking of the big picture - why please 50,000 fans when he can please millions?

Give it a few months more of RM and there will only be 10k at SMS who need pleasing….

[Lord Duckhunter]

11 hours ago, Costa del Solent said:

He is CV building at saints and he will not care about us going down if he can appeal to prospective employers as a man that plays attractive football.

We’re going to see a lot more of this going forward. We’re now at the stage where managers have what Simon Jordan calls “fuck off money”, they’re earning brilliant money and they all had playing careers post the sky boom. 40 years ago if he failed and couldn’t get back in, Martin couldn’t of retired, he’d have to get a job somewhere in civvy street.Now what’s the worst that can happen, he retires on money most of us will never earn. There’s also far more roles around the game than there ever was, from DOF, to pundit, to podcaster.
 

They’ve also got the ready made excuse managers didn’t have in the past, poor recruitment. Branfoot signed Speedie & Dixon, the twat. Lego gets a free pass over BBD & Archer. 
 

I think this is driving managers to manage on their terms, the desperation is gone. Failure is not life changing, so why spend hours on the training ground drilling the back 4 like George Graham did, when you can coach them RussBall, enjoy yourself, become a “brand manager”, the only real pressure is pressure you bring on yourself. Failure isn’t down to you, it’s down to recruiting, it’s down to the unbalanced nature of the league. Why grub around trying to grind out results, when you can be respected by your peers for “playing the right way” and have some fun on the way. 

[OldNick]

45 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He’s an upgrade on Martin but it does seem to be a bit emperors new clothes with Potter. Did reasonably well at Brighton but they were quite pragmatic and defensive, although that was probably right for them at the time to establish themselves in the premier league. Whereas Martin and saints seem to think we’re going to prove everyone wrong with our pound shop Man City football 

I know im insane but I do think we are going to get in and around the safety line near the end of the season!!! I know it seems mad but I do wonder if Tall Paul and a bit of the rub of green gets us some traction. RM is correct we should have more points. The Ipswich underserved equaliser and of course Leicester still rankle

[obelisk]

10 minutes ago, OldNick said:

The Ipswich underserved equaliser and of course Leicester still rankle

Maybe but Everton's "equaliser" being rubbed out was a rub of the green. All of Rusty's teams leak a bucketful of goals. If he stays in charge Saints will find it difficult to score enough to make up for the leaky defence.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

15 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I know im insane but I do think we are going to get in and around the safety line near the end of the season!!! I know it seems mad but I do wonder if Tall Paul and a bit of the rub of green gets us some traction. RM is correct we should have more points. The Ipswich underserved equaliser and of course Leicester still rankle

But like Obelisk said, we were extremely lucky with Everton (thanks mainly to Rambo), so there's nothing to base our hope on. Maybe, if the squad will say to RM: "Gaffer (or whatever they call him), it ain't working and we need to play to our strengths, so let's do it our way", we have a chance, but it's like watching the inevitable. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

I see Souness had another dig at Lego and the Lego style in the paper today.

Now, a defender is a very different animal. They have the most touches of the ball but to what effect? Some managers will come out after losing a game and point out 'look, we had 65 percent possession...' Yes, but the majority of that is in your own half and under no pressure.
 

It can make for lots of average fare, it's hardly edge of your seat stuff and can't be enjoyable for the supporters.

 

I bet if you asked most of these defenders today if they are comfortable doing what they are being asked to do, the majority would say 'no'. Only the very best ones can get away with it. The rest make too many mistakes in and around their own box which leads to too many efforts on goal and conceding unnecessarily.

 

The Southampton manager Russell Martin said this week he was embarrassed to be on five points, yet in the same breath says he's never going to deviate from his principles of playing out from the back. 

 

To win football matches at any level today you must have an element of unpredictability. So, I'm not sure it's too wise to be sending out a message telling all the opposition you are going to play the same way all season.

[miserableoldgit]

Graeme Souness:- 

Edited 14 December, 2024 by miserableoldgit

[Badger]

Or in our case, “ please buy a striker “*
 

* a real one, proven to score goals, not one of the Sheffield Utd dream team, or a cripple 

[Turkish]

49 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I know im insane but I do think we are going to get in and around the safety line near the end of the season!!! I know it seems mad but I do wonder if Tall Paul and a bit of the rub of green gets us some traction. RM is correct we should have more points. The Ipswich underserved equaliser and of course Leicester still rankle

We’ve had more than our fair share of things against us without doubt, Brighton and wolves away goal disallowed also bad decisions but there really are no excuses for one lucky win in fifteen games.

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

I know im insane but I do think we are going to get in and around the safety line near the end of the season!!! I know it seems mad but I do wonder if Tall Paul and a bit of the rub of green gets us some traction. RM is correct we should have more points. The Ipswich underserved equaliser and of course Leicester still rankle

I can't see how you can say that Ipswich didn't deserve a draw. As firctheir equaliser we gave them the freedom of our penalty area and invited them to have a shot.

[OldNick]

4 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

I can't see how you can say that Ipswich didn't deserve a draw. As firctheir equaliser we gave them the freedom of our penalty area and invited them to have a shot.

Morsy shot took a massive deflection and would not have gone in it hadnt

[Miltonaggro]

2 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I see Souness had another dig at Lego and the Lego style in the paper today.

Now, a defender is a very different animal. They have the most touches of the ball but to what effect? Some managers will come out after losing a game and point out 'look, we had 65 percent possession...' Yes, but the majority of that is in your own half and under no pressure.
 

It can make for lots of average fare, it's hardly edge of your seat stuff and can't be enjoyable for the supporters.

 

I bet if you asked most of these defenders today if they are comfortable doing what they are being asked to do, the majority would say 'no'. Only the very best ones can get away with it. The rest make too many mistakes in and around their own box which leads to too many efforts on goal and conceding unnecessarily.

 

The Southampton manager Russell Martin said this week he was embarrassed to be on five points, yet in the same breath says he's never going to deviate from his principles of playing out from the back. 

 

To win football matches at any level today you must have an element of unpredictability. So, I'm not sure it's too wise to be sending out a message telling all the opposition you are going to play the same way all season.

Souness fell out with Lowe so only one season at Saints, but a superb player and genuine football pedigree, he knows his onions. I often see him and exchange pleasantries when returning to U.K. from Portugal - private and quiet, but a top man. He’s just the type that sport republic need as Director of Football, but no chance of that as Ankersen and Kraft would last two fucking minutes. 

[Lighthouse]

14 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

Souness fell out with Lowe so only one season at Saints, but a superb player and genuine football pedigree, he knows his onions. I often see him and exchange pleasantries when returning to U.K. from Portugal - private and quiet, but a top man. He’s just the type that sport republic need as Director of Football, but no chance of that as Ankersen and Kraft would last two fucking minutes. 

What on earth makes him qualified for that? He's 71 and hasn't been involved in football management in any role for coming on twenty years now.

[obelisk]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

Morsy shot took a massive deflection and would not have gone in it hadnt

The point being that he had a shot. Rusty would have demanded that he look for a pass.