Time for the fans to come together?

[Mboto Gorge]

This has surely now gone the realms of what is acceptable for fans of a club , one that has a proud history of premier league participation, to have to put up with. When you combine everything that’s currently going on at the club, it’s now clear that the board and manager are completely taking the piss out of the fanbase, and treating us with total contempt.
 

 The 2nd worst start after 14 games in premier league history by any team - a start bad enough for a skint and utterly dreadful , out of their depth, Sheffield utd to fire their manager last season, but seemingly it’s ok for Saints fans to have to stomach, while these detestable owners do absolutely nothing about it.

You’d think we were Luton or Ipswich the way this is being accepted meekly, but the reality is last season was our first season outside the top flight for 12 years, and we spent well over 100m upon promotion, yet 5 points on the board approaching Christmas is ok for these owners? 
 

I guarantee no other club with our history in the premier league, would not have fired their manager for this.  A manager who openly tells fans to fuck off when they call him out during games for his madness, a manager who refuses to change despite the laughable and humiliating Sunday league style way we’ve conceded goals with aplomb this season . A manager who clearly isn’t fussed if the club is relegated in humiliating fashion so long as he gets some sort of ego boost or pat on the back within footballing circles for the style he plays. So what can we do?

Are we past the days of caring enough to do some sort of protest? Probably. 
Can we make our feelings known by not attending? Maybe. 
Can everyone start giving RM and SR far more shit on matchdays so the message is loud and clear? Probably - Nathan Jones endured 10 x more grief than what Martin does , yet it’s now clear Martin is at the very least, as bad, if not worse. 

Maybe we can mail or phone the club en masse asking how we can go about getting a refund on the pro rate value of our season ticket? Just to send the message across and leave them in no doubt that no one is enjoying this vanity project being played out at the detriment of the club and its fans.  I’d be willing to bet a good 90% of the fanbase at least, have had enough of this shit. 
Long winded post but I for one will not be mugged off by this club and putting another penny in their coffers until Martin has left. 

[Gloucester Saint]

Away games are a good place for Martin and SR Out banners, less likely to be confiscated or destroyed than home games.

At home games, there’s been some notable pockets of discontent - after two of the dickhead goals conceded against Liverpool playing Martin’s dreadful dirgeball and the ‘We’ve got the ball’ Weds night. It needled Russell nicely, so we turn up it up x5. Media are noticing it as well. 

Time to turn up the volume, the manager won’t change so force SR’s hand on changing the manager. Protests lose them sponsorship, signings from Rasmus’s shitty AI databases - that’s what SR cares about. 

Jones was really sacked because he lost his head in interviews - Martin is not that far off doing the same, but the fanbase should push him further towards that. We did it to Jones and we need to again.

Edited Friday at 07:52 by Gloucester Saint

[Chewy]

It’s a tough one. On the one hand I really think some perspective is needed here. Talk of our proud history etc is a bit OTT. We’ve been through worse and been through far darker times. We’ve also won one serious trophy ever. I’m not sure having an arrogant and thick manager (infuriating as it is) is worthy of a concerted protest movement.

I’m also conscious of the impact it has on the players - for example what the hell has Dibling done to deserve playing in a toxic environment.

I didn’t boo on Wednesday because a large portion of the team actually acquitted themselves well and were not why we lost so humiliatingly. 
And rightly or wrongly, the majority of the players seem to like RM; publicly slating him is going to cause a divide between the fans and some players and I don’t think that’s healthy.

On the other hand, the message does have to get through to the hierarchy somehow. The current predicament is 2+ years in the making and is frankly down to the board (Ankerson?) and primarily their horrific recruitment of both players and managers. And it isn’t improving. 
If there is to be a target it needs to be the board - they need to feel the pressure.

I don’t think staying away is realistic - you won’t convince enough of the fan base to engage to the level it makes an impact. 
Crowd chants can work as it doesn’t need anywhere like the same numbers to be really loud, or to commit to anything as drastic as avoiding a game in order to participate. A few thousand people singing sack the board for 20 minutes, childish as it sounds, is probably more impactful than most other activities. 
It doesn’t harm the players, doesn’t target RM so doesn’t give him yet another excuse. And if it’s done on a TV game it gets a very wide audience. Remember what our owner does for a living - I presume he believes in the power of TV.

Its not much but in fairness I don’t think our current ‘plight’ is really deserving of a march with banners, a picket line, a mass sit-in (or a mass sit-out) etc. 
The board are a bunch of imbeciles and loudly telling them (and anyone else who’s tuning in) is probably the right response for the moment 

[david in sweden]

I was born in So'ton, and watched my first game in 1959.... (and I know I'm not the oldest on this site either).

