Russell Martin

[AlexLaw76]

But with PSR, new teams in Europe, new teams winning stuff, Man United shite.

 

[Smirking_Saint]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

But with PSR, new teams in Europe, new teams winning stuff, Man United shite.

 

Thats only really because Utd’s had probably the worst sporting decision making Ive ever seen

Bad manager after bad manager and throwing money at all of them, allowing them to buy their own targets… awful

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Smirking_Saint said:

Thats only really because Utd’s had probably the worst sporting decision making Ive ever seen

Bad manager after bad manager and throwing money at all of them, allowing them to buy their own targets… awful

But the other points… new teams winning stuff and in Europe, along with a bunch like Brentford pushing for Europe

[Smirking_Saint]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

But the other points… new teams winning stuff and in Europe, along with a bunch like Brentford pushing for Europe

You’re not going to see Brentford stick the landing

They looked good this year because Spurs and Utd were terrible as well as the bottom three.. but also it highlights how PSR has protected the elite, the prem began runing away from the Champ a few years back due to how turnover is such a huge part of PSR calcs.. and now we’ve been in a situation where the Champ clubs can’t stay up, that gulf will get worse

Its not, enabled Brentford, its just meant they were the right side of the divide at the right time

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Smirking_Saint said:

You’re not going to see Brentford stick the landing

They looked good this year because Spurs and Utd were terrible as well as the bottom three.. but also it highlights how PSR has protected the elite, the prem began runing away from the Champ a few years back due to how turnover is such a huge part of PSR calcs.. and now we’ve been in a situation where the Champ clubs can’t stay up, that gulf will get worse

Its not, enabled Brentford, its just meant they were the right side of the divide at the right time

Agree to disagree

we have seen new teams winning trophies and new teams with a greater punch.

we just blew it all.

the EFL is not particularly fair,  it we are now the elite so can’t complain so much 

Edited Monday at 20:47 by AlexLaw76

[Smirking_Saint]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Agree to disagree

we have seen new teams winning trophies and new teams with a greater punch.

we just blew it all.

the EFL is not particularly fair,  it we are now the elite so can’t complain so much 

We’ll just agree to disagree then

We’re also only the elite because of parachutes, once thats gone you need to cost cut brutally 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Smirking_Saint said:

We’ll just agree to disagree then

We’re also only the elite because of parachutes, once thats gone you need to cost cut brutally 

But we are the elite in a system that is very unfair 

Anyway, I think Martin will do well enough at Leicester… but not enough to keep them happy overall

[Smirking_Saint]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

But we are the elite in a system that is very unfair 

Anyway, I think Martin will do well enough at Leicester… but not enough to keep them happy overall

Yeah I think Martins a better manager than the shit he’s getting on here

He’ll do fine, and likely learnt some lessons around how stubborn he was with us

[Midfield_General]

56 minutes ago, trousers said:

😂

Yeah a lot of their fans seem understandably utterly bemused at their club's 'obsession' with us, especially with taking our cast-offs. I have to say I don't really get it myself either, hilarious though it is.

They're already chanting against him and he hasn't even joined yet. 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/rare-chant-gives-leicester-city-10214101

"But there was also a chant about Russell Martin, the man at the centre of rife speculation around the City job and the favourite to succeed Ruud van Nistelrooy. While the chant – “Russell Martin, what a ******” – was unnecessarily harsh towards the former Southampton manager, it was at least effective in showing the fans’ thoughts on his possible arrival, especially with Jon Rudkin at the Vitality Stadium to hear them. For lots of fans, appointing Martin is akin to signing Jannik Vestergaard and Ryan Bertrand despite their involvement in the 9-0 game at St Mary’s. Last season in the Championship, City won their two games against Martin’s Saints 9-1 on aggregate. Plus, in the Premier League, he took just five points from 16 matches before being sacked. To many, it feels like a backwards step."

Edited Monday at 20:58 by Midfield_General

[Saint_clark]

Oof, imagine signing a contract and then before it's even announced the fans of your new club are chanting calling you a wanker. That's rough. 

[Osvaldorama]

1 hour ago, Saint_clark said:

Oof, imagine signing a contract and then before it's even announced the fans of your new club are chanting calling you a wanker. That's rough. 

To be fair, he is 

[Miltonaggro]

11 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Oof, imagine signing a contract and then before it's even announced the fans of your new club are chanting calling you a wanker. That's rough. 

