Russell Martin

[CB Fry]

I've just scrolled back a few seasons and I can only see Norwich in 2019 who had a Goals Against of 57 and went up automatically.

Generally it's between 35-42, normally less than 40.

We're way off the pace. Forget the possession stats and focus on defence.

[Harry_SFC]

7 minutes ago, Golac's Cunning Stunts said:

Worryingly, he seems wedded to his martinball tactics. He has too much hubris to consider a rethink.

He kinda got away with it at Swansea because the expectations were a bit lower. Realistically we have to go back up this season or next. History says after that teams struggle to get promoted again. There is a lot more pressure here.

[Toadhall Saint]

6 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I've just scrolled back a few seasons and I can only see Norwich in 2019 who had a Goals Against of 57 and went up automatically.

Generally it's between 35-42, normally less than 40.

We're way off the pace. Forget the possession stats and focus on defence.

It’s what most managers do - get the defence right and go from there - I’m not sure what “Russ” has put right from last year? Defence can’t defend - midfield are nowhere to be seen CF still can’t hit the target from 10 yards out more often than not.

[Turkish]

In hindsight him comments the other day about it Wilcox rings him up and says that’s it we’re very odd. Doesn’t strike me as a manager full of confidence he can succeed here. 

[Daft Kerplunk]

Not that he’s doing a great job at the moment but last night showed again that the belief in the quality of the players we have may be a little bit over the top. The squad is not that great in reality. Sulemana for one showed why he couldn’t get a move away as he’s just not proven he can. And that problem of commitment and spirit still remain and that’s been apparent for some time. Not a chance at this rate this squad gets promoted, regardless of the manager. 

[hypochondriac]

23 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Do we think that Wilcox could roll up his sleeves and make some telling defensive changes?

Not as drastic as a sacking but done in a no nonsense - this has gone far enough, and you need a bit of guidance kind of way. 

I think Martins deficiencies in this area were well known prior to his appointment. We've given him the time and it's clearly this is still what is sorely lacking. If we managed to sort the defensive setup (the fullbacks especially) then we'd probably be very successful. I'd say there's a good case for bringing in alternatives. 

[hypochondriac]

13 minutes ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

Not that he’s doing a great job at the moment but last night showed again that the belief in the quality of the players we have may be a little bit over the top. The squad is not that great in reality. Sulemana for one showed why he couldn’t get a move away as he’s just not proven he can. And that problem of commitment and spirit still remain and that’s been apparent for some time. Not a chance at this rate this squad gets promoted, regardless of the manager. 

Bollocks. More than half the team are new recruits. Many of these players have been top performers in promoted teams. It's the system that's causing this. An experienced and pragmatic manager woukd have us performing better than we are currently. 

[hypochondriac]

23 minutes ago, Turkish said:

In hindsight him comments the other day about it Wilcox rings him up and says that’s it we’re very odd. Doesn’t strike me as a manager full of confidence he can succeed here. 

I wonder if he were honest with himself if he'd rather we played exactly how he wanted us to and lost or nothing like it and won. I am nervous it's the former. 

[Whitey Grandad]

32 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I've just scrolled back a few seasons and I can only see Norwich in 2019 who had a Goals Against of 57 and went up automatically.

Generally it's between 35-42, normally less than 40.

We're way off the pace. Forget the possession stats and focus on defence.

We’ve conceded 16 goals in six matches so far. At this rate we shall have exceeded our quota before the end of October. Projections after only 6 games are always dangerous but I cannot see any reasons for optimism. This imposter just doesn’t know how to defend.

[Whitey Grandad]

2 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I wonder if he were honest with himself if he'd rather we played exactly how he wanted us to and lost or nothing like it and won. I am nervous it's the former. 

It’s a classic case of style over substance.

[Turkish]

14 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I wonder if he were honest with himself if he'd rather we played exactly how he wanted us to and lost or nothing like it and won. I am nervous it's the former. 

