trousers

Cheers for the update. Do we know if its the same injury that keeps recurring (and if so, what is the nature of the injury?) or has he just been unlucky with back-to-back different injuries? The latest update I could find was back in September, but no details in this one-sentence article: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23824221.martin-confirms-injury-setback-sideline-southampton-defender/

Likewise! 🎄👍🎅

I guess you could've applied the same concerns to Bednarek, given his attitude when he left on loan (yes, I appreciate it's not a complete like-for-like, but it shows that players can redeem themselves after leaving on less than friendly terms)

Fair enough. Always happy to share differing opinions with my fellow Saintsweb chums Merry Christmas! #bahhumbug

2021/22 2022/23

Except that that didn't happen in his last two full seasons... #neverletthefactsgetintheway...

Sounds very familiar to what the forum pessimists were saying before he joined last time... He's been largely injury free the last 2.5 seasons (yes, I know he hasn't played much recently, thus reducing the chance of acquiring an in-game injury this season, but one assumes he's still being put through the paces in training, practice matches, etc.)

(As per link posted by @davefizzy14on the transfer window thread... Thought it might be worth highlighting here too... Mods: probably worth tweaking the thread title though... )

Stop moaning FFS!

Yeah, I hope so too... Would love to see him dink it under the bar next time...

I'm not an Alcaraz flag waver by any stretch of the imagination so, yes I probably would have said the same... my thoughts on the penalty have no particular bearing on who the player was. Anyway, good as always to see a range of opinions on the Saintsweb forum and everyone respecting everyone else's viewpoint...

Get him on the first team bench!

Indeed, and I seem to recall Russell alluding to this in a recent press conference too

Yeah, fair point. Makes sense on reflection 👍

If we played like we did yesterday I'd venture we'd come out on top if we played them now... (Yay, positive trousers is back! )

Saintsweb

If it's not a conscious decision of Russell's to approach each game differently (in terms of our levels of intensity and directness) then I guess that leads one to ponder why the players aren't playing "front-footed" in every game, if it's nothing to do with the manager.... Maybe it's just a simple case of the players not being physically capable of playing with that level of intensity and purpose each game... In which case I'll probably keep my trap shut on the matter from here on in... (Huzzah!)

I totally agree that it doesn't make sense why he *appears* (in my eyes) to alter his approach in this way, which is kinda my point... Maybe I'm totally wrong and seeing things that aren't there. Maybe I'm going slightly deranged in my old age (just ask Lady T...!) All I know is that in some games we *seem* to purposely be more "front footed" (to coin a phrase) whereas in others we *seem* to purposely be more conservative... As I say, and in true Saintsweb tradition, I'm "happy to be proven wrong"... If we played like we did yesterday every week I'd be the happiest bunny on planet Earth and 'worship' (chortle) Russell as much as I did Ralph back in the day (Footnote: maybe I should revert back to the ultra-positive / happy-clappy / benefit-of-the-doubt Trousers of old...? )

Are you my wife?

We'll have to agree to agree on that... P.s. love you too 😘

Fair enough. Life would be somewhat dull if we all agreed

Anyone else think it was great that Charlie had the self-confidence and audacity to try something different with his penalty kick today? I suspect he'd have gone for something more orthodox had the game been closer, but given we were coasting to victory there was nothing to lose IMO. Always good to see a bit of individuality and flair. (Of course, I'd have been livid if he'd tried it if the result had been more in the balance!).

I accept I could be talking bollocks most/all of the time but I uphold my right to do so...

Fair points. I'm open to persuasion... 👍

I disagree with that characterisation. I believe Martin consciously deploys two variations of his underlying tactics... One is more passive and pedestrian, the other is more aggressive and intense. We've seen more of the former than the latter this season. No worries if you see things differently though. We'll have to agree to disagree.