dellboysaint

Russball was a disaster. Playing out from the back, square passing then, back to the goalie was getting us nowhere. We were so intent on passing the ball to anyone that we lost the desire to go forward and win the ball off the opposition. The competitive streak disappeared as it was just about keeping possession in our own half and waiting for something to happen. McCarthy’s cock up in the first game at Newcastle set the season up.

Russball has led to the team losing all ideas on how to be competitive. Passing the ball square then backwards has lost the desire to go forward and win the ball. Russball has made the team soft and easily overrun. Russell Martin has ruined the teans philosophy.

Russell Martin with his crappy ‘russball’ system has produced a team with no fight, no desire to win the ball and no pace. Passing slowly around in our own half has produced players who have lost the desire to compete.

Russ all has gone thankfully but nothing has taken its place. There is a vacuum but still the slowness of Russball is still there. We are unfit after months of Russball.

McCarthy will be a bag of nerves for the Forest game which unsettles the defence. He has to be replaced as no one has confidence in his passing. Opposition players will press harder.

Neither Suleimana or Alcarez fit Martin’s style. They are attacking players and Sule likes the ball over the top to run onto. Alcarez moved it forward looking for openings and also a shot. Thoth players clearly unsettle Martin. Both players over Smallbone any day.

Our form has dipped since we lost Alcarez. It was hugely frustrating that it was decided he should move on. Was he not liked by Martin because be moved forward with the ball and looked to create chances. Perhaps Alcarez got fed up with the ponderous sideways passing and trying to play with the likes of Smallbone who do not break into a sweat and are content to pass the ball back. Rothwell is no comparison with Alcarez or Downes.

Cannot understand why Alcarez, S.Armstrong and Sulemana were not picked for games like Ipswich. They have made a huge difference to be playing week in week out recently. Baffling from Martin.

The first year in the Championship is vaguely refreshing. I am not sure Norwich, Stoke and QPR would be thinking this way now. If we become a yo yo club like Sheff U then fair enough... there is some excitement.

Surely the good performance came because Martin started with Sulemana and Alcarez. This did not happen at Preston. It gave us the attacking threat which made all the difference. I hope Small one learns to pass forward and create something. Aribo is much better.

Did Martin need to make subs? Taking off your best players does not make much sense especially when there is an international break.

The Championship is a proper football league uninfluenced by big money spending. It is not the place for ‘projects’ which are deemed to be cleverer than others. Rasmus does not understand what it takes to get out of this league. Look at Newcastle yesterday. They got it forward at speed whenever they could. No tippy tappy stuff in their own half. Gordon was a revelation but Goodson fans were glad to see him go. Why can’t Holgate be rejuvenated like Gordon. This ‘project’ will condemn us to League 1.

What struck me on Tuesday was Martin’s body language. Hands in his pockets and trying to appear in control. He has lost any support he had from the fans judging by the supporters near me. Smallbone seems to epitomise him…neat, tidy but weak and ineffective. We have weak and ineffective leadership and need a manager like Tony Mowbray in charge so someone who knows the Championship.

We need to sign a goalkeeper. Bazunu is not yet ready and McCarthy is weak.

Sets the tone of mediocrity. Cannot make a decent save.

Let us hope that was McCarthy’s last game….slow to get down and beaten too easily when it is straight at him. Invisible at corners. He sets the tone of mediocrity that has become the norm. He has to be moved on.

He can’t get down to shots and is invisible at corners. As for his passing around the box…well!!!!

Yes, put the away fans on the side like Palace do.

The Leicester players last night against Liverpool reflected our players against Fulham….passionless and defeatist. Are these players all paid too much and don’t care about the club and supporters. Perhaps they have realised their managers are not up to the task.

Forest had four shots and scored four times. McCarthy is apparently the second highest paid player in the club and I hope he never plays again. Slow to react to situations and accepts defeat too easily. Sums up the present squad.

It has been a bewildering season and for the first time in nearly 60 years of supporting Saints I have felt no connection with these players. McCarthy sums it up last night…4 shots and 4 goals.

I would probably get Ofsted in as soon as the season is over. Seriously, though, the appointment of Nathan Jones was completely bewildering and made no sense at all. It would not have happened in most businesses. Relegation was assured and I think most people have accepted it for several weeks/months. Therefore, it does not hurt quite as much as in 2005. I remember relegation in 1974 but McMenemy really got the club going in the right direction with some great experienced signings…Phil Boyer …for example. The same has got to happen this summer. A team made of youngsters will not cut it in the Championship. Look at Sunderland and their managerial appointment.

I struggle to believe it but Leeds are worse than us at the moment. I want to go down with two clubs who may struggle to come up next season….Forest and Leeds possibly. Everton and Leicester will bounce back in all probability.

How is it our board reacts so slowly to signings and sackings. Strachan brought in would kick some asses and get some fight. If we are to go down let us do it with some passion and not the limp performances of late. He should have been sacked after the Palace game. Talksport interviewed one of Benitez's team months ago and he was asked would Pellegrino take Saints forward. He said quite simply 'no'. How could the board have no one in the coaching set up to stand in for a week or so after Pellegrino is David.

It has all the makings of 2005 ..delusional chairman, a poor motivator as a manager and loss of home form. Get in Gordon Strachan this week and motivate the players.