InvictaSaint

KWP's hair..... 😳

Let's hope that this is a sign Alcaraz is staying....

Spot on. Keeping distances within each line and indeed between different lines as compact as possible is a big thing for RM. There were times last season when our full backs or de facto wide attackers would have to turn back simply because the two pivots were too far adrift of them and hadn’t moved up the pitch leaving them with no options. That absolutely has to change.

Nothing ground-breaking, no, but I thought he came across well - clearly a man who cares about making a connection with supporters and the latter being proud of the team and excited about turning up on a Saturday to see us play. After the shit-show of the last 3 years or so, I'm not sure we can ask much more than that. I have to say, I like the guy - if he makes me feel connected to the team and the club again after what we've all been through, I will be a happy Saint.

Possibly. But again, they [his coaching staff] can all resign and then they are free to take up new roles. Which is what I imagine will happen. Or we move on to other people. Either way, I can't imagine it will drag on any longer than it needs to.

Indeed! Or at least make one (direct competitor) unmanageably high and the other (club from a higher league) even higher! When you read the Athletic piece - as is so often the case with that particular platform these days - it's something and nothing and actually boils down to this: - Saints feel they owe X - Swansea feel they are owed Y - Difference of opinion - Probably get settled either just before or in court Happens in business and football all the time and really nothing to get flustered about.

Comments interesting. Seems like they’re really going to miss him.

Can’t speak to a) and not really sure where that’s come from. If your sarcasm is directed at me for b), apologies for simply raising on - oh my god! - a football forum the reasonable question around the lack of photos and videos that in 99% of managerial appointments are generally a thing. Not writing anything or anyone off. As I said, I just find the absence of said element perplexing. But don’t fret; I shan’t let it spoil my day.

Yes, possibly. But look at Maresca’s appointment at Leicester - photos, presser, videos - the whole shebang. Us - nothing. Just seems a bit odd to me.

Am I the only one who finds it odd that we’ve had no photos of Martin at SMS or Staplewood and no video interview? Just a very beige puff piece with stock photos introducing him as our new manager. Normally you get the fanfare and scarf held aloft. But with Martin, nothing. Very strange.

I thought I was the only person who’d seen the 2024/25 kit. Ffs….

His choice of emoji might suggest he knows something….

And yet, while there are positives in this article from The Athletic, if we had seen these things said of Maresca had he been appointed at Saints, I think I know how people would have reacted….

Looks like SRL might have been spending too much time with MLT….😳🤦‍♂️😳 https://twitter.com/RealTomNumbers/status/1668049674522042371?s=20

At least they stayed up….🤣

With Saints over the last 3 years, more like OFI Saturday again….

Precisely why the bit where Nixon states “he wants a crack at Europe while at the top of his game” made me chuckle….

No need to apologise FF! That’s what the forum’s for - letting off steam! I think we’ve all been jaded by recent seasons and I agree about football in general; watching City lift the CL trophy yesterday you can’t help but think of the tarnished state funding that has got them to this place. But let’s be positive and look forward to a rejuvenated Saints giving us - finally! - something to cheer next season. Keep the faith.

Would agree Badger - though he does say on a number of occasions that he thinks RM will be a good appointment. He also makes the very salient point that there is not a lot of top, top quality out there who's prepared to come into the Championship. The issue of re-establishing identity also high on the list. As you say, an intelligent person who comes across very well. I feel comforted by players - particularly ex-Saints who still have a lot of time for the club - who have played with and been managed by the man we are considering appointing. No guarantees of course - there never are! - but this feels like it could have the makings of a re-establishing of Saints as a team and as a club. Something else to highlight in Drew's comments - he referenced that RM has evolved year-on-year since he first knew him at Norwich. I think this is important. For those of us worried about the 'possession for possession's sake' issue - though I think that is somewhat lazy thinking - this clearly explains the latter stages of last season where Swansea went to a back four and won 8 of their last 9 or something along those lines. RM clearly adapts and evolves and Drew has noticed this.

Decent reworking of the Betis photo shoot….

Would explain why his is the only shirt in the current Saints Foundation auction that isn’t signed….

Transfermarkt (decent source) lists contract end dates (if perm and not a loan) as June 30th of any given year. For loans it appears to be 31st May. So Tella and Smallbone’s loans have already ended and they are officially back with us. No idea whether same applies to managers though…