You know that part before the season where we all said we'd get relegated, that we were fine with it, that we prefer the Championship and that we won't get angry? Well that's all coming together a little early, that's all!
I totally understand why so many people are frustrated, even angry, at Martin. Because that was awful, particularly the first half. But it's to be expected. We know Martin is too stubborn to change, we know we have problems at both ends of the pitch (hence why I couldn't understand so many raving about our transfer window), and we know that we collapse when under pressure. Sacking him in the summer would have been the best decision. But SR were never going to do that, and I understand why. So as far as I see it, we just have to suck it up for a few weeks (I don't know if we're talking one or two weeks, or ten or eleven weeks) to see whether the results improve or he does get the chop. He really doesn't help himself though. Why TF did he drop Lallana, and move Dibling from the right? They are literally our two biggest positives from this season so far.
Yeah I have more or less written off this season now. Just want a couple of wins and build for the Championship next year.
That's the problem, we all suspected we'd go down, but the way we're doing it is frustrating, and the fact we've actually signed a couple of capable players is annoying, in terms of them being wasted. Fernandes is a potential 50m plus job, but if we play like this we'll lose him for 20.
Couldn't abide listening to the half time drivel, so I switched over and watched fifteen minutes of an Only Fools and Horses episode. Best bit of the evening.
Martin - we start really well, then the free kick disrupts everything. Don’t respond to a setback again. hurt by our performance after that, didn’t recognise our team after that. Second half show loads of fight and courage but too late by then, players in self preservation mode. Doesn’t matter about style and philosophy if players don’t run or get stuck in Interviewer says Martin is very brave
Pretty sure he just said the exact same comment about self preservation before he started shoehorning Stephens in. Need a team that will fight regardless of talent he’s just said, Aribo and Stewart he called out specifically as playing well
RM to Sky... We’re learning about ourselves all the time. It’s been interesting, really enjoyable. We feel we’ve deserved a little bit more at times. The first goal disrupted everything. We started really well. We switch off and concede. And then in the exact same way as we did against United we don’t react. I’m so hurt by the first-half performance. I didn’t recognise my team. It’s on me. I need to give them the tools to respond to the setback. We were soft. If you don’t want to run and fight then it’s going to be a problem. I thought even after the goal, we’ll be fine, but we weren’t. It’s my problem to sort out. I didn’t like so much of it. I feel sorry for the supporters.
Tonight's performance was I'm afraid the clearest indication that RM is totally out of his depth at this level. The sheer deluded arrogance of the man and his stubborn insistence that we play this "Pound-shop possession at all costs football" is what concerns me the most, I'm sure that in his mind he thinks he's the next best thing to Pep! There's a team in that squad that can avoid relegation with the right tactics and style of play I'm sure of it, It wouldn't be by much but I'm convinced we could make a better fist of things than the present dross that is being currently served up.
I'm not sure why Martin didn't recognise us in the first half, because I did. It was a replica of the Man Utd first half. Start well, go 1-0 down, fall apart.
Interesting that RM says he specifically drilled in the quick free kick warning to the players in training. Suggests they are even more **** than we think.
