Russell Martin - He Says.

[coolhandfox]

2 hours ago, Ric Flair said:

Going all pre-season with Joseph/Aluko, Page, Braybrooke, Alves and Otchere and dropping a lot of them for Hamza, Skipp, Reid and Chaplin will be irksome. Hopefully he won't and any senior player has to earn their spot via the bench. 

I think its unlikely Otchere plays much as we seem hot for a CF or two.

 

I think Alves, Braybrooke, Aluko, and Joseph get lot of minutes.

 

I think Skipp and Hamza share DCM.

[1972 Fox]

8 hours ago, coolhandfox said:

Without knowing the context of the the conversation how do you know? 

I don’t, but come on honesty and accountability are not words that I would associate with our hierarchy.

[coolhandfox]

Just now, 1972 Fox said:

I don’t, but come on honesty and accountability are not words that I would associate with our hierarchy.

Maybe hiting rock bottom has force them to be that way with the new manager? 

[Freeman's Wharfer]

“There was real honesty and accountability” about the the mistakes that had been made and lessons learned.

 

I hope the interviewer asked WHAT they were. Because, if not, it’s just fluff and blunder.

 

After back to back relegations, there should be no issues with the club making public what lessons have been learned and where they acknowledge they got it wrong.

[Tommy Fresh]

33 minutes ago, Freeman's Wharfer said:

“There was real honesty and accountability” about the the mistakes that had been made and lessons learned.

 

I hope the interviewer asked WHAT they were. Because, if not, it’s just fluff and blunder.

 

After back to back relegations, there should be no issues with the club making public what lessons have been learned and where they acknowledge they got it wrong.

Wouldn't be for Martin to say anyway would it

[Collymore]

3 hours ago, Freeman's Wharfer said:

“There was real honesty and accountability” about the the mistakes that had been made and lessons learned.

 

I hope the interviewer asked WHAT they were. Because, if not, it’s just fluff and blunder.

 

After back to back relegations, there should be no issues with the club making public what lessons have been learned and where they acknowledge they got it wrong.

Annoying they do an interview that's written down in the neverending ad ridden click bait form. 

[davieG]

Russell Martin explains the Leicester City game model with Enzo Maresca admission | Leicestershire Live

 

Russell Martin explains the Leicester City game model with Enzo Maresca admission
Russell Martin's long answer on his coaching career so far, what he's learnt and the implementation at Leicester City

Russell Martin can be himself at Leicester City after tough spells with Rangers and Southampton(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

Josh Holland Leicester City correspondent
07:00, 01 Aug 2026
Leicester City manager Russell Martin has provided an insight into his footballing game model and how he has moulded it throughout his six years in coaching.

Martin's style of play has come under scrutiny in recent years and was a concern for many when he took over at the King Power Stadium in June. After being sacked by Southampton with the Saints in the Premier League and then lasting just 17 games at Rangers, the 40-year-old's reputation appears to be somewhat disfigured.

However, during Leicester's warm weather training camp in southern Spain, Martin provided an insightful answer when asked about his football 'philosophy' that explains what he wants his team to do, but also how each of his jobs in the past have moulded his way of playing today.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, he said: "I think football philosophy is the wrong word. There's a game model that we will try and bring on to the pitch. Philosophy is more about who we are as people, how we want to treat people. I needed to be in a job where I feel like I could by myself.

 

"It was really difficult [in] my previous job to be that with a level of criticism received all the time. So here I feel like I'm able to do that. Perception and reality in football are often very, very far apart.

"Everything I got celebrated for as a coach in my first five years of being a coach at MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton, then we got Southampton to the Premier League, everything I got praised for, I got criticised for in the Premier League.

"When I was working really hard to build something that we enjoyed and was successful at MK, [it's] also how you define success. So at MK Dons, to be successful was to avoid relegation in the first season, the Covid-19 season, we did that, [and] then to build assets with such a young team, which we did, and we sold a lot of talent.

"And then I left the club, I think in a better place than we found it. Pete [Winkelman, former MK Dons owner and chairman], was amazing, he supported us and he gave me the job. He was so brave and I'll be forever grateful to him.

