Russell Martin looked a bit jaded post match yesterday, we’ve had a look at some of this quotes and responses. Is he getting tired already ?
"I’m still trying to digest it all really” The sign of a manager who believes one hundred percent in his team but has been drastically let down.
"First thing is it wasn’t good enough, a lack of intensity out of possession really hurt us, to concede so quickly is criminal, cardinal sins” Russell Martin clearly wasn’t happy post match, he has the players to do his bidding, but yesterday he got nothing from the faith he placed in them.
"I’ve said to the players, you should be hurt by that. People really have to give themselves up to score a goal. I lived some of the stuff second half but it’s pointless when you conceded like we did”
Well, that should do for now, the swans manager looked deflated, he looked pretty down beat as he faces the press post match against Reading. And possibly for the first time deserved to be. He really did point the finger in his own way that is. He actually accused his players of laziness " A lack of willingness to run a little bit” I accuse them of that as well.
"We’ve wasted a really big opportunity to make this a great week " Agreed and for the first time this season with a three game week have come out of it less than happy. "I’m sitting here really hurt” Then he returned to the process. "We know where we are at, and today shows that, we've got to where we have got to quicker than expected” He mentions Rhys Williams "Ben Cabango isn’t dropped, it’s about managing the squad, his body is still very sore after two ninety minute games. Rhys Williams, I’m so proud of him, I thought today he was outstanding, a real test of character” I’m uncertain which Rhys Williams the boss was watching against Reading, but it wasn’t the one I watched.
"There are areas we need to strengthen, we haven’t got the depth we would like” Okay, three blokes omitted against Barnsley and Reading may have helped ? We have to come back to the editorial this morning, and I agree the naughty step isn’t the right place for everyone, some more input required from the ‘coaching team’ may be ? It was mentioned quite succinctly yesterday morning that when there’s cause for a form of response to what we see and hear then there should be one. Not just brazen repetitive and negative tub thumping day in and day out. When we see issues you get to read about them. And you get the right to reply, but never say your right to reply is ever ever drowned out. That doesn’t happen here. None of us would be happy with what we saw yesterday, the players let the club down and Russell Martin was let down as well. However, as we’ve already discussed Martin didn’t manage this game that well, his choice of players and why needs addressing, he needs to realise he is under a huge microscope in Wales as a football manager.
Day in and day out he will be assessed, not on a Thursdays night by the local rags sports reporter. Here is different, here it’s every day, and when we say every day we mean every hour of it. We have spoken about watersheds this season, with two games now spread over thirteen days there’s no excuse for being able to address these failings highlighted by Martin post match. And of course not just the players. There’s much thought to be applied so we can travel to Middlesbrough next weekend far more aware and capable than the output we saw against Reading.