It’s also a bit weird after your team have been hammered for the second game in a row to come out and say he thought it was a great game. He’s not a neutral fan ffs. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

14 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

We’ve conceded 16 goals in six matches so far. At this rate we shall have exceeded our quota before the end of October. Projections after only 6 games are always dangerous but I cannot see any reasons for optimism. This imposter just doesn’t know how to defend.

You’re one of the “I want to be entertained “ nods. You’ve got a bit of neck complaining about us defensively, you’ve seen loads of goals and some great “entertainment “. Better than those 0-0’s under Puel isn’t it? 

[hypochondriac]

9 minutes ago, Turkish said:

It’s also a bit weird after your team have been hammered for the second game in a row to come out and say he thought it was a great game. He’s not a neutral fan ffs. 

And he's proud of the team? What's there to be proud of after you concede 4 goals at home? 

[sfc4prem]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

And he's proud of the team? What's there to be proud of after you concede 4 goals at home? 

He's proud that they listened to him more than they did against Sunderland, or something.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

And he's proud of the team? What's there to be proud of after you concede 4 goals at home? 

Am guessing he didn't hear the boos at half and full time then? Not sure the fans were filling too proud.

[Turkish]

10 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Am guessing he didn't hear the boos at half and full time then? Not sure the fans were filling too proud.

No wonder really. How many teams in Europe will have as bad a home record as us over the last 5 years?

Edited 16 September, 2023 by Turkish

[Suhari]

I'm getting the same snake oil salesman, bullshitter vibes that Mad Nate gave out.

Hope I'm wrong but I'm really not sure Rusty is all that.

We've looked pretty going forward at times, but that's not enough.

Wonder how the squad see it?

Big few weeks for him.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Like thousands of others I left the stadium after the 4th goal went in and I can't remember seeing and hearing so much anger towards a manager from among the disgrunted exodus. With Jones there was a comical edge to the anger because we all knew he wouldn't last but last night there was genuine fury, aimed mostly towards the manager. I was nonplussed on his appointment based on his record, his predilection for tip tappy possession football and the fact most Swansea fans didn't seem too bothered about him leaving.

I went to Sheffield and was pleasantly surprised. It has gone rapidly down hill since. We picked up points v QPR, Norwich and Plymouth but were far from convincing. Sunderland was a disgrace and last night was equally woeful in terms of tactics etc.

So I am going to stick my neck out and say I don't think Russell Martin has it in him to give us promotion this season and probably not next. It is ludicrous to call for his head so soon but I genuinely don't think he has what it takes. Sports Republic have now made three substandard managerial appointments, we have had 4 managers in 12 months and won 3 league games in that time. That is a shocking stat. If we can't persuade someone like Potter (very unlikely) we need a steady Eddie type to steady the ship, and get back to basics. Someone like Mowbray who knows the Championship inside out who gets the basics right. But SR don't seem to be learning the error of their ways and if they are brave enough to dispense with Martin the liklihood is another left-field hipster-like appointment and the merry-go-around starts all over again. More madness and misery.

[Suhari]

2 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

Like thousands of others I left the stadium after the 4th goal went in and I can't remember seeing and hearing so much anger towards a manager from among the disgrunted exodus. With Jones there was a comical edge to the anger because we all knew he wouldn't last but last night there was genuine fury, aimed mostly towards the manager. I was nonplussed on his appointment based on his record, his predilection for tip tappy possession football and the fact most Swansea fans didn't seem too bothered about him leaving.

I went to Sheffield and was pleasantly surprised. It has gone rapidly down hill since. We picked up points v QPR, Norwich and Plymouth but were far from convincing. Sunderland was a disgrace and last night was equally woeful in terms of tactics etc.

So I am going to stick my neck out and say I don't think Russell Martin has it in him to give us promotion this season and probably not next. It is ludicrous to call for his head so soon but I genuinely don't think he has what it takes. Sports Republic have now made three substandard managerial appointments, we have had 4 managers in 12 months and won 3 league games in that time. That is a shocking stat. If we can't persuade someone like Potter (very unlikely) we need a steady Eddie type to steady the ship, and get back to basics. Someone like Mowbray who knows the Championship inside out who gets the basics right. But SR don't seem to be learning the error of their ways and if they are brave enough to dispense with Martin the liklihood is another left-field hipster-like appointment and the merry-go-around starts all over again. More madness and misery.

