Polegategavin243

My bother is a West Ham fan and he said this about JWP this afternoon, please please please sign him. I’d rather we kept Soucek than JWP, who is such a poor technical midfielder. We spent a whole season watching his ineffectual passing, always passed either sideways or backwards, never took the ball on the turn ready to drive or pass forward!! Sound familiar.

You’ve not decided to read my points and picked up on the point that proves your argument, even though I said we need to be better in the final third. There is no way Russell is coaching the front 3 to stick to their positions regardless and we did not provide enough opportunities for AA or BBD to try to get on the end of. this is a decision making issue not the style of play. Numerous times the playing out for the back broke through the Forest press but we were too laboured in the midfield to profit. To which Russell was getting frustrated. The style is not the problem, the problem was the tempo and bravery once we got into the opposition half. Other than KWP and Downes the players played with too much caution and fear and hopefully once Russell gets the team to analyse the videos to highlight this we will radically improve. The alternative is what, lump the ball forward and hope we get a few chances from the knock down or defender hesitation. If that’s the case is that Welsh manager available?

I didn’t hear much of this kind of comment last year when we were on a 20+ club record unbeaten run. Which started immediately after a 4 game losing streak. You may not like it, but we have a manager and team (on the whole) learning to perform at a higher standard and this will take a little bit of time. This knee jerk reaction every time we have a negative game or spell is pathetic. It’s always easier to criticise than have patient and support something especially when you do not understand. Having played at semi-pro level I see exactly what the plan is with playing out from the back. When it works it will provide positive results as long as we do it at a high enough tempo and are more clinic in the final third. I believe Martin has the capabilities to be a success and as a weaker team in the league the supporters need to get behind the team even if we find the style frustrating and not to our taste. it will make a big difference as it did in the West Brom play off game and years ago in our great escapes. COYS

I’d have Charlie Taylor at LB for this one and rest KWP to bench. I’d also have Dibling in for Armstrong. The most important thing to see, will be that we increase the passing tempo much higher and have intensity from minute one. We had it against Newcastle but never got going against Forest. i hope that many of the doom and gloomers reflect overnight it was simply a bad day yesterday and hopefully we put it behind us and have some solid performances with better results starting at Cardiff. The support yesterday was a bit disappointing and we will have to be the 12th man despite who we may add to the team/ squad this week. I do wonder if Steve Grant needs to have the forum sponsored or supported by the Samaritans in light of how negative and miserable a number of members are when we have a disappointing performance. As we are told, don’t get too high or too low following a game. We will have good days and bad days during the season so let’s just enjoy the good days. The modern mentality is to react instantly to situations and want change instantly. We do need to remember that Russell is learning the Premier League as we play, it was similar when Adkins was in charge and when he was replaced by Pochettino there was outrage at how he’d been treated but after the first few games large numbers were calling for his head. Modern supporters are so fical. Remember, there are much more important things in life and supporting a football team should be a way of unwinding and enjoying some quality time away from these stresses for a few hours. If you want unfiltered success you need to find a different team to support, I for one love my team and will support them come what may, hope we can have success and trust the club to find the solutions. To me Russell is part of that solution, he just needs help with transfer funds/ backing and time to refine his playing style to get it to work.

Or any of his other appearances on 2022/23 season. As with Archer on Saturday he was brought on to find a goal and the closest he got with a header was hitting the bar with a header that seemed as perfect to score with as you would get. It’s another example of a player not playing suddenly being presented as amazing and the saviour. Seems to be a fans eye view, almost like nostalgia, where the memory creates a better version of the historic events. On a forum, these ideas seem to build a head of steam and most forum uses then start to believe the memory/ concept and reinforce the false memory. He really looked hopelessly out of his depth and well below a premier level footballer, who through no fault of his own had been bought in by a struggling Premier League club. It suits him and the club to find a suitor and sell him before the end of the window so he can play in a league more suited to his attributes.

Where is this idea that BBD has suffered concussion. The laws clearly state that a player has to be substituted under the concussion substitution if this occurs. He clearly was not assessed as concussed during the Newcastle game.

Doesn’t change anything IMHO. They have never been in the plans, they simply provide more transfer funds once they are sold. The more important factor, is whether Stewart can become fit. Unlike a vast majority on here I believe if he gets fit he will Be like a new signing and will do well in our system.

Why does everyone think that we will sign a further CF when we bought Archer. People need to appreciate that was the business we did for this position. The remaining business will be a goalkeeper (on loan) and an AMC and winger (probably Fraser). This would mean only needing to spend transfer budget on the AMC.

Except all the names players, except McCarthy showed yesterday exactly how they are premier league standard! We are bound to have games line this, through the season but if we dominate possession and territory like yesterday throughout the season we will get plenty of positive results. Yesterday’s game hinged on lots of last ditch blocks and tackles from Newcastle. If one of Armstrong’s attempts had been a goal, Hall’s clearance and Pope’s save then we would have gone on to win. Also Diaz’ shot that deflected off the defenders thigh when going on target. Let’s judge after next weekend when we have played Forest at home. I was very pleasantly surprised to see us against a team expected to finish top 4 be so competitive and able to control possession as much as we did. Bodes really well for the remainder of the season in my eyes. This is not necessarily aimed at you Mr X but we do seem to have an extremely negative fan base who almost want us to fail and only Pick up on the negatives. By 1st September I expect us to be very competitive and assuming the team continue to fight for one another and play the way they are, along with the additions that inevitably will arrive I feel positive now as to how this season will go. It will be a fight as always but we have a real chance of survival and then building on it next season.

