Russell Martin

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, beatlesaint said:

Can you imagine if RM came back and the first match at St Mary's after about 10 mins Captain Jack passes back to an on running centre forward who puts the ball in our net ?

There would be a fkin riot !!!!

That, then Bazunu passing the ball to their striker 30 yards out in the middle of the pitch 

😆

[beatlesaint]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

That, then Bazunu passing the ball to their striker 30 yards out in the middle of the pitch 

😆

exactly.

[Hatch]

No to Martin times One Million

 

[MindtheGab]

He's been shortlisted

[S-Clarke]

Just now, MindtheGab said:

He's been shortlisted

Which is just as bad. Why we'd even consider him is beyond me, unless the club see it as a mistake that they sacked him - which let me point out to them, it wasn't a mistake. It's one of the few calls they got right.

[benjii]

If I worked at the club I would definitely leak this rumour, just for fun.

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, MindtheGab said:

He's been shortlisted

do you know who with?

[AlexLaw76]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Which is just as bad. Why we'd even consider him is beyond me, unless the club see it as a mistake that they sacked him - which let me point out to them, it wasn't a mistake. It's one of the few calls they got right.

We are a fucking hilarious club, aren't we. Mental, bit like Watford but funnier.

[S-Clarke]

5 hours ago, ally_uk said:

In all honesty I'd be open to it with the option to review if we get promoted.

Better manager than Still, knows the league and can actually win a game or two of football. Already knows the lads and infrastructure so can hit the ground running.

Yes he can be a onion and has a ego but least he has a good rapport with players and can get them doing something.... 

I think we are in a position  where we can't afford to be fussy 

This is scary, and I've seen similar fan views on social media as well.

We came 4th in a 3 horse race. Our squad under Martin with Stu, Adams, Brooks, KWP, Bednarek was absolute nonsense for this level. There is no way a team with that quality should have been losing to Leicester and Sunderland by 5 odd goals. The season was built on fragility, getting over the line in the last min - and with the players we had, we should have dominated the league much more than we did.

How we played throughput that season cast doubt in many peoples minds about his ability to adapt in the PL, and low and behold that is exactly what happened. He was a key, key figure in the recruitment in that summer and lumbered us with Archer, BBD, Taylor, Fraser, Downes, Lallana - I mean come on. He persisted with the same approach against PL sides and the outcome was inevitable.

Watching him struggle at Rangers in exactly the same way wasn't a surprise. Reluctant to change principles, chirping about the same things - it was like watching groundhog day.

Him coming back here now, with ultimately a much lesser quality of player and a club at the rock bottom, would not work - anyone can see that, surely. If the choice is between Eckert and Martin, it would have to be Eckert - but both would likely lead to relegation struggles.

[notnowcato]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

This is scary, and I've seen similar fan views on social media as well.

We came 4th in a 3 horse race. Our squad under Martin with Stu, Adams, Brooks, KWP, Bednarek was absolute nonsense for this level. There is no way a team with that quality should have been losing to Leicester and Sunderland by 5 odd goals. The season was built on fragility, getting over the line in the last min - and with the players we had, we should have dominated the league much more than we did.

How we played throughput that season cast doubt in many peoples minds about his ability to adapt in the PL, and low and behold that is exactly what happened. He was a key, key figure in the recruitment in that summer and lumbered us with Archer, BBD, Taylor, Fraser, Downes, Lallana - I mean come on. He persisted with the same approach against PL sides and the outcome was inevitable.

Watching him struggle at Rangers in exactly the same way wasn't a surprise. Reluctant to change principles, chirping about the same things - it was like watching groundhog day.

Him coming back here now, with ultimately a much lesser quality of player and a club at the rock bottom, would not work - anyone can see that, surely. If the choice is between Eckert and Martin, it would have to be Eckert - but both would likely lead to relegation struggles.

Eckert would not be in the discussion if he wasn’t our U21 coach.  

Edited Monday at 15:55 by notnowcato

[Lee On Solent Saint]

9 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

Eckert would not be in the discussion if he wasn’t our U21 coach.  

Neither he or Martin should be in the discussion. Let Martin go and fuckin ruin Norwich when that vacamcy comes up.

[notnowcato]

9 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Neither he or Martin should be in the discussion. Let Martin go and fuckin ruin Norwich when that vacamcy comes up.

Yeah, I can’t see how Martin is in the discussion either. 
Classic Twitter play… what can be posted that will get the most views / reactions. 
I’m confident the rumours are bullshit. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

10 minutes ago, notnowcato said:

Yeah, I can’t see how Martin is in the discussion either. 
Classic Twitter play… what can be posted that will get the most views / reactions. 
I’m confident the rumours are bullshit. 