It's not dull being a fan nowadays, is it?!

[egg]

29 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

You’re one of the “I want to be entertained “ nods. You’ve got a bit of neck complaining about us defensively, you’ve seen loads of goals and some great “entertainment “. Better than those 0-0’s under Puel isn’t it? 

Yep, we're in a results business first and foremost. Call me old fashioned, but I'd take an even mix of dull 1-0 wins and plucky 0-0 draws over 'exciting' 4-1 maulings every time. 

[badgerx16]

As the team beds in and RM accumulates more time working with the squad, are the performances and results getting better or worse ?

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, badgerx16 said:

As the team beds in and RM accumulates more time working with the squad, are the performances and results getting better or worse ?

Worse. 

However, MLG is on twitter telling people off. Suggesting we can't expect nothing more at the moment as Martin has only had 2 days training with the whole squad.

 

[Oldandtired]

What concerns me is that RM is starting to sound like Nathan Jones in his ‘my way or the highway’ approach to his tactics. Reading his Sky post match comments has led me to believe that he was at a different game than me, in my opinion we were pretty clueless. I don’t think Leicester were that good, it was just that they had done their homework and knew exactly how to play against us.

Far from delivering promotion this season, unless things change this manager will be fortunate to avoid relegation. I get that it’s early days still, but the way he seems determined to stick to his style of playing, woefully inadequate as it seems at the moment, and would appear to be resistant to change, is concerning.

[S-Clarke]

I've mentioned this before, but our most recent successful teams under Koeman and Adkins weren't based on any sort of magical philosophy - it was a case of pick the best players, play them in their correct positions and have steal through the spine. That was it. We mixed it up if we needed to, but we played good football at times because we had good players in the side - no more than that.

We didn't need to reinvent football, we just got good players and good leaders in the building. We now seem fixated on doing football our own way with kids, which is total nonsense.

Edited 16 September, 2023 by S-Clarke

[sfc4prem]

If we keep on with this defensive record, we'll end up conceding over 100 goals this season.

It is absolutely no wonder that the fanbase is angry. It's schoolboy, hipster, fuckboy defensive tactics. It's trying to fly to the moon when you haven't even mastered walking.

[Smirking_Saint]

On 06/09/2023 at 07:37, Smirking_Saint said:

This is exactly it for me, I think its a good system in theory and is/will be conducive to a good season but so far what I have seen is a team that over commits too much

People have talked about how he is trying to emulate pep, and to an extent he is, but Peps sides, although agreed are brimming with talent, tend to be a bit more patient and will have enough bodies behind the ball if and when turnovers occur

Far too often the only men back for us are our CBs, and even then one of them eventually progresses with the ball… I think I said as early as the reading game that I was worried we over commit at times… and here we are

He needs to add more resilience and fast

Nothings changed unfortunately

Im still pro RM but we have to see a change, we simply have to see more defensive structure… its no good just pointing to the players and saying they need to work harder, for how long do you blame them and sit on your hands ?

Against Sunderland this was Downes’ average positions.. thats simply not good enough for a No.6

The wing backs.. the reason you invert them is to allow for a central buffer, allowing the midfield to push up with atleast one of the FBs movibg centrally to assist

Its just not good enough, you can have the greatest passing stats in the world but if as soon as you lose it you’re undone then its absolutely worthless

Im happy to give RM a little longer but not if he is as stubborn as he seems, you simply have to be better defensively

[davefizzy14]

Surely RM can see that to be successful you have to build and be solid from the back. The last two games have been the complete opposite.

[Lord Duckhunter]

If you’ve just been dicked 5 and are then facing probably the best side in the league, what do you do? You fucking tighten up, be solid from the start and if need be take your 0-0 & move on. What do we do, kamikaze football & get another chasing.
 