"We left them a squad that I think was really excellent for the league. Matt O'Reilly, Troy Parrott, Scott Twine and Harry Darling, all of these guys, have so many good players. I've missed a few out there and I love them boys. They finished third the season we left and I watched that with so much pride at what we built and then we went to Swansea and they went to the play-off final and then the budget was heavily cut.

"Success was to try and build something that was synonymous with Swansea and their success and style of play and sell young talent, which I think we did. We finished 10th in the second season, just outside the play-offs on a really reduced budget. I was really proud of them and I loved watching that team and being part of it. I loved the players. At MK and Swansea, I felt like that was a mutual feeling between us and the staff and players. The fans were great at both clubs.

"Then we went to Southampton [who had suffered] relegation, so the remit was to get promoted quickly straight away if we could, but play some young players, make sure the transition from the squad [went OK], there was a lot of change and it was handled as well as possible.

"We got promoted and probably to my personal detriment, it would have been better if we waited another year like Leeds did because we weren't quite ready. We lost our director of football, Jason Wilcox, to Manchester United in March and we never replaced him, it was difficult. That's when all the stuff around style of play came in because people who have only watched the Premier league for years, pundits all they see is snippets of games like five minutes long in 100-minute games, including added time, [and see] a couple of mistakes earlier in the Premier League.

"And then it took off about naivety. It's really fascinating to me now because Spain have won the World Cup and Euros, the same people that criticise trying to dominate the ball and have possession are now saying that's the way England need to go.

"The thing is in football, if you speak to the players that we work with and the staff, they would say we're really adaptable, like tactically, try and be as flexible as we can, but without losing the essence of what we want to be, which is to try and dominate the ball.

"I'm not going here and say 'no, I don't want possession, it's not important,' because I think it is important, except we will try to be the aggressor in the game. And to be the aggressor, you have to have the football. We will try to be dominant with territory, with the football as high up the pitch as we can. Sometimes to do that, you have to build up close to your own goal.

"In the Premier League, it was frustrating to me because when the media are questioning it, I can't come out and reel off loads of data. In the Championship, we had Leicester, who were incredible under Enzo [Maresca]. This team under Enzo was amazing and one of the best I've seen in the Championship. But I can't come out and say all that because ultimately, all the people care about is winning.

"We didn't have the squad to [win games] but we still felt that the lads were really building something. We had the most final third territory, the most ball in the opposition half for a Premier League promoted team since the data began. So we were still proud of what we were doing because we could have just gone like, 'actually lads, it's not working after six or seven weeks so we'll just defend', which after I left Southampton, they went the complete opposite of me and I think the points per game thing was even worse.

"My job at that stage was, agreed, we'll probably get relegated, but we're going to have a go and try to build. So if we do get relegated, we have young players playing [like] Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes. players and assets that can help the club move forward.

"This is a really long answer but it's just to give you some background on, actually, if you speak to them players, we're really adaptable. Formation is not a problem. We're going to try and play a certain formation, but different games will require different ones. I'm not fixed on like a formation, but I am fixed on the concept of the game, which is to try and defend with the ball as high up the pitch as we possibly can and try and attack and play fast football.

"Sometimes you have to play two passes backwards and then boom, change the rhythm forward. But we will try to dominate the football because it's logical to me that if you dominate with the ball high up the pitch, you have less chance of the opposition scoring a goal.

"The mentality of the team then is to be aggressive, to be front foot and to dominate the ball. You have to press really high and press really aggressive - you can't have one without the other. It's not just 'we're going to play, it's nice and slow'. Actually, when teams try to dominate the ball like that, it's impossible. You can't. It will look messy very often.

"I chose a job [Rangers] where I couldn't implement that because you don't have much time and that's my fault. Now I'm here and I will bring something, but every team's been different. The concepts have been the same, the data has been the same with lots of touches in the box, lots of goals scored, which again, the narrative around the team, or our teams, is they don't create much or score much, they do and we will. I'm convinced of that.

"It's my job to give a team where the fans understand why they're playing a certain way and what's happening. With Saints in the Championship we did and then of course you lose games and it becomes difficult. I'm here now with an absolute belief that this team and club can be so brilliant and successful, but we have to do it in a way that is different to the others.

"Also, the level is different in League One so we have to find a way quickly to be ourselves, but have to win, the fans are excited about it and the players are excited. I do believe as an ex player, it feels like a long time ago now, I would have wanted to play this way.

