Fitzhugh Fella

I have just posted this on the match thread so apologies if this is your second encounter with my thoughts, this morning but Trousers recommended I post it here as well (if you want someone to blame 😀). Just back from the game (I overnighted in Manchester on the way back) and here are a few thoughts. Apologies they are a bit late (and long winded), but I need to unburden. I couldn't believe how all of our "new" signings have, suddenly, become so poor. Downes totally was inconspicuous on Saturday. The only time I noticed him was when he fluffed a pass which could have led to a goal had he delivered. Harwood-Bellis struggled all game, no pace whatsoever, hard to believe he is the captain of England U21. Fraser no impact at all, I prefer Amo-Ameyaw. Charles, having looked to be a really good player at first, has in the last few games become a shadow of his first few games. Holgate, well what can I say? First time I've seen him, describing him as being ponderous is being kind. Manning, when he came on, didn't seem to know where he was playing. He was everywhere he shouldn't be and no where he should be. No discipline. The yawning gaps down his side of the pitch were quickly exploited. It seems Martin's coaching is turning good players into dummies. Boro were utter garbage in the first half hour. The crowd were quickly on their backs and they were there for the taking. Although Armstrong took his goal well enough that was all he did, except run. He's such an ineffectual, ordinary player. I've been patient with him but have now lost it. Adams for a senior player was awful, too. Missed a good chance before our goal and he posed little threat whatsoever. And to think I was pleased he didn't leave. Give me Ballard any day or any other promising youngster. Smallbone I watched closely. He glides effortlessly and looks classy without delivering much. He should have scored in the 2nd H when presented with a good chance but he shot tamely and weakly at the 'keeper. It was the sort of chance that other teams always score against us. Walker-Peters huffed and puffed but made errors and his comical foul throw towards the end was embarrassing just when we had won back possession. It was a cluster fuck of a a performance and I felt deeply embarrassed to be a Saints fan. I was a guest in the players' lounge afterwards and I sensed an element of pity among those I talked to. Quite a few couldn't understand how we had fallen so quickly. It was hard to explain. I therefore spoke to quite a few current pros over the weekend, and the general feeling in the game is that Martin's sides are "soft" and he is not rated as a manager. I think we are all waking up to that fact, at the moment. Our players, on the day looked disinterested, half-hearted and were full of simple mistakes. Passes went astray all the time. The second half was so frustrating. Edozie brightened things up a bit and Sulemana injected pace and a bit of urgency but that was about as good as it got. We have severe problems all over the park. Goal scoring, midfield and defence - I wouldn't know where to begin, to be honest. We can't keep carrying on hoping, as if by magic, we are suddenly going to turn a corner - but the prospect of a fifth manager in less than a year is bat shit crazy and a sure sign of massive mismanagement on an industrial scale. Martin is I hate to say it.... a charlatan. I think he believes in himself and genuinely thinks he has what it takes but he sells snake oil. As well as the board, he has successfully duped Adam Blackmore, I noted, after the game, that while comparing him to Jones, he then was calling for him to be given "more time", but Adam, we will be serious relegation candidates very soon unless the rot is stopped pronto. I spent 12 hours in my car driving to this away game (and back) and had a lot of time to contemplate our predicament. Other than our relegation/administration season I can't remember being more depressed as a Saints fan. Even in the Branfoot days the players had fight in their bellies but that is now badly missing. We have been crying out for some leadership on the pitch but our calls have not been answered by the powers to be. Us fans are helpless to intercede, we are just bystanders watching a slow and inevitable car crash. We can only hope someone in SR is sensible and brave enough to smell the coffee and take a gulp. Otherwise we are in for a winter of discontent with the resulting damage liable to be long term.

Just back from the game (I overnighted at son in laws on the way back) and here are a few thoughts. Apologies they are a bit late (and long winded), but I need to unburden. I couldn't believe how all of our new signings have suddenly become so poor. Downes was inconspicuous on Saturday. The only time I noticed him was when he fluffed a pass which could have led to a goal had he delivered. Harwood-Bellis struggled all game, no pace whatsoever, hard to believe he is the captain of England U21. Fraser no impact at all, prefer to have Amo-Ameyaw. Charles, having looked to be a really good player at first has become a shadow of his first few games. Holgate, well what can I say? First time I've seen him, ponderous is being kind. Manning, when he came on, didn't seem to know where he was playing. He was everywhere he shouldn't be and no where he should be. The yawning gaps down his side of the pitch were quickly exploited. It seems Martin's coaching is turning good players into dummies. Boro were utter garbage in the first half hour. The crowd were on their backs and they were there for the taking. Although Armstrong took his goal well enough that was all he did, except run. He's such an ineffectual ordinary player. Adams was awful too. Missed a good chance before our goal and he added nothing whatsoever. And to think I was pleased he didn't leave. Give me Ballard any day. Smallbone I watched closely. He glides and looks classy without delivering much. He should have scored in the 2nd H when presented with a good chance but he shot tamely at the 'keeper. It was the sort of chance that other teams always score against us. Walker-Peters huffed and puffed but made errors and his comical foul throw towards the end was embarrassing just when we had won back possession. It was a cluster fuck of a a performance and I felt deeply embarrassed to be a Saints fan. I met quite a few current pros over the weekend, playing for other clubs and the general feeling is that Martin's sides are "soft" and he is not rated as a manager in the game. I think we are all waking up to that, at the moment. The players looked disinterested, half-hearted and were full of simple mistakes. Passes went astray all the time. The second half was so frustrating. Edozie brightened things up a bit and Sulemana has pace but that was about as good as it got. We have severe problems all over the park. Goal scoring, midfield and defence I wouldn't know where to begin. We can't keep carrying on as if by magic we are going to turn a corner but the thought of a fifth manager in less than a year is bat crazy but a sure sign of massive mismanagement on an industrial scale. Martin is a charlatan. As well as the board, he has successfully duped Adam Blackmore, I see who was calling for him to be given more time, but we will be serious relegation candidates very soon unless the rot is stopped. I spent 12 hours in my car driving to this away game and had a lot of time to think about our predicament. Other than our relegation/administration season I can't remember being more depressed as a Saints fan. Even in the Branfoot days we had fight but that is badly missing. We have been crying out for some leadership on the pitch but our calls have not been answered by the powers to be. The fans are helpless to intercede. We can only hope someone in SR is sensible enough to smell the roses and take a gulp. Otherwise we are in for a winter of discontent............ big time.

