Patches O Houlihan

Probably Adams & Arma are both knackered and I need to keep them fit for the run in. Arma is hopeless in the middle. Who can I bring on... failure of recruitment/luck with Ross Stewart's second injury. Aribo CDAJFU as a hold up striker, but of course he was blowing hard as well. Maybe we'll see Dibling or SAA on the bench instead of Mara at some point?

Valderama again failing to cover himself in glory. France U21 striker yet jogs about as if its pre season warm up game, while all around him seasoned pros are sprinting and chasing down all that they can. Their shot that Bazunu got hands too came down the left; you could hear someone on our bench shouting at Mara to pull his finger out, but he didn't which allowed the through ball. Had he run at full pace he would have cut it out easily. Shit like this must be so frustrating for the coaching team

My original post that you quoted but edited stated that Poch & Koeman were also frustrating in cup games

That pissed me off too - as I commented on in that post that you selectively edited! Come on, you're better than that

That's unlike you to be negative. You ok hun?

Even if I had been excited by Puel's league play and results (which I wasn't following the previous three seasons) the ridiculous team selections and capitulations that we saw at the end of our European run would have still made me anti Puel. Bearing in mind our recent (20 year) history, that we didn't make the most of national and European cup games in the Poch/Koeman/Puel years is galling. And yes I know we were a sensible ref's decision away from a cup win under Puel but those away games in Europe. 😠

Maybe that's where all the 'bravery' chat comes from? He's hoping that if he describes them as brave in public, they'll act braver on the pitch and play the aggressive exciting effective football that we want as fans (and maybe he also wants as the manager) To be fair we saw 65 mins worth of that against Ipswich

I've just finished watching the pre-Coventry press conference (both parts). One aspect of the Blackburn game that seemed to particularly frustrate RM was that the players weren't putting in the last 5% effort to make last minute low percentage runs into the box for each other - the kind that create just enough uncertainly amongst defenders that the attack results in a goal. He was also critical that at certain moments a safer ball was 'played to feet' rather than a more aggressive through ball for someone to run on to. I think what I'm saying is that many here are critical of RM based on 'exactly' what they see on the pitch (which is not unreasonable) however it may be that the players during various matches are playing a more risk averse style than he has coached them or wants them to play.

This feels right on the money tonight

This is where I am too. I want him to come good, but there's just no sign of his traditional keeping skills improving right now.

Mad Nate signed Bree in January

Was Wilcox sensibly advising RM, and then the wheels have fallen off since he went on gardening leave?

Roy Keane & Rasmus Ankerson - a match made in heaven! 🤣

Fixed it for you

It was taking Fraser off that started the rot. Ryan said something to the staff as he crossed the touch line, did anyone lip read what he said? To be honest our recruitment has caused some real issues for RM in that game. You have to say that he got the game plan right because we were firmly in charge for virtually the whole first half and the first 10 mins of the second. He's started the biggest, strongest, most experienced (the closest we have to mentality monsters). But then after 65-75 mins you're going to need to bring on some subs and all we had were the lightweights. Usually we have Aribo to come on to bring some steel, Brooks to bring some magic, and Rothwell to either be anonymous or pump in a couple of rockets. Edozie can be good against tired legs, but he wasn't right for this game. Subs available to bring on: Brooks - yep worth bringing on. (I would've brought him on with 10 mins to go for Arma) Rothwell - bit of a Hail Mary but worth bringing on for a tiring Stu around 70-75 mins KWP - arguably should have replaced Bree 5-10 mins before the red card. Who else: Sulemana - nope Mara, Edozie, Smallbone, Manning = all too small and delicate to be able to deliver what we needed in that game. KWP and Brooks are also a little soft but their quality would justify bringing them on. Sadly this group aren't at that level. Arma can't be the strong physical forward that we needed, so you have to keep Che on, because Mara isn't doing it. Sulemana isn't going to be able to deliver the passes we need, Edozie will just stop and then try to beat everyone, and then get shouldered off the ball. So Ryan Fraser has to stay on. If Stewart had been fit since November I see us at least 7 points better off, maybe more. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Will be really sad if we have to wave goodbye to Stu/Fraser/THB/KWP. Nights like tonight suck. PS I appreciate Baz has some skills, but it would be really lovely to have a keeper who pulls out a top draw save now and again. I can only remember one memorable save in nearly 2 seasons...

We need to sign Fraser for the rest of his career. Love watching the wee man at work. So clever, inventive, quick, skilful.

You do get the impression they were set up to attack and defend KWP, and now they are defending Aribo who is an entirely different kettle of fish. Plus we have more height in the back four to meet their aerial threat. It's working so far 🤞

Stu is playing like a demon. But there will come a time when he's all out of gas; and he's done a lot of high speed running that half. I think he'll be replaced by Rothwell on 65 mins. Hopefully with the game won already...

Have texted. Are you in contact with @EssEffCee?

I would be happy to meet at the game if you could collect the tickets from EssEffCee

Are you based in Southampton, or local? - Perhaps optimistic bearing in mind your username?!

I'm interested in one ticket but I live 40 mins away from Ipswich so Shirley collection would be awkward!

That has properly pissed me off. What the fuck did Valderama achieve? Jogging about conserving energy when he's only got 15 mins to play at best?! Fraser & Brookes were excellent. What could we have got with them playing longer? And Che wants to take a long hard look at himself - he did well to be in the right positions to get the shots, but he really needs to be doing better.

You got there seconds before me!

In his defence that final shot looked like it might have come off the defender in the replay