Saints sack Russell Martin: 'We didn't think it would be this bad'
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"We Never Expected It To Be This Bad"
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Martin guided Southampton to only a single victory as they made their comeback in the Premier League.
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What’s in store for the Saints?
Tune in to BBC Radio Solent at 6:00 PM GMT this Monday!
BBC Radio Solent will be featuring a special segment on Southampton FC this evening, posing the question, "What lies ahead for the Saints?" following the dismissal of Russell Martin from his role as manager.
Numerous Southampton supporters have expressed that they were not shocked by the dismissal of Russell Martin following the team's heavy 5-0 loss to Tottenham on Sunday.
In May, Martin guided the Saints back to the Premier League with a victory over Leeds in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
However, the team's performance since returning to the top league has been disappointing, with only one victory out of 16 games. They are currently nine points behind Leicester, who sits in 17th place.
"We anticipated that this season would be challenging, but we didn’t expect it to be as difficult as it has turned out to be," said Mike Smale, the person in charge of the external YouTube channel MatchDayVlogs.
"I've encountered a lot of amazing supporters through my work, but the common feeling is that we all want the team to improve."
On Sunday, Southampton suffered a significant loss, marking the fourth occasion they have allowed five goals in just 45 minutes in the Premier League. No other team has faced this situation more than once.
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Martin left only a few months after Southampton's victory over Leeds in the Championship play-off final, which took place in May.
The ex-Swansea manager, Martin, guided Southampton to their only league victory of the season when they faced Everton in November.
"I believe he should have left weeks earlier," Summa Symonds stated during her interview with BBC Radio Solent.
I believe he should have left after the Wolves loss in November, where Saints lost 2-0. It's frustrating that the situation has become so negative.
"I always hold on to a glimmer of hope, but I can't shake the feeling that we're heading for trouble. It’s hard to believe we can escape this difficult situation. Clearly, we need a new manager to step in and make changes fast."
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In November, Southampton faced a defeat against fellow relegation contenders, Wolves. Additionally, Wolves' coach Gary O'Neil was let go on Sunday.
Martin Sanders expressed his desire for Southampton to follow the example of other clubs of comparable size, such as Bournemouth, Brighton, and Brentford, which have successfully secured their positions in the Premier League in recent years.
"[Russell Martin] encountered issues because he was overly determined to stick to his preferred style of playing football," he remarked.
"I have great appreciation for what he accomplished last season. He created one of the most unforgettable days for me and many other Southampton supporters at Wembley, and that will always be remembered. However, this season, he has shown a lack of experience at this level."
"What caught me off guard the most on Sunday was how much criticism Martin receives, yet his players really let him down. They played terribly, and some of them should seriously reflect on their performance, as they failed to support the team."
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Martin took over as the manager of Southampton following his departure from Swansea in June 2023.
No team in the Premier League has been able to stay in the league after earning just five points from their first 16 matches.
However, Jo Tessem, a former midfielder for Southampton and now a commentator for BBC Radio Solent, mentioned that there are still signs of optimism.
"We need to be honest about our situation. We just got promoted from the Championship, where we finished fourth. Our team isn't among the strongest in the Premier League, and this league can be really tough on teams that aren't fully prepared," Tessem stated.
"However, when you experience something uplifting and build a strong bond with the players, unexpected things can occur. That’s the magic of football: it’s impossible to predict what will happen next."
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