Ex Lion Tamer

It's quite funny that we're now the big club getting the favourable decisions

I know it wasn't pretty but Stoke have barely managed to create a chance against us, we're clearly a class apart

Reminded me of Kelvin Davis' game away at Leeds. Not because of the goalkeeping performance but because it was the kind of tough midweek away game where you have to fight for the points if you want to challenge in this issue

Stoke were getting some joy down our left until Fraser came on. No way Edozie would have offered the same protection

In fairness, it seems like Leeds came to play open and with a high line. Next time a team sits back and defends against us we may find that our passing game starts to look more sterile again. Not because we're playing different tactics but because it's hard to find the spaces for more penetrative football

12 passes for the second goal, and that's just what they showed on the highlights, I'm wondering how many there were before that

Trying to solve this problem is exactly why we've moved away from a counter attacking game and to a posession based one under Russell Martin. Playing to hit teams quickly on the break was only working against the top teams that would attack in sufficient numbers to leave gaps behind. Any team that parked the bus would leave us out of ideas. That's also why our home record has been so bad. The "aimless" passing is designed to wear the opposition down, draw them out of their rigid shape and force a mistake. Obviously it's not working at the moment and Russ may not be the man to deliver but the theory is sound

It's funny people still think Rasmus is in charge when it's Jason Wilcox's job now

I'm really down about the state of the club at the moment. But the thing is, Martin won 7 of his last 9 games at Swansea. If his tactics are so easily found out then it apparently wasn't obvious to other teams then. And since then, Swansea have only managed one win this season under their new manager. So grim as things are, Martin simply can't be as much of a mug as he seems like at the moment. We can point to mistakes that Martin has undoubtedly made but something deeper is wrong at this club and it seems to be wrong whoever is in charge of the team

At least Nathan Jones had a track record of overachievement that I could believe in. We need to find someone else to save our season

I never thought he was past it but it was fair enough that we let a long-serving player go to his hometown club. The real issue wasn't even that we didn't replace him but that we didnt sign a backup for his replacement

They've sacked three managers in a year 🤣 Another shit result, granted

I think it may depend how he does in training, the same way Mara got his start (yes it's not necessarily the right way to make the decision)

It's an amazing state of affairs but we really need Bednarek to be fit for this one

They were signed off so quick because phenomenal resources were poured into making it happen, not because any corners were cut with the testing

While we can doubt whether Martin is a top manager at this level and whether he will get us automatic promotion, his track record at two previous clubs is solid enough. One heavy defeat against Sunderland doesn't change that. People are acting like he doesn't have a clue

So we were right not to buy anyone in summer 2022 when our targets became unavailable? At some point you just have to take punt

I think we were really struggling to get anyone in by the point so it was a case of gamble on Onuachu to keep us up or get no one

Harsh to blame it all on Semmens. Ultimately he backed the managers judgement, which is what we all want a chairman to do

I do think the centre back decision was a tough one for him: Stephens - injured Holgate - with us for a week Bellis - with us for a day Charles - not his natural position In that situation, you probably go for the experienced player. The Mara decision is harder to defend

What kind of a pre season has Sulemana had? Would be very unwise to throw him straight in to a big game like this

Yeah it could well happen in time. I also think Alcaraz will be pushing hard for gametime

If nothing changes then this is a strong squad

I don't think it's necessarily as dramatic as that. He said he wanted to leave so we worked on a sale and brought in his replacement. Then his move didn't work out so we told him he still had to leave as we'd have too many centre backs