It's been a long period of frustrating seasons and others with joy and excitement, but in fair weather and foul I've remained

a dedicated fan and will stay that way for the rest of natural.  My real sadness being that my now permanent location means 

my visits to SMS are restricted to my all-too infrequent visits to the UK.    Thank goodness for cable TV. 

 

The club has always been "poor " in financial terms, but " rich"  in the talent that has passed through the club over those 

many decades and has helped many talented youngsters gain a memorable career (often sadly elsewhere).

Those of you who are disappointed with the current situation (as we all are) should learn to adapt, or go and support one of 

those " big clubs" like  Man. Utd and Tottenham who seemingly spend hundreds of millions on a regular basis , 

yet regularly fail to win ...anything.      Those fans should read the story of  " the Emperor' s new clothes "

 

My respect goes out to those " do or die " fans who come and support Saints in every game and those more hardy types

who travel all over the country in supporting the team in away games whenever they can.

As for the rest.... you need to look for another club  to " support" , or find yourselves a new sport.  

We are Southampton,  and you belong somewhere else.  COYR !

[Colinjb]

A large, loud and very proud rendition of 'Russell Martin, your football is shit' should be enough to rile our precious little manager and get the point across.

[scumbag]

There could be something in that for everyone. It may eventually have the desired result of getting him out of here, and he can then run with the narrative of being ahead of his time, they don't understand me and the project, tortured genuis etc etc.

[Mr X]

Where would Martin go after this? You would think noone in the football world would touch him

Maybe a line of beauty products alongside pinder? the pass and go range 

[SotonianWill]

What’s shocking to me is the difference in expectations under even a seemingly skint Gao compared to a fairly rich Sport Republic. Since they’ve come in we have dropped all expectations. Getting relegated is acceptable. 

 

Any anti-Russell chanting is sure to annoy him. Maybe with added focus on on his fashion sense. Or an inventive song on passing round the back being f*cking w*ank.

Edited Friday at 10:00 by SotonianWill

[ally_uk]

Sports Republic What’s the actual end goal here? To wave the white flag and surrender our Premiership status? That’s bound to hit us hard in the pocket, isn’t it?

Why the silence? Why isn’t anyone stepping up, taking ownership, and reassuring the fans? A simple "Hold tight, this is to be expected" would go a long way.

If we truly can't afford £12 million to pay off Martin, how much are we set to lose if we're relegated? Sorry, but can someone please make this make sense?

Is the plan to get relegated and bounce back stronger, expecting Martin to have us playing like a well-oiled Man City in their prime? Are they that deluded?

Does anyone at our club know what the hell they’re doing?

Scouting has been awful for seasons.

Managerial appointments—nothing short of a disaster.

Right now, the manager’s tactical ability is absolutely hopeless. The table doesn’t lie, and we’re on track to break Derby’s record. The insistence on playing this kamikaze type football is costing us. The fans know it the pundits are calling it out on a weekly basis. Hell even our keepers try and bypass it by kicking the ball long and doing the right thing and ending up getting a bollocking..... 

Coaches—what exactly are they teaching our players? All creativity and directness have been coached out of them. And as for defending set pieces, we might as well lay a mattress in the box—at least that would show more resilience than this shambles.

It hurts watching this shitshow unfold. Where’s the passion and pride? Massive changes are needed. It’s time for Dragan to step up—or sell up.

If he isn’t capable of being ruthless and realizing people are taking advantage of his good nature, then he’s part of the problem.

 

[Osvaldorama]

It’s easy for me. I didn’t get a season ticket this year as I have other commitments. 
 

I was planning to go to a lot of games anyway. But I simply won’t now. The club are treating the fans like complete mugs. Beyond a joke 

[notnowcato]

4 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

It’s easy for me. I didn’t get a season ticket this year as I have other commitments. 
 

I was planning to go to a lot of games anyway. But I simply won’t now. The club are treating the fans like complete mugs. Beyond a joke 

Sorry to hear this… you were so close to buying a ticket as well. Chin up, maybe next year. 

[david in sweden]

1 hour ago, ally_uk said:

Sports Republic What’s the actual end goal here? To wave the white flag and surrender our Premiership status? That’s bound to hit us hard in the pocket, isn’t it?

Why the silence? Why isn’t anyone stepping up, taking ownership, and reassuring the fans? A simple "Hold tight, this is to be expected" would go a long way.

