Saints Fan In Peace

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/mccarthy-reportedly-set-join-former-120100263.html Slightly odd one, as Martin dropped him down to third choice with us because he can't play out. Experienced cover maybe? But overall, a very decent signing on a free if true. Macca's not perfect, but he's ten times better than Bazunu.

Yeah he did. He got injured just before the play-offs and a lot of people still say that’s why we got promoted. Not just because the keeper who came in (McCarthy) was a far better shot stopper (which he was, despite having been third choice all season), but also because McCarthy was actually a lot *worse* with his feet than Bazunu, which meant we had no choice but to ditch the suicidal tippy tappy crap in our own box which had cost us so many soft goals all season, and instead just started clearing the lines and going more direct, something which Martin had previously refused ever to do. After it was forced on him we became much more defensively secure, ended up grinding out a 1-0 victory in the play off final, and got promoted.

It was mind-boggling, tbh. Bazunu was given yet another chance last year under another manager, and it just proved again that he's not even good enough for a top half Championship side. Martin obviously liked him because he's useful with his feet and he needs that in his system because so much of the build-up play starts between the keeper and the centre backs, but that becomes something of an irrelevance if you never save any shots. Bazunu converted from an outfield player to become a keeper quite late in his professional development, and it shows. He just doesn't move or hold himself like a proper goalkeeper does. Consistently out of position, very slow reactions and can't judge the flight of a ball to save his life. Fortunately, since we signed Peretz (who is exceptional for Championship level), it looks like his time with us is finally coming to an end. Given how many former Saints players seem to end up with you, and how much Martin seemed to like him, there was a lot of initial speculation that Martin might come in for him, but I wouldn't wish that on you. Derby were sniffing around a week or so ago so hopefully they take him, maybe in a two for the price of one deal with Brereton Diaz because he's shocking as well. Danny Ings might be interesting though if that one comes off. He was absolute quality for us, just great movement and a deadly finisher. Obviously he's older now and the question will be what shape he's in physically, but if you can keep him fit, and he's still got the motivation, then even if it's just coming off the bench for the last 25 mins he could be a very astute signing if you get runners around him. He's a great pro as well.

It will be very interesting to see if gets your boys fit. Because with us, we had all the YouTube nonsense for the cameras and endless guff from him about how they were (quote) ‘training like beasts’, but when the actual matches started it was clear we had the most unfit side most of us could remember. Everyone gassed after 70 mins. Because he was so keen to be popular and seen as one of the lads he was regularly giving them days off training, even when we were getting smashed every week in the Prem, and it was clear as day we were in poor shape physically as well as tactically. Also look at the photos of the state he allowed Joe Rothwell to be in at Rangers. Two stone overweight and he still started him because he signed him and they’re mates. But hopefully he’s finally started to learn and adapt.

Hi all. I come in peace. Just dipped in to see where you all were on the Russell Martin continuum. Have you reached the point yet where he starts doing interviews and people start saying 'actually, he talks really well, maybe I was wrong about him, this could be quite good'? It's the step that usually comes just after 'widespread outrage at the appointment' and just before 'concerning pre-season results caused by gifting the ball in dangerous areas get waved away as 'a natural part of the learning process'. Joking aside though, it will be very interesting to see how he gets on. If he's learned just a tiny bit of humility and willingness to adapt when the circumstances require it, then he might surprise you and you could actually have a very good season to look forward to. If however he's still as exasperatingly stubborn as he's been everywhere else, then you probably know what to expect. Either way, I wish you luck. He gets a lot of stick but there are also some Saints fans who rate him for the promotion season. I'm not personally one of them, but they do exist.