Regarding Mara; I wondered if it was because we pulled the loan late & wanted to show some willing / confidence builder for him? Seemed a strange choice from the off & then keeping him on till the obligatory 70th min.
The strange part wasn’t playing him, as much as playing him on the right wing. One of a series of strange choices by RM today. If we’re going to play him, push Adarma (who was back to the PL version today) out wide and Mara through the middle. I’m willing to give RM a pass on this one today, as his hand was probably a bit forced by shenanigans yesterday, but if he hasn’t learned that we need a DM screening defence after today, I will become concerned.
Yep a lot of weird choices & tactics by RM today. Can’t say I’m convinced to date but early days & 2 weeks to get organised. Next game will be a marker & im not talking about the result, whatever that is.
My wife asked what the final score was? She knew it was 4-0 with 30mins to go. I said 5-0 & a 16 year old scored in the last minute. She asked, was it just some random they pulled from the crowd just to make his day!
Just read the posts after I got back from the match. My Sunderland mate said before the match that he would take 0-0. Sunderland couldnt score goals, had no effective strikers, very young team. Rang me after the match to say all the supporters around him are in shock at the result. Never expected it. My take on the match is Holgate is not a good defender. Not easy coming into a poor defence, but he made loads of mistakes Mara is too lightweight. Lost the ball so often. The build up from the back was so slow that Sunderland players had loads of time to mark up. Bazunu had very little cover for the goals. Saves late on kept it to 5. Che was very angry, could have got two quick yellows. KWP just seemed to be playing anywhere he felt like. Sunderland players just grew in confidence, when they realised there was no plan B. Saints had a ‘team of strangers game’. Aribo looked like a guy who woke up from a skin full the night before a Sunday League game to remember he was playing and shuffled on too late, making the team worse. Apart from that the game was crap. Luckily I only had a 25 mile journey home, not like the guy next to me who was facing 7 hours back.
Just seen the "highlights" I know most on here think he's OK, but Baz doesn't seem to be getting any better. I think SR should see if Schmeichel fancies it. No harm in trying
I don`t know if its Martin`s system, or the players inability to play the system. If the fullbacks are both stranded up the pitch, then the wide midfield players need to cover. Especially since Manning doesn`t have the pace to recover. Either that or go to a back 5 again (we won`t!) Charles has to play in front of the defence, because the rest of them don`t seem to have the discipline or awareness to get between the ball and the goal.
Manning seems to run out of steam after the hour mark. Not the fastest as it is. If he was Swansea's best player last season, I'm glad we didn't sign Wood or Grimes.
The home matches I have watched have been entertaining but certainly not anything to suggest the optimism I have read on thos board about being able to "piss" the league. I would suggest that the earlier results were more impressive give the players we then had available who have now moved elsewhere. This season was never going to be easy for RM and I have to say the opinions stating that we will make a quick return to the PL do not really reflect the enormity of the task he has. the fans need to be patient. I have been surprised just how many points we have accumulated so far as I was not expecting the season to get up and running for Saints until October. If we make the play-offs , it will be a remarkable experience but I think the whole point of this season is to watch some enjooyable football , Let RM analyse the squad and work out it's failings and then to make a concerted bid for promotion in 24/25. Today was a reality check which underscroed that some of the fundemental issues from the last few seasons still need to be addressed.
