Holmes_and_Watson

A much more even second half. The passing that we're good at paid off in a nice move, where we didn't give up and got it in. While we're not a side to take advantage of anything resembling momentum, Brighton did give us more room after that, which suits our passing game. The big moment was VAR ruling some sort of active intent from AA in the middle, before Archer finished it. It seemed very harsh. As the minutes ticked by, you could tell they were going to find something there. That no doubt caused the squabbles between coaches then and at the end. Brighton skimmed the post late on. We had moments where better decisions would have perhaps given us some opportunities. Neither really troubled the keeper too much. Martin will be pleased with a lot of that. But there were still plenty of areas to improve on. Not too good to get carried away for just getting an away point. THB, Downes and Dibling missing against Chelsea. Some interesting use of the team tombola ahead of that one.

Under his mask, it's John Stones. Under the John Stones mask, it's John Stones gran.

Brighton deservedly in the lead. They are stronger and faster, to a point you wonder about our fitness/physicality for this level. We had our standard couple of defensive errors, nearly conceding. Brighton don't stop to turn back to defence from attacking positions. They are likely to look forward. With a more attacking line up, that's given them more chances. And they've had good ones. The goal was a ball allowed to bounce, as we had no one centrally. Suga was miles off his marker, and that's all it takes. We've had a few very nice series of passes. But we ask an awful lot connecting them up from deep starts. Invariably, there''s too few players to take advantage of the final ball. Where Brighton pressed, we offered little transition playing RussBall. With a bit more room, we've seen some decent moves. But we expens a lot of energy just getting it past the half way line, compared to our opponents. Hopefully, we can pinch something second half. But Brighton as likely to get more, leaving us with 0 points away this season.

When I saw the line up, I said to myself not to read too much into it. After all, I told myself, formations are fluid things these days. He'll have some sort of DM with extra cover, sort of thing. Nope. Right in the middle of defence. Clanger ensues, due to being drilled to pass and not being able to realise not to do it there.

I think that under this system, and it's impact nearly everyone will be performing under par. Suga is a recent recruit, so we're watching him have to adjust to RussBall, and show less of his natural skills. So, it stands out a bit more perhaps?

Agreed. All sides should be able to express their views, and through them. the views of their constituents. It's too important, and will have such an impact, that it shouldn't be rushed. I think I heard that this format might be something to do with the way the bill was raised and the normal time allotted to such bills. So procedural, impacting on a topic with such strength of opinion. Someone can correct me, if I'm misremembering.

I like Bree. He was well thought of before he joined us. With Jones' lack of impact, it's been a tough time for him. He's done lots of things well for someone getting so few minutes. Agreed. KWP is better on the right. Therefore, put him there rather than some belated attempt to get him on the left in an England squad, unbalance or reduce the effectiveness of the team. With KWP's contract issue, and him missing a few games, Suga would have got some playing time. This is what's going on across the team. Drilled relentlessly to pass. When there are better options, then that can be worked on. But we're left with a team that sometimes don't know what the best option is. Cue errors as they're mentally stuck. Not to mention the pressure of the opponents, and the lack of options they frequently have.

A few thoughts: When he came in, I think it was to replace KWP who the club thought would move on, bringing in some funds. The discussions to bring Suga in, would have, if not contractually, given some expectations on his potential minutes, competition with Bree. KWP has said he's happy playing either position, so the solution was to play both. It has left us with 2 attacking full backs. KWP had a more free role at times too. So, we're not balanced with both. Not to mention KWP is better on the right. Suga, like all of our players, is having to fit into RussBall. We see lots of natural skills blunted to fit. To be fair, there's often a bit of this at any club. And everyone likes seeing a fullback attack into space. But RussBall depends on it. Suga racing forward, with no one else and losing it, is a risk under this system. Suga may have to be even more defensively minded, to balance KWP, or KWP changing a bit for Suga, with neither approach bringing out the best. Everyone is struggling by there being limited passing options from the back. Suga is having to develop that part of his game too. A decent enough player having to adapt to a rigid system in an unsuccessful team, where his position has a better option available.

Before our late slump last season, I definitely had a moment where I was looking forward to seeing how Baz and Will, under RussBall, would do in the PL, with a strengthened squad. So, if it's still Russ next season, and things go well, I might end up thinking the same way. 🙂

Ramsdale, THB, Fernandes, Downes, Dibling all capable of going for good value. KWP, Lumley and Lallaña on their way at end of contract. Les and Cornet returning to parent club. SR happy to get the amortisation rate for TP, Sule and ABK. Stewart closer to a mutual contract termination. Club no doubt happy to listen to offers for anyone else such as Bedders, Taylor, Suga, Charles and the likes of Archer, BBD Another summer in transition (unlike what the side manages to do effectively week to week), where we recruit to plug gaps, not just from the above, but from previous windows. SR will hopefully have pinned their promotion hopes on a particular manager well before then, so we can get a head start.

Even he knows they'll do better under a different system? He's looking ahead to where SR pull the plug.

Despite the mounting casualty list, we sneak this one 1-0, from AA.

In the original Matrix, Saints were a global superpower. But the Saints fans in it, just couldn't handle it. They instinctively knew something was wrong. So they remade it into this one. As humanity fights them, the Matrix is beginning to fail, resulting in SR levels of destruction. Fortunately, the chosen one has arrived to show us that global superpower Saints once again. @gio1saints is played by Keanu Reeves.

Trap

Noone can really even guess as next season's EFL fixtures lists haven't come out.

2 weeks.

Steady. Serious allegations. I refuse to believe this about any of our squad 🙂

After that performance, I'm a bit torn. Has Russ' hair reached peak floppiness? We had several views of him focused on the game, pausing to push his hair back. Any longer, and I think it becomes a distraction. Shorter and he won't be able to look quite as hipster.

Main Martin objective achieved then. 🙂

Unfortunately, it was a one way transfer.

4 for Spurs. City's slump really taking the shine off Russ' brave, brave, plucky narrow defeat without taking the game to them.

Spurs 3 up, using the odd idea of quick transitions and attacking their opponent. Pep only signed that contract to stop City hiring Martin.

Pep will be on the phone tonight, asking Russ on how to adapt to a more extreme possession based system. When this works out due to the talent at Pep's disposal, Russ comes in as assistant.

Nice to have the inside track on just where our next manager is coming from. Left field enough for Rasmus.

Nearly lost me at the first line. I'd almost forgot those were the metrics everyone else uses to determine success. 🙂