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Russell Martin Admits He Will Need To Rotate His Squad On Saturday
Thursday, 5th Oct 2023 08:00

Russell Martin has confirmed that continuity played a part in making it back to back wins at Stoke City on Tuesday evening, but playing two games in four days has taken something out of his players and he may well change things on Saturday.

Speaking to the The Daily Echo Russell martin has explained his thinking behind his team selection at Stoke City on Tuesday and how he needs to give game time to the likes of Che Adams & Sam Edozie to keep things fresh.

“I’m honest with you guys, but I also can’t tell you what the team is going to be. We spoke about it and we wanted to see how everyone recovered.

“When I spoke to you, I thought we would probably make one or two changes. Everyone seemed to be fine and we wanted some consistency.

“It’s the first time we have been able to put the same XI on the pitch and it’s made such a difference. Saturday is another question.

"We have a lot of players who haven’t played - a three-game week is very difficult at this level. So I expect there will be (changes) and I can say that really honestly."

"I think you saw that some of the players were dead on their feet tonight - they were really tired. We have such a strong squad.

“Everyone wants to play and managing that is really important. That’s why Sekou Mara got on the pitch tonight. He deserves to with the way that he has trained."

Mara's second-half substitute cameo was his first appearance since Southampton's 1-0 loss to Ipswich Town on Tuesday, September 19.

"I just got asked why Che Adams didn’t come on, I love Che and he is going to be an important player.

"But with the way Sekou has trained, I felt he was more suited to come on and replace Charly Alcaraz in the role we are asking him to do.

“Sekou has done it a few times in training now and I’ve really liked what I’ve seen. He’s really annoyed that he didn’t score, but we are going to need everyone - it’s a team effort.

“Sam Edozie has been in the team and then hasn’t been on the pitch in the last two. He will be frustrated, but it’s our job to make sure we keep them all happy - or as many of them as we possibly can.

"It’s a really nice problem to have because it’s going to be a long old season. This has been a long week, by the time we get to Rotherham on Saturday, I’m sure we are going to need everyone.”

Martin is right in what he says, Saints have a big squad with a lot of experienced players who aren't getting a regular game and he has to strike the right balance between keeping the momentum going on the pitch, making sure players don't get jaded and also giving the likes of Che Adams, Sam Edozie and also youngsters such as Sam Amo-Ameyaw a chance to show they are a valued part of the squad.

As he says it is a nice problem to have, but it is also one where he has to get the balance right and that is going to be a fine line.

Photo: Action Images



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landsdownsaint added 08:42 - Oct 5
I like Mara he thinks & acts very quickly in tight situations & should be playing more ,Edozie is very talented @ been very unlucky too have been on the bench but can see what RM needed to do . I’m sure RM must start to see what luxury’s we have over teams like Rotherham & gets on with the job of managing wealthy full of talent should be premier league club … over to u Russ
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Staycalm added 09:50 - Oct 5
It may be necessary to 'tweak' a team that seems to be starting to gel together but please don't change the back five. Yes, I know that includes Manning but he is currently our least worst choice at left back and will also benefit from continuity in defence. It will also give Bednarek the chance to organise things during the 9o minutes, without worrying about communication breakdowns and people bedding in, yet again. Not beating Rotherham would look like a serious banana skin!!!
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kenchilds70 added 10:38 - Oct 5
did think sulemana should have been subbed at half time against Stoke. he looked knackered. Manning not a 90 miute player loses concentration at 70 mins. Do we not have a young left back apart from Larios to give a little game time to.
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SanMarco added 11:47 - Oct 5
We need to create more chances. How we do that is a matter for wiser people than me.

Is Manning a left-back? I played left-back for a while as a schoolboy and the part of the pitch I patrolled is not one I see Manning in very often - puzzling because he rarely seems to appear on the left wing to cross for incoming forwards. I only notice him give the ball away and not control it very well somewhere in the middle area of the pitch. Perhaps it is these modern tactics that I don't understand!!
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highfield49 added 13:47 - Oct 5
Actually SanMarco, tongue in cheek, I think it's fair to say that you're not alone in spotting that Manning isn't up to scratch. I have sympathy with Sulemana who is stuck between trying to create goal opportunities at one end and covering vast areas of pitch where Manning should be located. No wonder he looked exhausted.
Admittedly when Fraser plays he looks better than Sulemana as a defender, but then again he's an older more experienced campaigner, which begs the question why either wide player constantly needs to help out Manning. Time for the manager to get a grip and realise that Manning is going to be exploited every match.
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Flamingbankers added 14:55 - Oct 5
'Too keep things fresh' has to be one of the most pathetic statements in football. It means 'I'm gonna take a chance and hope I don't get clobbered, fck the players and fans.'

'Keep them all happy' is another pathetic phrase. Football is a cut-throat business. You play to win so you must always play you're best players. If the others aren't good enough, tough - that's the game and the players know that. If you're a fringe player, the only thing to do is improve and show that you should be in the team when you get the chance. It's not a nursery school where you have to care for everyone and give them an equal opportunity. It's a remarkably inane and or cynical comment when you think about it.

What RM is saying is that he thinks he can afford to lay off a few of his best players but again we don't have any great players to lay off and it also gives the wrong message to the squad and team. The attitude lends itself to complacency, ignorance and arrogance.

'Taken something out of his players' - surely they can have a day or more's rest - what's the problem. Keep a winning team is what I say unless there's a genuine injury. I think large squads just confuse managers and players, as it did all our previous 4 managers who had large squads of all mainly mediocre players : 'Which one shall I stick in to try and do the job today?'; 'Oh, that didn't work I'll try someone else or play someone out of position' - ad infinitum. Mcmenemy and Bates were our best managers and they didn't have this problem, they just played the best team all the time unless someone was properly injured. Poch and Koeman both had a core of Premiership standard players who they played most of the time.

I'd just swop Charles, who played well when he came on Tuesday, for Smallbone who loses too much possession. We need a more aggression in midfield. What's the point of changing a winning formula.

Adams doesn't play A Armstrong's game and Sulemana needs lots more game time so that we can flog him for £40 mil in the January window! Seriously though, after Sulemana's performances in the last two games - how can you change him for Edozie. Although I reckon Sule could play on the left and Edozie on the right or vice versa. Mara needs to go out on loan , he just isn't ready yet. When he failed to lay the ball off for Aribo in a goal scoring position I had some sympathy for the latter. Aribo played well when he came on and that could have changed Aribo's fortunes and season, he's taken his chances well from similar positions before. So much for team play.

As I regularly harp on about this but - the club, players and fans need a decent reserve league. You know like the one that used to bring players like Channon, Moran, the Wallaces, Shearer and Le Tissier through to top level standards. There's too big a leap between the academy youth team and the first team - they need genuine competition at near league level. Players that are on the fringe, coming back from injury or have lost form also need to play in the genuine reserve team. Reduce the first team players on the bench down to two or three and play the others in a decent reserve league - preparing them for first team football. the current system has simply failed especially for teams that can't afford a squad of world class players ie most teams.
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