If we truly can't afford £12 million to pay off Martin, how much are we set to lose if we're relegated? Sorry, but can someone please make this make sense?

Is the plan to get relegated and bounce back stronger, expecting Martin to have us playing like a well-oiled Man City in their prime? Are they that deluded?

Does anyone at our club know what the hell they’re doing?

Scouting has been awful for seasons.

Managerial appointments—nothing short of a disaster.

Right now, the manager’s tactical ability is absolutely hopeless. The table doesn’t lie, and we’re on track to break Derby’s record. The insistence on playing this kamikaze type football is costing us. The fans know it the pundits are calling it out on a weekly basis. Hell even our keepers try and bypass it by kicking the ball long and doing the right thing and ending up getting a bollocking..... 

Coaches—what exactly are they teaching our players? All creativity and directness have been coached out of them. And as for defending set pieces, we might as well lay a mattress in the box—at least that would show more resilience than this shambles.

It hurts watching this shitshow unfold. Where’s the passion and pride? Massive changes are needed. It’s time for Dragan to step up—or sell up.

If he isn’t capable of being ruthless and realizing people are taking advantage of his good nature, then he’s part of the problem.

 

 

It would be difficult to argue against the logic of your text  ally_uk, but like others on here you may have overlooked the sad history that often follows 

dramatic calls to " sack the manager ".   In Royal circles (and Presidential ones ) there is always a successor ready to take over the job at 5 minutes notice.

No such person exists in the footballing world, and having " lost / sacked " a manager you are faced with the task of replacing him before the next match. 

 

The untimely departure of Ronald Koeman  (a so-called attacking midfielder in his day) but had a  goal-scoring record with club and country that would

put many international strikers to shame, and that showed in many of the excellent results Saints had during his tenure as manager.

We saw one of the best spells of success we have had this century, but landed in the same situation when trying to find a replacement at short notice,

which meant dredging through the long, and unsuitable CV's of former managers who happen to be in "Football's Job Centre" at the time. 

It should be noted that many are not " unemployed " because they were successful in their former workplace(s).  Quite the opposite in many cases.

 

The obvious problem of employing someone with little, or no comprehension of the English language begins at the first press conference and extends

to the training ground every day of the week. Tactics.. (a mysterious and often misunderstood word) revolves around the manager's own career and

reflects that of his own career experiences and so it was with Koeman's successors ; Puel and Pellegrino  who were both die hard defenders.

Mark Hughes' stint showed us that there is no place in football for Auld Lang Syne,  but Ralph Hasenhuttl's valiant tenure (173 games) showed

how he could survive with everyone else's misfits and very little funds to buy new players.  The mountain air during his redundancy in his native Austria 

was obviously better than him spending months with a " shrink".  Nathan Jones' short nightmare period at the helm is best left unrepeated, and then

Selles carried the can - as he was the only person in the club who knew everyone's name.   In truth, his team selection could have been bettered if

left to the  tea-lady and the medical staff. 

Russell Martin's achievement in getting promotion with half-a-team of loan players and others about to retire or leave should not be underrated,

and the use of " Russball " has been praised by other managers and has worked.....for the likes of Barcelona and Man.City ... but the Prem. is a greater

challenge for a squad well below the required standard, and a manager (who like many of his predecessors) appears to have no Plan B.

 

So.. ally, with everyone calling for the axe, we shouldn't ignore phrases like " frying pan and fire ",  nor the one about ...." the devil you know ..".

Hopefully, when everyone has served their suspensions, and others have been restored to fitness we might still turn the corner after the New Year.

 

 

 

 

 

[SambaMaverick]

2 minutes ago, david in sweden said:

 

It would be difficult to argue against the logic of your text  ally_uk, but like others on here you may have overlooked the sad history that often follows 

dramatic calls to " sack the manager ".   In Royal circles (and Presidential ones ) there is always a successor ready to take over the job at 5 minutes notice.

No such person exists in the footballing world, and having " lost / sacked " a manager you are faced with the task of replacing him before the next match. 

 

The untimely departure of Ronald Koeman  (a so-called attacking midfielder in his day) but had a  goal-scoring record with club and country that would

put many international strikers to shame, and that showed in many of the excellent results Saints had during his tenure as manager.

We saw one of the best spells of success we have had this century, but landed in the same situation when trying to find a replacement at short notice,

which meant dredging through the long, and unsuitable CV's of former managers who happen to be in "Football's Job Centre" at the time. 

It should be noted that many are not " unemployed " because they were successful in their former workplace(s).  Quite the opposite in many cases.