If the biggest word in the English language

You are not wrong but at the end of the day they can run the football club how they want it as they own it lock stock and barrel. Even Rupert had to answer to the shareholders.

Like thousands of others I left the stadium after the 4th goal went in and I can't remember seeing and hearing so much anger towards a manager from among the disgrunted exodus. With Jones there was a comical edge to the anger because we all knew he wouldn't last but last night there was genuine fury, aimed mostly towards the manager. I was nonplussed on his appointment based on his record, his predilection for tip tappy possession football and the fact most Swansea fans didn't seem too bothered about him leaving. I went to Sheffield and was pleasantly surprised. It has gone rapidly down hill since. We picked up points v QPR, Norwich and Plymouth but were far from convincing. Sunderland was a disgrace and last night was equally woeful in terms of tactics etc. So I am going to stick my neck out and say I don't think Russell Martin has it in him to give us promotion this season and probably not next. It is ludicrous to call for his head so soon but I genuinely don't think he has what it takes. Sports Republic have now made three substandard managerial appointments, we have had 4 managers in 12 months and won 3 league games in that time. That is a shocking stat. If we can't persuade someone like Potter (very unlikely) we need a steady Eddie type to steady the ship, and get back to basics. Someone like Mowbray who knows the Championship inside out who gets the basics right. But SR don't seem to be learning the error of their ways and if they are brave enough to dispense with Martin the liklihood is another left-field hipster-like appointment and the merry-go-around starts all over again. More madness and misery.

In my opinion Perraud is a much better player than Manning

Ha ha the first album.

Saw them in 73 at the Gaumont. Agree re the early era. Ferry later lost his way a bit

Baby Jane is in Acapulco We are flyn(g) down (es) to Rio! Name that tune.

You haven’t been keeping up. RM said this morning Smallbone is only definitely out for tomorrow’s game and after that he could be back.

Have we any left to swallow?

Yes but quite a few (me included) think there should be two forums which would negate “fans” like him trying to set an agenda. The audience were ignoring her because most weren’t/aren’t interested in the ladies side of the club. As for your other comment, you read into it as you want. I am suggesting nothing of the sort just pointing out he had a lot of photos of the women’s teams on his phone. I have a lot of photos of the men’s teams on my computer, so pick the bones out of that.

I met this bloke when we played Newport away and to put it kindly let’s just say he is the ultimate pub bore. He also has what some might say an intense interest in all aspect of the ladies teams, taking his camera to all the matches from the first team and the youth.

It got people going and it is unique to us so I am/was a fan

Apart from two well taken pens he offered no threat in their box. He works hard, chases and harries but is little threat.

This whole saga is doing my head in so Gawd knows what it must be doing to Lavia.

So just to recap. I hope I have this right. We are signing Spike Milligan?

To be honest this needs to be sorted out quickly for everyone’s sake including ours.

Making an enemy of the Serbian Government would have me checking over my shoulder on a regular basis for sure. More power to his elbow.

Not too fussed getting convincingly by a League Two team? Glad you are not our manager. And you obviously weren’t at Cambridge last year when Dom Ballard scored on his debut.

Meaningless passing is one thing but when it’s done with pace and the ball is moved first time it can at least be half decent to watch. I was a critic of Martin’s style at Swansea but let’s give this time to develop. It’s a long time since I have seen a Saints side so comfortable on the ball.

One man’s moan is another man’s constructive criticism. I was there last night and I saw plenty of positives. We now have a style of playing, an identity which the players seem to have bought into. There was a lot of attractive passing and possession but once we got near their goal it fizzled out in an anti climax of poor final balls or not enough options in the area. So lots of work to be done. When the board went up with 9 minutes on it my heart sunk. This is going to be painful I thought. But we held on to the ball the whole 9 minutes so that meaningless possession was quite useful. It must have been incredibly frustrating for the home fans. One final comment. It was nice to see Russell Martin came out about 10 to 8 before the teams emerged, and come over to applaud the fans before going back to the dressing room. He seems very savvy when it comes to getting the fans onside. I was and remain dubious about tippy tappy possession football and playing out from the back but I am going to keep an open mind. It worked last night. Now going home via Birmingham to take in Solihull v Eastleigh in the rain.

Why can’t it close quietly?

My big worry is RM’s insistence on possession based, play out from the back football. I just wish he would mix it up a bit and not be so reliant on one system. I’d like to have more faith but it’s just that I don’t think the current players are good enough.

The whole window has become very tedious