I like him, but pinning our hopes on what is very clearly a bang average championship midfielder is mental
I like Smallbone too. But he didn’t look a PL player in his appearances for us so far and we certainly haven’t missed him. He’s way down the list of midfielders for us now.
Yeah Smallbone is not bringing a feeling of “get him back in the team ASAP”. I know it’s common in football to think how can a manager and fans see things so differently, but I don’t think I’ve ever felt it as strong as with Russ. The stuff that he says about performances and some players, I just don’t know where it comes from. I don’t know one Saints fan who has thought the last few weeks “**** me we need Will back in the team, we just don’t look the same”. He’s a central mid in the Premier League with zero physicality and tempo, no Russ we don’t need him back in.
RM subbing him on against Leicester remains one of the most baffling substitutions I can remember. For one it was tactically awful, then it was clear he wasn’t match fit and he got injured again in record time. There were clearly better options on the bench. RM later clarified he brought him on for his defensive qualities.
Gaslighting post match interview loading. Including: 1. Cocky comment about job security. 2. ‘Brave’ 3. ‘Proud’ 4. Delusional take on the game at complete odds with reality. (Like claiming you went toe to toe in a game you lost 5-1). 5. Snarky comment when pressed in anyway that a loss might be a suboptimal outcome.
I can hear the “there’s a lot of positives to take from that” and “we fought to the end and I’m very proud of how brave the boys were” already. 0 shots on target again.
“Don’t worry about shots on goal and scoring, what’s important is that I get praise when I am out jogging “ “ Yeah baby that’s where it’s at “
Don’t really understand how he’s avoiding significant levels of discontent now. Not only are we ****ing **** and boring to watch. He keeps having a pop at the fan base.
