Holmes_and_Watson

The deeper passes work a lot better under Baz than Alex. Even then it has limits. I've seen Baz take care of silly passes (where they're lazily expecting too much of him), as well as others where he has had to hoof it (usually prolonged pressing). He's even had a go on at least one occasion. Alex needs that extra moment, either to control it or think about the pass. It's a bigger risk and they must instruct the defence to have different positioning and triggers to clear it. Super when it draws in other teams and we ping it past them. Not happening so much of late for various reasons.

None. Fourth official stops him coming on wearing unapproved Blue Suede Shoes.

Since Chelsea pretty much have an industry around ... tries to avoid phrases like children farming... recruiting and developing young footballers into successful careers, there's clearly advantages of being there than anywhere else. Their budget, resources and category status provide a lot of structure for young careers, to get a solid technical grounding. The competitiveness of the peer environment will help many. It's not for everyone. Players develop differently, physically and emotionally. Some will find the peer pressure or environment toxic. Others get more game time developing in other clubs, and thrive on those pathways. Chelsea would be great to have as part of development, but knowing you'd want to move into first team football rather than stall there, or get loaned out where it might not suit. I can't see anything wrong with having emotional support for young players, in the form of councillors. At a difficult time of life, in a pressurised environment, it's good to have a way of dealing with that, and also for the club to teach players to eliminate negative behaviours. Coaches who... tries to avoid phrases like bollock youngsters... shout or rant at young players, should not be in those positions, not at that level. The world has moved past such things, and there's far better ways to get successful outcomes than resorting to that.

Less for balance, and more because it annoyed me. Catching up with a few mates (soon to be replaced by fictitious ones who agree with me). I know a couple of them watch whatever late night US shows are around. They bang on about Trump this, Trump that for a few minutes. Any suggestion that Democrats have their own problems is wrong because Trump more of this, Trump more of that. There are no bad or extreme democrats. I asked, bearing in mind I don't disagree about him as a person, why would people vote Republican. I'm told in various ways that they are all like the caractitures their shows promote. All of them. Because it must be that, and nothing at all to do with the side they support. Not interested in this not matching the experience of a lot of Americans. No interest in any broader issues. No interest in solutions. No amount of information is moving their convictions. Whether it's from Americans I know (and that's across a range of views, some that do match theirs) or other sources. Trump trials and Trump bleach injections are just such easy hits. Why bother with wider concerns? I was going to say it's become the norm for people to demonise a whole other side, that don't agree with their views and the sources feeding those views. But it's always been like that. Social media and access to narrow 24 hour media channels on both sides, just makes it more obvious.

We need players who run and work hard, who are versatile and selfless. That's what's been required under the bright spells of a few recent managers. It's why AA, Che, Downes are key. It's why Aribo, Smallbone and Stephens are playing. Mara looked a little disheartened having to put in the work, knowing there was no personal reward in it, in those moments. That impacts other bits of his game. I recall Alcaraz looking frustrated at all the things outside his natural game, he was having to do as well. In the end, those players who can't adapt to it, are the ones who will be moving on. Hopefully, the recruitment team are learning a few things about personalities too.

Was waiting at the back post, to tap in a cross ball that never came. Nice control, pass and move into space in the second half for a return ball that didn't get to him. Che-like drop back into midfield, creating the space that led to a chance for others. Clearly prefers to remain higher up and central. Wants to receive it far more than go out and work at getting it back for the team. That led to those moments, where he was off the press and general lack of work rate and intensity. There were moments when we did get it into his preferred area, only to find he'd vacated it moments before, taking himself out of the attack. He is capable of getting a goal. But there's a fair bit of our build up play that would have to change, to get him enough chances. Che and Stewart offer lots more. AA and Aribo offer more too, but are needed elsewhere. That would leave Sule as an option. When AA was offside a couple of times against WBA, I was thinking they'd not be that high up knowing Sule was on the park.

He has. The club we're desperate to remove him from the wage bill. Basically not playing him. Yet, when we were up against relegation, they brought him in (Baz was shot well before that, and could have been replaced at any time) Same again this season. Not going to be getting a game. Yet, when Baz gets injured, the club bring him in over Lumley, who was on the bench. Yes, Martin's style suits Baz's distribution. But Baz would have played regardless of that. It's not just due to Alex's ability as a goalkeeper, that he's not picked. Alex is not assured at getting lots of quick passes around his goal. But we do get a lot of improvements in other areas.

