Was Russell Martin watching the same game as the majority yesterday ? Some of the reports on his comments and beliefs after the game have been laughed at by journalists reporting on yesterday’s loss to Blackpool.

The post match interview with Swansea City manager Russell Martin raised the eyebrows of even the most devoted of fans. The process and his outright desire to play possession football seemed to outweigh the fact his side lost the game. Let’s have a look at some of his comments. Now the wider reporting football network are beginning to poke fun at the swans manager.

The performance was really good ?
“We've let ourselves down, conceding such a poor, early goal from someone we worked on," he said. "It's unacceptable, really. But I thought we were dominant. We were playing against a very direct team and they had a couple of counter attacks because they had a lot of the ball. Their biggest threat was set-pieces and goal-kicks where they could hit Gary Madine, and unfortunately we've paid the price for it. After that, we didn't create enough, we had one massive chance with Cyrus [Christie] but when you're playing against a team who are built on defensive structure and good out of possession, it becomes really difficult. Because we've given them a one-goal start, it changes their mentality. That's the frustrating thing, but overall, I thought the performance was really good."

We were dominant ?
“We were dominant in the first half, although we didn't create enough," added Martin. We've done what we did with the players we had. Korey Smith was feeling a bit tight in his hamstring, so to try and play him at wing-back was difficult, Hannes Wolf is not fit yet, Nat is not ready to start. We have a lot of young men who finished the game. We just need to keep learning and growing. I'd love to see us in a year's time, especially when we come back here."

Pre match press talks
Some of the information given out by Russell Martin has often been inaccurate or plain wrong. Now, yes we don’t expect him to reveal his position on the game but it’s becoming increasingly frustrating the misinformation is becoming more and more evident. This isn’t a ploy or a clever way of communicating with the clubs legions of followers. It’s just pointless and raises credibility questions.

Press & fans reaction.
Russell Martin was called bizarre, his tactics flawed and and even local news outlets called his strategy ‘ponderous’ and without ambition or penetration. Swans fans commented very negatively.

One swans fan wrote Another “pointless”game.This possession stuff (never in the top third) doesn’t work.1 shot ! Swans should repay fans money for travel and entrance. Blackpool could have been 4-0. What a boring predictable team we have become.Very little excitement. Other managers know how to play us,just read their comments over the weeks goneby. Midfield Grimes and Downes got no pace in their play, it’s sideways or backwards

TFC wrote This now embarrassing - 70 odd % possession and no threat - so boring and predictable. Unless things change I won't be renewing my season tickets, and I know many others won't either. Get rid.

BillSylv wrote Absolute rubbish. It’s no good having lots of possession if you don’t make use of it. Very pretty tippy tippy football BUT YOU HAVE TO SCORE GOALS TO GET THE POINTS. Martin is always saying that the boys played well???? I think it’s time for Martin to go.

It’s difficult to find any swans follower with anything to say after such a tired and negative performance, and that says it all really, after thirty five games the tide has definitely turned.

What now can Russell Martin do ?

Artwork by Swansea Independent

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