I hope you are right. Although its classic SR to not be able to read the room.

[Sidney Fudpucker the 3rd]

Please, Norwich, do us a favour and take Martin out of the equation.

 

[SaintsBarry74]

He barely got us promoted in a two horse race (look at the wage bill for us and Leicester).

 

ffs no way we’d do this… right???

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Knew there was a reason Lighthouse kept this thread from being locked.

[los_saint]

I can't believe that it's even a possibility that RM might be back.

[Wade Garrett]

Appointing Martin would finish me with the club.  No interest watching that boring shit or listening to that arrogant fucking cunt.

[USaintA]

Nope.

[Gloucester Saint]

39 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Appointing Martin would finish me with the club.  No interest watching that boring shit or listening to that arrogant fucking cunt.

Seconded, that is football divorce if they did that. I don’t believe that they will from Alfie House’s tweets. Would be a slap in the face after the morale boost of Romeu’s return.

Oriol would see through the bullshit charlatan in two seconds flat.

Edited Monday at 19:30 by Gloucester Saint

[Badger]

5 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Seconded, that is football divorce if they did that. I don’t believe that they will from Alfie House’s tweets. Would be a slap in the face after the morale boost of Romeu’s return.

Oriol would see through the bullshit charlatan in two seconds flat.

Gives me some comfort thinking that if they do bring Martin back Romeu might deck the prick and tell him where to shove his Legoball 

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think if he hadn’t taken another job after Saints, and having done that interview with Gary Lineker which he alluded he had learnt a lot about that experience (recruitment, tactics etc), he would be a bit more welcome back. Or certainly welcomed back more than he now is.

Going to Rangers and basically doing the same thing again showed that he hasn’t changed one bit.

Great football at times, yes. But leaky at the back.

Fortunately, HE ISN’T COMING BACK

Edited Monday at 19:38 by Willo of Whiteley

[Weston Super Saint]

The second coming of RM. It'll be as sweet as our Lord rising from the dead but way more memorable.

What's not to like?

[Gloucester Saint]

Just now, Badger said:

Gives me some comfort thinking that if they do bring Martin back Romeu might deck the prick and tell him where to shove his Legoball 

Bring Fonte onto the coaching staff - Wussell would get some very direct feedback 😂

It says everything that I’d even prefer Gary ‘Mr Fish’ O’Neil to Russell Martin.

[Toussaint]

I’d prefer Fred West 

[Colinjb]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

Appointing Martin would finish me with the club.  No interest watching that boring shit or listening to that arrogant fucking cunt.

My emotional reaction is this too. 

How to make us even more dislike-able, appoint the prick that turned us utterly repugnant in the first place. 

Edited Monday at 20:06 by Colinjb

[rallyboy]

50 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

I’d prefer Fred West 

There's a bloke who could spot talent - he knew how to build from the back and loved attacking.

[Crab Lungs]

1 minute ago, rallyboy said:

There's a bloke who could spot talent - he knew how to build from the back and loved attacking.

Knows how to bury his opponents 😭

[James G]

I've got a theory

It was reported that some players complained about Still, who has now departed. It'll be the Martin players 

Martin himself, he has a bruised reputation after Rangers so needs somewhere to repair his reputation 

I think, those players and Martin are in communication, Martin is happy to come back, and one or more of those players has put this out there in one way or another in the hope that he returns, a leaked story to the press or so. And on the basis of that, he is favourite because of the press coverage 

I think, for me, Martin ultimately failed in the top league, so what would be the point of him returning. And, players shouldn't be influencing anything.

So, as an owner, Martin should be a no go and this should be a non story

[benjii]

3 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

There's a bloke who could spot talent - he knew how to build from the back and loved attacking.

Not afraid to dig in.

[Ekelund]

16 minutes ago, Crab Lungs said:

Knows how to bury his opponents 😭

With Slab head at the back.

[Harry_SFC]

If they re-appoint Martin then I'm totally done with this club. 

[sfc4prem]

The prodigal son returns.

In all seriousness, what a blunder this would be, and SR have had a fair fucking few.

He soiled the name of the club in the most watched league in world football by his intransigence. A holier-than-thou, pretentious narcissist with tactical blinkers on. The amount of times he threw his players under the bus. Baffling that his name is even in the peripherals.

[SaintsBarry74]

Former boss Russell Martin is the favourite to take the reins, following his sacking at Rangers last month. He lasted just 123 days at Ibrox – the shortest stint of any manager at the Scottish giants.

Martin, 39, led Southampton to promotion from the Championship via the play-offs in the 2023/24 campaign. However, he was sacked in December 2024 as the Saints sat bottom of the table, and they were ultimately relegated.

