Sheaf Saint

Nope, you're not mental. Or at least if you are, you're not alone. Watching Saints under Russ had become a joyless chore. There was no reason to get excited, because even if we did manage to take the lead you just knew we would shoot ourselves in the foot and find a way to draw/lose the game. So it reached the stage where I couldn't even bring myself to celebrate us scoring anymore. When we got that string of corners in injury time, I was actually on the edge of my seat because we had defended properly as a team and kept ourselves in the game until the last minute, and I dared to allow myself to believe that we might actually steal it at the death. I can honestly say that was the first time this season I felt that. However, while it was encouraging and enjoyable, it also just made me feel even more angry that we had continued with the RM experiment for so long, because we might not be in such a perilous position right now if the board had taken notice of what was actually happening on the pitch and acted sooner.

What is the evidence for this?

He went off injured 3 times in the 2022/23 season. Twice for his shoulder problem that he eventually had surgery for, and once for a knee injury that kept him out for around 10 games. Should he have just carried on playing each time just because some armchair fans were questioning his commitment?

What do you mean by "the amount of games he tossed off that season"? He suffered 3 injuries during games and each time was side-lined for numerous games afterwards. This narrative that arose on here about him just not fancying it and finding a way to get himself subbed off is utter bullshit. He may well have an attitude problem, but we know already that RM had his favourites and would willingly drop people on principle rather than on form, so his claim that Russ just preferred the promotion lads seems entirely plausible. We'll see what happens in the coming weeks I guess, but I'm not ready to write him off completely yet when there were clearly other factors at play.

That's a weird take. This quote is obviously very recent, because he talks about assurances given regarding a fresh chance under the new coach. How is that 'spouting off to the press instead of training hard to force his way back in?' If ABK can successfully be reintegrated into the side and start showing the kind of dominant performances that we saw from him prior to his shoulder injury, then it will serve to prove further what a terrible manager RM really was.

I guess it depends who/what you read. What you say was certainly true of Edwards, but the narrative around Wood, from what I remember, was that he looked poor for Swansea and it looked very much like a 'jobs for the boys' signing from Russ. Anyway, I'm pleased that he's stepped up recently and started to show some real quality. Anything that reduces the likelihood of Captain Shoehorn getting on the pitch can only be a good thing.

Ironic isn't it. There was very little enthusiasm when he signed, with many claiming he was crap and only joining because Russ liked him, and he's only getting his chance to shine now that Russ has gone. But yes, I agree. He was good again today, except for the moment when he slipped which nearly led to a chance for Fulham.

This really pisses me off. The second half shot from Sugawara was quite clearly 'on target', but because it was blocked by a defender rather than saved by the keeper, it doesn't count? WTF!

I'd rather watch that than Russball.

See Russ - turns out we *can* defend alright when we don't piss about with the ball at the back. Fairly happy with that. Not great at all going forward, but much more solid at the back and a clean sheet isn't to be sniffed at.

On 89 mins. What's the point?

He looked like he really had something about him in his early cameos, but he clearly wasn't utilised properly by Russ.

The way shooting stats are recorded irks me. Suga's effort apparently doesn't count as being on target 🫤

Jimenez is bound to score isn't he.

Bournemouth 3-0 up at OT now.

Ball keeps coming straight back. If only we had a big, strong forward player who can hold it up and bring others into play.

Absolutely no need for that.

3-0 now

That's bollocks. Got the ball. Not even a foul, let alone a yellow.

I don't mind us doing it sometimes, as long as we switch it up and keep the oppo guessing. It's the fact that we were doing it literally every time under Russ and never being unpredictable that became so infuriating.

I believe it was reported that Archer played through illness on Wednesday, so that probably explains why he's not starting today.

Armstrong's 'pressing' consists of running around the oppo half like a headless chicken and watching their defenders pass it around him.

Well the good thing is that, just like the rest of us, Fulham won't have the faintest idea how we are going to set up and play the game, which might work to our advantage. The lineups may have been a bit of a tombola under Russ, but he would literally tell the opposing manager that we would never play any differently, so it was like an open invitation to take advantage of our inevitable mistakes passing around the back. I'm glad we don't have to worry about that absurd level of naivety anymore.

This is what Co-pilot has to say about Juric... So the key takeaways for me are defensive solidity, high intensity and physicality, and tactical flexibility - everything that Martin wasn't, and exactly how a team in our position should be playing. Whether or not the players are up to it and can make the adjustment from Russball to make it work - that's another question entirely.