Okay, yeah of course that was a **** result, and particularly **** goals to concede. But... I do honestly think there's something to work with here, but Russ has to do his favourite word and be brave. Without the stupid goals, we get a point there potentially (as we would have done at Newcastle too), so that really does largely need to go. The positive moves for me - We're all good in goal. Ramsdale oozes class. Dibling HAS to start ahead of Adarma. He's a league better (literally). Fernandes HAS to start ahead of Smallbone. Same thing. Suga and KWP are fine for this league too. We have to get Lallana on the pitch for as much as his body can manage. We still have Big Les to bring in. We still have Maxwel to bring in (for BBD, hopefully). We have an international break for Russ to work this out. The things I worry about - We really do need to lessen the buggering about at the back. We're not good enough, and in the PL the negatives outweigh any positives. I don't think BBD is actually much cop. THB hasn't yet managed the step up in the way that Downes has. I hope he can. Russell really, really, really needs to learn from this. I think he can, and I don't think he's bad in the same way others seem to, but this is his first experience of managing at this level, so we need to give him the opportunity to do the learning. Calling for him to be sacked is a nonsense at this point. I honestly don't think we're in terrible shape, but there's a fair bit that needs working on for us to have a chance.
The present thinking and set up this and last week just guarantees us having to chase (if we’re lucky!) a game with the bench players. Cannot do this in the PL, we need to give ourselves a reasonable chance within the first 60 minutes, holding things until then is not an option, in my view, at this level for us anyway.
Didn’t watch today but seeing Lallana play on Wednesday was an absolute treat. A player who knows how to play the game but crucially has the confidence to make spontaneous decisions and assume responsibility for them. Anyone else think the players are scared of rebelling against set instructions?
He's also not a LWB. I'm aware that we don't play with a winger in a 5-3-2 (although we arguably did vs Forest, weirdly). But it's not too difficult to change the formation so that we do play with one. There's a reason why most sides play 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1, not 5-3-2.
**** striker in a **** team that got relegated and people are surprised he's **** in another **** team that will get relegated? Waste of a squad place that guy
The mad thing is that the passing out from the back doesn't ever seem to create anything for us anyway. So why take the risk?
4-2-3-1 Ramsdale Suga -- Stephens -- Bednarek -- KWP Ugochukwu -- Downes Dibling -- Fernandes -- Cornet BBD That is how I would be setting up.
Thought BBD was one of the few players who looked sharp first half. The players around him in attack though are mid-table Championship standard.
Was literally about to write this (though I would be fine with THB for Stephens, or Archer for BBD depending on opposition). But yes. This.
Okay - lets try and make a level heading comment, than rather the **** off Martin comments. Our expectation this season is to struggle and this seems as this will be the case. After Wednesday, I think a lot of us would have started with Archer, Fernandes and maybe Dibling. He didn't, he kept faithful to the team that got him promoted, this is a commendable human quality and should not be derided yet, we all want loyalty from players, their manager is showing them some. Remember, we are in the premiership due to Armstrong goals, the manager has tried to give him a chance at this level - as above commendable. Players need to learn the premiership and so does Martin. Both have to learn in the next few games, Martin needs to be a bit more ruthless in team selection (I think he will be), needs to be a bit more pragmatic in game plan (hopefully he will be). I would also like to se Llanana geta bit of time, he is still class, I think the manager deserves our patience and loyalty for a few more games, but he needs to learn quickly
Martin won't say this after the game, but he has to see it: Smallbone is not good enough. Not strong enough. Not quick enough mentally or physically. He will make a decent sub but that's it. Aribo was best last season coming on late to help see out games. He can go back to the bench too.