Shows you how level headed and patient saints fanbase is by comparison. 

[sfc4prem]

6 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

Shows you how level headed and patient saints fanbase is by comparison. 

To be fair, our fans haven't experienced the heights of winning the PL and FA Cup and reaching the knock-out phase of CL football in recent years.

Probably a bit of a bigger come down for them to have Russell appointed as manager after his recent failure.

[Miltonaggro]

3 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

To be fair, our fans haven't experienced the heights of winning the PL and FA Cup and reaching the knock-out phase of CL football in recent years.

Probably a bit of a bigger come down for them to have Russell appointed as manager after his recent failure.

And yet I recall that Saints were the model that the ‘new’ Leicester were built on. Funny old game. 

[sfc4prem]

7 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

And yet I recall that Saints were the model that the ‘new’ Leicester were built on. Funny old game. 

It sure is

[Midfield_General]

Talksport (yes, I know) reporting this morning that van Nistelrooy's sacking is imminent with Martin lined up to take over straight away:

https://talksport.com/football/3238564/ruud-van-nistelrooy-leicester-sacked-russell-martin/

Caveat: It's Crook

Edited yesterday at 09:18 by Midfield_General

[Ken Tone]

12 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Oof, imagine signing a contract and then before it's even announced the fans of your new club are chanting calling you a wanker. That's rough. 

Tough yes - but I suspect the money softens the blow. I'd put up with a fair bit of abuse for his salary.

[Smirking_Saint]

2 hours ago, Midfield_General said:

Talksport (yes, I know) reporting this morning that van Nistelrooy's sacking is imminent with Martin lined up to take over straight away:

https://talksport.com/football/3238564/ruud-van-nistelrooy-leicester-sacked-russell-martin/

Caveat: It's Crook

As much as he is a cock Crook is right more often then not these days

[tdmickey3]

4 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

As much as he is a cock Crook is right more often then not these days

This part should make the Leicester fans warm to him 🤣

 

"Of course, results keep me in a job but I’ve been happier with a performance when losing than I have sometimes when we have won, playing really poorly, and I always make that really clear to the players.

[AlexLaw76]

I just can't see Martin being as completely regimented to his 'system' this time round (if he does, he is a nutter).

Most half decent managers will improve, albeit a little, after a period of reflection from a very poor showing.

 

[Pamplemousse]

That was his problem, it was always style over substance.

Of course, when we did have the substance, it was pretty good and tearing apart Blackburn/Swansea/Sheff Wed at home amongst others was enjoyable. 

But when he did go away from his style and was pragmatic, look at what we achieved. The Leeds Wembley game was a perfect tactical display from Russell Martin in how he adapted. And then he never did it again. Just bizarre.

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I just can't see Martin being as completely regimented to his 'system' this time round (if he does, he is a nutter).

Most half decent managers will improve, albeit a little, after a period of reflection from a very poor showing.

 

Logically that would follow, but the circumstances might be a factor. For example were they to receive a 10-12 point deduction and/or MLG’s thought of a transfer embargo, that might make the play-offs a best case scenario, and with an embargo (don’t think the EFL would go there yet btw) a non-starter, hence working with more talented younger players offering more room to build the philosophy back up without the season one pressure of going for title/autos.

Edited yesterday at 12:30 by Gloucester Saint

[Lord Duckhunter]

15 hours ago, Smirking_Saint said:

and likely learnt some lessons around how stubborn he was with us

Likely, 😂😂 Yeah, About as likely as Bonnie Blue giving up cock….

[Weston Super Saint]

35 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I just can't see Martin being as completely regimented to his 'system' this time round (if he does, he is a nutter).

Most half decent managers will improve, albeit a little, after a period of reflection from a very poor showing.

 

Only, he doesn't believe it was a 'poor showing'.

[coalman]

36 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I just can't see Martin being as completely regimented to his 'system' this time round (if he does, he is a nutter).

Most half decent managers will improve, albeit a little, after a period of reflection from a very poor showing.

 

Which is what we all said after he joined us from Swansea when Swansea fans warned us of his dogmatic approach. He's had the Lineker PR interview to rewrite the narrative so there's no chance he isn't coming back determined to do it his way.

[Markyruk]

Why are we so obsessing about our ex-manager. Surely we should be looking to the future and thinking about our new man in charge. I vote for this thread to be shut down.

