The geezer played Aribo & Adam Armstrong as central midfielders instead of Charles/Charly. Catastrophic management. His post match press conference is Jones level of nonsense as well. Just saying we need to be brave. No mate you need to play our best players in their best positions. He also says there were growing pains at his last two clubs but eventually they played how he wanted them to… yeah and you finished mid table. He could probably still turn it around tbh but he’s too stubborn
I think with bednarek back I will give him another few games before jumping on the bandwagon. This is for him to show us he can play che in CM. If that doesn't happen then happy for him to go.
I just don't understand how you can leave out our most creative player against Ipswich at home. He's got one more chance on Saturday for me. Play Charles in midfield, play Alcaraz. It really isn't rocket science. But if we lose 4 games in a row in a division where we are/were 2nd favourites to win the league then something has got to change. And more often than not that change is the manager.
Playing Charles at CB is suicide. Playing Charles at CB with Janny B on the bench is suicide. Inverted wing backs are bullshit and don't work. Playing Adam Armstrong in CM is suicide. Playing Aribo in CM is suicide. Both together is beyond a recipe for disaster. Not Playing Charly Alcaraz. Naming Adam Armstrong as captain. Honestly, this is such basic stuff that I don't get how he can't see it? Square pegs in square holes, it's all I ask for, but every manager we have seems tk be too stubborn and think they can reinvent the wheel and do it their way.
This is still a bit too soon for me just now but given we’re three games away from the 10-game mark, I’m not too far away. Lose to Boro and oh boy that Leeds game is gonna be tense… I do like Russell and I really want him to sort it out, but it’s really not looked too clever of late. Put Bednarek in the back four now and leave well alone. Don’t fiddle with the defence and hope it gels. Then put Charles and Downes in front. Then try and get a spark in the 10 area and the wingers and striker will be brought into the game more efficiently. See, not hard.
I might as well be asking to win the Lottery here but next line up really must have - Bednarek in at CB (or Holgate if he isn’t ready to start). - Charles bumped up to the mythical position of CDM, Smallbone can have a break and hopefully come back a bit more like the player at the start of the season. - Alcaraz and Sulemana in for Adam Armstrong and Fraser. - Stuart Armstrong in for Aribo. Can’t wait to see the same lineup again on the weekend.
The reason we lost last night, was because of Charles. But he shouldn't have been in that position in the first place. Reason we didn't win, is because of Martin and his team selection. Smallbone and Aribo are not even close to Stuie's quality, and Alcaraz should be CAM, simple as that.
Biggest losing streak for any team in the division last season was 5 games. Lose to Boro and we will lose to Leeds too. Beat Boro and I think we'll give Leeds a game.
Here's where last season's top 6 were positioned at GW 10 - GW 20 - GW 30 - GW40 Burnley - 4th - 1st - 1st - 1st Sheff Utd - 1st - 3rd - 2nd - 2nd Luton - 11th - 9th - 4th - 3rd Boro - 22nd - 16th - 3rd - 4th Coventry - 24th - 15th - 14th - 9th Sunderland - 5th - 12th - 7th - 11th So the top two were the only consistent high-placed finishers, with Luton joining them half way. The fact that two of the teams were bottom half at almost the halfway stage is reassuring. So it's not panic stations yet. But we need to start improving. And we need to continue that improvement through to the season's end. I still think on our day we should have a team that can beat anyone below Leeds and Leicester, so we shouldn't be nervous about the playoffs. But we absolutely have to finish 6th at a minimum. What's nice is that you can win 3 games in a row at any point in the season, and find yourselves near the top 6. We certainly have the quality to go on a few winning streaks when we start to gel. That said, is RM up to it? The whole ten games thing is designed to give ample time and opportunity to learn who his best team is, and the best way of utilising those players. So playing Aribo wasn't a big issue for me. RM needs to know if he can be relied on. But, I don't see what Smallbone has done so far to merit being selected over Stuie or Charly. Both Smallbone and Aribo can be useful squad players, but Stu and Charly are first teamers. Especially Charly. I know he had a bit of a rough first few games, but he is our key player. And teams aren't parking the bus against us now like the first few games. He will have more time and space. He is the only player who can shoot from outside the box, and he is the only player who can thread a ball through the middle. We absolutely have to build the team around him.
Having slept on it, I'm sorry, I'm still firmly Martin out now. He's obviously not going to change anything, he obviously doesn't rate Charly which is crazy, and Adam Armstrong is still captain. Fact is last night we could have played for another 2 hours and not scored. No cutting edge whatsoever.
same. It’s not just the emotions and the traffic that got me that angry. It’s the performance, the tactics, the lack of discipline and the lack of learning from mistakes. Someone on saintsweb said that was the worst tactical performance from a manager he’s seen in 45 years and it’s hard to disagree. No midfield, no attacking threat, no bite. Awful
