Reading about him, he sounds like exactly the type of player we need and should have been a high target whether or not Russell Martin joined. Central/Defensive Midfielder. Late 20’s Captain. Many seasons of Championship experience. I hate to be ‘that club’ but if Grimes and Piroe accompany Martin, that would be an excellent start to building our Championship side. Swansea will be decently compensated if that’s the case at least. Note: Can’t find a link for the Grimes rumour though?
No idea what type of football Southampton want to play, but I’m hoping it involves us scoring goals. I’ve missed that.
I hadn't realised that he got Swansea just 1 win away from the play offs this year, with a better squad and budget there is hope. Despite not knowing who else gets relegated I see we are 10/1 to be champions
Appointing Martin as manager, seriously, what a ****ing disaster, just when l thought it could not get worse. However, being a Saints fan for more than 50 years l should not be surprised, l should know better.
Who would you go for? I think he will be good for us, he did well for Swansea and seems to have a philosophy we can all get behind.
Why do you see that as a disaster? I mean, it might end up being so, but I don't think there's any indication as yet that it would be?
I wrote something like this about that random Argentinian fella somehow getting himself a Premier League job with us in January 2013.
Faith in the club is at one of its lowest ebbs and apart from spending money, SR have done nothing yet to suggest they know what they’re doing, so I understand the negativity towards the appointment.
Feels a little dramatic? Will admit I’d been hoping for more, but there’s no suggestion in his career so far that he is a bad manager. Maybe not outstanding, but certainly no red flags like Jones. Remember we are appointing a manager for the Championship and he just got Swansea to 10th on a shoestring.
And the Championship isn't really a league where one relies on grizzled vets to get promoted. The Promoted Manager Starter Kit in recent years is a 40-something in a fashionable coat, beard optional but highly recommended.
If this is a done deal, as always, literally no point in moaning or expecting the worst. The biggest test for me will be who they can get rid of from our squad of specialist football losers and what sort of team and culture we can create in virtually no time at all. I'm fully onboard with getting rid of everyone and anyone and if we keep 8 players from the current squad, it would be 2 too many for me. They all walk in the gate 0-2 down and we need to bring in players without that baggage as quickly as possible. Players who really care about the club and actually have some pride on the pitch are desperately needed. Alcaraz, Lavia, Bednarek, Lyanco, KWP, Mara, Tino, Caleta Car, Perraud, Doyle and Ballard are the only ones I would want to stay and every chance 7 of them will head off to greener pastures. I'd like to see the back of Walcott, JWP (ka-ching!), Orsic, Adams, ArmstongA and ArmstrongS, Arbio (I mean, FFS!) AMN (!), Salisu, Elyonoussi, Djenepo & Diallo. The best of them will bring in some quids but I fully expect to see the absolute worst of them here until their contracts expire. If there's a clause in their contracts that allows us to use them as kitchen hands I'd be exercising it so they can actually be of use.
No offence but if Xisco Munoz can turn up mid-season, unable to speak the language properly and still finish on 91 points with an automatic promotion... *plenty of other examples are available
And without a beard, no less. Strong coat game, though. The gloves alone probably added 5 points over the course of half a season.
