Greedyfly

I don't think he should keep his job, I just don't see the point of him being sacked either. I accept its going to be a boring situation having to watch this drivel for the rest of the season that's all. If he goes now or in the summer it's kind of neither here or there now, we should still have a very good chance of going straight back up regardless.

Even then we had 4 points. I am surprised by how many people are happy with failing again, and being relegated. For the record I see no point in sacking Martin now, because its too late regardless, but that doesn't mean he's done a good job, in fact he's completely underperformed and as with any walk of life his performance should be up for review and where relevant stripped of his position. Unfortunately, we've dug such a hole now, that it largely doesn't matter who is in charge.

It's easy to have a pop at Stephens because he's utter shite, but Bednarek is honestly little better. Both have presided over relegations, both dropped by other Prem teams and here we are giving them club captaincy and a contract extension lol

This, above everything else, is why I hope he gets the chop soon. The squad IS shite, that's not wholly on him but he manages to utilise it so poorly. Messing around with formations (5 at the back, 4 at the back who knows), the insistence of playing the worst CB at the club (Stephens), playing/not playing people who could actually slot into actual positions they play (Manning/Taylor/Lallana), mismanaging of better players (ABK -TP), looney reasoning and mad man rumblings in press conferences. He deserves credit for last season IMO and deserved his shot this, but that's now run out.

Another 2 and we can be safe - another 7 and we can put the 9-0 to bed

This is the thing that irritates me the most. Oh and the weird formation/team selection. It smells of a man who hasn't a clue what he's doing and is hoping something comes off.

I think it already is. I think statistically we have to be sitting on like 8 points by 11 games to have hope!

I am not sure it was that clear cut. Good work from Dibling though, agreed.

You are giving him far too much credit here

If nothing else you've won comment of the day, well done!

Quite the dilemma that!

There is absolutely this about him. I do think he's the best defender here, but he's clearly got a bit of an attitude about him, and we also seem to have forgotten he's made of glass, which is why I can actually get behind Martin not including him specifically. Unfortunately I can't defend Martin over much else which is why I can't fathom him not including ABK after all has been said and done. Catch 22.

My favourite bit about the strikers comment is, if we needed to score goals and win games, why the fuck were they on the bench - which presumably was the point of the question in the first place. The dopey prick.

It was the entirety of our strike force (if you mean purely "strikers" that is).

This. I love how people take things totally out of context on here. They aren't playing in midfield.

It's this sort of thing that makes you think he's truly lost it and resigned to the sack. We started fine against United, maybe few tweaks here and there and we'd have a decent-ish team. Russ, nah fuck it I'll take all our strikers off, stick Cornet/Dibling up front. Fuck. Sake.

Why not start, you know, an actual striker. There's 15 on the bench to choose from. Stick Cornet in Frasers position.

"....when I take over"

Missed a penalty too. So we have that in common.

I actually had forgotten about Cornet so fair enough. Though I can't say whether he's actually any good or not. Fraser is just meh when he starts, it seems, but a great impact sub.

Sure I don't love it either but the alternative is go to 442 or leave Archer as a loan striker which I don't like. BBD has/does play out wide and that hasn't worked and Archer doesn't give you "goals goals goals" but does look to have some pace about him at least, hence trying him as a wide option. I actually wish we'd just go with the soul loan striker and an actual wide player, making us a bit more robust in midfield (and thus hoping this has a knock on affect with our defence), but the issues there are we have a) no wide player on that side and b) no decent number 9. I think the fact that no one really can pick a decent attack speaks volumes.

That is what I'd run but Stewart up the middle and Archer left/right

Correct.

"Arguing" a point is having an argument, it's not that hard. You literally said it but good for you.

See this is an idea we can all get behind.