OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

But that's the point a lot are making. They can be the best defenders in the world, but if the tactics/coaching is all wrong they look very ordinary. Also there didn't seem to be so much tippy tappy passing sideways by the centre backs and Baz last night. There tended to be more of the Baz hoof, which to be fair to him, usually found his player.

Lazy Saturday, so reading pre-match and post match comments and despite the rumour, there's a lot of common sense written on this forum. When the team was announced, we could all see the midfield was light. Shea has to be the defensive midfielder. And Shea, THB (despite that early mistake) and KWP are intrinsically good players so why are they looking so ordinary? The coaching is wrong. And unless he's injured/knackered, don't take off your best player. And as for Sulemana being our saviour, his attitude stank. He can fuck right off. Everton, after that Leicester game, was one of my worst in recent memory but that was almost funny with the crowd chucking their freebie scarfs away. Yesterday was depressing. The drive down and back through the M3 was shit and the players (other than AA and Edozie) didn't seem to care or know what to do. Sort it out RM

Heard he got injured. Back to Mason Holgate on Friday! 🤫

I'm more hopeful. Bit like when we lost 9-0 (for the first time) and then went on a good run, surely RM must be able to work out a plan to bolster the defence and make his possession football more penetrative. A fit, focused Sulemana would be a massive addition and THB & Bednerek in central defence with Shea in front of them look pretty solid. Must admit, I got Manning all wrong. Thought he looked good in the friendlies but he needs to take his skates off and start defending properly because he's looking a real weak link.

Heard him referred to as the "Bargain of the Transfer Window" and while there's that nagging feeling we let him go too cheap, Downes coming to us was probably also part of the deal. Bit like Maddison also looking good at Spurs. Play with players who can putt away your passes/crosses/corners and you look a whole lot better.

This is particularly frustrating. AA plays much better as a no.8 and crap as a no.9, and RM has seen this in previous games so why play him at no.9 again? Shea played well when covering for Stephens the week before and before that he did well as a defensive midfielder (almost in the Wanyama, Romeu mould), but when he came on, why put him at right back? And how on earth did he think three lightweights in midfield (Smallbone, Downes and SA) would work? Like you say, put Charles in there to add some muscle. RM needs to learn from mistakes and build on what works. Next game we should also have Che and Harwood-Bellis ready. I'm thinking this is just a blip. Remember when Ralph's team lost 9-0 (the first time)? After that didn't we go on a good run?

I'm also pleased this was a drubbing rather than a 2-1 defeat (though maybe not if I'd trekked all the way up there). Can't make excuses, need to address these frailties. Point is, SR have brought in Martin because that's the style of play they want the club to play. We are stuck with the tippy-tappy build from the back tactics, but that squad of midfield and defence should be more than good enough to keep out the opposition when we don't have the ball. And they need to sort it out quick. Next game Leicester at home on a Friday night. 🤫

Read this flight was being tracked by 312 people and the 9th most tracked flight in the world....transfers and transfer deadlines really have taken on a new dimension these days.

Everton seem to have the full team out to conquer the mighty Doncaster. They've also just subbed on their new £30m striker to settle it. Here's hoping this year they go down.

Or worse still, some tall guy called Onuachu 😀

Paintsil is 5ft 7ins. What with Fraser and AA, we'll have Snow White sniffing around next!

I was at both Leicester games last year and the only reason we won was because this guy couldn't hit a barn door from 2 yards. Sadly, I think they'll have someone better in that position when we play them in a couple of weeks.

Get the impression that even the Qataris are saying yes we've loads of cash but c'mon this is Lyanco we're talking about - so loan deal or no deal.

He'd better now fail this medical! 😀

Despite scoring goals before, I didn't know AA would be better in this league and when he plays centre forward, I still think he's pretty shit and makes false runs, has no presence and doesn't have that poachers instinct of being in the right place at the right time. At Sheff Wed, he was non existent and same yesterday, up front in the first half he didn't do a lot. However, once Mara came on and AA dropped back a bit he was a different player. Similarly, at Plymouth Argyle, he was superb playing behind the centre forward. Must admit, if he carries on like this, he'll go on the "must keep" list.

Felt those subs changed the momentum of the game. Previously Selles/Ralph would almost look at the watch and say time for a change. RM saw Alcaraz was having an off day, S-A-A wasn't making an impact so they were hoiked off. New signings were class today. Also really pleased that Baz is growing in stature.

Given he's played under RM before, I get the impression we didn't want him. And ultimately, Che is very replaceable; we're just leaving it a little late to find one. Maybe if he plays today, he is staying after all........

Exactly. The club are showing a lot of faith in Edozie; it paves the way for SAA and I'm still hoping Sully will come good. Fraser is in so Tella could leave. The striker position is interesting. Will Che go if we don't have a replacement? I'm still hoping Che will stay.

Hopefully him being a teammate of Russ will work in our favour. It does also seem we're overloaded with wingers which suggests Tella or Edozie (probably the former) will be on their way soon, especially as there's Ame-Amoyaw waiting in the wings too.

Thanks JBS, that's good to know. My brother said his kid can't come to QPR so instead I'm treating the missus and she insisted I got a new ticket reissued (and paid the difference) and my brother was saying "they don't check". For once I was glad to listen to the missus because she would not have been impressed being nabbed by security!

The other consideration is are we building a team to get us in to the premier league and then make adjustments or are we building a team that can mainly stay together once in the premier league? Agree it's not necessarily that simple, but if the thought process is the former, I'd consider keeping Che. But if we're looking to build a team that can stay together and compete in the premiership, Che's not our man. Maybe Piroe is but I'm convinced there's a striker out there somewhere with all the hold up, guile and poaching qualities required. I just don't want us going in to the next few games with no target man up front. We don't want to be like Leeds who are already playing catch up.

Surely next year when he's out of contract, if we're promoted and can offer him whatever (£60/70/80k) per week, then it's up to another club to offer him substantially more.....and I'm not so sure there is a club that will. The difference is we won't make the £15m if we sell him now which leads on to how much do we value promotion?

Yes, this is a bit of a concern. What are the owners real motives? Che might be worth £15m in the market but how much is he worth to us when we haven't yet got a suitable replacement? Could Tall Paul just stand in the middle and occasionally nod in the crosses? Watching AA on Saturday, dare I say it, he's not our centre forward but coming in from behind he looked a real threat.

Depends what they negotiate when they sign on. A couple of years ago, Shane Long was our highest paid player at £2.9m. If you look at our current top five earners, you might be surprised. I guessed two.

Think I read somewhere at £80k a week, he's now our highest paid player. That's a lot for little camoes. Don't mind one iota if he goes. He adds little to our team.