Saint Paul C

Russell Martin's Second Leicester Interview (As Interpreted by Reality) Josh Holland: Russell, five league games in. One win. Seventeenth in the table. And obviously the 4–0 defeat at home to Oxford hasn't helped. Russell Martin: No, it hasn't. but I actually think people are being quite simplistic about it. There were some really positive signs. Josh: You lost 4–0. Russell: I know. I'm not denying the scoreline, Josh. I'm just saying there's more to football than the scoreline. Josh: What, specifically? Russell: The way we built up. The structure. The positioning. The courage to receive the ball. There were periods where we looked exactly like the team I want us to become. Josh: Unfortunately, those periods didn't seem to include scoring. Russell: That's something we're working on. But you can't just jump straight to scoring goals. There's a process. Josh: Surely scoring goals is quite an important part of that process? Russell: Of course. But if you try to score before the foundations are right, you end up becoming obsessed with results. And that's how clubs get themselves into trouble. Josh: Leicester fans might argue that being obsessed with results is fairly reasonable when you're expected to get promoted. Russell: That's the difference between supporters and coaches. Supporters see the table. We see the bigger picture. Josh: And what does the bigger picture look like? Russell: Very promising. Josh: Despite one win? Russell: Because of the one win. Josh: I'm not sure I follow. Russell: If we'd won five out of five, people would think everything was working. Now we've got a much clearer understanding of what still needs to improve. That's valuable. Josh: So the 4–0 defeat was useful? Russell: Very. Obviously I'd rather we'd won. But from a coaching perspective, four goals conceded gives you a lot of information. Josh: Presumably three or four of those bits of information were "don't concede goals." Russell: That's a very basic interpretation. There are layers to it. Josh: The fans are becoming increasingly frustrated. Russell: I understand that. They're emotional. That's what supporters are. They've paid money, they've got expectations, they want to see their team win. But they also need to understand that we're building something. Josh: Some of them don't seem particularly interested in what you're building. Russell: That's fine. They don't have to understand it yet. Josh: Yet? Russell: Eventually they will. That's normally how these things work. Josh: And what about those saying you're too stubborn? That you won't change your approach? Russell: I think that's a misunderstanding. I'm not stubborn. I'm incredibly consistent. There's a difference. Josh: But if something isn't working, shouldn't you change it? Russell: Absolutely. And we have. Josh: What have you changed? Russell: We've changed the way we don't change. Josh: I'm sorry? Russell: We've become much more flexible within the principles. The principles themselves aren't negotiable. Josh: Why? Russell: Because they're my principles. Josh: And what if the players don't naturally fit those principles? Russell: Then they have an opportunity to develop. Josh: What if they can't? Russell: Then someone else can. Josh: That sounds like quite a ruthless approach. Russell: It's professional football. I'm not here to make everyone comfortable. I'm here to make Leicester successful. Josh: And you believe your way is the way to do that? Russell: Yes. Josh: Completely? Russell: I've watched an enormous amount of football. I've coached at a very high level. I've been promoted. I've been relegated. I've been misunderstood. I've been criticised. I've been proven right. I've occasionally been proven right later than I'd have liked. But ultimately, I know what good football looks like. Josh: Some people would point out that your last two jobs didn't exactly end with overwhelming success. Russell: That's a very results-based way of looking at it. Josh: They were both results-based industries. Russell: That's the problem with football. Everyone wants immediate evidence. Sometimes you have to look beneath the surface. Josh: Southampton went down. Russell: Southampton had circumstances. Josh: Rangers lasted 17 games. Russell: Rangers had circumstances. Josh: Leicester have started poorly. Russell: Leicester have circumstances. Josh: What circumstances? Russell: We're still identifying them. Josh: Any idea where you'll start? Russell: Probably somewhere between recruitment, squad balance, confidence, injuries, refereeing, fixture scheduling and the supporters' expectations. Josh: The supporters' expectations? Russell: Yes. Promotion is a very easy word to say. It's much harder to actually build a team capable of achieving it. Josh: But wasn't promotion the objective when you were appointed? Russell: Of course. Josh: So why shouldn't fans expect it? Russell: They should. Josh: That sounds contradictory. Russell: Only if you don't understand the process. Josh: Right. Russell: Look, I understand why people are frustrated. If I was sitting in the stands watching us lose 4–0, I'd probably be frustrated too. Although I'd also be looking