Saint Paul C

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

The games are often shown at The Pig n Whistle Riverside, The Stock Exchange Hotel on Edward St and The Treasury Casino on George St.

Line up for Saturday? 4-2-3-1 Lumley KWP - TBH - Bednarek - Bree ----- Charles - Smallbone ---- AdamA - Brooks - Fraser ----- Che' ----

Agreed - Bednarek should have just taken that shot a goal face-on rather than turning his backside to the ball. If it hits him there, as it did, there's almost no way of knowing which direction that ball will deflect to.. I don't understand the way in which defenders turn sideways on to a shot, minimising the surface area that the ball could hit..