I partly agree with this. I think that they had Martin in mind as a replacement once they realised that they needed to bin Jones but I suspect there were contractual issues that prevented the move being made back in March. It increasingly looks like Selles was never seen as anything other than a stop gap. I have to admit that the appointment does worry me and cannot understand why some people in here think that SR will all of a sudden get the managerial appointment correct. What I disagree with it that we would could have waited to see how the situation played out with managers like David Moyes who is alleged to be fired at the end of the current season. I wonder if we had been more patient, then we could have appointed someone more qualified to manage a club like Southampton. It does feel like we have been hasty and tracked another manager through the use of data as oppose to thinking about embarking on a project with a manager with a reputation who players will want to play for. There were some good points made by the people texting in to Radio Solent after the match and I would also have to say that I think there have been some good assessments made in this thread. Personally, I don't think that this is an inspiring appointment and it looks like another left-field selection from SR. If the first few results go wrong in August, I don't think that Russell Martin will get cut any slack by the supporters simply because, regardless of ability, most of us do not trust SR and we have lost confidence in them to make good decisions. I am not sure he is going to get a fair of the whip simply because he will be perceived to be an "SR man." Rasmus has become a bogey man for Saints supporters this season and I just feel there will be a guilt by association kind of thing if Martin does not hot the ground running. I have to be honest that I think mid-table next season will be a good result for us in the Championship and it will take a good few seasons before we can have a serious promotion bid. The re-building of the playing squad will be massive and I feel Ankersen will get it wrong again. Saints fans seem unlikely to get behind any new project whilst Ankersen is in control unless Russell Martin turns out to be some sort of revelatory appointment. My prediction is that Russell Martin will prove to be pretty average. I hope to be proved wrong but my gut feeling is that he is not the man to rebuild this club and get us promoted. I can see him getting two seasons and can also see SR losing interest. In my opinion, I think that the current regime will not be capable to sorting out the havoc that they have created.
More so that they have acted so quickly (again), which shows they are convinced in their judgement (not necessarily a good thing based on what we’ve seen so far). If I were in charge I think I’d wait til first week of June and see the lay of the land. There will likely be some managers leaving their posts between now and then and possibly one we may want to target. I expect that Martin has been on their radar for awhile so I’m sure they have done whatever background checks they want on him, but Jones was allegedly top of the list for a year and look and how that panned out
If we don’t go up in the first couple of seasons (eg before the parachute payments end) then it will take a minor miracle to go up at all. There is even less “building something” in the Championship than in the PL. The financial gap between the relegated sides and the rest is just too large to build anything if you are on the “skint” side (every club without parachute payments).
They’ve been searching for a new manager pretty much for three months, so I still don’t understand how you can accuse them of acting quickly. We also can’t wait until the first week of June, because the turnaround between seasons is so short.
Well we could as it’s likely that whoever comes down with us will be doing that as well. If the rumours of Moyes leaving West Ham are true and, say, a relegated Leeds appoint him, it will be interesting to see the reaction of our fanbase
Tell it to Coventry and Luton. Plus Millwall and a couple of others. You're very right on the point of the financial gulf though. We really need to capitalise before 2025/26, if we're honest.
This is quite interesting. https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/footb...sea-city-game-the-majority-ownership-have-won
Yeah I did think that there are exceptions, but the correlation between the teams with parachute payments being at the top of the league/going up and others feels very strong
...as are the possible first three new signings... Piroe, yes please. https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/swanseacity/news/60256/what-price-those-swansea-city-gems-
It is an interesting proposition recruiting a manager from a rival championship side pre-transfer window. It make absolute sense that he would want to bring a core of talent with him and it sounds like that's a possibility with the swans. Players wanting out and us in a position to pay whats needed. Also having a shortlist of players he's been wanting at Swansea is another bonus as we have a lot of rebuilding to do. With our talented youth that we already have, its a good starting position for any new manager. The more chemistry we can start with the more chance there is that he will be a success and we have very little chemistry here at the moment.
The pick-up of Manning on a free just seems to make way, way too much sense. It’s so obvious with reports of Perraud having the chance and the interest to leave. I’d suspect that unless a PL club or one of the fellow relegated clubs chucks money at him, we’ve got a very good shot of that happening. Latibeaudiere is another to watch, as a free agent who fits our age profile and has worked with both Wilcox and Martin.
The obvious risk is that the quality players get offers from the EPL. Matt Grimes is an outlier with the most completed passes in the top 4 divisions last season. He is also an outlier with the number of progressive passes. He's got the chops and will no doubt be on the radar of some bigger clubs but of course, he doesn't have the glamor element. Piroe is in a similar position, Leicester are rumored to be interested but they will likely be with us next season. We of course can only offer EFL football and wages so are at a disadvantage but having martin will make us possibly the best option in the EFL.
Manning is so glaringly obvious as Perrauds replacement. Good Age of 26, One of the best LBs in the championship last season too. One of the highest players for assists. Think he finished 6 or 7th in the league. He's also a free agent too. Win win
Worth a watch. Posted in April, so the comments beneath are a bit more reflective of the mood towards him than now, where there seems to be a bit of 'never even liked him that much anyway' creeping in from some sections of the Swansea fanbase.
And a link back to a run in of RM's with a former Saint: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport...ws/swansea-city-boss-russell-martins-25823549
Maybe, I just think that we need a manager in and working pretty much as the season ends. By acting quickly we’ve got that, and I think we’ll be better placed by Martin getting to work now than we would if we’d have waited until June. Also, I’m way beyond caring what the majority of our fans think. Most of us know nothing. The main thing that matters is results, and if we appointed the popular choice, whoever that is, they’d soon become unpopular if results didn’t follow. Poch and Koeman weren’t popular choices, but they turned out alright.
I think it is pretty good getting in Russell quickly now, He can sit down early with Jason Wilcox and the HoR Darren Mowbray too. They can iron out their transfer stratergy and hopefully all get on board with how they want the squad too look like. Personally i hope it is announced and sealed as early as tomorrow, Ruben is told thank you, but you are going on gardening leave and Russell can work with the players for a few days.. Just to see what he has around him. perhaps can sit down with the squad outline his vision and the way of playing and perhaps get some players on board early. and ones that dont want to be here will quickly be moved on.