"I think the feedback we've had from most players and I'm pretty sure it's [been] a problem at this club before, is that once you've seen the game in that way, it's really difficult to go to a different way. Which I think is why after Enzo, some of the players have struggled to adapt and find a different way. I can say that because I think it's true."

[lcfc sheff]

4 hours ago, davieG said:

Russell Martin explains the Leicester City game model with Enzo Maresca admission | Leicestershire Live

 

Russell Martin explains the Leicester City game model with Enzo Maresca admission
Russell Martin's long answer on his coaching career so far, what he's learnt and the implementation at Leicester City

Russell Martin can be himself at Leicester City after tough spells with Rangers and Southampton(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

Josh Holland Leicester City correspondent
07:00, 01 Aug 2026
Leicester City manager Russell Martin has provided an insight into his footballing game model and how he has moulded it throughout his six years in coaching.

Martin's style of play has come under scrutiny in recent years and was a concern for many when he took over at the King Power Stadium in June. After being sacked by Southampton with the Saints in the Premier League and then lasting just 17 games at Rangers, the 40-year-old's reputation appears to be somewhat disfigured.

However, during Leicester's warm weather training camp in southern Spain, Martin provided an insightful answer when asked about his football 'philosophy' that explains what he wants his team to do, but also how each of his jobs in the past have moulded his way of playing today.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, he said: "I think football philosophy is the wrong word. There's a game model that we will try and bring on to the pitch. Philosophy is more about who we are as people, how we want to treat people. I needed to be in a job where I feel like I could by myself.

 

"It was really difficult [in] my previous job to be that with a level of criticism received all the time. So here I feel like I'm able to do that. Perception and reality in football are often very, very far apart.

"Everything I got celebrated for as a coach in my first five years of being a coach at MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton, then we got Southampton to the Premier League, everything I got praised for, I got criticised for in the Premier League.

"When I was working really hard to build something that we enjoyed and was successful at MK, [it's] also how you define success. So at MK Dons, to be successful was to avoid relegation in the first season, the Covid-19 season, we did that, [and] then to build assets with such a young team, which we did, and we sold a lot of talent.

"And then I left the club, I think in a better place than we found it. Pete [Winkelman, former MK Dons owner and chairman], was amazing, he supported us and he gave me the job. He was so brave and I'll be forever grateful to him.

"We left them a squad that I think was really excellent for the league. Matt O'Reilly, Troy Parrott, Scott Twine and Harry Darling, all of these guys, have so many good players. I've missed a few out there and I love them boys. They finished third the season we left and I watched that with so much pride at what we built and then we went to Swansea and they went to the play-off final and then the budget was heavily cut.

"Success was to try and build something that was synonymous with Swansea and their success and style of play and sell young talent, which I think we did. We finished 10th in the second season, just outside the play-offs on a really reduced budget. I was really proud of them and I loved watching that team and being part of it. I loved the players. At MK and Swansea, I felt like that was a mutual feeling between us and the staff and players. The fans were great at both clubs.

"Then we went to Southampton [who had suffered] relegation, so the remit was to get promoted quickly straight away if we could, but play some young players, make sure the transition from the squad [went OK], there was a lot of change and it was handled as well as possible.

"We got promoted and probably to my personal detriment, it would have been better if we waited another year like Leeds did because we weren't quite ready. We lost our director of football, Jason Wilcox, to Manchester United in March and we never replaced him, it was difficult. That's when all the stuff around style of play came in because people who have only watched the Premier league for years, pundits all they see is snippets of games like five minutes long in 100-minute games, including added time, [and see] a couple of mistakes earlier in the Premier League.

"And then it took off about naivety. It's really fascinating to me now because Spain have won the World Cup and Euros, the same people that criticise trying to dominate the ball and have possession are now saying that's the way England need to go.

"The thing is in football, if you speak to the players that we work with and the staff, they would say we're really adaptable, like tactically, try and be as flexible as we can, but without losing the essence of what we want to be, which is to try and dominate the ball.

"I'm not going here and say 'no, I don't want possession, it's not important,' because I think it is important, except we will try to be the aggressor in the game. And to be the aggressor, you have to have the football. We will try to be dominant with territory, with the football as high up the pitch as we can. Sometimes to do that, you have to build up close to your own goal.

