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Comment | Southampton V Leicester City The Verdict
at 12:00:10
Fair report Nick although not so sure about Leicester being the better team overall, second period yes, first period I thought they were very poor and were fortunate to be only down two-nil at the break.
I’m agnostic as to whether Martin stays or goes simply because I don’t believe that any replacement manager is now capable of getting our current squad to a position of Premiership safety. The bookies who don’t get it wrong very often, obviously think the same as we are currently 1/5 for relegation.
My concern now isn’t what happens this season. It’s more long term because it’s becoming clearer by the day that Sports Republics Owners, Board, Recruitment Team and Senior Management simply don’t have the desire or abilities to sustain a Premiership football club.
Having relegated us once already when we had some experienced Premiership players, they have now assembled an extremely poor squad of players and have effectively relegated us once again, this time after only eight games.
My view is that they appear happy to make our club into at best a Championship club who act as a feeder club for long term established Premiership teams.
In a nutshell it’s my opinion that Sports Republics ambitions and aims no long equate with those of the vast majority of the 28000 home fans who turn up at St Mary’s. |
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Comment | Southampton V Leicester City The Preview
at 18:04:35
Bowlercow and DoctorSleep, both minus seven.
You should know by now that alternative views to the herd aren’t allowed.
Won’t be long before some absolute doughnut calls you both Skates. It’s what the hard of thinking do nowadays. |
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Comment | Where Will Russell Martin's Thinking Be For Leicester Game
at 17:20:50
“ to be honest the Southampton supporters have stuck with him”.
That’s because most of us now realise that because of the poor quality squad assembled by Sports Republic there is no manager who can keep us in The Premiership this season. |
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Comment | Southampton V Arsenal The Preview
at 12:08:05
Could be an interesting time for the Owners and Board if we were able to get an against the odds win or even a draw Nick.
What would they do then reference Mr Martin ?
Twist or Bust or just more prolonged fence sitting ? |
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Comment | Southampton Board Split On Russell Martin Situation
at 22:21:48
If mirrorsport are correct in their reporting it begs the question:- Is there actually anything that Sports Republic’s Owners, Board and Directors can do properly ?
No wonder our Club was unnecessarily relegated and is now in such a perilous league position again, if between them they can’t even make a simple decision whether or not to replace Russell Martin.
I’m reminded of the old expression “ to make the right decision is commendable, to make the wrong decision regretful, making no decision is simply indefensible”.
If true, a decent well supported family friendly Football Club now giving every indication of being in the control of a bunch of second rate amateurs.
Ted Bates must be spinning in his grave. |
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Comment | Southampton At Bournemouth The Verdict
at 17:28:58
davidargyll, It worked in the end against Neville Chamberlain in 1940 when quoted by Leo Amery and again more recently when quoted by David Davis against Boris Johnson. If it succeeds again for Russell Martin you will certainly be in some exalted company. |
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Comment | Southampton At Bournemouth The Verdict
at 12:15:52
onetowatch, the last time I suggested that it’s not all Russell Martins fault I received eleven down arrows. This time around none so far, suggesting perhaps that my views are at least now finding
an audience prepared to give my view a hearing.
I’ve never suggested that Russell Martin is without fault and frankly not playing K W P is beyond my comprehension as it is with yourself.
Not playing with a recognised centre forward last evening smacks of desperation also. However, it’s understandable given that the available players in this position ( Armstrong, Archer and Diaz ) have to date amassed the grand total of 14 Premiership career goals between them. Their proven lack of top flight goal scoring ability is not the fault of Russell Martin, it’s the fault of Sports Republic’s transfer and recruitment policy in that they are all he ( or any other manager ) has to work with.
If a new manager is appointed and turns the so far disappointing start to the season around I will be the first to say that I was wrong. Personally I’m firmly of the opinion that thanks to Sports Republic’s ineptitude The Championship beckons whosoever our manager is.
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Comment | Southampton At Bournemouth The Verdict
at 10:29:15
I fully expect to get a barrage of down arrows similar to my last post when my opinion was different to the “ It’s all Russell Martins fault brigade” but here goes.
The vast majority of blame for our current malaise lies squarely at the door of Sports Republic’s Owners, Directors, Board, and Player Recruitment Team. Our current manager is simply carrying the can for their combined ineptitude.
