Holmes_and_Watson

On the other hand, I'd argue that his regular rotation of the players last season, was a key part of having a squad with match sharp depth that could keep us going. I take the point about managing the game in front of you. However, he's looking at a season and giving players opportunities that they will all be demanding to prove they are worth a place.

There's a bit in the video @coalman put up above, where he does blame himself for taking off two experienced players and replacing them with youngsters. He wanted to bring on some energy, but they lost even more control of the game. He's clearly been through all this pressure before. As self contained as he is in his interview bubbles, he seems even more relaxed after a drubbing than before.

It was a frustrating game. Both sides had chances. Apart from the Welington header (good to see him scoring), Leo had that effort hitting both posts, and one that snuck behind. We later had one cleared by the last man, behind the 'keeper. But for those few, we really seemed to be a bit off the pace all across the side. We had plenty of the ball, but I wasn;t often struck by how much we really drove the game, and piled on pressure. We've got a focal point in Larin, but with Leo and Matsuki, don;t have lots of early delivery to him. That actually comes more from Bree and Welington. But we didn;t do that consistently. Stephens, Welington and Matsuki aren't players I'd have in my first 11, although good for the squad. Their, and other, replacements just reduced any plan we had even more. Edozie looked lively, but there's that lack of an end product again. Wood, who I'd have had ahead of Stephens, was nowhere near his marker for their equaliser. None of the others did much. In Mubama's case, just as much service as Larin got. We hadn't done enough to put the game beyond Lincoln before that. We certainly didn't after it. Sure, it's an away point. But it's a game where we should really be showing the difference in the resources, and making it count.

He did have an upward trajectory on his way here. Now, it can be (and is, on every one of his club's forums 🙂 ) argued that it was far from great when he was at those clubs. But he left to go upwards. In his time at MK Dons in L1, would have had fewer resources than Leicester. He may have to go back to his MK Dons thinking. 14 new players it was said on the interview. That was the opportunity to bring in players to suit his approach. He could be looking at that, to get those basics in place, and use the resources to have individual talent to get out of the league. From the highlights, his team today lacked that awareness and fight that he needs, both individually and as a unit. If they're caught up the park, they need runners to force attackers into poor shooting angles. They need to be aware when full backs are pushed up, or inverted, and provide cover. None of that for those goals. Caught out by straightforward, but well drilled, counters from Oxford, and lose 3 goals. Martin spends a lot of time hammering in certain things. But the players have to not only be receptive to those, they have to have the energy to keep their heads during a match, for all the rest.

The thread is also doubling as the Alex McCarthy: Sweeper Keeper thread.

I'd better watch one of their games while I have the chance. The possession stat is there. But what is it that the players are letting Russ down on? Are they still at the lots of passes, but no transition stage? Is the scar tissue, preventing them from being brave enough to embrace the system? Do they now lack the individuals capable of making the basics work - Baz keeper, Downes picking it up from defence, Smallbone as versatile link-up player, AA able to cleverly get goals from wide, or be on the end of cut backs? After us, and Rangers, I was thinking he'd be able to get a spine of of players with those attributes. Just as a starter. Both Rangers and Leicester have required overhauls. Perhaps that's left him without that spine, where he was fortunate to have it still there with us. Part of his pitch is to transform a team, with automations. But he still needs other attributes in there. It's one of the disconnects from his pitch (getting the best out of what's there) to reality (getting in players who capable of building on his approach) As they they look out at their 5 star hotel and training complex, they have to buy in to being more a hard working Martin's MK Dons, than fallen PL super stars. 17th with a single win. The deliverable will be promotion. Let's see if the board back him. They will be there for a while at the price they've asked for the club. But when that promotion becomes impossible, experts were saying that administration, at least, is imminent. Everyone there will be well aware of that. Edit: Watch the 4:23min highlights. For three of them, got caught playing too high a line. They've not learned that racing back is a focused thing, to block and push players where Martin wants them. Instead, the full backs allow balls in for relatively easy finishes, against centre halves who are not keeping pace with the attack. The fourth had plenty of defenders around it. None of them forced a decision, allowing Oxford to pass through them and score. What we've seen before. Players working on part of a system, leave massive gaps, because they can't/won't do the rest. And that can be the coaching too. Poor Holgate was under orders on what to do, making his appearances a horror show. He'd have angered Russ, hoofing it, but wouldn't have conceded 2 goals.

I've taken saws to all of my devices to make sure that the image will fit. If ally has put in the work creating it, I don't see why you can't put in some effort to accommodate it.

Military

Comedy Workshop #834: Timing Had St Louis waited another half hour, I could have got in my post about them not responding because ironically it's like they are in a bubble. 🙂 Best of luck with the election.

Oh for... I haven't even started replacing likes with sad faces, on @iansums's posts, after the "joke," and now I've got to cancel you.

A flotilla of mega dinghies, hired from people smugglers, makes it's brave way to the Falklands, to repel the invaders.

Only fair to have the result changed to a default 3-0, if not entirely expunged from the records. Now, who was ref for the Leicester game...

Drumbeat

I was hoping he'd go to Leicester, where Martin would start him, and under who he did really well. Financial troubles, but a player who is such a good fit, it seems daft not to try and sign him. Of course, Will may look at the chances of Russ still being there in 2 months, and realise he'd then be trapped in L1.