"In the Premier League, it was frustrating to me because when the media are questioning it, I can't come out and reel off loads of data. In the Championship, we had Leicester, who were incredible under Enzo [Maresca]. This team under Enzo was amazing and one of the best I've seen in the Championship. But I can't come out and say all that because ultimately, all the people care about is winning.

"We didn't have the squad to [win games] but we still felt that the lads were really building something. We had the most final third territory, the most ball in the opposition half for a Premier League promoted team since the data began. So we were still proud of what we were doing because we could have just gone like, 'actually lads, it's not working after six or seven weeks so we'll just defend', which after I left Southampton, they went the complete opposite of me and I think the points per game thing was even worse.

"My job at that stage was, agreed, we'll probably get relegated, but we're going to have a go and try to build. So if we do get relegated, we have young players playing [like] Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes. players and assets that can help the club move forward.

"This is a really long answer but it's just to give you some background on, actually, if you speak to them players, we're really adaptable. Formation is not a problem. We're going to try and play a certain formation, but different games will require different ones. I'm not fixed on like a formation, but I am fixed on the concept of the game, which is to try and defend with the ball as high up the pitch as we possibly can and try and attack and play fast football.

"Sometimes you have to play two passes backwards and then boom, change the rhythm forward. But we will try to dominate the football because it's logical to me that if you dominate with the ball high up the pitch, you have less chance of the opposition scoring a goal.

"The mentality of the team then is to be aggressive, to be front foot and to dominate the ball. You have to press really high and press really aggressive - you can't have one without the other. It's not just 'we're going to play, it's nice and slow'. Actually, when teams try to dominate the ball like that, it's impossible. You can't. It will look messy very often.

"I chose a job [Rangers] where I couldn't implement that because you don't have much time and that's my fault. Now I'm here and I will bring something, but every team's been different. The concepts have been the same, the data has been the same with lots of touches in the box, lots of goals scored, which again, the narrative around the team, or our teams, is they don't create much or score much, they do and we will. I'm convinced of that.

"It's my job to give a team where the fans understand why they're playing a certain way and what's happening. With Saints in the Championship we did and then of course you lose games and it becomes difficult. I'm here now with an absolute belief that this team and club can be so brilliant and successful, but we have to do it in a way that is different to the others.

"Also, the level is different in League One so we have to find a way quickly to be ourselves, but have to win, the fans are excited about it and the players are excited. I do believe as an ex player, it feels like a long time ago now, I would have wanted to play this way.

"I think the feedback we've had from most players and I'm pretty sure it's [been] a problem at this club before, is that once you've seen the game in that way, it's really difficult to go to a different way. Which I think is why after Enzo, some of the players have struggled to adapt and find a different way. I can say that because I think it's true."

RMs style is great if your the dominate team in the league. He should have great success with the squad we have/will have going into the season, hopefully gaining us promotion.

 

The problem he’ll have is that he might never get to manage a top 6 team which his style would suit. If he’s managing a bottom half prem team his style of play won’t keep you in the league. He’ll need to adapt if he is to have any longevity in this game 

[FoxesFan100]

5 hours ago, davieG said:

Russell Martin explains the Leicester City game model with Enzo Maresca admission | Leicestershire Live

 

Russell Martin explains the Leicester City game model with Enzo Maresca admission
Russell Martin's long answer on his coaching career so far, what he's learnt and the implementation at Leicester City

Russell Martin can be himself at Leicester City after tough spells with Rangers and Southampton(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

Josh Holland Leicester City correspondent
07:00, 01 Aug 2026
Leicester City manager Russell Martin has provided an insight into his footballing game model and how he has moulded it throughout his six years in coaching.

Martin's style of play has come under scrutiny in recent years and was a concern for many when he took over at the King Power Stadium in June. After being sacked by Southampton with the Saints in the Premier League and then lasting just 17 games at Rangers, the 40-year-old's reputation appears to be somewhat disfigured.

