Russell Martin - Confirmed as First Team Manager

[ClaphamFox]

1 hour ago, st albans fox said:

Problem was that they came back end June but didn’t bother to get fit 

I’m like a broken record on this but the date they come back is irrelevant if the mindset of the players remains the same. And martin strikes me as the type who will double down on the approach that we can play our way out of this division rather than being fit enough to cope with the challenges. 

I don't think playing possession football and maintaining a high level of fitness are mutually exclusive. Lots of teams play their way out of League One—it's a common way of getting out of the division. But I suspect those that do this are also fit enough to cope with the challenges.

 

I had no idea about Martin's record in this area so I asked ChatGPT. It reckons that Martin's teams are typically very fit because his preferred system "requires very fit players to counter-press, recover shape, and repeat high-intensity effort". Case in point: when Southampton went up through the play-offs in 23/24, they ranked highest in the division for shot-ending high turnovers—which suggests an aggressive press.

 

I remain deeply sceptical about this appointment for a number of reasons, but I can't find anything to suggest we should be particularly worried about the team's fitness next season.

[Pliskin]

2 hours ago, st albans fox said:

Problem was that they came back end June but didn’t bother to get fit 

I’m like a broken record on this but the date they come back is irrelevant if the mindset of the players remains the same. And martin strikes me as the type who will double down on the approach that we can play our way out of this division rather than being fit enough to cope with the challenges. 

I agree. It will be football first fitness later. 

[LCFCCKEANO]

All of the evidence suggests he has a very fit team, and none of the criticism I’ve seen has stemmed from his sides being unfit or not pressing, it’s the in the ball stuff. There is enough wrong with him without making stuff up, just because things aren’t good doesn’t mean the sky is falling and every single aspect of Martin is horrible and shit. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s gone by winter but would also not be surprised if we got promoted and did alright season after, think the Prem is where he reaches his limit which is a way away at any rate- I don’t think he’s underachieved in the EFL before. Don’t like the appointment but I am not just going to write him entirely off before he’s even met his squad

[AjcW]

38 minutes ago, LCFCCKEANO said:

All of the evidence suggests he has a very fit team, and none of the criticism I’ve seen has stemmed from his sides being unfit or not pressing, it’s the in the ball stuff. There is enough wrong with him without making stuff up, just because things aren’t good doesn’t mean the sky is falling and every single aspect of Martin is horrible and shit. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s gone by winter but would also not be surprised if we got promoted and did alright season after, think the Prem is where he reaches his limit which is a way away at any rate- I don’t think he’s underachieved in the EFL before. Don’t like the appointment but I am not just going to write him entirely off before he’s even met his squad

If he did back to back with us he'd convince some silly prem side to take him off our hands so win win really  

 

Inclined to agree on fitness, whilst we haven't see any new additions staff wise I really hope McCarron is working overtime in the background on that. One of the biggest positives I pulled out when we hired him is that he's literally been head of performance and conditioning in the past and his background is in performance.

[RedSoxUK]

Where's the assistant manager and coaches????

[FLAN]

8 minutes ago, RedSoxUK said:

Where's the assistant manager and coaches????

Thankfully the board has seen sense and maintained the outstanding group we already have 

[Libertine]

 

[filbertway]

3 minutes ago, Libertine said:

 

Gotta imagine the time at Rangers finally gave him the Martic ick.

[MonarchFox]

18 minutes ago, Libertine said:

 

Better job security at WBA isn't there.  We make becoming the Prime Minister look like stable employment

[Muzzy_no7]

3 hours ago, RedSoxUK said:

Where's the assistant manager and coaches????

Look at previous years…it takes us bloody ages to sort staff out.

[JimJams]

To be fair the club are playing a blinder there.  They're not looking to appoint a backroom staff until around November when they will have a better idea of who Russell's successor wants.

[FoxTimmy2]

This is a really bad appointment. It might work out for him because basically with our resources in league one it'll be equal to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

 

Those who think this is a good appointment did not watch Saints or Rangers when they were managed by RM.

 

Saints broke the premier league record for most errors leading to a goal 1/3rd into the season - it was same shit when he managed Rangers. Very, very bad football, even worse press conferences.

Edited 23 June by FoxTimmy2
typo

[JimJams]

5 minutes ago, FoxTimmy2 said:

This is a really bad appointment. It might work out for him because basically with our resources in league one it'll be equal to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

Under Tuchel?

[BillyFOX12]

I still remember when Pep made this statement after beating Southampton 1-0

 

This is what followed after that game:

 

[Chelmofox]

4 hours ago, Libertine said:

 

Even his best mate thinks he's a ***t and wants nothing to do with him.

[The Doctor]

1 hour ago, BillyFOX12 said:

I still remember when Pep made this statement after beating Southampton 1-0

 

This is what followed after that game:

 

fair, that's an incredibly quick study for Martin's ways 

[Tielemans63]

Russell is going to have to look for another assistant manager who's specialism is 'Big Energy'

[Brenfox]

Rudders & top trying to maintain the trajectory of fan engagement. They are movingn for Dennis Wise as assistant & Caden Voice the first signing.

[whoareyaaa]

He does seem to talk a lot of waffle

[wardyfox86]

On 23/06/2026 at 19:16, Chelmofox said:

Even his best mate thinks we're ***t and wants nothing to do with us. 

Fixed 

[Old Fox]

4 hours ago, whoareyaaa said:

He does seem to talk a lot of waffle

It’s not waffle but 💩

[foxile5]

6 hours ago, Tielemans63 said:

Russell is going to have to look for another assistant manager who's specialism is 'Big Energy'

Wasn't there a song about big energy? Maybe we could get them on board? 

[foxile5]

2 minutes ago, foxile5 said:

Wasn't there a song about big energy? Maybe we could get them on board? 

 

[VintageFox73]

For all we know Martin could be our new " Big Nige " I remember when Pearson was 1st appointed and that didn't go down great as i recall, hadn't done much managerial / assistant wise and look how good he was for us....Some managers / Players just fit certain clubs like a glove , but go elsewhere and fail miserably . 

 

Gotta back guy to see what he can do, could be the start of something special as it was back then 

[Gamble92]

On 23/06/2026 at 19:10, BillyFOX12 said:

I still remember when Pep made this statement after beating Southampton 1-0

 

This is what followed after that game:

 

Worst thing to get praise from Pep. Means he has you where he wants you. 

 

He isn't so complimentary when he gets spanked 5-2 at home 👀