[coalman]

1 minute ago, Markyruk said:

Why are we so obsessing about our ex-manager. Surely we should be looking to the future and thinking about our new man in charge. I vote for this thread to be shut down.

Scar tissue, innit?

Coupled with the sincere hope of future schadenfreude. Normally I wouldn't care but this season has felt like a particularly brutal gaslighting session.

[Bakovnetski]

The Gary Neville award for football manager who is better at going on Monday Night Football than managing football teams

Bronze
Gary O’Neil. Tactics community still applauding after he patiently explained how his Wolves beat Bournemouth in 2023, a moment he deserved to savour after being cast aside by Bournemouth. Some sympathy again for his sacking, this time by Wolves, last December. Although Wolves’s performances under Vitor Pereira suggest O’Neil’s message had lost its potency. That and all the on-pitch arguments with players.

Silver
Ruud van Nistelrooy. Admittedly hasn’t actually appeared yet but must be odds-on to do so before December, by which point enough time has passed for everyone to forget his Leicester horror show. Expect serious calls for “someone” to “give him another chance”. But we must never forget. Perhaps this video after one of his few wins will lodge it in our minds?

Gold

Russell Martin. Clearly a charismatic and talented fellow. Tremendously engaging to listen to. Bright, personable, admirable. Also one of the men most responsible for this season’s Southampton side.

From The Telegraph website

Edited yesterday at 14:18 by Bakovnetski

[trousers]

5 hours ago, Ken Tone said:

Tough yes - but I suspect the money softens the blow. I'd put up with a fair bit of abuse for his salary.

Tosser 

(Cheque in the post)

[Badger]

1 hour ago, Bakovnetski said:

The Gary Neville award for football manager who is better at going on Monday Night Football than managing football teams

Bronze
Gary O’Neil. Tactics community still applauding after he patiently explained how his Wolves beat Bournemouth in 2023, a moment he deserved to savour after being cast aside by Bournemouth. Some sympathy again for his sacking, this time by Wolves, last December. Although Wolves’s performances under Vitor Pereira suggest O’Neil’s message had lost its potency. That and all the on-pitch arguments with players.

Silver
Ruud van Nistelrooy. Admittedly hasn’t actually appeared yet but must be odds-on to do so before December, by which point enough time has passed for everyone to forget his Leicester horror show. Expect serious calls for “someone” to “give him another chance”. But we must never forget. Perhaps this video after one of his few wins will lodge it in our minds?

Gold

Russell Martin. Clearly a charismatic and talented fellow. Tremendously engaging to listen to. Bright, personable, admirable. Also one of the men most responsible for this season’s Southampton side.

From The Telegraph website

Martin deserves all the criticism coming his way after our shit show this season, but it's a bit much coming from Neville.

As cast aside and ex-managers who believe their own publicity and guff go, Neville should be commended with a category of his own, a Lifetime Non-Achievement Award.

[Matthew Le God]

10 minutes ago, Badger said:

Martin deserves all the criticism coming his way after our shit show this season, but it's a bit much coming from Neville.

As cast aside and ex-managers who believe their own publicity and guff go, Neville should be commended with a category of his own, a Lifetime Non-Achievement Award.

They are not awards decided by Gary Neville. They are joke tongue in cheek awards by a Telegraph journalist and he named them the Gary Neville Awards.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/05/27/my-premier-league-alternative-awards/#:~:text=The Gary Neville award for,Football than managing football teams&text=Gary O'Neil.,being cast aside by Bournemouth.

 

[Saint86]

Will be gutted if Martin goes to Leicester tbh. He is a quality manager and will only have improved by his time with us re the push to the playoffs, winning them, and then the lessons he's doubtless learned in the prem...

I think there is a very real risk that Leicester come in and take bazunu, Fraser, Stephens, manning and bednarek all off of us this summer for knock down prices... All of them were invaluable to our promotion push last year and losing them would decimate our defensive capabilities at this level - something we simply can't afford. Stephens especially was imperious at the back, and baz's possession and distribution play were second to none. Fraser as well was a machine on the wing contributing with key goals. Really hoping this season obscures just how good they were and Leicester fail to take them off our hands 😖😬.

