I hope you meant Pochettino

I did

I was a critic. Still don't like the style of play, and believe it has fatal flaws in leaves vulnerable to long ball over the top, and if lose ball by playing out from the back. I also criticised Sports Republic, but not for wanting to make money. We live in a capitalist society. Either make money, or go broke, or become rich man's plaything like Man City. Arab absolute rulers can be deposed. What then? My problem with SR is that they pride themselves on using data. Then make disastrous decisions that get us relegated. I said before season started we needed to get a settled squad ASAP. We didn't, and so w went on a 4 game losing streak. Buy sicknote Martin. OK, a gamble that didn't pay off. But then say not going to cover. Not buying a forward unless sell Adams. Another gamble. We are scoring more now, but all it needs is an injury or 2, say to Adam A and Adams. and we are in trouble again. Mara is coming good, and admit I have criticised him. But, is he good enough to lead line for the rest of the season, if we get the injuries above? This window is another crucial one. I would get cover for Stewart ASAP for eg. Even if loan. I know used up 5 allowed. But can have more, just 5 max in match day squad. So, must admit Martin has got the team playing for him, in his style. It's up to SR to give him the one or 2 players he needs to strengthen the squad. ( I wrote Martin not Stewart above, but can't edit). So, whether I like the style or not, Martin's the manager, and when I get back to St Mary's after my total hip replacement, I will be supporting him and the team - but still moan when we play tippytappy crappyball!!

The manager deserves credit for tweaking his philosophy just a little bit following that horrible 4-game run. I was one hat had my doubts at the time. I wasn't sure that he would be flexible enough to see the problems he had (mainly pushing the fullback way to high too often and leaving the centre backs totally open to counters attacks), but the showed reassuringly that he is still learning.

It should be said though, that he has one of the strongest squads at Championship level this season, so it's a good opportunity for any manager to be successful. In some ways it should be more difficult to not be successful.

It looks promising for a return to the EPL next season (fingers crossed and touching wood), and then the real challenge will begin, because this current squad still has the weaknesses that it had when it was relegated.

Don't forget that in the four match losing streak we lost to high-flying Leicester and Ipswich, not to mention Sunderland ... or Middleborough on the up. Were we really that bad?

Think I wobbled during the four match streak of death in September. To give him his due, just like he did at Swansea, he has adapted his tactics without ever really admitting it. I seem to recall he used to say that he favoured 3 CB's this seems to have morphed into a back four where KWP is given free rein to surge forward. Which is smart.

The other thing to bear in mind is that a possession style is now the modern tactic. Most teams now seem to play this way. Thank Pep for this. The idea of giving possession away from clearing the ball is well out of fashion. Sweeper keepers are pretty much on every teams shopping list. So RM isn't really an outlier on this.

RM has made the best of what he has available and deserves the plaudits. Leicester v Ipswich should allow us to further catch up one or both sides. If we carry on playing like this I don't think Leicester are out of our sights yet.

COYR

Any team with big time aspirations -and why not us -would've needed a good and sustained run after that poor period. I do believe the team /squad and manager has improved through the season, and I do believe a better style has evolved. So many elements seem to be coming together. Credit for this progress is acknowledged, but full on plaudits only when they are due please -whatever your own agenda for the various shades of naysayers.
This season's activity so far can only be likened to dragging your heels at the start of a marathon (even going off course?), and starting to speed up (nearing a sprint, even getting a 10k PB?) in the middle when most will know -I certainly do -that the toughest part of the race is still ahead of us.
It is after all, more of a marathon than a sprint isn't it?

In reply to D Bennet above
First keep going with the physio and I hope the hip is a success
When you return to SMS I think you may be well surprised at the difference in the team and the way they play Yes we will continue to play out from the back but we now do it so much quicker Although I enjoy the tippy tappy stuff I was frustrated by the lack of pace and purpose I can't say that any more
Even the chances we create are more clear cut and we are more consistent with putting them away because of that
Loads and loads of questions about the future but put it aside for now and enjoy the here and now

I can’t believe what he’s done for our club on & off the field , I was heavily critical of him becouse of Ralph’s dismissal for NJ , feel a bit pathetic about that now but I still think our best chance of survival was with Ralph but RM is just what Southampton club needed … brilliant

I feel some of the initial criticism was warranted ( because real fans are passionate of their club and are due their criticisms, albeit not positive on occasions, and this may still represent true and realistic points that should be listened to and subsequently seriously acted upon for the good of the team and club. In a democracy you improve and progress by listening - and compromising - to all voices.) but the good thing about Martin is that he did listen and he did make many, if not all, of the necessary changes - the ability of a good manager given backing and time. He has been able to do this with an excellent all-round proficient footballing squad for the level of the Championship ( he didn't have this at Swansea or with Milton Keynes). Martin has also proved very good at man management, and, along with his staff, has seemingly improved most of the squad players. Nevertheless, let's not get too carried away with ourselves because some things are not perfect or have not been changed effectively as yet.

In reflection of the previous comments let's look at, from a fan's perspective, how the key players have developed under Martin's management over the last five months.