He came in for some criticism for refusing to change his play-out-from-the-back tactics, which contributed to their demise. However, he still has admirers at Southampton, and TEAMtalk can confirm that he is their TOP choice to replace Still, and he is open to a conversation about returning.

https://www.teamtalk.com/southampton/identify-top-manager-target-will-still-sack-man-utd-legend-ex-liverpool-man

Fuck off! He barely got us promoted even though we and Leicester had by far the biggest wage bills and squad values that season. He’s half the reason we’re still in this mess today.

[benjii]

Isn't Russ a bit old at 39?

[saintant]

8 hours ago, MindtheGab said:

He's been shortlisted

15 posts. I smell bullshit.

[Oh no Mick Mills]

5 minutes ago, saintant said:

15 posts. I smell bullshit.

Heard a rumour( Probably a wind up) 

Its a done deal. 2 year contract. 

[CB Fry]

1 hour ago, SaintsBarry74 said:

Former boss Russell Martin is the favourite to take the reins, following his sacking at Rangers last month. He lasted just 123 days at Ibrox – the shortest stint of any manager at the Scottish giants.

Martin, 39, led Southampton to promotion from the Championship via the play-offs in the 2023/24 campaign. However, he was sacked in December 2024 as the Saints sat bottom of the table, and they were ultimately relegated.

He came in for some criticism for refusing to change his play-out-from-the-back tactics, which contributed to their demise. However, he still has admirers at Southampton, and TEAMtalk can confirm that he is their TOP choice to replace Still, and he is open to a conversation about returning.

https://www.teamtalk.com/southampton/identify-top-manager-target-will-still-sack-man-utd-legend-ex-liverpool-man

Fuck off! He barely got us promoted even though we and Leicester had by far the biggest wage bills and squad values that season. He’s half the reason we’re still in this mess today.

Yeah, I reckon you can ignore anything on Teamtalk.com.

[trousers]

9 hours ago, MindtheGab said:

He's been shortlisted

 

37 minutes ago, saintant said:

15 posts. I smell bullshit.

Somewhat worryingly, @MindtheGab was spot on about Still in his first two posts on the forum back in May...  It's quite often the low-post-count posters that you need to take most notice of....😩🤮🤯😡

#bugger

 

Edited Monday at 23:03 by trousers

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Just now, trousers said:

 

Somewhat worryingly, @MindtheGab was spot on about Still in his first two posts on the forum back in May...  It's quite often the low-post-count posters that you need to take most notice of....😩🤮🤯😡

#bugger

 

Fuck

[qwertyell]

Sure. Why not? SR might as well tear off the final piece of their mask and reveal just how much contempt they have for the supporters. 

Sooner it's done, the sooner we can smoke these pricks out. 

[Dusic]

First couple of press conferences would be absolutely box office.

But any kind of rational thought process shows its extremely unlikely to happen on so many levels.

[Willo of Whiteley]

I hope he’s full of gratitude and courage if he does return.

He’s a brave man for coming back to this shitshow.

Lucy Pinder must be full of pride.

Oh how I’ve missed Russell Martin Bingo.

[hypochondriac]

Oh god I completely dismissed the possibility of it being Martin. If this actually does happen I don't think I can take it mentally. The sight of him fucking up at Rangers filled my heart with joy. The moment he's back and the first time I see Stephens lose the ball in our own six yard box and concede I'm going to die inside.

[sockeye]

Romeu as a concession in an attempt to soften the blow of Martin.

 

Nightmare fuel.

[St. Ciervo]

I would rather root for Pompey. Give me the bleach...

Edit:  "It ended in a chapel, in 2025..."

Edited yesterday at 00:38 by St. Ciervo

[Dr. Kucho]

If Martin is reappointed then it’s obvious someone on the board is taking the piss. Maybe even a secret Skate that has infiltrated our club. 

Or maybe there’s a virus of the data computer and it keeps putting Martin at the top of the list. 

[washsaint]

If the rumours are true and the senior players are pushing for Martin that says it all.  Those wankers are why we are in the position we are and if they want Martin back he's definitely the wrong choice because this set of gutless, pathetic, weak minded tossers are poison and wanting their mate back really does say it all.

[Ralph Fastenbüttl]

I'm just so fucking exhausted at even the THOUGHT of RM returning. How the fuck can anyone have forgotten just how miserable that season in the Prem was? My worst as a Saints fan, without question. I honestly don't know if I'll be able to emotionally invest in the club if it commits such an act of wanton self harm. Fuck 'em, seriously.

[Baz Fl]

If RM is reappointed the owner might as well give the keys of the kingdom to the few senior players that have left every manager out to dry since he first left. I’d make sure everyone of those guy’s were sold and driven out before bowing to player power, especially shite player power!