coalman

It was stated as an opinion rather than fact. As someone who has been prepared to state differing opinions based on watching the Russell Martin juggernaut I would have thought you'd be ok with this.

Can we afford her release clause?

So here we are, the final game before Christmas with Saints travelling to Fulham in search of the win that would see them fail to establish the record for the lowest ever points total at Christmas. Russell Martin will be sitting down to watch this one on TV in front of his Saints FC Christmas tree as designed by famous Danish creator Ramus Ankersen. A tree that is unbalanced, expensive to assemble with more parts than are needed and which it's impossible to put a star on the top of. Not only that but it's designed in such a way that all the presents at the bottom are for someone else (yes I've been sitting on that gag for a while). However this is a Southampton freed from the shackles of Russball. One that is no longer compelled to offer up their opponents multiple clear cut chances per game or wait until the opposition has had a chance to reorganise before launching counter attacks. In Simon Rusk we have an interim manager which we know nothing about but who has inherited the most hospital-y of hospital passes. Will we get the limp hangover of the 1st half against Liverpool or the more positive 2nd? For once the fans will be turning up with actual hope that it might just be different this time around. Fulham are going to be disappointed that they didn't get the automatic 6 point buffet they were expecting from us along with the opportunity to play players back into form that we've offered every other team this season. It's another game on TV as Sky recognise that both teams will be thinking about Europe albeit in different ways. The Cottagers have a genuine shout at it this year while Saints will just be wishing that we were at the end of the table where such things were a consideration. As for the teams, well Southampton are still with a Jack Stephens shaped hole at Central Defensive Midfield Fullback Sweeper assuming they try to reprise the football of the season thus far. By the time Jack comes back there's an open question as to whether they'll even be a place for him in the line up with Rasmus burning up the phone lines trying to line up a replacement. An activity akin to a fat 50 year old bloke messaging 20 year olds on Tinder (I know all about this one). Chances are we'll still be trying to find the "right candidate" while Russ is sending Lucy a Valentine's Day card next year. The important thing is that finding the next manager is about trusting the process - something which all Saints fans know too much about right now. Whether Rasmus gets Dragan's credit card in January to go shopping is an open question - in any sane universe one would assume not. Even with all that hanging over the club, Saints can approach this with a small measure of hope. The locked in death march to the worst ever is no longer a certainty - what we get instead is anyone's guess.

After the first half I thought oh dear. Then in the second half we started doing things it seemed we were incapable of earlier in the season: - making tackles and putting Liverpool under pressure - moving the ball quickly to players in space - players talking to each other It was almost as if the players stepped up and let emotion take over as someone once put it. It turns out that when they're not being micromanaged from the sidelines out players make some pretty good decisions. I know it's only 45 minutes of football but that was the first time this season I thought we looked like a Premier League team.

And at least one 100-0 decision there.

He's there to flag the Saints player offside.

This half we've got after Liverpool and made them uncomfortable. When we pressure teams and play with intensity we look like a Premier League team. Rather than a Championship one phoning it in.

How is that not a last man foul?

Fucking hell the players are actually talking to each other.

Are we actually... tackling?

Liverpool don't have an answer to our strollingpress.

This has got 0-0 draw written all over it. Saints to win on penalties

So, 5 weeks to dither while Rusk works his magic followed by a bizarre left field appointment that only makes sense on planet Rasmus?

I wonder if our piss poor decision making mid game is because we only trained when we are well rested. Then when the game starts and we're knackered we're not used to making game decisions tired under pressure. Would also help explain how we fade so badly.

You mean by getting the ball quickly to them and encouraging them to get down the line?

There definitely aspects of our play that improved under Martin. The club was a mess when he walked into it. Though the club is also a mess as he departs it. When he ran into his limitations he made no effort to learn or adapt. By the end it seemed more like a cult than a club where everyone was keen to say how it was working and about a long term plan. And boy does Russell Martin have limitations as a manager. His refusal to play out quickly. The high risk no reward passing around the back. The lack of fitness. The favouritism. The insistence on lightweight midfields. The excuses. The best pals approach. After the Leeds final I thought he had it in him to adapt but it turns out he didn't. He leaves behind a team that's unfit and infected with his losing mentality. Whoever comes in next has a big job on. On the plus side he'll never need to work again. Somehow I suspect some mugs will hire him. As for Saints the same clowns who oversaw this shit show are still in place. Rasmus continues his mission to bankrupt Dragan. Who, I suspect, is getting a bit cheesed off with it all now.

Martin's off down the tunnel like a scalded cat

Spurs are here for the taking this half

Don't tease about that

Man City have gone full Southampton.

I don't hate that line up. We'll offer pace down the wings. We have a central midfield. Lumley was never getting picked after the crowd cheered him. Hopefully Sulemana has something to prove. COYR

Wolves may approach Martin but we all know he's holding out for United. Was a real shock when they went with that Portuguese chancery rather than bringing total football to Manchester. Maybe Real Madrid in a push.

For all their possession City make decent decisions when to boot it clear. They almost never pass back into the middle of goal. We really play nothing like them.

Some might argue failing to score against our defence was a sackable offence on its own

There you have it. It's the fans fault for having unrealistic expectations and we need to stick with Martin. Sutton shows us how you say "I'm phoning it in" without saying you're phoning it in. At least Lawrenson only predicted Saints to lose every week.