at the positioning of the full-backs and wondering why nobody else was noticing what I was noticing. Josh: What were you noticing? Russell: Quite a lot. Josh: Such as? Russell: I'm not going to give away all my tactical information. Josh: You were 4–0 down. Russell: Exactly. They've already seen enough. Josh: There's been a lot of talk about whether the dressing room has bought into your ideas. Russell: The players are fantastic. They work incredibly hard. They're learning. Some are further along than others. Josh: Are they all convinced? Russell: Conviction comes with understanding. Understanding comes with repetition. Repetition comes with time. Time comes with patience. Josh: And patience comes from winning? Russell: Ideally. Josh: Which you're not doing. Russell: Not enough yet. Josh: So where does that leave you? Russell: In a very good position. Josh: Seventeenth. Russell: Temporarily. Josh: How temporary? Russell: Very. Josh: That's quite confident. Russell: I'm confident because I know what we're doing. The danger would be changing direction because people are shouting. Josh: What if the shouting gets louder? Russell: Then we'll know they're passionate. Josh: And if they're chanting for you to be sacked? Russell: That's disappointing. But ultimately, I don't coach based on chants. Josh: What do you coach based on? Russell: Principles. Josh: Your principles. Russell: Correct. Josh: What would you say to a supporter who says, "Russell, I don't trust the process"? Russell: I'd say that's okay. You don't have to trust the process. Josh: Really? Russell: No. Obviously I'd prefer them to, but trust is earned. Josh: So how do you earn it? Russell: By winning. Josh: Ah. Russell: Eventually. Josh: So results do matter. Russell: Of course they matter. They just don't determine whether I'm right. Josh: What's the difference? Russell: Results tell you what happened. They don't necessarily tell you why. Josh: And you've worked out why Leicester are losing? Russell: Yes. Josh: And? Russell: We're not executing the process well enough. Josh: Why? Russell: Because the players are still learning. Josh: Why are they still learning? Russell: Because we've only had five games. Josh: So how long do they need? Russell: Longer than five games. Josh: How much longer? Russell: Enough. Josh: That's not particularly scientific. Russell: Coaching isn't a stopwatch. Josh: What if Leicester lose the next five? Russell: We'll analyse them. Josh: And if they lose the five after that? Russell: We'll analyse those too. Josh: And at what point do you analyse yourself? Russell: I do that every day. Josh: What have you concluded? Russell: I'm still very good. Josh: That's your self-analysis? Russell: It's an ongoing process. Josh: And you're not concerned about your position? Russell: No. Josh: Even with the pressure building? Russell: Pressure is part of management. I actually quite enjoy it. It confirms people care. Josh: What about the possibility that the board decide they've had enough? Russell: That's their decision. But if they do, they'll have to explain why they interrupted a process that was clearly moving in the right direction. Josh: Even if you're sitting seventeenth? Russell: Especially then. Josh: Why especially then? Russell: Because that's when people panic. And panic is the enemy of progress. Josh: Russell, if you were a Leicester supporter right now, would you trust Russell Martin? Russell: Absolutely. Josh: Even after Oxford? Russell: Yes. Josh: Even after one win in five? Russell: Yes. Josh: Even after everything that's happened? Russell: Yes. Josh: Why? Russell: Because I know something they don't. Josh: What's that? Russell: I'm Russell Martin. Josh: That's it? Russell: That's quite a lot, Josh. Josh: And finally, what happens if the process simply doesn't work? Russell: Then we'll need to ask why. Josh: And if the answer is that the football wasn't good enough? Russell: It won't be. Josh: What if it is? Russell: Then we'll look at the players. Josh: And if they were good enough? Russell: Recruitment. Josh: If recruitment was good? Russell: Injuries. Josh: If there weren't injuries? Russell: Referees. Josh: If the referees were perfect? Russell: Fixture congestion. Josh: If that was fine? Russell: Pitch. Josh: Perfect pitch? Russell: Weather. Josh: Perfect weather? Russell: Fans. Josh: The fans? Russell: I'm not blaming the fans. I'm simply saying football is a complex ecosystem. Josh: And you are the only constant? Russell: Exactly. Josh: Which presumably means— Russell: If things go well, I've built something exceptional. If things go badly, I've identified a remarkable number of external factors. Either way, we've learned something. Josh: And the supporters? Russell: They just need to be patient. Josh: How patient? Russell: Until I'm proven right. Josh: And if you're never proven right? Russell: Then we need to have a very serious conversation about what "right" actually means. Josh: Russell Martin. Thank you. Russell: My pleasure. And Josh? Josh: Yes? Russell: Trust the process. Josh: I'm trying. Russell: No, you're not. Josh: How do you know? Russell: You asked too many questions.