Trust the process, my arse. He’s now put himself under intense pressure with a tough run of games coming up. Tuesday could turn nasty & we’re still in September FFS. 
 

If he genuinely believes the pony he spouted after the game, then I would be worried about the future. Surely to god he can see that he needs to change a couple of things, nobody is asking him to abandon a possession based game, just to make some tweaks, defend properly & try & make it a bit more difficult for the opposition. 

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Nothings changed unfortunately

Im still pro RM but we have to see a change, we simply have to see more defensive structure… its no good just pointing to the players and saying they need to work harder, for how long do you blame them and sit on your hands ?

Against Sunderland this was Downes’ average positions.. thats simply not good enough for a No.6

The wing backs.. the reason you invert them is to allow for a central buffer, allowing the midfield to push up with atleast one of the FBs movibg centrally to assist

Its just not good enough, you can have the greatest passing stats in the world but if as soon as you lose it you’re undone then its absolutely worthless

Im happy to give RM a little longer but not if he is as stubborn as he seems, you simply have to be better defensively

That's a great illustration of how I saw our midfield last night, i'd expect Smallbones positions to be very similar - thus leaving a massive gaping vortex in the opposing half for them to run into every time they wanted to.

Like you say, when you then have Manning and KWP inverted, the flanks are free game as well as the middle. It's suicidal and team swill be licking their lips, any team - pub teams, 5 a-side, non-league - they'd all love to play against us because we give them so much opportunity.

[Harry_SFC]

4 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

If you’ve just been dicked 5 and are then facing probably the best side in the league, what do you do? You fucking tighten up, be solid from the start and if need be take your 0-0 & move on. What do we do, kamikaze football & get another chasing.
 

Trust the process, my arse. He’s now put himself under intense pressure with a tough run of games coming up. Tuesday could turn nasty & we’re still in September FFS. 
 

If he genuinely believes the pony he spouted after the game, then I would be worried about the future. Surely to god he can see that he needs to change a couple of things, nobody is asking him to abandon a possession based game, just to make some tweaks, defend properly & try & make it a bit more difficult for the opposition. 

Yep.

As I said, you can do away with this inverted full back nonsense, leave a couple more men back from corners and and tone down the commitment to get everyone forward and still play decent possession based football.

He's trying to come up with some wonder game plan that is clearly just pie in the sky stuff.

Edited 16 September, 2023 by Harry_SFC

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

That's a great illustration of how I saw our midfield last night, i'd expect Smallbones positions to be very similar - thus leaving a massive gaping vortex in the opposing half for them to run into every time they wanted to.

Like you say, when you then have Manning and KWP inverted, the flanks are free game as well as the middle. It's suicidal and team swill be licking their lips, any team - pub teams, 5 a-side, non-league - they'd all love to play against us because we give them so much opportunity.

But according to Martin, we played well, he is proud and the players did what was asked of them. In fact, no one will criticise the Leicester manager at all despite them losing the ball more than Saints.

I mean, we are hilariously wide open at our own corners. 

Their 4th....it was of Leicester attackers against Bazunu from 25 years inside their own half....WTF!

 

tRusT ThE pRoCesS

Edited 16 September, 2023 by AlexLaw76

[Whitey Grandad]

50 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

You’re one of the “I want to be entertained “ nods. You’ve got a bit of neck complaining about us defensively, you’ve seen loads of goals and some great “entertainment “. Better than those 0-0’s under Puel isn’t it? 

Now you’re being ridiculous, if not stupid. I’m sure you know better than this but your weird preoccupation with me leads you to post these personal attacks.

Under Puel we were dire. Under Martin we are just awful. Am I so wrong to want something better? Something that most other clubs have?

[derry]

RM's Sky interview last night was a car crash almost in denial and oblivious of the stupidity of no defensive organisation especially when in possession. Smallbone's actions when last defender for the fourth goal was naive. Instead of sticking a foot out and letting the player run past him he should have ruthlessly blocked him. So what if he was sent off as already booked. 

