VectisSaint

First lesson, don't win a corner.

I'm usually a supporter, but Smallbone needs to be hooked, unbelievable ball watching several times. He's not the only one though, utter shambles through the middle. Not convinced by Downes either. Bazunu has been good (apart from the suicide ball to Smallbone).

Pitts, Merry, Oyekunwe and Moses Sesay according to the OS.

OK, sorry it's a bit difficult for you to understand. Yes I'd rather he didn't take corners (on the right at least), leaving him hopelessly out of position when we lose the ball (as we tend to do 90 % of the time) and that instead he takes up a defensive position (allegedly he is a defender). Hopefully we will see someone like Fraser perhaps taking on corner duties. Personally I'd rather Manning wasn't on the pitch at all because he is not very good at his job (defending), but we don't have too many options and anyway he is a manager's favourite so unlikely to be dropped. He would actually be better suited in MF where he has played many of his games, but at the moment we seem to be quite well stocked in that area.

Well yes, that's the point, he needs to have a head start to have any chance of defending a fast counter attack, so back well behind the ball.

They make sure they have proper defensive cover and also Arnold and Robertson are not exactly slow at getting back. Manning is pedestrian.

He wasn't even playing for us for half of last season, so he is certainly not a consistent. I did say though that only having 4 true CBs for this season (with Stephens seemingly out till Christmas, if you believe Wilcox over Martin) was madness and that was before I saw Holgate play. Looks like Olly Lancashire might be up for a recall at this rate.

Hants Senior Cup 2nd Round at Westwood Park

To be fair many of the yellows were for time wasting, kicking the ball away etc, not all for stopping counter attacks, and is giving away a yellow for breaking up a counter attack necessarily a bad thing anyway, better than allowing a shot on target/conceding a goal.

Note even his own first injury, he missed a few games for us last season as well. Has he actually kicked a ball (competitively) for Chelsea yet?

First thing is to take him off corner duty if he is playing at LB. Relying on Edozie while Manning, who is very slow, is diametrically opposite to where he needs to be is ridiculous. I don't believe there is no one else in the side that can take a decent corner. Surely Fraser would be a better bet for corners, because he is not much use in the box (because of his height). Seems the problem to me if Sunderland is to be followed is that Martin doesn't expect the two nominal full backs to be defensive, KWP is marauding all over the pitch. Personally I would prefer to see Larios at LB, perhaps Manning could be utilised in MF, which is where he has played a lot during his career (though I would not pick him there above any of Charles, Downes or Smallbone. All that said, I doubt very much Martin will drop Manning, ever.

8 first team squad players are u21. 3 of the 20 25-man squad are not really first team players (Vokins, Bycroft and Lancashire). So we have a first team squad of 25 (Onuachu out, Stewart in) which seems like a reasonable squad size, no more bloating.

This is true, just watch the games and you will see for yourself that he is 'not very good'.

Really. Where would I find the forms for an English passport application?

How do you get an English passport?

Agreed but you missed the 1st basic, that is keep possession. Saturday there were far too many sloppy passes, especially in our own half. Holgate was probably the worst culprit, but Armstrong (S), KWP, Manning, Alcatraz, Smallbone all guilty, Bazunu contributed as well. Far too often players tried a risky pass when it wasn't necessary. Risky passes are OK further up, indeed they are critical to breaking through. It might seem ponderous and boring to us, but for the system to work it is an unforgivable sin to give the ball away unnecessarily and under no pressure. Commentators on Saturday praised Sunderland for winning the ball but in most cases they did not win it, we gifted it to them. Part of this is also stopping our CBs marauding up the pitch, it may look good but usually ends in tears, and then we are too ponderous to get back. Probably find the stats will show very high percent of successful passes, but it only takes one misplaced pass in a dangerous area to give the opposition a chance. Would also like to see Manning taken off corner duty, LB taking right side corners is a recipe for disaster as we know from the days of Bertrand, great corners but trouble if they break down.

Wouldn't take it as read that Sulemana is staying, yet. Wilcox stated that there will be a couple more departures yet, with transfer windows elsewhere still being open, obviously Onuachu is the primary candidate but Sully and maybe Djenepo are possibles.

Apparently Sunderland had a friendly match lined up for Stewart this week (commentator on Saturday). Whether Saints will do likewise no idea, but he can't be too far off if he was expected to play this week. We shall see.

Need settled MF as well, Downes and Charles, just having the same back 4 is not enough, we all know it is the MF that protect the defenders and ultimately the keeper.

Seems like we are still looking to shift a couple more players according to Wilcox (interview with Blackmore on BBC Sounds yesterday). Several 'markets' transfer windows are still open (doubt he means Saudi, guessing Turkey). Not sure who he has in mind, Onuachu and Djenepo perhaps, possibly Sulemana. Guessing we can't shift Holgate on.

Wilcox mentioned in interview with Blackmore (before yesterday's game) that Jack would be out until Christmas, which is a lot more than RM's 7 games.

Holgate, Bazunu and Manning absolutely shocking. Can see why Holgate was out of it at Everton.Manning defensively was diabolical. People who thought we were well stocked at CB need to look at that and realise we are piss poor there especially with Stephens injured. No height at the back either. Hope THB is as good as everyone thinks. Just what we didn't need going into the break.

Despite what I said earlier I read that Adams travelled so maybe he will be in the matchday squad if not starting.

There are a few there who won't have travelled, Adams, ABK for starters, Sielmana, Mara as well

Amazed that no one has stalked the bus or plane leaving for Sunderland today. Knowing who was on there would have given a lot of insight into who was staying.