saintstowin

Fellows for a CB and that's the team. But Will Still will still not.

I get the sense that Still now thinks 4321 (or 4 at the back in whatever form) is a gamble that he'll only take in specific circumstances - in our case this seems to include the two extremes of perfect player availability, and terrible form with a different formation. And I expect if he does do it he will be looking to ditch it with the first sign of something not going well. This in itself is bizarre and a reflection not just on us and rock bottom confidence, but on modern football. Football remains a simple game, but with plenty of people ready to make it complicated.

I think I might have a future as a statistician because my expected points for Saints this season is much higher than the real life football points we have.

There is underperforming and there is what's happening with us at the moment. Individual mistakes, individual should do better theres - do not explain a run of form from the very first game of the season. Yesterday was (hopefully) the pinnacle but the gaps, the lack of a plan, the odd decisions have been ever present. I reckon every team could find a statistic that shows in time it might be different. We (well SR) have mucked up recruitment of players and managers but they are going to have to try again. Former failures isn't a reason to stick.

There is no control and organisation. It felt like a grassroots game. Other games have too. Not as bad as today was, but similar. No pattern, everyone rushing around, all individual play, no thoughtful, calm possession. And that is the manager's responsibility. I have sadly reached the conclusion he should go.

Perfect time for the next quarter season manager to get their go now.

I watched some of this badness. Awful. First half not good but the complete shambles of the second half is astonishing. Although also predictable. What that sub was about escapes everyone. And absolutely no shape or possession. Even when we were supposedly chasing a last gasp equaliser I don't think we put more than a single pass together. Illness and injury is no excuse. I think he's got to go.

I agree he is bad at football. At the moment. I don't know if he will ever be good at football. But he's very young and living in a new place and undoubtedly will be feeling the pressure, and sadly now feeling the increasing hate. Boos can only be experienced as this. And that makes me feel sorry for him. I too perceive a possible lack of effort, but that can be hiding and fear coming out too. I think he's either got to play a lot and see if he can improve, or not play at all. It's on others for buying him.

I refuse to accept we can't play with 2 and not 3 CBs. The games I recall we tried were Portsmouth (crap) and Hull (crapper) and I assume one or two others. However that was a time when we had a less settled defensive set up - and I know it was bad last night too, but.... We can't be so weak in midfield like the 2nd half yesterday, we will lose often. And even though Azaz hasn't been great he's not going to contribute with a few minutes here and there. Same for Fellows. And both are at risk of being forced into positions that don't suit them. Fellows at wing back is wrong and really annoys me now. I appreciate AA should be in the team which takes up a space on the wing but let's be creative about it. 3 CBs is a comfort blanket and as we saw it also can fail. I think Still is lost, or at best at a loss.

A positive start, a lull and then the goal we deserved. At that stage we were clearly the better team. The individual mistakes at the back are clearly a factor in losing tonight. But much more worrying for me is the utter absence of any attacking plan in the second half. What happened in the final 30 minutes was so poor. It'd take someone more observant than me to say who was playing in what position. Did we change shape? Apart from to spineless blob. Azaz not getting a minute when we're two down is bizarre.

I agree. And also it's not just strikers that could or should be there for good crosses, decent attacking midfielders can be in the box. Fellows seems to be missing out because of our general style (being slow to support wing play included in that 'style'). And yes, that is bizarre.

Floaty crosses from Fellows getting a mention (as in stop doing them). But he seems to have a really good move of finding a yard between the far touchline and penalty area and then dinking (floating) in a cross, which at WBA was then converted. Often. I looked forward to that when he signed. A flaw in the plan....we've got nobody to head it in and Fellows isn't playing. 3-2 to Saints tonight.

I'm not going to ignore the good things. When we did inject pace, cut inside, ran with ball, passed quickly (and there was some of this) we looked good. Not enough of it however. Subs 10 mins too late. Lived off the first half hope too much. And around 50 minutes of not good things.

He's not going to get the party started is he? Even though it's not about the personality I'd like to see and hear something that might spark things into life. Even his positive messages are lost in his delivery. Sometimes calmness and understatement is a helpful mask for nerves. Personally I don't think any of these managerial duties sit well with Will. I don't know if that's a problem or not, it's definitely not the biggest one right now. Anyway. I almost forgot. It's 4 nil to Saints this weekend and Will's trip to the garden centre on Sunday will be epic.

Pre-watershed.... We should revert to a less defensive set up and it'll be full steam to victory. We must avoid too many defenders detracting from forward options, and also move the ball around quickly. Doing so will no doubt mean our opponents leave unhappy and return back to their livestock. With whom a national stereotype exists.

I was shocked it was 11 months, my memory of him was that his stay was longer. Really good keeper. He even popped up in the amazing game at Millwall with the two late Ricky Lambert pens. As did Harry Kane bizarrely enough.

'Martin's excruciating Rangers era finally at a chaotic conclusion' - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c93053rr56wo A very good write up and video. Fans found him superior - that's a nutshell. And I'm not surprised he got the job based on a presentation. I honestly think he'll feel it wasn't down to him.

Wood is charming. That's nice to know!

I'm going to take the positives. Players who did well midweek came in and did well again - especially happy this included the defence. Chances created - presumably through moving the ball well and more quickly (haven't seen a moment of the game). And could have beaten the top of the table team. Let's build.

I think the fact this thread keeps on giving is an indication of RM's personality, even more than any debate about the merits of him as a manager. Someone who got us promoted but then failed at a higher level could/should be remembered in the range of quite to very fondly. It's the complete absence of humility that does him the most harm both on and off the pitch. It affects how he's liked (disliked), and how he does as a football manager.

Did Will Still miss the motivation module at coaching school? Crikey.

Deserved at least pens. Very happy we didn't let up in the second half. Lots of good contributions. All the CBs played well. Downes bounced back. Armstrong showed his experience. Jander played well and tried to intercept with energy. Disappointed we couldn't get Robinson on the ball more. I don't want to hammer Downs but unfortunately every single thing he did was unsuccessful, to put it kindly.

Really pleased we've shown up and moved the ball really well. Such a difference to recent games. There have been patterns and tactics that look coached (gives me hope for the future) and carried out very well. The goal = bad. Warning early on when another bad choice of pass let them in. These things happen, sadly to us a lot, and we do the happening.

I appreciate it's a throw away pre- match interview, and AA is unlikely to divulge the cutting edge tactics, however I can imagine Still's words of 'get the basics right', 'quality will come through' being accurate, and sadly uninspiring. I really hope we aren't terrible.

I keep hoping we'll show signs of progress but it's not looking good. Almost reaching the stage where pretty rubbish performances are standard. Our only win was the late show on day one. At least we attacked in that game. We've laboured all season. I was worried last week and today was worse. I don't know about giving up on Still but he's not showing us much.