Time's needed for Saints to march in
The Football League Paper|September 24, 2023
RUSSELL Martin's promising start to life as manager of Southampton has swiftly subsided into something approaching crisis following a sequence of embarrassing defeats. 
Chris Dunlavy
Time's needed for Saints to march in

Cricket scores are nothing new to beleaguered Saints fans. Their long, slow death in the Premier League was accompanied by 9-0 butcherings at the hands of Manchester United and Leicester.

Theoretically, the Championship offered the opportunity for Southampton to once again play the big fish but they have so far been devoured like plankton, Sunderland administering a 5-0 humiliation at the Stadium of Light before the Foxes rattled in another four at their second home on the south coast.

Much more of this and Martin's position will inevitably fall under scrutiny, but some context is required before anyone at St Mary's starts fingering the panic button.

Towards the end of last season I drew some admittedly obvious parallels between the playing styles of Martin's Swansea side and the Burnley team of Vincent Kompany, which won the title by a ten-point margin and suffered only three defeats in the entire campaign.

It was evident in the data. It was visible to the naked eye. And the natural conclusion to draw was that Martin, furnished with a squad of Burnley's quality, should be able to match the Belgian's results.

Southampton clearly went through a similar thought process, paying £1.25m to prise the 37-year-old from Swansea following relegation.

Denne historien er fra September 24, 2023-utgaven av The Football League Paper.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra September 24, 2023-utgaven av The Football League Paper.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PAPERSe alt
SCHUEY TIPPED FOR PILGRIMS RETURN
The Football League Paper

SCHUEY TIPPED FOR PILGRIMS RETURN

STEVEN Schumacher is the odds-on favourite to take over at Plymouth Argyle following the departure of Wayne Rooney.

time-read
1 min  |
January 05, 2025
MAT'S SUPER SADDLERS GO MARCHING ON
The Football League Paper

MAT'S SUPER SADDLERS GO MARCHING ON

DELIGHTED Walsall boss Mat Sadler praised his troops for an 'incredible victory' after the runaway leaders came from behind to stun Notts County.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
CAM'S GOAL LEAVES MIKE FEELING BLUE
The Football League Paper

CAM'S GOAL LEAVES MIKE FEELING BLUE

CARLISLE manager Mike Williamson said he could understand the frustration of the traveling fans after his side were booed off following a narrow defeat to Tranmere at Prenton Park.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
MOORE WANTS SOME MORE
The Football League Paper

MOORE WANTS SOME MORE

DARREN Moore hopes the win at promotion rivals Doncaster Rovers will prove to be a turning point for his Port Vale side.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
SHRIMPS BID TO STIR THINGS UP
The Football League Paper

SHRIMPS BID TO STIR THINGS UP

DEREK Adams wants his Morecambe side to build on a 'really big result' against Tranmere on New Year's Day when they visit Newport this afternoon.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
'Don't blame this all on Freddie'
The Football League Paper

'Don't blame this all on Freddie'

PAUL Heckingbottom leaped to the defence of Freddie Woodman after the Preston goalkeeper's mistake so nearly resulted in defeat against Oxford.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
FORSON DOUBLE STUNS SKY BLUES
The Football League Paper

FORSON DOUBLE STUNS SKY BLUES

NORWICH head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup told goal hero Amankwah Forson to enjoy the moment after the substitute scored twice in injury-time to earn his side a scarcely believable win over Coventry City.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
MCNALLY FIRES IN AS ROBINS FLY HIGH
The Football League Paper

MCNALLY FIRES IN AS ROBINS FLY HIGH

LIAM Manning predicted a quiet transfer window in terms of signings after seeing his improving Bristol City side move up to eighth in the table - just three points off the playoff zone.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
Danny downcast at wasteful Owls
The Football League Paper

Danny downcast at wasteful Owls

FRUSTRATED Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl admitted he was \"more disappointed than happy\" after watching his side waste a succession of first-half chances before scraping a draw against Millwall.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025
ALLEN NO ORDINARY JOE, SAYS WILLIAMS
The Football League Paper

ALLEN NO ORDINARY JOE, SAYS WILLIAMS

SWANSEA boss Luke Williams paid tribute to supersub Joe Allen after his injury-time goal claimed a point against West Bromwich Albion.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 05, 2025