We don't need to change a lot but it seems RM doesn't get it. Firstly iron discipline and ruthless defending at the back. Play the passing game in the opponents half. Secondly both full backs play like defenders and the two centre backs make up a back four plus Shea Charles playing as a defensive pivot in front of the back four. We can then play five attacking midfielders and forwards. No short passing in our final third and certainly none from Bazunu. Play the ball up the lines and channels and play from there. We are at our most vulnerable when we have the ball and lose it. We don't want the left back taking corners, free kicks and throw ins down by the right corner flag. It's all about discipline and forget about freewheeling off the cuff showboating with no shape.

Edited 16 September, 2023 by derry

[Saint Matty 76]

Can’t be arsed with another managerial fiasco this early, and I do wonder if I’m less furious because he seems like a nice guy, but last night was a fucking shambles.

The 4v4 at the back with 30 yards between midfield/defence when their keeper had the ball was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before? It just took one knockdown from Vardy into Winks who had the freedom of midfield all night and they were suddenly in on goal?

KWP, Smallbone and Charles absolutely disgraceful performances in particular. The latter somewhat excused because we’ve seen him be decent in midfield at least. The literal only positives of the game were Edozie, off at HT, and Bazunu’s distribution, constantly boo’d by the Northam for whatever reason.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

But according to Martin, we played well, he is proud and the players did what was asked of them. In fact, no one will criticise the Leicester manager at all despite them losing the ball more than Saints.

 

tRusT ThE pRoCesS

It is true that Leicester also gave the ball away many times, but the difference was their numbers behind the ball whenever that happened. They were always able to get back and block angles, we were then too slow to act and it was all over. So there are many issues with us, not just defensive shape, but also what we do when we have the ball as we need to be quicker - especially if we nick the ball off the team. We just give them time to re-group.

Leicester didn't need to be amazing, they just needed to play on the break and use their pace to exploit the empty half of St Mary's. We gave the ball away a few times as well, but they were quicker and more incisive when that was presented to them - not slow and ponderous like we were.

All in all there is a hell of a lot wrong right now.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

It is true that Leicester also gave the ball away many times, but the difference was their numbers behind the ball whenever that happened. They were always able to get back and block angles, we were then too slow to act and it was all over. So there are many issues with us, not just defensive shape, but also what we do when we have the ball as we need to be quicker - especially if we nick the ball off the team. We just give them time to re-group.

Leicester didn't need to be amazing, they just needed to play on the break and use their pace to exploit the empty half of St Mary's. We gave the ball away a few times as well, but they were quicker and more incisive when that was presented to them - not slow and ponderous like we were.

All in all there is a hell of a lot wrong right now.

True, Leicester were not that great (did not have to be), but look at their shape / set up compared to ours....night and day.

[egg]

5 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

If you’ve just been dicked 5 and are then facing probably the best side in the league, what do you do? You fucking tighten up, be solid from the start and if need be take your 0-0 & move on. What do we do, kamikaze football & get another chasing.
 

Trust the process, my arse. He’s now put himself under intense pressure with a tough run of games coming up. Tuesday could turn nasty & we’re still in September FFS. 
 

If he genuinely believes the pony he spouted after the game, then I would be worried about the future. Surely to god he can see that he needs to change a couple of things, nobody is asking him to abandon a possession based game, just to make some tweaks, defend properly & try & make it a bit more difficult for the opposition. 

Absolutely. First priority is to make the team solid. Then it's to score goals. His philosophy seems to be little more than keep the ball, with no obvious plan on how the priorities will be met. 

We need more than tweaks imo. The team needs proper shape. The full backs need to be full backs who can get forward only when possible, the midfield needs a man behind the ball, and two other players actually playing in midfield rather than some sort of inside left/right or whatever the hell was going on last night. It's a mess. 

[Turkish]

24 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Worse. 

However, MLG is on twitter telling people off. Suggesting we can't expect nothing more at the moment as Martin has only had 2 days training with the whole squad.

 

How many days did the Leicester manager have with his?

