Absolutely correct, defensive shambles, the scoreline was bad enough but look at the excellent chances they missed? It could very easily have been 8 or 9 against. I really fear for us because RM won't be changing tactics any time soon and any half decent counter attacking team will tear us apart.
Surprised nobody has started the Martin Out thread yet, surely there is one on Saintsweb? Another thing to consider is that we are (probably were) one of the favourites to go up and I don’t think Martin has managed a team like that before. Being the plucky underdogs in a lot of games and playing some great football at times is something we know a lot about from our time in the PL. He has now taken a step up in terms of expectation and how other teams will look to play against his style, he will need to adapt
On a positive note from the two heavy defeats it took us two games to let in 9 goals and we scored one.
Another 2 or 3 games like that and there will be I would have thought. He needs to find an answer to our leaky performances ……quickly.
There is one on saintsweb. Seems to have United the whole board in thinking he is as clueless as Jones
Yeah, Ipswich is a tough game and then Huddersfield I think, who whilst being far behind us talent wise on paper are managed by Warnock who will probably school Martin like Mowbray did unless Martin changes something
I had to work late yesterday so rushed straight from work to the game, no time for dinner and then took ages to get home afterwards, despite the ground being half empty by the time I left at the final whistle. Saints once again making me question my sanity! The thing that gets me is that it was obvious since the Norwich game when Charles came on at half time at DM that we needed to play him and play him at DM. Doesn’t matter who is CB if we constantly have no cover in midfield and 3/4 players running at just our CBs as happened AGAIN yesterday multiple times. I said before the game that I’d rather have Holgate partner THB as although we could really do with a settled defence, we’re not having any luck with injuries there at the moment and becoming more solid in midfield was more important. The fact that game after game we can see the same issues with fairly obvious means to improve them, and yet we go into the next game exactly the same is a big concern for me. We shouldn’t be nearly this bad, even with individual errors which will inevitably happen from time to time. It’s no exaggeration to say that Leicester should have scored 3, maybe 4 more last night and yes they moved the ball very quickly, seemed organised and fluent for the most part like they all knew each others game and the tactics they were playing. But even saying that, they did not have to work hard to score against us. Not sure there’s any need to talk about individual performances but KWP was dreadful. In the second half during a break in play for injury, him and Mavididi were having a long talk whilst covering their mouths so nobody could lip read. Can just imagine him saying he couldn’t believe he was still at Saints and didn’t get his move in the summer. Smallbone was also particularly bad and off the pace, particularly in the first half. Downes has been disappointing so far too. Oh and also don’t get the logic in making a like for like change at HT for arguably our best player of the first half. Not going to change the gaping holes in midfield. Thought the obvious change was to bring on Holgate and move Charles forward, particularly when Downes then went off injured, but instead RM doubled down on having no midfield and brought on Alcaraz. Rant over. Can’t wait for Tuesday against seemingly another of the better sides…
Yep & then Leeds. Must admit I fear for us. I honestly don’t think RM’s got it & wont have sufficient to turn around. Jeez the last two games have been so depressing.
Middlesbrough have been utterly terrible so far this season in fairness, if their form hasn’t improved by then we shouldn’t be fearing that fixture…… But I know Saints are Saints.
Yep, think I may have jumped the gun on his all round good bloke vibe and chatter. Problem is, he needs to win bloody football games and if he isn't able to adapt I fear for him. Just when I was feeling hopeful!
Yeah for those who think you and I are negative and moaning they really need to have a gander over there. They ****ing hate him. I think the atmosphere and Tues night has real potential to get fruity. Unfortunately I'm on nights for that one
For the second game running we have basically thrown the game away in the first 15 minutes. The first two goals were shocking and it could've been more with some suicidal passes in defence. It's ok to have the philosophy of playing from the back but you have learn to play the percentages and know which passes to pick and when. I expected a few mixed results at the start but you can't keep on giving yourself a mountain to climb every match and lessons have to be learned. It's clear that the Downes/Smallbone combination is not going to work and it should be one or the other with Charles. I personally think that Smallbone is more effective further forward where he can hurt defences with his passing. The test is now and we desperately need a good defensive performance and a clean sheet or two and build from that, lot's of work to be done on the training ground and with the mentality moving forward.
I cannot believe the mistakes that were happening in the game. Mid field walking back to their positions. No man marking in midfield. No positional sense at all. Preferred passing back rather than looking for a forward option happened so many times. Back to our own goal keeper from attacking positions forward. Unbelievable at times.
Well, that was a bag of ****e wasn’t it. Defensively Martin doesn’t have a ****ing clue. You can’t give the FBs the freedom to roam without having a dominant defensive midfielder sitting in front of and between the CBs, to help cover the gaps, and from what I have seen Downes isn’t that player. He lacks presence and doesn’t shield the defence, whereas from what I have seen so far Shea Charles does. Smallbone is too similar to Downes so shouldn’t be in the same 11, except maybe in a 4-4-2 set up. Our slow build up play means we are constantly having to break down 10 men defences and the players who could best help us do it all started on the bench last night - Stuart, Charly, Sulemana and Sam AA. Playing Adarma and Smallbone as the creative midfielders doesn’t work because they are not creative. Defending from our corners. At Sunderland Edozie was the last man for the first goal. He actually did well, initially, before switching off for the cross, but what pissed me off most about that goal was the way KWP made absolutely no effort to get back and help. Last night, our deepest defender from our corners was well into the Leicester half, leaving us wide open for a breakaway, especially as we have zero genuine pace to get back. WHY? From what I have seen this season, we will have a chance against teams that sit back and let us play the ball around, but any team that gets in our face and forces errors, especially in our half, will cause us problems. Never thought the day would come when I missed a Bednarek/Stephens CB combination.
Noticed that they consider you a happy clapper on there Lost my Saintsweb login a while ago and haven’t been tempted to reset it I have to say… In all seriousness it is too early to shout RM out just yet, but those two games were on him and he needs to evidence substantial improvement in short order. Think he needs to have us in the top 6 by Christmas or pressure will be on big style.
If RM wants to keep his job he’ll need to make changes and vast improvements. If he doesn’t do that he won’t be here for long. I’m sure I heard him say in an interview that he’ll learn from mistakes, but certainly doesn’t look like that.
