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No Togetherness No Character No Fight

Not my words, but those of Southampton manager Russell Martin, who should ask himself the question why two months ago we had all those attributes and now we don't !

Russell Martin said in his post match interviews that we were good for 60 minutes, that we played some amazing build up play, that we were on top at the start of the second half and their second goal game against the run of play.

He clearly was not watching the same game as the rest of the nation, just about the only thing that he said that was correct was that for 10 minutes at the start of the second half and yes the goal did come against the run of play as Leicester clearly sat back, soaked up what was pressure that was not exactly putting them under the cosh and then they picked us off.

He went on to say that yes it was his fault, but only because he had failed to pick Jack Stephens under whom we would never have lost 5-0.

This is just insulting to the fans, it is also insulting to his own players who just two months ago were the tightest defence and highest scoring attack during that 22 game unbeaten run in the Championship.

Against Leicester City Martin was right to say there was no togetherness, no character and no fight, but has he looked at himself and asked why, our poor form is not about "Tippy Tappy Football" as some sneeringly refer to it, indeed in the last three games with Alex McCarthy in goal we have had to temper that as he is not comfortable with his feet.

Football players like things to be simple, if you play well you are in, our back four has been ripped apart for the manager to play his favourite, no one felt safe from that desire, Jan Bednarek came back from helping Poland reach the Euros and was dropped, Ryan Manning was dropped, James Bree dropped and although Taylor Harwood Bellis was not dropped, but he was moved to right back to accommodate the managers favourite.

Indeed Alex McCarthy's return to action was a slap in the face for Joe Lumley, McCarthy had not even been on the bench since October, yet when Gavin Bazunu was injured in the warm up, McCarthy was jumped into a squad he was not even selected for.

This decision is what has ruined the squad's togetherness, they are now uncertain as to what their manager will do next, even top scorer Adam Armstrong finds himself taken off the pitch just when goals are needed and at Cardiff we played three wingers in the final stages.

Russell Martin complains of no togetherness, no character and no fight, well some blunt news for him, he has knocked all of that out of the squad himself.

This is not about Jack Stephens, in truth and i am sure that Jack knows this, he should be part of a squad heading for promotion, he should be slotting in when needed and coming on in the final third of the game and helping close out games.

Instead he finds himself at the centre of why this squad has gone to pot, this is not Jack Stephen's fault in any way shape or form, he is the unwitting pawn in the situation due to Russell Martin's obsession with him.

Let's be clear hear, the buck stops with the manager, a squad should be a reflection of the manager's ethos and once the fight is knocked out of you, it is usually very hard to get it back.

I have been a big defender of Russell Martin over the most part of this season, i was not as big a critic of his possession football tactic as most and I felt he was the man to lead us forward.

Back in October, November, December and January we were a well drilled squad playing for each other, since then it has been disjointed, players such as Ryan Fraser, unplayable during that run are now shadows of their former selves.

This has all come to a head just at the time that we really need to be a squad firing on all four cylinders.

This was a team at Leicester not playing for it's manager, Russell Martin is right there was no fight, he has knocked it out of the side.

So where does Russell Martin go from here ?

That is a big question, there are those that want him gone, they see no way back from what is happening, but I think that is a bit drastic, who would take over for the last two games of the normal season and then potentially three games in the play offs.

Would it fire up the squad anymore than Russell Martin is doing at the moment, perhaps it is better just to stick with the manager and let us see if he can get us back on track, however his comments last night don't suggest that is going to be the case, they will have further alienated members of his squad.

There is certainly a growing discontent in the fan base who are now disillusioned with Martin and I fear that we will have the embarrassment of not only selling out St Mary's but if we get to Wembley not even selling out our allocation, such is the disenchantment amongst the fanbase.

The last two months have knocked the togetherness, character & fight out of the fans as well, but it has to be said that they have stuck with the team, travelling in numbers to all away games and backing the team, they feel let down by the manager.

A year ago we were desolate when we were getting relegated, this feels worse and surely that is wrong, we are still in the play offs and with a chance of promotion, but it doesn't feel like that.

Many would now say a short term appointment would at least restore team morale and give us a fighting chance in the play offs, I have met very few Saints fans who feel that Russell Martin is the man for the job whether we go up or down.

An outsider would say that this is harsh, after all he has taken us into the play offs and might yet take us to promotion, just what are we expecting, but this is far more complicated than that, it is about how Russell Martin has build the best squad in the division and has thrown it all away.

I'm sorry Russel but no togetherness, no character and no fight! you are completely right, yes the players have to shoulder some of the blame, but they have proved they had that in spades earlier in the season, togetherness, character & fight is what the manager has to build & nurture, he did that and then by his own actions tore it apart !

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