Martin Out

How many times does this need to be said, bringing Stephens into the side was not the reason our form went our the window at the end of the 25 games. That was more due to missing Downes and Martin getting generally found out. How have we got on the past 2 games without Stephens "shoehorned" in? Some of our worst performances of the season.

Russell bought Jack in orignally (after the 25 run ended) to try and turn that bad run of form around and trying something different (we like to moan at him, after all, for not having a plan B), but again, it's a certain narrative saints fans have that they can't seem to see past in that Stephens playing is the problem.

 

I’ve been against Stephens starting ahead of THB and Bednarek, and I’m not sure he’s the right choice at full back either, but he’s a decent championship player. DM is the key position for me and it’s been wrong a lot this season.

Martin clearly doesn’t rate Charles, and anyone can see Smallbone isn’t a DM, so why did he bring in Rothwell in January instead of a backup DM? No Downes basically equates to no win, and that’s not good enough.

 

After sleeping on last night, I must admit even as a normal positive person, I cannot be positive about us anymore.

I like Russel Martin as a person (from what we see) and can see he cares. However, looking at it, as much as we loved Nigel, we deep down knew that he had done all he could with us. Same with Russell. He has given us a lot to be happy about again, but as much as I am enjoying the Championship, we do need to get out of it this year or next. I just can't see it happening with him in charge.

To be fair he looked a broken man last night and I can't see him lifting the team for the playoffs. Heck, can't see the fanbase being lifted easily either.

 

I said it didn't help, not that he was solely to blame. I think he could of been part of that settled back four. Unfortunately he got injured. Downes...absolutely. A problem that hasn't been solved he's that good. Think perhaps you are right about Russ being found out though.

 

I feel very similar mate. I like him as a bloke, but this team could/should of got to the autos. I wonder what the board will decide.

 

All I know is that when we got promoted last time, I was full of enthusiasm and optimism, and thought we'd have a good crack at staying up and doing well.
This time, I think we're actually a much worse team than we were even before we got relegated (especially if we didn't keep Downes), and if we somehow won the playoffs, we'd be in for a hideous season and would go straight back down.

On yesterday's performance, I'd say we won't be too competitive in the Championship once the relegated clubs drop down

That's with or without Martin IMHO. I like the guy, but I don't think he's good enough for what we need to achieve

 

I would beg to differ with the majority of views in that I've been a Martin out guy since the first few games.
I completely fail to see the benefit of his slow build up from the back approach, followed by a pass to a player facing our goal is beyond my comprehension, especially when there is real pace and creativity in the team.
His inability to change tactics with the bench / squad at his disposal shows weak management, not helped by playing players out of position.
The squad is as good as any in the Champoinship and when a player like Alcaraz can't fit in to RM's style of play it clearly makes us very limited and predictable.
Not looking forward to next season, regadless of wheather it's Premier league or the Championship.
.

 

This is why when we got relegated and some of our fans said " maybe it's for the best, a time to reset and start afresh" , I thought it was wishful thinking. It might have been possible to return immediately if we had been half decent but were easily the worst of the 3 relegated teams. Relegation is rarely "for the best".
When you are an established PL team (which I believe we were) everything in the club is geared up for that division. Facilities, management, back room staff and general approach to football philosophy and what needs to be done to win. Even though we were pretty dire in our relegation season, I honestly think that if a few relatively small decisions had been different we had the resources to survive. Now though, everything has taken a hit and gone out of the window. Whatever team we assemble if we get promotion in the future we will have to re-establish ourselves and it won't be easily done.
When you consider the players we had the time we got promoted before many went on to play comfortably in the PL either with us or in other teams. Yet initially they struggled until Poch came along. Currently, we are nowhere near that team in terms of quality.

 

Ipswich have shown that a League 1 club can be competitive (as we were when we got back to back promotions), so we absolutely have a chance of automatic promotion next season.

Of course it’s a different situation and we started this season off the back of relegation with no momentum, but we absolutely should be fighting for the title next season providing we make the right decisions in the summer.

Part of me thinks Martin needs another season to continue the project, and part of me says he’s too stubborn to be successful.

 

Yeah we are in real trouble now.

Last night was as bad as it gets. We are nowhere near premier league level.

If we lose most of our key players again, we don’t have the scouting team we used to.

Can you imagine this lot finding a hidden gem like Steven Davis? No chance.

I hope Dragan has deep pockets because he’s gonna need them.

 

Going up or staying down we are going to need a big window to be competitive in whatever division we are in

 

Based on every transfer window under SR we can safely say next seasons team is not looking good. More Man City teenagers who haven't learned how to overcome adversity in games, who have never played a full season and who will have every ounce of skill and individuality kicked out of them by Martin. Mega

 

Or a Mane. A Tadic. A Pele. A Van Djik.

Our recruitment was excellent then. It’s just so, so poor now. Sulemana is our record signing and he’s done nothing against championship defenders.

 

Our record signings never work out these days... Gaston, Boufal, Carrillo & Sulemana. Let's just stick to being cheap!

 

You could argue that Sulemana is the biggest disappointment as he dropped down a league and still hasn’t performed.

 

I thought Sulemana would rip it up in this league, sadly he has been disappointing.

 

Sulemana hasn't been given a proper chance.

 

Sulemana isn't going to thrive playing for a manager who is obsessed with keeping the ball. Hence why he keeps turning back and playing the safe pass. He needs the freedom to take on opponents and not be scared to lose the ball if it doesn't work out.

 

He will leave at the end of this season no matter what division we are in. I would love to have seen him given a chance as the main striker but that will never happen under Martin.