James

If Charles doesn't play in DM we will lose. With him we will have a chance based on his performances there v Norwich and Plymouth. Whether RM is flexible enough to make this change is an open question at this point.

If we lose both of our games this week (with or without another 3+ conceded) then its tricky to know where we go next.

Correct. He is brainless. Gave some polished interview about how he's learnt from Sunderland and then churns out the same old shit.

They won't be. Bar Wilcox being appointed they have made the wrong decision at every turn. They are woeful owners.

Martin is tactically naive. Going nowhere like this.

A likeable bloke but this is just crap.

Might be sacked before we keep a clean sheet.

Martin will be gone by Christmas. This is suicidal shit.

Like Martin and want him to do well but that hiding was coming after a few poor performances where we got away with it. On the plus side, Martin himself is at least acknowledging we have not played well in games we've won but he seems tactically naive and reluctant to change it. Not sure he's going to last the season to be honest, we are so open.

It was obvious Sunderland were doing this. Shooting from anywhere knowing there was a chance of a goal.

If you parry it straight back to an attacker to give them a tap in but for a defender at full stretch then yes. Did it v Norwich and at least twice today.

Not really. His parries into the danger zone could easily have cost us another couple more.

Completely disagree on the third goal. No competent keeper gets beaten at their near post by a shot like that. That aside, I agree with you the defence is non existent and that we would still have lost with a different keeper. That said, I have no confidence in Baz generally. To win promotion you need some performances from a keeper and I don't see Baz capable of keeping us in tight games.

He was awful. Worst Saints debut for a good while.

Right, so your argument is that it's the defence's job to make sure he doesn't ever have to make a save? Baz's clanger came at a key moment and made sure we went in 3-0 down. Of the saves he did make, it's good fortune that those didn't result in goals as he just patted it straight back to an oncoming attacker. Had the defence not been quick to the clearance it would have been 7-0 so it's really swings and roundabouts isn't it? Re "no glaring faults" if your view is that a competent keeper doesn't save number 3 then your standards for keepers must be seriously low. By the way, I'm not arguing the defence is any good but that doesn't excuse Baz's clear faults.

When Martin was appointed we were told that possession football was the way because the opposition can't score if they don't have the ball. Well, we had 70% today and the opposition still scored 5...

Classic. No engagement with Bazunu's glaring faults as usual.

Agreed. Crediting a goalkeeper that makes huge errors with any saves is ridiculous. Making saves is literally his job.

Comparing Bazunu to McCarthy doesn't make him good...

Anyone who thinks Baz is even vaguely competent is not watching the same game as me.

Because his clanger changed the game. At 2-0 down at half time it's not great but possibly salvageable but at 3-0 is game over. Is all when and good making some saves when the game is lost and the pressure is off. If we are 1-0 and holding on in a key game is anyone trusting Baz to put in a Kelvin v Leeds performance which you need to go up? I'm not.

I knew we'd struggle when I saw the team but a 5-0 hiding was unexpected. Mara shouldn't play again this season, send him to the kids until he regains his confidence. At the moment he is nowhere near. As for Holgate, fuck me.

It's the tactical set up. We've been spoiling for a hiding all season and we've just had it. Question is whether RM can change it. On current evidence, he won't.

He looks out of his depth.

Didn't think I would be saying this but I don't think Martin will be here at the end of the season.