I think Charley’s biggest issue is he loses the ball too frequently. Dibling just manages to keep hold of it or lay it off. I’ve never really seen the hype of Charly, and certainly not in the way Martin sets up this team. On a side note, I think we gave AA a new deal as he was entering the final year of contract, and felt he may come good, if he doesn’t and we go down, he is proven, and if we stay up he gets sold next summer. I understand why we did that.
Yeah I think our atmosphere was more or less the same as it was before, might take time for the new set up to bed in and we need more songs to have a really active home end (also a better performance from Saints). Didn’t hear Forest much at all except when they scored, I think acoustics aren’t as strong from that corner.
Agreed, If we get relegated Armstrong becomes a mega asset to us again, there might be a bit of security in that new contract.
I thought the atmosphere was a little worse with the away fans moved; appreciate its only one game, but we really missed that away/home fan banter/back and forth, I thought. Might take some time to get right, maybe. But all this talk of a Northam wall and wining us points won't come to much based on today (imo)
Probably the main reason for the new contract. Same with the extension for Stephens. But a bit more ruthlessness is needed now we are in a different league. The term “another league” exists for a reason
Did anyone hear Martins interview with Blackmore after the game? I only caught the very end of it but Blackmore asked something along the lines of are you still looking to bring a striker/forward in and Martin responded with some nonsense about having one who hasn’t played yet, referring to Ross Stewart. ****ing hope we aren't actually putting any eggs in his basket. Would be even more ****ing stupid than spending a big chunk of our Championship budget on him in the first place. Even forgoing his long injury absence and the fact we don’t know if he’ll ever get over that, he’s barely been tested above league 1 level. Tessem was just as bemused by that comment as I was. Boring old ground I know, wouldn’t bring it up if Martin hadn’t. On the game itself I agree with everything that’s been said regarding Martins favourites, formation problems etc. noticeable Stu and Che shaped holes in our ‘attack’. We need a strong end to the window and Martin to learn who isn’t PL level quickly. On the atmosphere/ground change - I sit roughly middle of Kingsland and barely heard the Forest fans until they scored and even then they weren’t that loud. So from that pov it worked. Northam wall tried in the first half but there was **** all to cheer on the pitch. I also noticed that on 3 or 4 occasions songs started but petered out because there were 2 different songs trying to be started at the same time at different ends of the Northam. Assume that’s where the song starters from the Northam and Itchen North are sat at opposite ends of ‘the wall’. Lots to be worked on on and off the pitch!! Overall it was better than last time Forest came to town, but ultimately we only managed one more shot on target and the result was exactly the same.
How did Lallana get on? Surely we wouldn't have given him a contract unless he's out there unlocking defences?
Surely you'd get someone of a lower quality but actually suits your style though? We almost never play through balls to our striker behind the defence but Archer seems to want that all the time. Just seems odd. Missed Che massively today imo.
I think that the formation hamstrung the team massively today. I've never been a fan of 3 CBs playing at home against a "lesser" team and the attack was completely stunted today as there were very few options to pass to up front. I understand Russell being a little cautious in the first home game but moving forward we need to concentrate on causing more problems for the oppo's defence rather than protecting our own goal in these types of games. Pick a centre defensive partnership and stick with it.
We quite clearly don’t have the defence to nick 1-0 wins. Might as well ****ing go for it. Play dibling. Play a striker. Who knows, we may even score a goal
3 words to start. CLEAR THE BALL! Saints are crying out for a old fashioned centre forward, a target man who moves their centre backs around, a striker who plays down the middle. It was way too easy for Forests CB. We need an attacking central midfielder, Stallone and Aribo are not good enough. Get those players and a new number 1, and we will be alright.