Expectations for deadline day. Outs Ramsdale - Loan to a European team Sugawara - Loan as per previous reports Archer - Loan to another championship team Edozie - Sold for small fee Downs - as per In 'Keeper - sign young -ish understudy to Peretz Centre Back - either the big Norwegian or the Forest player Winger - Loan from premier league team Striker - Unexpected signing

Russell Martin's First Leicester Interview (As Interpreted by Reality) Josh Holland: Russell, you've been at Leicester for six weeks now. The atmosphere around the club feels completely different. What have you changed? Russell Martin: Well, obviously the atmosphere was always going to improve once I arrived. That's just basic science. If it hadn't improved, I'd have assumed the weather was against us, or someone had left the windows open. Either way, not really my fault. Josh: A lot of fans were sceptical about your appointment after Southampton and Rangers. Did that bother you? Russell: Not at all. Fans are often sceptical until they realise I'm right. Southampton misunderstood me, Rangers misunderstood me, and some Leicester fans briefly misunderstood me. There's quite a pattern there, actually. Statistically it's impossible for me to be the common denominator. Josh: Why Leicester? Russell: The owners were refreshingly honest. They admitted everything that had gone wrong over the last few years was somebody else's fault before I even had to point it out. It was a very productive meeting. Josh: You've spoken highly about the support staff. Russell: Outstanding people. Very capable. If anything goes well this season, it'll be because they've embraced my methods. If anything goes badly... well... hopefully they'll embrace my methods a bit more. Josh: You've promoted a lot of academy players. Russell: Young players are fantastic because they haven't yet learned bad habits from previous managers. Older players sometimes need reminding that football should be played exactly as I explain it. If they don't quite manage that... well, that's a coaching opportunity for them. Josh: How would you describe your football philosophy? Russell: I don't like the word philosophy. People use it to imply there's only one way to play. There isn't. There are many ways to play... ...provided they all involve doing exactly what I tell you. Josh: What should Leicester fans expect this season? Russell: Intensity. Aggression. Dominance. If we're dominating, you'll know the players have executed the game model perfectly. If we're not dominating... ...it's probably because the opposition refused to cooperate with the game model. Very inconsiderate of them. Josh: Let's talk about Southampton. Any regrets? Russell: Regrets? No. We got promoted. Then we sold good players. Didn't replace key staff. Had a weaker squad. Played teams like Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United... Honestly, if those clubs had shown a bit more respect and stopped scoring slightly more goals than us, we'd probably still be there. Josh: You were relegated though. Russell: Technically. But only because the table was based on points instead of expected appreciation of positional build-up. Josh: Some critics said you refused to adapt. Russell: I adapted constantly. Sometimes we lost while dominating possession. Other times we lost while developing young players. Completely different. Josh: Rangers only lasted 17 games. Russell: That's football. Wrong fit. Wrong timing. Wrong expectations. Wrong league. Wrong weather. Wrong stars aligning. Lots of things. People keep asking if I made mistakes. Well... I made the mistake of assuming everyone else knew what I was trying to do. Josh: You did say you were angry at yourself. Russell: Yes. I'm angry I didn't realise sooner how many external factors were conspiring against me. Self-awareness is important. Josh: What lessons did you learn? Russell: Never underestimate how creative football clubs can be at preventing your ideas from succeeding. I've become much better at identifying obstacles. Referees. Recruitment. Fixture congestion. Grass length. Wind direction. VAR. Player decision-making. Gravity. There's always something. Josh: What defines success this season? Russell: Promotion. If we get promoted, it'll validate everything I've ever believed. If we don't... ...we'll need a very thorough investigation into scheduling, injuries, officiating, squad turnover, financial restrictions, transfer timing, atmospheric pressure and perhaps lunar cycles. Because I refuse to believe the game model was the issue. Josh: Are you confident? Russell: Completely. I've never doubted myself. I've occasionally doubted reality. Reality has been wrong surprisingly often. Josh: Final message for Leicester supporters? Russell: Trust the process. If we're winning, you'll understand the process. If we're losing, you simply haven't seen enough of the process yet. Eventually everything will click. And if it doesn't... ...someone clearly interrupted the process. Again. Not me.

The expulsion of Southampton from the play-offs is more than just an embarrassing sporting failure, it’s a textbook breakdown in internal controls and corporate governance. Basic compliance, oversight, and risk management procedures clearly failed somewhere within the executive structure of the club. At a professional football club operating at this level, there should be multiple layers of review to prevent exactly this kind of scenario. The fact it still happened points directly to incompetence or negligence at the executive level. Supporters, players, and staff are now the ones paying the price for failures made in the boardroom. Accountability has to mean something, and in any properly governed organisation, senior executives responsible for this mess should be removed from their positions immediately.

TBH, It's desperately poor internal governance that's allowed Tonda and his coaches to carry on any suspect "spying" activities. The club exec's should have said - "sorry team, not allowed. Needs to stop immediately. " That's a failure of corporate governance, and those on the exec team, COO, CEO etc.. need to wear the responsibility - and lose their jobs as a consequence.