But it may “cut it”. Team spirit and momentum can be a big factor. Why people aren’t expecting exciting (or key) signings is odd when in the past dozen or so transfer windows our most significant transfers have happened in the final few days of each window, mostly due to the domino effect of other deals completing near to or on deadline day. The negativity on here and Facebook is embarrassing. Many of the players who played for us all last season are going to be more confident and likely a better player thanks to that experience, which is being ignored.

And these signings have historically and will continue to be made between first game of the season and transfer deadline day. We are a small fish and we have to wait for the chain to start before we can then have our move happen. People seem to have lost site that good team spirit and confidence can help at the start of the next season, just look at Ipswich last season. People also need to be realistic, success this season will be avoiding relegation.

Maybe a 6 month loan to a championship team would be beneficial. Preseason will tell us a lot as to whether he has recovered and how he is with the pace/ match sharpness

He played a number of times when he first arrived, whilst we were in the Premier League, and looked very promising. I, for one, thought he looked like he had quality, good ball controL and looking to play forward when possible. I expect him to be reintegrated through pre-season and wouldn’t be surprised if he is challenging for a starting spot during the coming season. Some forum members seem to write off players after 5 minutes. Injuries do not always mean the player is a shadow of their pre-injury self. Kevin De Byrne had a reasonable spell out injured when he was in his late teens, what happened to him?!?!?

How do you know?

Loads of forum members did the same with Bednarek 18 months ago and yet he proved his desire to play for us and improved last season. ABK could do the same if he is our player come 1st September. Some of the comments about his ability and performances are laughable actually. It is a bit like a player who suddenly becomes a world beater when they aren’t playing for us, in reverse. I would want to give him a chance if he decides to stay and work with RM. He showed glimpses of the type of centre back we are crying out for in the RM system. You also have to remember he was playing alongside Salisu and Perraud who it may be where both a disrupting influence (possibly) and weak to perform with causing him to perhaps make mistakes he wouldn’t usually make such as away at Forest. There were examples of times he saved certain goals in other games too.

He got injured in the second half of the season and was a main part of the reason their form plummeted.

Or what about Marvelous Nakamba from Luton?

Is perhaps, someone like Zach Awe, impressing in the youth team and they see Holgate as blocking the path?

I assume you did not watch much of the championship last season, and are going by stats. Benson was one of the main reasons for Burnley’s success last season and particularly a strong reason for Tella scoring so many. Most times Burnley scored later in games, and they did this a lot, Benson was one of two players coming on and creating the chances and assisting the goals. He was a real talent, and it seems odd that he has more limited time playing for them this year, perhaps he doesn’t suit the different style they are using this season.

But this assumes things are always linear. Look at the form table does that match the league table order, no, and this is why this logic cannot be guaranteed. i also think that if our PPG continues in a linear progression we will finish 2nd. All opinions at the end of the day, the only truth will be at 5.30pm on 4th May 2024.

I was of the same opinion. What had AA not been credited with this assist. It is clear to me on replays the defender actually air shots the ball as goes past him

I haven’t, look at the reactions to one game above. There weren’t calls for the manager to change after Leeds. Some fans simply care about results without looking deeper. The passing was to try to draw out Rotherham, which didn't happen too often due to their discipline, but when it did, like when Smallbone had his shot saved it worked perfectly. The issue yesterday, was simply down to poor finishing and an inspired keeper. Many future games played the same as yesterday will result in a win to Saints, but hey let’s just change everything play shit football and then use luck of the bounce to hope we win games again. Fans are so reactionary these days, only instant change is accepted. Look at Watford, and be wary what you wish for.

The best, most sensible and accurate assessment of our team I have seen on this forum for a long time. Results seem to trigger some incredible reactions. The vitriol against Martin is embarrassing, we’ve watched our team pass around under earlier managers but with no end result, but you can’t claim yesterday we had no plan. I agree, that the improving performances are really encouraging, and the inter linking and play is really effective at creating chances, as proved yesterday by the number of good openings we created. Unfortunately it was a bad day at the office in front of goal, as we consistently lacked composure or met an inspired keeper every time we created the chance. The performance demonstrates the ability and the team are showing much more commitment and fight, which was lacking during our poor run. Everyone feels disappointment over the result yesterday, but look at it another way, 17 points over 11 games will result in 70+ points at the end of the season, but this included a really poor run of 4 defeats in a row, so without that, and based on 7 points from the last 3 games we would reach 100+ points by the end of the season. So based on one result yesterday, we want the manager changed. Some fans are so knee jerk it is unreal. I for one am excited where Martin can take us this season. Let’s enjoy the ride and back the team and manager.

So we are all going to ignore the chances we created then!! It is near on impossible to stop a team having any chances against you. The second half we hardly had a shot against us.

How about watching a game of football and forming an opinion, rather than spouting the same shit the majority are spouting. It was much more pragmatic and tighter defensively, hence why Ipswich (who have been scoring for fun as a newly promoted team) were kept at arms length for most of the game. Our problem on Tuesday was that we didn’t show enough for the ball, providing few options for passes, as emphasised by Charles holding on to the ball too long for their goal. Much of the remainder of the game was controlled, but we continued not to offer enough options for the player on the ball. This, along with being more clinical, is all that needs to improve, and each game the squad play together the more it will show and we will become a consistently dominate team. Let’s start to give our managers a bit of support. We’ve spent the last 5/6 years booing them and where has that got us!! We asked for a style and identity and now we are trying to gain one the fan base want rid before it has been given a chance. How many new managers start a new style and have instant success - even Klopp at Liverpool had a really difficult start for probably half a season.