👀

Edited yesterday at 18:46 by Saint86

[Badger]

2 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

They are not awards decided by Gary Neville. They are joke tongue in cheek awards by a Telegraph journalist and he named them the Gary Neville Awards.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/05/27/my-premier-league-alternative-awards/#:~:text=The Gary Neville award for,Football than managing football teams&text=Gary O'Neil.,being cast aside by Bournemouth.

 

Okay, I stand corrected. 
 

But still think Neville is a twat. 

[Challenger]

11 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Will be gutted if Martin goes to Leicester tbh. He is a quality manager and will only have improved by his time with us re the push to the playoffs, winning them, and then the lessons he's doubtless learned in the prem...

I think there is a very real risk that Leicester come in and take bazunu, Fraser, Stephens, manning and bednarek all off of us this summer for knock down prices... All of them were invaluable to our promotion push last year and losing them would decimate our defensive capabilities at this level - something we simply can't afford. Stephens especially was imperious at the back, and baz's possession and distribution play were second to none. Fraser as well was a machine on the wing contributing with key goals. Really hoping this season obscures just how good they were and Leicester fail to take them off our hands 😖😬.

👀

Got half a tank of fuel in the car and not up to much this week, if this is of any help ?

[Badger]

I’ll be amazed if Leicester appoint Martin fully aware of the feeling among fans. 
 

But then again we know how decisions are made without fully thinking it through by the muppets in charge. 

[coalman]

19 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Will be gutted if Martin goes to Leicester tbh. He is a quality manager and will only have improved by his time with us re the push to the playoffs, winning them, and then the lessons he's doubtless learned in the prem...

I think there is a very real risk that Leicester come in and take bazunu, Fraser, Stephens, manning and bednarek all off of us this summer for knock down prices... All of them were invaluable to our promotion push last year and losing them would decimate our defensive capabilities at this level - something we simply can't afford. Stephens especially was imperious at the back, and baz's possession and distribution play were second to none. Fraser as well was a machine on the wing contributing with key goals. Really hoping this season obscures just how good they were and Leicester fail to take them off our hands 😖😬.

👀

Don't forget his ability to develop youth talent. Without Martin, Tyler Dibling would be just another 19 year old hanging around the training ground watching YouTube videos. People talk a lot about his style of football without properly crediting his man management and ability to develop players.

[skintsaint]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

Will be gutted if Martin goes to Leicester tbh. He is a quality manager and will only have improved by his time with us re the push to the playoffs, winning them, and then the lessons he's doubtless learned in the prem...

I think there is a very real risk that Leicester come in and take bazunu, Fraser, Stephens, manning and bednarek all off of us this summer for knock down prices... All of them were invaluable to our promotion push last year and losing them would decimate our defensive capabilities at this level - something we simply can't afford. Stephens especially was imperious at the back, and baz's possession and distribution play were second to none. Fraser as well was a machine on the wing contributing with key goals. Really hoping this season obscures just how good they were and Leicester fail to take them off our hands 😖😬.

👀

[LiberalCommunist]

I feel a little bad saying this, but I'm as excited for RM signing for Leicester as I am about WS starting here. Both will have massive ramifications on the top six next term. 

[RedArmy]

8 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I just can't see Martin being as completely regimented to his 'system' this time round (if he does, he is a nutter).

 

It will be interesting to see how he reacts to the backlash as Leicester fans will have much less patience than ours did. He got an easy ride in the championship, despite a couple of horror months and some big defeats. 
 

Will he continue to be brave in the face of vocal displeasure, or will he swallow his pride and adjust his ways? 
 

[you muppets]

good riddance to the prat

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

43 minutes ago, you muppets said:

good riddance to the prat

Great first post.

 

 

 

 

 

Reckon we'll get a few skates signing up on here this season

[Weston Super Saint]

3 hours ago, you muppets said:

good riddance to the prat

Hi Will.  Welcome aboard  

[trousers]

3 hours ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

Reckon we'll get a few skates signing up on here this season

I've dusted off the bunting ready for the triumphal return of Corp Ho... A rose amongst the thorns.... #ifyouknowyouknow

Edited 15 hours ago by trousers

[Gloucester Saint]

3 hours ago, trousers said:

I've dusted off the bunting ready for the triumphal return of Corp Ho... A rose amongst the thorns.... #ifyouknowyouknow

I bet you’re looking forward to toying with him (he was the toy salesman, wasnt he?)

[Mystic Force]

Surely the best part of this is if he gets a new job we don't have to keep paying him.