Is this whole saga an attempt by 'Boro to try and stop Hayden Hackney from leaving..???? Hackey set to leave 'Boro after they failed to secure promotion

I'd make a couple of minor changes from the derby team ---------------- Baz ------------------ Mads -- Edwards -- Stevens -- Jellert ------------- Shea ------------ ------ Azaz ----------- Jander -------- Fellows ------ Archer ------- Fraser or Scienza Thought that THB and Manning were poor yesterday, and Flynn needs to be dropped.

The 2024/25 Season Review (Comedy of Errors Edition) Well, if you were looking for a footballing masterclass this season, Southampton FC politely offered the opposite – a 38-game-long tragicomedy that had fans laughing through the tears. Finishing rock bottom of the Premier League, Saints managed to defy expectations… by being even worse than anyone thought possible. They flirted with a record-low points tally and only narrowly avoided it thanks to a late-season draw that no one actually watched because they’d emotionally checked out in November. The managerial carousel spun so fast it could’ve powered the stadium floodlights. Southampton had more managers than wins, which is quite the feat. At one point, it wasn’t clear who was in charge – a bloke from the car park was spotted holding the tactical board during one match, and honestly, it didn’t make things worse. On the pitch, the players displayed all the urgency and cohesion of a group project where nobody wanted to be there. Their defending was more “open door policy” than tactical discipline, and their attacking play looked like they’d just met five minutes before kickoff. Body language ranged from “mildly bored” to “is that my Uber?” All in all, it was a season that will live long in infamy – a Shakespearean tragedy set to the soundtrack of groans from the St Mary’s faithful. But hey, at least relegation means they can finally try to win a few games again… right? Hope springs eternal – even in the Championship.

Ab - So - Bloody - Lutely.. Other than a dozen or so half decent games towards the end of 19/20 season and during 20/21 he's been a disaster looking for somewhere to happen IMHO. I was happy when he was loaned out to Villa and hoped that we'd seen the back of him. Disappointed that he was recalled and then ably assisted our relegation. I'm also surprised that we felt the need to give him a contract extension in Sept/24 for 3 years...

Russell Martin’s revolutionary Tantric Soccer was poised to change the world of football, but unfortunately, the world—well, Southampton FC, specifically—wasn’t ready for his genius. While most managers strive for victories, Martin focused on creating a slow, deliberate build-up, playing with the ball like it was a delicate piece of art, and never finishing. It was a football philosophy that teased, tantalized, and—ultimately—left everyone wanting more, but never quite delivering. Fans would cheer as Southampton strung together 40-minute passing sequences, only for the ball to be gently crossed into the keeper’s hands, leaving them in a perpetual state of longing. It was a football experience that had never been seen before, a zen-like flow that demanded patience and a deep understanding of the art of the game. Unfortunately, it seems that the patience required for Tantric Soccer is not something the club or its supporters had in abundance. Despite the beauty of the buildup, the board began to grow restless, and fans began to wonder if they'd ever see a ball hit the back of the net again. Even with Martin’s insistence that true brilliance lies in the journey, not the destination, Southampton’s executives—who, let's face it, prefer a more straightforward approach to football—couldn't cope with the magnificence of his vision. In a tearful farewell press conference, Martin shrugged off the sacking with typical calmness, sipping a carrot juice as he said, “Sometimes you need to let things breathe. A goal will come when it’s ready.” But the club, desperate for points, could no longer wait for the "perfect moment." And so, Russell Martin was shown the door, his Tantric Soccer deemed too avant-garde for the modern football world. Southampton fans may have to wait a little longer for enlightenment, but for now, their club will go back to playing regular football. As for Martin, he’s rumored to be in talks with a few lower-league teams who share his vision—but for now, he’ll probably be too busy making a mean tempeh stir-fry to care.

Fully expect to see Smallbone in the team for this one.. Tombola Selections Rambo Sugawara - THB - Bedders - KWP Smallbone - Downes Tyler - Lallana - Fernandes ---- Archer ------

Voted Yes, but reluctantly. I wanted Martin to succeed, and in some ways he has buy getting us back to the PL at the first time of asking... However, it feels like we have gone into this season unprepared in many ways. Not really knowing who your best 15 are and faffing about with formations on a week to week basis is a clear sign of a manager guessing at the right mix of players. Also, the lack of acknowledgement that the tika-taka style isn't for us and the fact that we clearly need to adopt a more simplistic approach should be a made decision by now. We all know that possession for possession's sake is pointless, as our league position clearly demonstrates, but to go into what should be a close game against a team like B'mouth who we should be at least about equal to with no specialist strikers is bonkers.. maybe arrogance has gotten the better of him. Cheer Russell, it's been a ride but it's time to admit your shortcomings and do the right thing by the club. PS - whoever is our defence coach needs sacking today.

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I would add to that Ramsdale Suga - THB - Bedders - KWP Big- Les Downes - Fernandes AA Archer BBD