However, during Leicester's warm weather training camp in southern Spain, Martin provided an insightful answer when asked about his football 'philosophy' that explains what he wants his team to do, but also how each of his jobs in the past have moulded his way of playing today.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, he said: "I think football philosophy is the wrong word. There's a game model that we will try and bring on to the pitch. Philosophy is more about who we are as people, how we want to treat people. I needed to be in a job where I feel like I could by myself.

 

"It was really difficult [in] my previous job to be that with a level of criticism received all the time. So here I feel like I'm able to do that. Perception and reality in football are often very, very far apart.

"Everything I got celebrated for as a coach in my first five years of being a coach at MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton, then we got Southampton to the Premier League, everything I got praised for, I got criticised for in the Premier League.

"When I was working really hard to build something that we enjoyed and was successful at MK, [it's] also how you define success. So at MK Dons, to be successful was to avoid relegation in the first season, the Covid-19 season, we did that, [and] then to build assets with such a young team, which we did, and we sold a lot of talent.

"And then I left the club, I think in a better place than we found it. Pete [Winkelman, former MK Dons owner and chairman], was amazing, he supported us and he gave me the job. He was so brave and I'll be forever grateful to him.

"We left them a squad that I think was really excellent for the league. Matt O'Reilly, Troy Parrott, Scott Twine and Harry Darling, all of these guys, have so many good players. I've missed a few out there and I love them boys. They finished third the season we left and I watched that with so much pride at what we built and then we went to Swansea and they went to the play-off final and then the budget was heavily cut.

"Success was to try and build something that was synonymous with Swansea and their success and style of play and sell young talent, which I think we did. We finished 10th in the second season, just outside the play-offs on a really reduced budget. I was really proud of them and I loved watching that team and being part of it. I loved the players. At MK and Swansea, I felt like that was a mutual feeling between us and the staff and players. The fans were great at both clubs.

"Then we went to Southampton [who had suffered] relegation, so the remit was to get promoted quickly straight away if we could, but play some young players, make sure the transition from the squad [went OK], there was a lot of change and it was handled as well as possible.

"We got promoted and probably to my personal detriment, it would have been better if we waited another year like Leeds did because we weren't quite ready. We lost our director of football, Jason Wilcox, to Manchester United in March and we never replaced him, it was difficult. That's when all the stuff around style of play came in because people who have only watched the Premier league for years, pundits all they see is snippets of games like five minutes long in 100-minute games, including added time, [and see] a couple of mistakes earlier in the Premier League.

"And then it took off about naivety. It's really fascinating to me now because Spain have won the World Cup and Euros, the same people that criticise trying to dominate the ball and have possession are now saying that's the way England need to go.

"The thing is in football, if you speak to the players that we work with and the staff, they would say we're really adaptable, like tactically, try and be as flexible as we can, but without losing the essence of what we want to be, which is to try and dominate the ball.

"I'm not going here and say 'no, I don't want possession, it's not important,' because I think it is important, except we will try to be the aggressor in the game. And to be the aggressor, you have to have the football. We will try to be dominant with territory, with the football as high up the pitch as we can. Sometimes to do that, you have to build up close to your own goal.

"In the Premier League, it was frustrating to me because when the media are questioning it, I can't come out and reel off loads of data. In the Championship, we had Leicester, who were incredible under Enzo [Maresca]. This team under Enzo was amazing and one of the best I've seen in the Championship. But I can't come out and say all that because ultimately, all the people care about is winning.

"We didn't have the squad to [win games] but we still felt that the lads were really building something. We had the most final third territory, the most ball in the opposition half for a Premier League promoted team since the data began. So we were still proud of what we were doing because we could have just gone like, 'actually lads, it's not working after six or seven weeks so we'll just defend', which after I left Southampton, they went the complete opposite of me and I think the points per game thing was even worse.

"My job at that stage was, agreed, we'll probably get relegated, but we're going to have a go and try to build. So if we do get relegated, we have young players playing [like] Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes. players and assets that can help the club move forward.

"This is a really long answer but it's just to give you some background on, actually, if you speak to them players, we're really adaptable. Formation is not a problem. We're going to try and play a certain formation, but different games will require different ones. I'm not fixed on like a formation, but I am fixed on the concept of the game, which is to try and defend with the ball as high up the pitch as we possibly can and try and attack and play fast football.

