I think to play the way Russ wants to play, we need minimum a number 10, another 6, Stephens to return and a striker. I don’t think many of the players have the technical ability required to play his way. Which is why we are struggling, and why it is barmy tactically. Trying to get Smallbone to play like iniesta & Adam Armstrong to play like Xavi is just absurd. Why not play to the strength of the squad, hit the channels with the pace of Sulemana and Fraser , fizz the ball into the box as we have no big target man. Instead we think we can play Pep football with poor players. Crazy all round.
Agree re players but I think the slowness is by design. He played the same way at all of his other clubs. I've never been a fan of it tbh, gives me nightmares about Spain winning the World Cup and being the most dull side to do so. Pretty sure the idea is to draw teams out and get them chasing til they make a mistake. Problem is we invariably make a mistake first and gift a goal scoring chance. Would wager that our long slow bouts of possession have led to more goals against than for. Personally think for this style to be truly successful you need a solid defence and a bit of magic upfront. As I've said before I'm not calling for him to go but I have no faith that'll he ever succeed here.
The thing I thought after watching a couple of games is still there. His style might lead to chances being created when he was managing Swansea/MK Dons (mid table sides) as teams would leave more space as most teams would fancy themselves against mid table sides. We are one of the better sides talent wise so teams are more concerned about keeping shape and the slow passing doesn’t make them come out at all as they are happy to sit back. Moving the ball quicker and off ball movement is what unlocks teams sitting in, not this slow build up
Small sample sizes and all that, but our goals allowed per game, by defensive pairing: Bednarek and Stephens: 7 in 4. Bednarek and Holgate: 7 in 2. Bednarek and THB: 5 in 5. Charles and THB: 5 in 2. So, one of the pairings -- Bednarek and THB -- has been adequate, though hardly great. Every other combination has been disastrous.
You’re not waiting though, are you? You don’t appear to have the patience for that. Maybe recognise it takes time to turn around a club that’s been going downhill for ages.
Feel it's worth remembering that there was a lot of complaining about Poch and his rigidity and lack of a Plan B back in the day. The idea that his teams were consistently attractive to watch was...not universal when we were watching them.
For god sake guys, we are at the right end of the table, picking up more points than not, getting last minute winners and equalisers and still we are moaning! I couldn't give a toss about getting back to the promised land, if we do, we do, if not never mind. I just want us to compete which surely sitting 1 point off 3rd means we are! Not every match will be great, some matches will be dull, but if we can still pick up a point or three, then surely as Saints fans, after all we have been through in the last few seasons, we can and should be appreciative of that?
The way I see it, as fans we've got two options. 1. Accept Martin is here for the foreseeable, embrace his style of football, enjoy the highs and accept the lows. 2. Refuse to accept Martin as manager, want him sacked every time we drop points. I admit I wanted him gone after the Boro loss, making that our 4th straight loss. But we're not sacking him so I'm going with option 1. There's no real point in being halfway between the two (i.e. I want Martin to work but he needs to change his style) because it's not a scenario that is going to happen. As unconvincing as we've been in some games, I'm loving all the late goals we're scoring. If nothing else it shows the players are fully committed. There's also no doubt Martin is trying desperately hard to get the fans on side, unlike Jones who took the "tough **** if you don't like it" approach. Martin's efforts to involve and inform the fans should be appreciated IMO.
I think the vast majority of people are number one but that doesn't mean those people shouldn't discuss the merits of style and performances
Yeah, spot on, Tom. The constant complaining just smacks of entitlement. Rome wasn't built in a day, and personally I'm expecting it to take a full season for us to really gel under RM. Sure we'll lose some players next summer, but hopefully we'll spend a bit too. I started the season thinking our squad is capable of auto promotion, but that was before we'd even really kicked a ball. Turns out some of our players are suited to football at this level, and others not so much (so far). Ultimately Manning, Adams, Mara, Charly and Sulemana have performed far below my expectations. Some might say this is Russ' fault, but other players are excelling, so I don't see how he always gets the blame. It's very assuring having a manager that the players like playing for. We're building some team spirit, and leaders will emerge. With Stewart to come and hopefully one or two players in the window, we can mount a decent challenge if Ipswich start dropping points.
I don’t get this obsession with how great we should be and what a bunch of mugs the rest of the Championship are I remain concerned with our play when it isn’t progressive, but that must be partly down to the players on field decisions, so I’m not sure how good we can be under RM, but I’m prepared to wait and see We are improving and I’m being entertained far more than in recent seasons, so I'm going to enjoy the ride for a while We still have a fundamental gap in the vital No 9 area and Che AA and Mara don’t fix it I agree with Mr Thighs that we should try Sulemana there and let’s hope Stewart suits us better
More goals conceded than points gathered. At the present rate, 77.points which is unbelievable!! I feel neither of those targets will be achieved!
Sorry but on that last bit there's no way we're going to challenge for second place. When has a team ever gone up automatically conceding nearly two goals per game? Not that that bothers me as I don't want us to go up but I think lots of people are going to be incredibly disappointed if they think autos are a realistic target.
I agree, particularly about the performances. What I meant was there's no point going to a game and groaning every time we go backwards or when Baz passes it out from the back. Doesn't achieve anything except possibly make the players nervous.
Yeah don't disagree. Though bit of a strawman that as I'm not sure it relates to any of the debate last night. Looking forward to Saturday. Love the non stop nature of the EFL.
