Holmes_and_Watson

Hamlet

Anyone else's midfield I don't mind a bit. Ours? Not a chance, thanks. I get the thought behind it. But Martin, and others are looking for a skillset of control, possession, timed distribution and game management. A guy banging his chest and rushing in to do what he likes might not be the best fit.

Trifle

Martin had mentioned that they have such a large group, that there are two sessions. Yet, there are players who will have to be replaced if they leave. Shows the reall lack of quality and real depth we may have. Charles may have been a Lavia replacement. But we still need cover there, and have done since Romeu left. If JWP leaves, then Grimes may cover both. If KWP leaves, we'll need someone there. We already need more potency up front, and seemingly have to wait to shift people out for a suitable fee. It wouldn't be horrible to bring someone in anyway. The goal is promotion, so giving Martin the tools for that, as early as possible wouldn't hurt. And give others a push to move on. So lots to shift, but we could still need some key additions.

Caveat of not seeing this. Martin has held up his hands for picking the team. And his reactions were honest and showed the frustrations, and the reasons for doing as he did. We know from painful past experience that picking a back up team against anyone this side of a boy's brigade team is likely to get beaten. Playing players out of position in addition to that, is asking for more trouble. Martin does also instruct them on tactics. Where there's doubt on the ability for those tactics to be effective, then he always has the option of changing those. Not every game has to be the plan A. However, I get why he'd want to see what the back up team did with those tactics. Especially this early on. Because getting well beaten to a league 2 team, in his second game, is on his record. And it's a results business. So it's just a painful lesson. One that you could see coming from the team selection. But one that Martin probably had to see for himself, and that will motivate all parties to find solutions to moving players on. Perhaps that informed the players he didn't mention as doing well. From the reports above, they must be working on how they convert possession into opportunities. They must be as concerned as the rest of us, so we'll hopefully see that improve. The new set piece coach is also going to be busy.

Pickle

Saints under set piece pressure from Gillingham, who look to double their lead. Ugh. We have to get better surely.

I saw the thread title and went "of course we have goals. We've got Armstrong, who can score with his shoulder, never mind his feet." AA=goals.

Glad I wasn't the only one wondering who was making the coffee. No doubt programmed a week in advance off an app, giving him more time to be a colossal bellend. Meetings...calls...activities... so, no actual work then, giving him time to watch those 24 adult streams. 🙂

Roll

Casserole

Mister

Universe

Park

Lampoon

Coach

Cheers

Sandwich

I thought that when Stu came on, we got to see other parts of Edozie's game. Stu's strengths in direct passing/ attacking allowed Edozie to switch from taking on/ beating opponent/ drawing fouls to moving into space beyond the defender. Stu was drawing one or two towards him, and then using Edozie's runs in behind. I thought this was a really good combination, I'd like to see more of. So, when our oppnents shut one down JWP/ KWP who were doing really well in the first half, we have other pairings in the team who link up well, to cause problems. So, not Stu on for Edozie, but Stu on for Alcaraz and being a litle more central. Edozie caused problems, but the final ball was lacking. He got better after some views expressed from the technical area regarding his composure. As his opposing defenders tired, and he got more support from Stu, he looked better still. When we no longer needed someoen to take on opponents (and had Stu on if we wanted to, it was right that Aribo came on.) I don't mind so much if he loses the ball, taking on a man. That's something he'll have been instructed to do. It's difficult, and if instructed, it's up to Martin and staff to make sure that there's cover if/when the ball is lost. It's up to them to show Edozie when to do it, and when to pass. It's up to Edozie to relax and get a better final ball in, after he gets past a man. He'll develop, and has done a bit from last season. On the other flank, Tella offers a more direct threat, and there were times he could have passed it to better effect. So, everyone is developing. Hopefully, regardless of the comings and goings, Edozie will get room to develop this season. The Championship is just the level to test him, and bring him on a lot quicker.

Slice

Reading with a Saintsy 1-0 defeat. Selles may have done a good job there, implementing his plan in a short time. ☺️

President

Credit to him. He keeps his head down and gets on with things. When things are going well or badly or here, even going into the last year of his contract and an offer to play somewhere else.

I think a lot of that was on purpose. It took a little while, but Smallbone would pass it back or sideways, but with the plan being to get into that space to create better angles for more possession. With the aim of then getting a forward pass. So, when he was part fo two or three consecutive passes, you could see the plan. When it was just the one, sometimes it looked a little wasted.

KWP for me. Mobile. Attacking. Good in the tackle, even late on when he helped Smallbone out. Marshalled others. Linked up really well with JWP, sometimes Tella and others. He always looks better on the right for me. So with Tino gone, hopefully we can keep him here.