"Sometimes you have to play two passes backwards and then boom, change the rhythm forward. But we will try to dominate the football because it's logical to me that if you dominate with the ball high up the pitch, you have less chance of the opposition scoring a goal.

"The mentality of the team then is to be aggressive, to be front foot and to dominate the ball. You have to press really high and press really aggressive - you can't have one without the other. It's not just 'we're going to play, it's nice and slow'. Actually, when teams try to dominate the ball like that, it's impossible. You can't. It will look messy very often.

"I chose a job [Rangers] where I couldn't implement that because you don't have much time and that's my fault. Now I'm here and I will bring something, but every team's been different. The concepts have been the same, the data has been the same with lots of touches in the box, lots of goals scored, which again, the narrative around the team, or our teams, is they don't create much or score much, they do and we will. I'm convinced of that.

"It's my job to give a team where the fans understand why they're playing a certain way and what's happening. With Saints in the Championship we did and then of course you lose games and it becomes difficult. I'm here now with an absolute belief that this team and club can be so brilliant and successful, but we have to do it in a way that is different to the others.

"Also, the level is different in League One so we have to find a way quickly to be ourselves, but have to win, the fans are excited about it and the players are excited. I do believe as an ex player, it feels like a long time ago now, I would have wanted to play this way.

"I think the feedback we've had from most players and I'm pretty sure it's [been] a problem at this club before, is that once you've seen the game in that way, it's really difficult to go to a different way. Which I think is why after Enzo, some of the players have struggled to adapt and find a different way. I can say that because I think it's true."

I find his words and interviews very interesting, I see none of the stuff others have said about him being true. 
 

Maybe I’m falling for all the words, phrases or fluff, whatever you want to call it. But, he’s said nothing wrong and so far not put a foot wrong with us. It seems like he’s identified weaknesses in our team, whether that be mentality or lack of workers in the team and is addressing that. 

 

I am beginning to get excited for the season, and on the basis of our pre-season work so far I don’t understand why others wouldn’t be either. No doubt others will feel different and suggest “what happens when we lose?” All I can say is we’ll have to wait and see what happens. 

[sm1]

2 hours ago, lcfc sheff said:

RMs style is great if your the dominate team in the league. He should have great success with the squad we have/will have going into the season, hopefully gaining us promotion.

 

The problem he’ll have is that he might never get to manage a top 6 team which his style would suit. If he’s managing a bottom half prem team his style of play won’t keep you in the league. He’ll need to adapt if he is to have any longevity in this game 

Exactly. Vincent Kompany is the prime example. He excelled with Burnley in the Championship and now with Bayern, when his teams can dominate. In the PL, his Burnley team barely got 23/24pts. 

[coolhandfox]

Just want a manager who stays around for a while, c'mon Russ back to back promotions.

 

The fight back starts now.

 

[Chelmofox]

4 minutes ago, coolhandfox said:

Just want a manager who stays around for a while, c'mon Russ back to back promotions.

 

The fight back starts now.

 

Back to back promotions makes him a club legend. Then he can get poached by a top 6 club somewhere in Europe so we don’t have to suffer it in the PL. 

[Ric Flair]

1 hour ago, FoxesFan100 said:

I find his words and interviews very interesting, I see none of the stuff others have said about him being true. 
 

Maybe I’m falling for all the words, phrases or fluff, whatever you want to call it. But, he’s said nothing wrong and so far not put a foot wrong with us. It seems like he’s identified weaknesses in our team, whether that be mentality or lack of workers in the team and is addressing that. 

 

I am beginning to get excited for the season, and on the basis of our pre-season work so far I don’t understand why others wouldn’t be either. No doubt others will feel different and suggest “what happens when we lose?” All I can say is we’ll have to wait and see what happens. 

Takes quite a lot to cause absolute uproar in pre-season. Teams are not going to play a low block in a friendly and when the serious stuff starts we'll see what he's made of with his words. That's where he's caused jaws to drop in the past.

[moore_94]

[TheGoldenGod]

Quite interesting interview on LCFC YT...he said he met Tommy Watson for a coffee in Brighton and sold him on the project! Quite refreshing to here if true!

[Globalfox]

Don’t care what he says will judge him on what he does. Tonight playing Cordova Reid up front, then moving Luke Thomas to Centre half tells me that we should be worried.