 

The obvious problem of employing someone with little, or no comprehension of the English language begins at the first press conference and extends

to the training ground every day of the week. Tactics.. (a mysterious and often misunderstood word) revolves around the manager's own career and

reflects that of his own career experiences and so it was with Koeman's successors ; Puel and Pellegrino  who were both die hard defenders.

Mark Hughes' stint showed us that there is no place in football for Auld Lang Syne,  but Ralph Hasenhuttl's valiant tenure (173 games) showed

how he could survive with everyone else's misfits and very little funds to buy new players.  The mountain air during his redundancy in his native Austria 

was obviously better than him spending months with a " shrink".  Nathan Jones' short nightmare period at the helm is best left unrepeated, and then

Selles carried the can - as he was the only person in the club who knew everyone's name.   In truth, his team selection could have been bettered if

left to the  tea-lady and the medical staff. 

Russell Martin's achievement in getting promotion with half-a-team of loan players and others about to retire or leave should not be underrated,

and the use of " Russball " has been praised by other managers and has worked.....for the likes of Barcelona and Man.City ... but the Prem. is a greater

challenge for a squad well below the required standard, and a manager (who like many of his predecessors) appears to have no Plan B.

 

So.. ally, with everyone calling for the axe, we shouldn't ignore phrases like " frying pan and fire ",  nor the one about ...." the devil you know ..".

Hopefully, when everyone has served their suspensions, and others have been restored to fitness we might still turn the corner after the New Year.

 

 

 

 

 

With all due respect, we have five points from 42 and are already eight points from safety. It would have to be some fire to get any worse than this.

[kitch]

1 hour ago, david in sweden said:

 

It would be difficult to argue against the logic of your text  ally_uk, but like others on here you may have overlooked the sad history that often follows 

dramatic calls to " sack the manager ".   In Royal circles (and Presidential ones ) there is always a successor ready to take over the job at 5 minutes notice.

No such person exists in the footballing world, and having " lost / sacked " a manager you are faced with the task of replacing him before the next match. 

 

The untimely departure of Ronald Koeman  (a so-called attacking midfielder in his day) but had a  goal-scoring record with club and country that would

put many international strikers to shame, and that showed in many of the excellent results Saints had during his tenure as manager.

We saw one of the best spells of success we have had this century, but landed in the same situation when trying to find a replacement at short notice,

which meant dredging through the long, and unsuitable CV's of former managers who happen to be in "Football's Job Centre" at the time. 

It should be noted that many are not " unemployed " because they were successful in their former workplace(s).  Quite the opposite in many cases.

 

The obvious problem of employing someone with little, or no comprehension of the English language begins at the first press conference and extends

to the training ground every day of the week. Tactics.. (a mysterious and often misunderstood word) revolves around the manager's own career and

reflects that of his own career experiences and so it was with Koeman's successors ; Puel and Pellegrino  who were both die hard defenders.

Mark Hughes' stint showed us that there is no place in football for Auld Lang Syne,  but Ralph Hasenhuttl's valiant tenure (173 games) showed

how he could survive with everyone else's misfits and very little funds to buy new players.  The mountain air during his redundancy in his native Austria 

was obviously better than him spending months with a " shrink".  Nathan Jones' short nightmare period at the helm is best left unrepeated, and then

Selles carried the can - as he was the only person in the club who knew everyone's name.   In truth, his team selection could have been bettered if

left to the  tea-lady and the medical staff. 

Russell Martin's achievement in getting promotion with half-a-team of loan players and others about to retire or leave should not be underrated,

and the use of " Russball " has been praised by other managers and has worked.....for the likes of Barcelona and Man.City ... but the Prem. is a greater

challenge for a squad well below the required standard, and a manager (who like many of his predecessors) appears to have no Plan B.

 

So.. ally, with everyone calling for the axe, we shouldn't ignore phrases like " frying pan and fire ",  nor the one about ...." the devil you know ..".

Hopefully, when everyone has served their suspensions, and others have been restored to fitness we might still turn the corner after the New Year.

 

 

 

 

 

Took longer to read that than it does for our defenders to get the ball to our midfield.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

1 hour ago, david in sweden said:

 

 

 

we might still turn the corner after the New Year.

 

 

 

 

 

Err, with the greatest of respect David it might just be a teeny weeny bit late by then.

[sfc4prem]

I've said before that our ire needs to be directed towards SR. Not just one of them, like Rasmus, but the whole outfit, even Dragan.

