Miltonaggro

The radicalism with 66.66% of SR is thinking that they'll get away with it. They won't but it's going to be a painful watch!

That's a thoughtful, sobering post to wake up to - I love the smell of realism in the morning! The only current chance of recovery I think we have is Wilcox, so he's the one to watch above any PR about Martin put out by the club, see what he puts his name to. The successful Blackburn side that he was a part of installed a savvy manager, bought a crop of the top players in the league (including two of ours) and then simply played them to their strengths. A while ago now, but he is the sole Board member at our club who has the football knowledge to arrest the current slide, and that at some point he will need to intervene. He will also know the longer we are outside the PL the harder it will be to gain promotion, and the rank stupidity of trying to pull the cart before the horse - promotion and then start the Sport Republic Man City lite revolution, perhaps. However, another scenario is that he resigns whilst his youth guru credentials are still high and goes into a role at a decent Prem club. I think Russell Martin is a thoroughly earnest, decent man, the opposite of Nathan Jones, but we are seeing very similar batshit formations and tactics, whilst blowing smoke up players arses when they need a fucking rocket. It's likely to get worse. My gut feeling is that SR will dig in and stick with RM to at least Christmas when the playoffs may look like a pipedream, if he's here after that we are going to finish in mid-table obscurity and a nostalgic look towards 2007-2008. What a fucking mess.

More chance of Beatrix Potter!

There’s one for the next fans forum!

You sure? According to my Ipswich supporting mate who I had a painful post match beer with last night he was the epitome of an instant success, Tractor Boys love him, hence their travelling numbers and good voice. Won seven of his first ten games in charge, with seven clean sheets, and new year club record for a series of games not conceding a goal - better than Bobby Robson. Also, something approaching 60% win percentage which was rubbed in. Not bad for his first managerial post. I think I’d prefer that kind of impact currently but it takes all sorts.

Jones 14, Selles 17. They’ll give RM a good few more than that I reckon as they’ve invested more in this one.

Fuck off Russell! 😂

To be fair to Cortese his first actions following the Liebherr takeover were to appoint an ex-premier league manager and recruit a number of the best experienced players from the league we were in and that above. Immediately the fans could see improvement, ambition and positive momentum. How were our fans at the JPT final - the miserable indulged arseholes? In his entire time at the club, despite his human shortcomings (sic) as a Chairman, he didn’t have to worry about grumbling fans, and his ‘small margins’ focused on pillows, mattresses and ice sculptures. Maybe Rasmus and Kraft should have a chat with him on teams, bit of life/business-coaching and a discussion on closing the big margins.

Agreed, Ipswich came with a game plan and once it was executed sat back knowing that it was unlikely that we could hurt them. McKenna schooling Martin in terms of how to achieve a cool-headed three points away from home. The clear defensive improvement in the second half was due to replacing the young central defensive midfielder who had been asked to play centre half, with an actual centre half.

I agree. Fucking awful isn't it. I thought that Ralph was a busted flush when he was sacked, knackered and out of ideas, but fair wager he could set this lot up to be competitive over a long weekend!

#pragmatic

Given the lukewarm turgid dogshit served up last night I actually thought the fans were very good, particularly second half. If the Board expect more than that in the current predicament they may need to attend some ‘neutral’ football matches and seek psychiatric help.

You only had to look at McKenna last night I find a manager template for saints early summer. KM has a solid, steady coaching pedigree at some top clubs, plays to strengths and sets teams up to win points. His current club could only dream of our club’s finances. Ipswich are a limited, workmanlike side but were physical, niggly, competitive and were playing for each other and the shirt. They were also short passing across the back and in midfield much more effectively than saints, so he’s better at that aspect than Russell Martin too. Why Sport Republic cannot recognise confidence and competence in terms of recruitment, with the resources the club currently has it is truly baffling. How do you recruit Jones from an open field, perservere with Selles with survival still possible, and then come to an executive decision that Martin is answer and saviour. More clowns than Billy Smart’s circus.

Yes, said that to my boy at the game, Leicester had better players, more guile, quality and ruthlessness on the counter. Thing is both gifted three soft points from the blancmange fortress that is St Mary’s in the Championship! There are few teams like Leicester but a lot of sides like Ipswich in this league…

The only ‘scar tissue’ I’m seeing is between Russell Martin’s ears where it appears to be as thick as fuck and possibly inoperable. We’ve had one genuinely dominating half this season and that was in the first game, on live tv, when we had Ward-Prowse and Tella pulling the strings against a very limited Sheffield Wednesday. Those couple of jammy wins, and being an affable chap, painted over a lot of cracks in Martin’s set up and abilities. I think true to form Sport Republic will double down and attempt to ride this out until at least Christmas, and by then we are likely going to be too far adrift to make the play offs. All that was needed this season was the appointment of a recognised, solid manager for this level who could galvanise fans and players, and round pegs in round holes through the spine of the team in recruitment. Instead we have blue sky tinkering and an attitude that the benevolent Board are more on-message and intelligent than the peasant, dopey fans who are forecasting each debacle - very reminiscent of Lowe and Cowan in this league, and it’s currently dogshit. It’s their money but our club.

Good summary.

Jones got 14 games, Selles 17, bet Russ beats both regardless of what happens on the park.

It was ok, no fucker noticed, including him!

Very much this and baffling why we didn’t start with this set up. So much more solid at the back and through the middle second half. What worries me more is that we can’t seem to break down defences at the moment, despite having Sully, Alcaraz, Adams and Mara on at the end. Ipswich did a right shut out job on us as did Sunderland and Leicester.

On way back from that. Ipswich were a hardworking organised championship side, just what I thought we’d be facing when we got relegated. Regardless of where they are in the table currently we should win this at home all day long. Saints however, were utterly toothless, out muscled, out fought and no answer to a layered, marshalled defence. Management apparently no idea how to retrieve the game after a goal down. Fuck all to do with the crowd, who were stoic in the face of mediocrity yet again. Think we might be in a bit of trouble already.

🫏 🦒 ⚽️ Fair play to him!

Traditionally the football was used as a social safety valve, a place where you could escape the drudge of hard work and express yourself, say what you like, with likeminded people for a couple of hours a week. I get that the modern game has been corporatised, sanitised and watered down over the past 25 to 30 years but for a great many supporters it’s still tribal, it still matters, it’s about personal and cultural identity. If it wasn’t I doubt many people in our city would ‘choose’ to support Southampton, with much better, more reliable ‘service providers’ available. The comparison to other services just doesn’t work, and I personally I couldn’t give a shit as to how those around me get their bang for buck paying an extortionate amount to watch second rate tripe, a broad church doesn’t have to be evangelical!

I think those kind of numbers would take an entire season, but I admire your passion and optimism

A few years back I often used to bump into Dave and his missus shopping. He would always give a nod of the head and she would smile, seemed a close couple and very genuine people. Age wont be a comfort here, and he'll be devastated, I hope he has close family and friends for support. Sincere condolences and all positivity to him, old school Saints through and through.

We conceded 73 last year, so a real chance to improve exponentially under Russ!