[Mr X]

Anyone that says they are proud of their team after a 5-0 and a 4-1 defeat is clearly a good fit for us 

[Lord Duckhunter]

Surely some of the players need to challenge him. I can think of a few Centre halves or midfields that would have done in the past. His tactics are making them look like twats, so you’d hope they’d stand up and have their say.

It’s healthy to have a culture where bosses are challenged & critiqued by the staff. I’m not talking about calling him a cunt or squaring up to him (although, again I can think of a few that would have done), but professionally & calmly putting your point across.
 

I doubt anyone will because most of them are still learning their trade, which is why these type of managers like nippers. Could you see Jamie Vardy putting up with that shite if they played like that yesterday? 

[Daft Kerplunk]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Bollocks. More than half the team are new recruits. Many of these players have been top performers in promoted teams. It's the system that's causing this. An experienced and pragmatic manager woukd have us performing better than we are currently. 

Not bollocks at all. That’s not a quality team out there and I’m not in denial. The system could be better to get the best out of them but the experienced players out there are still carrying the low spirit of the past few seasons. Deny it all you want, and plenty agree with you clearly but the core problem remains. No fight, players hiding, weak mentality. We’ve had 4 managers in as many years and none have been able to sort that out. That suggests something underlying. 

[sfc4prem]

2 minutes ago, Mr X said:

Anyone that says they are proud of their team after a 5-0 and a 4-1 defeat is clearly a good fit for us 

It just ties in to that old phrase from Semmens back in the PL, where we were 'lucky to be there' for 'a club of our size'. That fatalism, that attitude of inevitably about being up against it and losing regularly.

Martin claiming to be mostly pleased after getting slapped about by an away team, making it easy for them to slice us open in the process, is ridiculous. No wonder the fans are pissed off.

[The Cat]

3 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Surely some of the players need to challenge him. I can think of a few Centre halves or midfields that would have done in the past. His tactics are making them look like twats, so you’d hope they’d stand up and have their say.

It’s healthy to have a culture where bosses are challenged & critiqued by the staff. I’m not talking about calling him a cunt or squaring up to him (although, again I can think of a few that would have done), but professionally & calmly putting your point across.
 

I doubt anyone will because most of them are still learning their trade, which is why these type of managers like nippers. Could you see Jamie Vardy putting up with that shite if they played like that yesterday? 

Jamie Vardy must have put up with the shite his team were serving up last year because he stayed.

Why does it have to be CB's and midfielders who challenge him? Can't keepers, strikers or wingers do it?

How do we know that there isn't a culture where coaches and players can professionally put their point across? We have no idea what happens in the week behind closed doors. 

[egg]

2 minutes ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

Not bollocks at all. That’s not a quality team out there and I’m not in denial. The system could be better to get the best out of them but the experienced players out there are still carrying the low spirit of the past few seasons. Deny it all you want, and plenty agree with you clearly but the core problem remains. No fight, players hiding, weak mentality. We’ve had 4 managers in as many years and none have been able to sort that out. That suggests something underlying. 

I'd understand that argument if the bulk of the team were playing over the last few seasons. KWP and Adams are the only recent season (outfield) regulars who played last night. AA wasn't a regular, and plainly has a give it all attitude. Edozie was in and out last year and is a tryer. Everyone else is new, and the low spirit of previous seasons has nothing do with how they're being shoe horned in to a daft shaped team. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

Just now, The Cat said:

 

Why does it have to be CB's and midfielders who challenge him? Can't keepers, strikers or wingers do it?

How do we know that there isn't a culture where coaches and players can professionally put their point across? We have no idea what happens in the week behind closed doors. 

I didn’t say it had to be centre halves & midfielders only that I could think of a few who played in those positions who would have done so.
 

If you believe there’s a culture where he’s challenged, then you’ve got more faith than I have. The fact they’re all pally pally & all seem to indicate they’re fully onboard the bus, makes me think differently. 
 