A bunch of cunts that have appointed people in roles far above their ability for ridiculous sums of money. They've taken our club and fucking mullered it.

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

If some want to protest then boycotting games won't do much, they already have money in the bank from record season ticket sales. The club make little to no money on away games so that won't hurt much either. A bit of booing ain't making much difference but what may embarrass the board is if a noisy mob was stood outside the main stand disrupting the fun in the corporate suites.

If things don't change and we timidly go back down then they may be in for a bigger shock next season as fans may very well turn their backs on the club.

[david in sweden]

1 hour ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

Err, with the greatest of respect David it might just be a teeny weeny bit late by then.

Agreed Duncan, but hopefully we can pick up a few more points in the next five games before New Year, and then

move a few names in and out....and whether RM can adjust the system to create some more scoring opportunities.  

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, david in sweden said:

 whether RM can adjust the system to create some more scoring opportunities.  

For the avoidance of doubt, he is on record plenty of times as saying he will not be changing the ‘method’ eg slowing playing out from the keeper and back. He’d rather lose his job than do that. 

[disconnect]

Do the manager's names get announced over the PA at the matches? Or things referenced like "Russell Martin's (BOOOO) Red and White army"? I would just say as soon as his name is mentioned, everyone boo, and just cheer as usual for all the players names. 

The players (and potential results) are better than what the manager is causing. 

[LGTL]

The moment the crowd show slightly more discontent, which is coming for sure against Spurs, precious little Russ will be fucking losing his mind. I can’t wait to see the sarcastic clapping for starters. 

Hopefully it’ll finish off the deluded wanker and our shit owners might wake up from their 6 month coma. 

Edited Friday at 17:56 by LGTL

[Badger]

8 hours ago, Mr X said:

Where would Martin go after this? You would think noone in the football world would touch him

Maybe a line of beauty products alongside pinder? the pass and go range 

Or the pass, and pass it back again, range.

Ad strapline - the hair care product so good it seldom leaves the bathroom cabinet… 

[Badger]

9 hours ago, Colinjb said:

A large, loud and very proud rendition of 'Russell Martin, your football is shit' should be enough to rile our precious little manager and get the point across.

Are our fanbase up to this now though ? 
 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

9 minutes ago, Badger said:

Or the pass, and pass it back again, range.

Ad strapline - the hair care product so good it seldom leaves the bathroom cabinet… 

Scotch video saw the future, adjusting the endless repetition of "pass it back, repeat the next day." for their campaign.

Note, they got the person who had to watch it for a season, to star in the ad.

 

[saint michael]

I don’t think the fans count anymore. Managers becoming more cocky and not even bothering to thank or praise support. Media swooning and lack of real challenge to performances knowing they will close doors if deemed negative. Owning a club becomes a new  status or ego point for them. 
 

im sure being a businessman in Serbia is not straight forward, easy or very open. I’m not sure that the financial aspect although important is first and foremost for him, he is probably investing what he expected. What he will be struggling with is how he deals with the PR of this shit performance . I’m sure that he really expects and believes this to be turned around. The longer this continues past this season the more pressure there will be. Imagine if next season saints are not chasing the championship title. 
 

I just hope that one day I see the club I first started supporting back again in a guise that I recognise and can believe in

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, LGTL said:

The moment the crowd show slightly more discontent, which is coming for sure against Spurs, precious little Russ will be fucking losing his mind. I can’t wait to see the sarcastic clapping for starters. 

Hopefully it’ll finish off the deluded wanker and our shit owners might wake up from their 6 month coma. 

I liked your post more in hope than expectation. There was another puff piece in the Echo, which is behind a paywall, but I suspect was ghost written for Alfie by one of the PR goons lurking on here. They were out in force as new registrations in the comments section I noticed along with the majority of fuming and fed up supporters. 

Edited Friday at 19:52 by Gloucester Saint

[EssEffCee]

7 hours ago, kitch said:

Took longer to read that than it does for our defenders to get the ball to our midfield.

I stopped reading at the part when Koeman was described as an attacking midfielder.

[Dark Munster]

I know many are worried about the embarrassment of us beating Derby's record, but if we do go down (99% certain) I for one hope we smash that record. That would not only be the end of RM, but more importantly, surely even that football ignoramus Dragan would realise that "Mr. Football" Ankersen is an utter and total fraud who has been taking him for a ride from the beginning. Then maybe, just maybe, he'll take the appropriate action to sideline him permanently, and bring in a DoF who actually knows something about, know you, football.

Edited Saturday at 00:18 by Dark Munster