I agree with sticking with Martin mate.Even if our squad lacks alot of quality, Martin just needs to work out the best starting 11 and formation. Changing managers 2 to 3 times in a season doesn't necessarily work as we know. However, we shouldn't be resigned to thinking our options are limited to big Sam, Moyes, Dyche etc. There are plenty of progressive good managers/coaches that we could attract.
So many good comments on this thread after this game & I’m so glad to see a lot of positivity still from most fans - for me it was clear that before the pen this is the best we’ve seen so far this season & with a new starting XI and lot of young players / change in atmosphere in the biggest league in the world, can only imagine it’s hard to not have the pressure get the best of you after missing a pen & the 2 quick goals. For me it’s a case of how many changes do we now make vs Everton on Tuesday? McCarthy Larios Bella-Kotchap Edwards Sugawara Ugochukwu Lallana (swap for Smallbone half time if looking fit, composed & showing leadership we need for Saturday) Aribo Armstrong Stewart Amo-Ameyaw It’s difficult because we don’t wanna be getting injuries for Ipswich but also need to find consistency with the team that started on Saturday. Then vs Ipswich? Ramsdale Taylor THB Bednarek KWP Downes Ugochukwu Fernandes BBD (see how he does with left footed left back - or do we try Lallana on the left to offer more creative play from the left to feed Archer? - Cam seems like the type of player that needs clever wingers that will feed him balls to run on to like Defoe / Owen type player for me) Archer (keep in to help him confidence - strikers need games to settle & he needs to gel with Dibling/BBD/Lallana/Fernandes so they can pick him out better) Dibling
I wouldn't be dropping Sugawara personally. The only changes I'd make for Ipswich are THB in for Stephens and Fraser/Cornet/anyone in for Diaz.
I actually think it should be loser stays on this season, and we only change thread author when we draw or win a game.
I mean BBD has scored 9 from 9. It slightly infuriates me he didn't take that one. He scores, we win that game. I'm pretty convinced at that. Plus it gives him confidence himself, and stops berks from cheering when he's subbed.
Yeah gotta say I agree with not dropping Sugawara, is a tough one though cause fully see the case for a left sided player at LB. Keeping KWP could be a problem - maybe Russ should try him as a winger?
I honestly think both KWP & Sugawara could be effective wingers given the chance to play there so maybe it’s something they’re thinking about given we have so many full back options now
Yeah we were clearly planning on selling him but didn't happen for whatever reason which has presented a problem. Thought he was poor yesterday tbh.
I've mentioned it as a potential option for a little while now. However, I wouldn't be trying it without first trying to sort out the LW problem. Because if we get that resolved - and it's not like we lack in LW options - then I think that will go a long way to improving the left side problem without necessarily needing to move KWP. I suppose the other spanner in the works (albeit in a very good way) is how well Dibling played. He's showing that he can perform from the start, not just from the bench. If he can continue repeat yesterday on a regular basis, I don't think anyone will be calling for KWP to start at RW ahead of Dibling. But as an alternative option for KWP, if we were to play 4-3-3 then maybe he could be tried as the right of the middle 3.
Yeah the whole thing is maddening. The problem is that we, and Russ, are learning harsh lessons on the job right now. That learning process needs to be really quick.
Assuming that is now "lesson learnt" regarding our penalty taker, I'm happy that we learnt it against Utd rather than against Ipswich. As painful as the penalty miss was yesterday (including it's subsequent impact), it would be 10 times worse coming against Ipswich.
Didn’t have a great game by his standards but thought he was still one of our best. Was putting in 100% in the 2nd half. Couldn’t say that about some others.
It didn’t help that he had a competition winner in front of him. None of the players even passed to BBD as they know he will lose it as soon as they do. He could be a good player, but asking him to be a tricky winger in a possession based team is an absolutely ludicrous decision.