Bazunu was inexperienced, and he's still inexperienced, but less so now of course, thanks perhaps to some luck and circumstances. Martin stuck with him. But did he realistically have a replacement? I'd say probably not. And in this restricted situation Bazunu was allowed some mistakes and allowed to regain his confidence and develop his goalkeeping psychology into a stronger place. Also allowed to do this with an improving defence. It's pleasing for Saints fans to see a true potential develop through rough times into a proper professional footballer and this is what we're seeing with quite a large numbers of Saints players both inexperienced and more experienced.
Karl Walker Peters always had the potential but this has evolved a stage further with Martin. He's trusted and responds by putting in 100% every match. One of Saint's best players this season although there are quite a few up for that accolade. He's allowed to develop by instigating an attacking opportunity whenever and wherever he sees it. In the Premiership I'd say his weak point was defensively but in the Championship this is less of a problem because it can't be exploited so easily and because Martin has insisted that everyone defends and holds a position when necessary.
Left back is the most problematic position in the team and I'd say it hasn't truly been solved yet. Certainly if we go up either players will have to step up or we'll need a top flight player. Martin has tinkered a bit and Bree played well there, as well as KWP standing in but largely Martin has trust in Manning. Who has improved over recent weeks since he regained the position - all to his credit. Certainly the mistakes made at the start of the season seem to be ironed out. Personally though, I think Perraud is the best option in this position and if only Martin had had him as first choice he no doubt would have developed into a better player suited to Martin's style of football.
The two central defenders have developed a partnership because they've been playing together consistently - and consistency is a theme to Saints success ( consistency of team selection is a luxury unheard of for Saints in many years and can't be underrated). Again , this is partly down to lack of options but whatever the circumstances, consistency has allowed Harwood Bellis and Bednarek to show their true class at Championship level whilst continuing to develop as better players. HB is now showing his excellence as a ball playing centre back. In contrast to previous years we also have good options that can cope at this level as replacements in Stephens, Holgate and Charles although changes won't be as strong as the first pairing.
Right wing or wing back has proved as difficult as left back to get right. Tella's leaving has not successfully been replaced. Adam Armstrong has been the most successful player in this position and I think it's probably his best position - as the statistics of assists and goals - shows. If Martin can convince him of this, and Saints manage to find an effect centre forward, surely this is the way forward into the Premiership. Again Armstrong has been able to show his potential and ability at Championship level and has proven to be one of the best players at this level. Martin rightly made him captain, his confidence has been regained and seems to improve with each passing match.
Downes has improved and cemented his position as a crucial part of the centre of midfield. Giving 100% and filling the role to a T. The kind of stability the midfield needed especially after JWP's transfer.
As Saints are basically playing 4-3-3, the left side and right sides of midfield have not been claimed by anyone although we're lucky to have players good enough and flexible enough to fill those roles. Stuart Armstrong, Alcarez, Aribo, Charles, Smallbone can all fill those roles, and are good enough, when needed although those players have their preferred positions. Rothwell on the right would also be an excellent addition. These positions have not truly been claimed by any player as yet and would need cementing if Saints were to gain promotion.
The forward line has also been a success this season unlike the struggles of previous seasons. Adam Armstrong's already been mentioned and the left side has been successful with the success of both Edozie and Fraser who have both seen substantial development under Martin. The centre forward position ( I feel a team always needs a centre forward unless occasional tactical alterations are needed and especially if you play two wingers - not as obvious to some people as it seems) has been problematic with the injury to Stewart - brought in to do a centre forward 's job - and Che's original lack of opportunity and poor form. However, with the threat from the wings and the more direct positiveness of the midfield Adams seems to been showing a new lease of life despite transfer speculation. It looks as if Adams and the club is between two stools at the moment: the club would take the opportunity to sell Che if the right offer came in but equally might be happy, if Adams success continues, to offer him a new contract in the summer - presuming Adams is happy to do so. I don't think Martin has any say in this other than pressing the matter by playing him (or not). Again Saints don't really have a choice not to play him at the moment.
In conclusion Martin hasn't got everything right yet but he's got a lot of it right and continues to learn and develop as a good manager. Fans can only hope that SR will give his effectively backing and listen to him. His true test, of course, will be in the last half of this season and, if get promoted, in the Premiership.

I like your list of managers Nick, and would say that I would agree on the Puel comments too, and definitely add Dave Merrington and maybe Alan Ball and Chris Nicholl ahead of him. Russell Martin would do well to heed the comments of a thinking fanbase too. Merrington sneaks in your list for me for what he did individually for players too, and what this meant in the longer term for this club. Bally and Nicholl much the same, even though poor Chris was unaware at the time, he oversaw a slow dismantling of a great team and tradition, which has taken years in the rebuilding, with many an unnecessary bump in the road since.

Loisdeem, I dont disagree with what you say about those managers, I just stuck in the main to those who got top 10 finishes in the Premier League

I think we are all agreed on the massive improvement in performance that we've witnessed since the horrid, and deserved, 4 run defeat - I was at the Sunderland game, and 5- 0 wasn't a fluke!! But although praise is deserved for RM, as has been eluded to with some comments above, it's not all about the squad buying into his way of playing - CA only ever made the bench at best in those 4 defeats, SA started only 1 game. Add to that the change in formation, a more traditional back 4 with KWP allowed to push forward, then it's clear that RM had to change his approach also. The emergence and consistency of Downes has also been an influence, along with of course the performances, individually and as unit, of our back 5.
The groundwork needed for improvement is done...thankfully. Now comes the 'tweaking'. We are improving considerably, but still have too many periods where our build up play is too slow. AA and others, making great runs off the shoulder of defenders, but players with the ball not even looking for those runs. A greater urgency is still needed at times when in front by 1 goal, to get that second and secure the game rather than hang on.....I'm not being picky, just realistic. If we have any chance of a top 2 place, that tweaking is needed now, and it would be a good platform to work with for this squad, as the majority wil be there if promoted...,