Gloucester Saint

That strange camera-lit meeting at SMS on Weds night was clearly meant to be seen. If it wasn’t confirming RM’s departure (I still think it was related to it) then it was something significant relating to SR’s structure. Dragan if he is vaguely sane cannot be looking at Rasmus’s performance with SFC and Valenciennes and thinking ‘things are going OK’. Ben Chorley is very unpopular as Rasmus’s DoF puppet there. If he must be involved in SR, limit it to Goztepe and get big names as DoFs for Saints and Valenciennes, profiles that can start to rebuild the rubble of SR’s relationships with the communities.

Hope being the operative word, although hope isn’t a word I associate with SFC full stop these days. Anyone with ‘ITK’ in their account name has a whiff of Football Insider.

And a PR plant on here. Straight out of the Rupert Lowe playbook. Rupert was dreadful enough, but Rasmus as well within 15 years. What did we do to deserve that?

Hard to argue with the overwhelming majority of that. I will defend Archer as on the rare occasions we’ve gotten him quick balls around the corner he’s either scored or worked the keeper. He’s off the shoulder player and walking football doesn’t suit him. Could be successful next season without this arsehole of a manager. Cornet as above really, great at Burnley, serious muscle injury at W Ham, came here to play games. Clearly a PL quality player if used properly. BBD has looked appalling, no denying that, but again, totally unsuited to Russball. Lesley - worst central midfielder I’ve ever seen in the top flight for Saints. Carlton Palmer’s first touch, Wanyama’s passing without the great engine which made them effective players, and instead the engine of 1993 era Glenn Cockerill (he was very good in the 1980s) in his Captain Crap phase. Whoever got Chelsea to pay £22m on a 7 year contract should be replacing Rasmus, very shrewd.

Cross Country don’t need much reason to cancel services. Although tbf, their staff being pulled out of position around their much larger network would damage them for days.

Yeah, Dragan needs to cut off Rasmus’s supply in January. If we have another January 2023 spree window inspired by Rasmus (Sulemana - £22m anyone?), even a reincarnated Markus wouldn’t be able to save the club from the firestorm created. We will all be Sholing fans. Need to sell and loan out as much as possible whilst retaining some of sporting integrity. Part of that is by freeing up enough to sack Martin, that would be the best apology to the league.

That does help. Gloucester Quays Xmas market might be off as well which would ease pressure around there.

M5 still open as it stands, from where I am I know the A and B roads better, hopefully no incidents on the Worcestershire phase. It’s been terrible recently for incidents and closures hence my caution but it is probably your best bet from Hants. One option if the M5 remains alright is to see if you can park at one of the cross-city line stations for Aston (15 mins walk, nearest is Witton) - Redditch in N Worcs might be one option. Longbridge is another. If you don’t want to drive as far, try Bromsgrove, modern station and cheap fares.

Cardiff/Newport/Plymouth games all off and a lot of the Xmas markets such as Bath cancelled. Very unlikely but will get up early and see if the storm blows through earlier than forecast. Not holding out much hope though.

And probably needs the pension cash top up so keeps his head low and not challenging his methods until RM gets the tin tack. Did play for Spurs for 6 years but long time in the lower leagues. Probably on a good wage as Forest boss, but not quite at the being able finish work stage of drawing on his professional pension at 59.

That could be later as the forecast is looking bad - if the clubs and WMP reckon there’s danger from flying debris and the local and national rail isn’t running - the trams are unlikely to be I think - it may well be off https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2655603

I liked your post more in hope than expectation. There was another puff piece in the Echo, which is behind a paywall, but I suspect was ghost written for Alfie by one of the PR goons lurking on here. They were out in force as new registrations in the comments section I noticed along with the majority of fuming and fed up supporters.

Looking grim in all directions, M5 not an option. Probably local roads and local station nearer Brum eg Redditch or Longbridge.

In which he hadn’t realised until he actually started playing him which 100% shows Russell hasn’t done any research on the player. And certainly wouldn’t played him in that weird V-shaped formation v Forest second game.

I’m just over an hour from Villa Park and it’s very windy here now. Game probably on as predicted to lower slightly by circa 11am but the trains that the fans need run from your neck of the woods and Wales which is equally impacted. Best case scenario is running and speed restrictions. So possibly no pub before. Returning might be a bit better.

It was a strong vape variety when Rasmus pushed for the signing of Ross Stewart.

Feel a bit sorry for BBD, bought on stats by Rasmus but clearly Martin hasn’t done any homework watching him to say ‘He ain’t gonna fit my style of play Rasmus’.

For the avoidance of doubt, he is on record plenty of times as saying he will not be changing the ‘method’ eg slowing playing out from the keeper and back. He’d rather lose his job than do that.

Fuck this, I thought the main board was bad enough…

Oh Hughes was on his way down and Bowen got frustrated with the lack of drive. But Les pulling stunts like that won’t have helped. Bloke who has scored the winner in European finals knows a bit more about the game than the former boss of Bishops Storford. As you say, was a good manager once. Martin so far has wallowed in mid-table with Mk and Swansea, conceding 60-70 goals a season. Happens to enjoy the same vape flavour or have the same barber as Rasmus so gets the SFC gig. Thanks for Wembley but still conceded 60+ goals along the way and as for the defending this season… Mark Hughes the player and manager is just a distant dream to Russell. Russell will be managing and spouting the same empty crap in League 2 soon enough.

No probably about it, they would. Austin’s legs had gone by that point, and Lemina’s behaviour horrific, but otherwise that list of players really does illustrate the extent of decline since Ronald left.

Anyone is inspirational if you’re paid good money to defend them by arguing with supporters. Not the first time the club has done it either.

It’s a reasonable point. Doesn’t in any way excuse Russell Martin being a toxin in the club and city’s bloodstream to be expelled, but my faith in Ankerson is absolutely zero. As much an empty, image-driven vessel as Martin.

Yep, the PR person who lurks on here had been upstaged with you posting that. They thought they’d got one over on 🦆 by presenting what seemed like fuller quotes but the BBC ones showcase the full level of delusion that Russell though we competed with Chelsea for most of the match. Don’t even get me started on the Stephens comments. Doesn’t have a clue about people management, let alone basic organisation, tactics or transfers, what is he actually bringing? And how many times have we conceded rubbish goals (his own words) since August 2023 as a direct result of his Dirge of the Light Brigade tactics, pure as the driven snow bringing the ball out from the back? A good third of last season’s horrific 60+ conceded and at least 15 this season alone. And we are not even at Christmas yet.

You’re killing it today S-Clarke. Should be read by Dragan if he had any sense, which seems very unlikely.