Seems like Blackmore is saying that the risk of changing manager and getting it wrong is a big reason behind not changing manager yet. He is saying that the players are still happy despite how things are going atm and until that changes the risk is too high. How long the players stay happy losing every week, especially if/when the crowd turns remains to be seen but if/when that happens the risk of changing manager would drop considerably you’d think. The point about players values dropping is an interesting one as well. As others have said most teams play this way now so maybe there would still be interest in our players who clubs think would fit in better at their sides than ours. Much like how we identified Martin as doing well with our squad last year rather than his mediocre record previously suggested
It's always said that our players aren't good/talented enough to play the way Man City do, which in my opinion is true, but even they and every top team play long ball once in a while. RM wants us to become 100% possession based, even though the way our defense go about it, like they are passing a hand grenade around at the back! He needs to adapt his wants, and play to our strengths.
Coventry look likely to appoint Lampard, but seems they've also considered Van Nistelrooy and Carsley - so I'm not having the "there's nobody else that would take it" excuse any more.
If they considered those two and went for Lampard then either: 1 they are complete idiots 2 RVN and Carsley are actually **** 3 RVN and Carsley didn’t want the Cov job and as they are flavours of the month the Cov board have leaked they “considered” them
I just won a quintuple in FM24 - Charity Shield, Carabao Cup, Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League. That's with Ronnie Edwards, Sugawara, Sam Amo and Dibling still in the squad. #LTLin
Russell Martin. Has Lucy Pinder Has tenure Has a smart beard Has cash money Out of depth professionally timatokethup. None of the above Where have I gone wrong?
https://amp.theguardian.com/football/blog/2024/nov/23/southampton-are-doomed-but-its-clear-why-russell-martin-will-not-change A case that Martin is right to stick to his philosophy and the squad isn’t good enough. Whilst I agree that the 2012 team was better, there is a certain amount of hindsight with the review of the team compared to the current one.
Bollocks really. Luke shaw Clyne and lambert didn’t play for England until we got into the PL and started playing well. Im not saying we have a bunch of internationals but if we weren’t playing this awful football a few players might get some time in the sun. Ramsdale THB Bednarek Sugawara Downes Lallana are good players. Dibling has so much potential, Archer might get some goals given the chance. We might not stay up but you don’t look at this squad and think ‘doomed’.
I don't think the squad is necessarily good enough to stay up but it's good enough to be more competitive than we have been.
I think it's a good article. The only part I'd take issue with is this paragraph: "Why should players assembled to play in a particular way be able to adjust to playing another? While it possibly is true that a simpler, more risk-averse style might benefit a team low on confidence, it’s very unlikely to help a struggling side if they stop playing to their strengths." Firstly they're not players assembled to play in a particular way. Secondly we're not playing to their strengths.
Its not so much the quality players. We have a few who are very good but the Prem requires a few outstanding players and a bunch of very good ones. I'm not going to name names but we don't have anyone to replace injured defenders or midfielders who is of equal quality and our forward line options are barely championship good. Martin has his work cut out for sure which is why I'm not invested in the season so much.
I think any team assembled by a manager like martin is intended for a certain way of playing mate. I think that's the point being made, not that they arent able to adapt or change. The naivete from Martin is not in his approach but in the belief that he can change outcomes without changing much. That somehow we will all - players and fans - keep believing that this is the right way to play and results will turn around because it is right. What's more likely ad probably necessary is that he shifts our approach significantly in someway and either is clever or lucky enough and gets a results or three. Thats where the belief can come from.
The thing is I don't think many people are suggesting abandoning possession football entirely. Just that this extreme version of it will never work for a squad which is among the poorest in the league. Two minor adjustments of less fannying around at the back and trying to get the ball forward quicker could potentially make a huge difference. The biggest thing for me still is that we take loads of risks in our third but hardly any in the opposition's
Which ever way it's looked at 4 points at this stage of the season is pathetic. The fact that we play predictable boring football compounds it.