 

[hypochondriac]

14 minutes ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

Not bollocks at all. That’s not a quality team out there and I’m not in denial. The system could be better to get the best out of them but the experienced players out there are still carrying the low spirit of the past few seasons. Deny it all you want, and plenty agree with you clearly but the core problem remains. No fight, players hiding, weak mentality. We’ve had 4 managers in as many years and none have been able to sort that out. That suggests something underlying. 

 

What experienced players do you mean? The problem we have isn't with our attack, it's with the defence and how we protect them from midfield. Bazunu had an alright game yesterday so the only players you could be referring to are kwp and then a whole bunch of our attacking players who have little to do with the shitshow at the back. 

Charles 

THB 

Manning 

Downes 

Fraser 

Had nothing to do with the past few years, Smallbone barely played, Edozie was pretty good yesterday so the remaining two are Armstrong and Adams so it's three maybe four players from that starting eleven. 

We need a back to basics approach. We have been crying out for years to have a player in their best position with a very clear idea of what their job is and what role they are doing for the team. If we have that and are still struggling then I'll agree with you but I strongly suspect that it would see a marked upturn in form and performance from a host of players. 

 

Edited 16 September, 2023 by hypochondriac

[hypochondriac]

17 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Surely some of the players need to challenge him. I can think of a few Centre halves or midfields that would have done in the past. His tactics are making them look like twats, so you’d hope they’d stand up and have their say.

It’s healthy to have a culture where bosses are challenged & critiqued by the staff. I’m not talking about calling him a cunt or squaring up to him (although, again I can think of a few that would have done), but professionally & calmly putting your point across.
 

I doubt anyone will because most of them are still learning their trade, which is why these type of managers like nippers. Could you see Jamie Vardy putting up with that shite if they played like that yesterday? 

I wonder if Fonte was ever actually serious about coming back here. Imagine him next to THB with Charles back in defensive midfield. We'd probably still be fecking it up because of the ridiculous inverted FB thing but experience is so underrated in this league. Again, we've left ourselves without a wise head in key positions at CB and DM. 

[Kermitzasaint]

3 hours ago, HKsaint said:

Martin is doing experiments on us. We are leaking goals for fun. 

Its not experimental.  He does this at all his clubs. Hence why he has never achieved anything other than aggravating supporters.

I'm confused how fans claim he is likeable.  Who cares if he is a nice guy or not? It's results that matter.

I don't trust any decision that SR make now.

[S-Clarke]

24 minutes ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

Not bollocks at all. That’s not a quality team out there and I’m not in denial. The system could be better to get the best out of them but the experienced players out there are still carrying the low spirit of the past few seasons. Deny it all you want, and plenty agree with you clearly but the core problem remains. No fight, players hiding, weak mentality. We’ve had 4 managers in as many years and none have been able to sort that out. That suggests something underlying. 

This was a fair argument a few years ago when we persisted with starting players Moi, Moussa, Salisu, Perraud, McCarthy, Redmond, Stu Armstrong, Diallo etc etc. But over the last year we have pretty much evolved the entire starting 11 with new players.

The only first team players who are still in the building that have been here more than a season is KWP, Bednarek, Adams and Armstrong (Stephens and Smallbone were never regulars for us before this year really). Everyone else is either new this year or new from the year before. I have no doubt's that the quality is available to us, I don't want to start seeing that creep into arguments ''we don't have the quality bla bla' - we do, we're one of the best teams at this level and you cannot deny that.

We just need a better structure so we can get the most out of these players, otherwise it's going to be a waste of everyone's time. We'll then lose those ''good'' players and end up going down the vortex of Euell, Powell, Makin and Jermaine Wright levels again.

[Lord Duckhunter]

15 minutes ago, Kermitzasaint said:

 

I'm confused how fans claim he is likeable.  Who cares if he is a nice guy or not? It's results that matter.

 

Who knows if he’s even a nice guy? He may pick the legs off spiders and kick dogs up the arse for all we know.

Same with fucking Wilcox who now seems to have this image of a good appointment. 

I’ve stopped listening to radio but what was Blackmores questioning like after the game. I bet it was really soft, & probably had a quick mention of his lost love,  Ralphy. ❤️