Our Club spent a nett £70 million in the last window and has left us with a squad full of unknown young hopefuls and ( K W P and possibly Ramsdale aside ) seasoned journeymen underachievers. A squad arguably no better than that which achieved promotion from The Championship. In anybody’s book that takes some doing.
Sports Republic’s ineptitude resulted in a totally unnecessary relegation two seasons ago and will I fear have the same outcome this time around.
In a nutshell, currently Sports Republic are not very good at what they do. Unless and until they get some personal who know what they are doing ( or sell up and depart ) our Club’s malaise will continue unabated. |
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Comment | Graham Potter Lined Up For Southampton Job
at 13:11:54
Spot on highfield49.
Personally I don’t agree that Martin should be replaced irrespective of Monday’s result.
However, to suggest that he stays on if we win one game but goes if we lose is frankly ridiculous.
If that is the level of our Owners and Boards decision making process it’s not difficult to understand why we were relegated from The Premiership in the first place. |
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Comment | Big Big Game For Russell Martin At Bournemouth
at 13:27:45
Nail on head davidargyll, you are absolutely correct in that our respective views on responsibility for our current problems are diametrically opposite. That’s what makes following the Saints interesting I suppose, two people see the same matches but form different conclusions.
I genuinely hope that my conclusion is the wrong one and that come this time next year we will still be discussing Premiership football.
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Comment | Big Big Game For Russell Martin At Bournemouth
at 12:43:23
Some would say that he’s doing considerably better than Ralph, davidargyll.
Ralph’s team containing proven Premiership players won one game in fourteen toward the end of the season before we were relegated and our erstwhile Owners and Board still considered it a good idea to keep him on. Another master stroke on their part don’t you know.
I appreciate that I’m swimming against the tide ( hence the 10 down arrows to my original post ) but still remain of the opinion that replacing Martin will not solve our current problems.
Put simply, despite a net spend of £70 million in the last window our current squad isn’t good enough to survive in The Premiership. Until those in positions of influenced above the manager ( be it Martin or A N O ) start to get their act together the Club’s direction of travel won’t change.
The Championship beckons.
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Comment | Big Big Game For Russell Martin At Bournemouth
at 10:43:21
So Nick, we lose on Monday and the Owners and Board decide to sack Russell Martin.
What happens next ?
The Club has a contractual obligation to pay Martin an obscene amount of money, probably millions.
The Club appoints another manager and we rinse and repeat with very little if any improvement in our league position.
Our problem as a Club is that the Owners, Board and Recruitment Staff have assembled a Championship squad to play in The Premiership.
Russell Martin ( as would any incoming manager ) is doing his best but simply hasn’t got the resources at his disposal to allow him to succeed.
Changing the manager isn’t going to make a blind bit of difference.
We are Championship bound, probably with a points total very near to the record Premiership low obtained by Derby a few years back. |
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Comment | Southampton V Ipswich Town The Verdict
at 19:38:14
YosemiteSaint, you are not wrong and we don’t.
The fella who manages Man City couldn’t get a Premiership tune out of our current squad.
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Comment | Southampton Already Have Their Target To Replace Russell Martin
at 09:14:46
Not your finest hour Nick to be honest.
There’s a time and place to show an article such as this and less than Seven hours before the kick off of any home match is undoubtedly the wrong time. Particularly given the importance of today’s fixture to the Club its manager and supporters.
In life timing is everything, and today as Colburn has previously noted, you have got it badly wrong. |
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Comment | Southampton At Everton The Carabao Cup Verdict
at 10:25:28
I won’t comment about the match except to say that a wins a win but we made hard work of it.
A couple of related points:-
1. Everton had a gate of over 33000 for a second rate cup game. Say’s a lot about their support.
2. If anyone thinks that opinions on this site get a little edgy have a look at Toffee Web. Some of the comments and opinions about their season so far and manager are interesting to say the least. |
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Comment | Southampton V Manchester United The Verdict
at 13:57:56
Don’t worry about down arrows wibbersda, I’ve got five already and it’s only lunch time !
Sometimes you need broad shoulders to post an alternative view and in the main responses are good natured which is to the credit of those who make Nick’s site so interesting.
Having said that Colburn appears to be getting excited about Nick’s views of Stephens. If I’ve read it correctly he appears to have called him stupid. A bit strong, but then again watching Saints play always has tested one’s patience. |
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