I remember that from AA. We needed some intensity from Mara. At least enough to support AA. Plus dropping back to allow us to create passing options. Mara does know he should be doing it. He's just choosing not to/ not sharp enough to influence the game. Conundrum indeed. Manning is limited if no one around him gives any space for a pass. He's also at fault when another player has it. We then lose the ball and he has to race back. The third centre back should cover. But THB is not his best in a 3 and Stephens is possibly too far up, and was responsible for giving it away. It would be nice if we could take the best of the 4-3-3, get a comfy lead, then switch to the 3 at the back, since 4-3-3 has proven to be a bit pants at not conceding.

No doubt Manning looks poorer as his starting positions to support, and tuck in in the other formation, mean he's always having to run back, then get into a defensive position and then make a difference. That said, he is beaten quite a bit even on the shorter runs back as well. Agree that Bree is the better defender, in part for exactly the reasons you say. Our problem in getting the ball out from midfield into attacking positions, worse since Stu and Baz went out (arguably as Stephens came in), means Manning's not adding as much in an attacking sense either. However, if RM is planning a home switch to 4-3-3 to blow WBA away in the first half, then I'd go with Manning. The more help our midfield gets the better. If it means he looks as if he's caught out defensively, while we still get attacks then I'd be happy with that. Can get a nice lead and then switch to Bree. I'd also worry about conceding ground to Fellows with a more defensive player on that side, as it may create spaces for Fellows to exploit.

You don't hear cromulent used much either.

Red or Grey? 🙂

Russ to the Beeb... "I’m quite pleased with the result. It was a tight game against a good team in a brilliant atmosphere. "I would have liked a clean sheet before the game so I’m happy with that. We had to defend well. "We should have caused a few more problems for them but it isn’t easy. "The risk outweighed the reward with Che Adams. He has only trained very little, mainly resting and recovering. We are really positive about Friday. Hopefully he’ll be back involved."

Breaking News: Dinosaur skeleton found holding placard stating "Expand St Mary's now!" Experts say it's now closer than ever in geological time. In Entertainment news...

Memories

Dunno.

Yeah, he didn't look too happy when going off. And it's a quick turnaround. Hopefully just got enough to get a winner against Leeds and then have to miss the next game.

We seem to want a hard running, high intensity central player. One who drops back to create angles for others, but is also capable of knowing when to move up to support the attacks down the flanks or in stages through the middle. Oh, and a player with clinical finishing. Not only the normal stuff, but against the teams we've allowed to reset. Quite an ask. And I think Che has tried very hard to do his best to meet a lot of that. Gets his head down, happy to work from deep, has scored instinctive goals from preferred spots and normally puts some work in. Mara is a low intensity forward, who would much prefer to do work in the final third. He's off the pace for anything else through a combination of lack of experience, instinctiveness, and it not being a system he's fully adjusting to. Watching him, he can take up finisher positions. Today was on the back post for a blocked ball across the box. But he's not the player to have been there following winning it back in midfield and busting a gut to get there. He had a few good touches today, and did drop back from which we got a chance. But was missing on other occasions. Ironically, being elsewhere when a finisher was needed.

We looked exactly what we were: a side that has played in a single system for nearly the whole season, and changing it at thecend as we kept conceding and had gone on a decline. Martin will be happy with the clean sheet. Overall, it was about level, with WBA shading it. This system highlights some different limitations in the players. Downes is still key. Today offering driving runs. Bednarek was vital at the back. McCarthy made some saves. He's comfortable doing that. But we kept asking for trouble by repeatedly looking for him to do Rapid passes out from the back. Stephens was a mixed bag. Some decent moments combined with passes that got us into trouble. Mara had a few moments where he did the right thing. But even more where he didn't. Manning offered little protection at the back. For a side offering width and numbers in midfield, we failed to pin them back and use our own attacking skill often. Not much in the way of orchestrated attacking moves either. We go into the second leg with home advantage and hopefully a fit Che Adams. If it's the same system, it will be a close game too.

FFS Saints. Never, ever learn when to just get it clear.

"Gets away from Stephens". Ummmm.. I trust Alex in there for shot stopping over the others. Steward does what we've not had since Tella and the first Fraser appearances. Get it it from deep, bring it in and shoot.

And breathe...

Uh oh...

Never happy to see AA go off as the work rate drops off

Hopefully some attacking replacements to give us a spark here. Fraser surely.

That was only just wide. Very close from WBA. We have to get a grip on this one. A lack of purpose creeping in.