lambtiss

He obviously saw how well it worked for Saints against Bournemouth

I would be very happy with Graham Potter as a manager; I just think he will be aiming higher now.

I doubt that anyone anticipated anything other than a tough season and, as you say, most of us were very happy when the approach became more pragmatic at the end of the season with a commensurate uplift in performance and results. However, I don't believe this was intentional pragmatism, it was simply fortuitous after Bazunu's injury forced RM's hand. What has frustrated me this season is, as you say, knowing how difficult this season would be and having seen the benefits of pragmatism at the end of last season, RM seemed completely oblivious and reverted to type with the same risky, slow, possession-based football against better opponents with better players. This is why I have flipped my support for RM, he doesn't seem to have learned and is not setting the team up to have the best opportunity to get results in the toughest league of all. They say that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, and based upon that definition this club is currently insane. Your depiction of Saints fans as fickle is unfair. The reason that the majority has lost belief in RM is not the mistakes that he makes but the lack of willingness to learn from them, indeed, to repeat them over and over again. Personally, I feel his approach has definitely cost us points this season. The opening day fixture is an obvious example, conceding a ridiculous goal from risky possession at the back leading to a mistake and a gifted goal against a team with 10 men on the pitch. Do I think RM could have avoided some of those losses if he had been more pragmatic, as at the end of last season, yes I do. But his failure to do so leaves me frustrated, time and time again. If he is unwilling to try a different approach then we need a manager who will.

Nailed it 😂

The thing for me is many of the examples of Russ "learning" are mostly accidental. For example, the only reason we tightened uo at the back and played less possession at the back was because Bazunu got injured, not because Russ realised that Mccarthy was a better keeper. Similarly, Russ didnt put our best CB pairing together last season when we embarked upon our long not losing streak, it was because Stephens got injured. In fact, as soon as Stephens was fit, Russell's desperation to shoehorn him back into the team caused disruption and some confused performances. Again, this season Russ didnt spot the potential usefulness of Tall Paul. His hand was forced by the injury to Stewart, who, with his injury record was rushed back too soon and is now injured again. At the first opportunity, Russ resorts to his Plan A, demonstrating that he hasnt learned at all. For example, after tightening up the defence to get through the playoffs he reverted to type straightaway in the Premier League, resulting in numerous errors that have lost us 6 matches. Rant over 😂

Only if he was successful, which would be fine.

I agree that TP looks much more of a goal threat than Ross, so surely He should have started ahead of Ross, with Ross coming on as a sub while building up his fitness. Assuming the idea was to have a tall CF who could act as a longer ball outlet and hold the ball up to release the Arsenal pressure, he should have replaced Ross rather than coming on at the tail end of the game.

I couldn't agree more. The problems always start at the top.

So, why have you written a whole post on your family trivia which is of interest to nobody.

The best two performances against Ipswich were Lallana and Dibling. So, RM drops the former and plays the latter out of position.

So, the one thing that was working really well in the last few games was Dibling on the wing. So, what does RM do? Moves him....

But he must be very close, I think he will be given the Leicester home game.

Straight to the answer .. No

Russell Martin Could Be Sacked if Southampton Lose v Bournemouth, Potter Lined Up (msn.com)

Oh, no it isn't

Bet you're a right laugh on a night out with the lads 😂

That is not true. Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story, eh.

Out of interest, is there any manager that you did like?

Leicester City had a new manager and lost Maddison,Barnes, Tielemans, Soyuncu, Castagne, Amartey, Mendy, Perez, Johnny Evans, Eppiah.

Armstrong needed to shoot earler there

Shame, i would have taken Edouard over Cornet

To be honest, he (AA)wasnt up to outfoxing the Championship centre backs. Most of his goals came from him cutting in from the wing. I dont see him as a centre forward.

Shocker of a tackle. It's a shame as I would like to have seen how he played in the PL.

To check his wrist, they probably pulled his hand and it fell off