Holmes_and_Watson

Exactly my thought. AA wanted to be in the middle and had put enough credit in the bank, as far as the manager was concerned to play there. Despite our system and past record screaming out to not do that. If he comes out and bemoans a lack of taking our chances, then he has only to look at the moment in training when he left key moments in games up to whoever fancied it/ shouted loudest in training and some traditional view it has to be a number 9 taking them. One sub is tactical tweaking, relieving tired legs, or realising that there's an opportnity to exploit. 4 is realising that the game is gone, that it's been a tactical failure, and that you might as well give some minutes to others so they can get into the side for the next failure.

None of our players are the greatest. If any of them looked remotely like being anywhere close to that, they wouldn't be playing in our team. They'd have moved on, be looking to move on a free or SR would have sold them. Stephens is a PL squad player. He's had good games in the past, and he's had games where an error has been costly. At a guess, like many players playing in similar sides to ours (and a few higher up too). He gets a bump into teams because he brings vocal leadership to a squad that had none of it. He's also versatile in Martin's systems - whether 3 CBs, filling in as cover to inverted fullbacks or in pushing into midfield when the side desperately need some forward momentum. It's perfectly reasonable to argue about errors. Or when the systems he's brought into the team to support don't work and no one in the side has done enough to change anything. Or if the point of the systems in the first place, he's playing in. Arguably we've got a bit more leadership from some of the others now, and should have in Ramsdale too. Personally, I'd be playing Bedders and THB in a back 4, as I think THB would settle into it. Or at least give Stephens and others a clear opportunity to get into the side. Stephens, as 3rd choice (since no ABK too likely), would still have a considerable role to play.

Martin is very clear on his vision on how he wants his teams to play. He should stand or fall on that outlook. A DoF is not going to change that. And to be honest, I wouldn;t want them to. We went through a rubbish period when Ralph's tactics were tinkered with (after a similarly dismal spell before that). I'd rather he stays or goes based on his outlook, not given time on something that prolongs it needlessly.

Just watched all his Blackburn goals. Lots of them from central positions, and a lot of them against defences that are dropping back. He can take it in from the right or left channel for a decent shot too. A few scrappy ones in there, which I don't mind at all from a goalscorer. Has a good header about him too. And penalty conversion. So, to play him wide left while allowing every opponent to drop back and reset, offer no heading opportunities and not give him a penalty kick is utter madness.

Eaten by Haitian immigrants while trying to protect their newly born babies from post birth abortion, going by some of Trump's ramblings.

Oh dear. One main reason why we've not chased this has presumably been to keep some shape. Excpet we've seen how easily we get outthought defensivley. That was the cse for that third. It could easily have come earlier. I've seen 2 attempts at decent passing moves from us at pace in the second half. Neither ended up creating a chance. Beyond that, we were happy to sit off at 2-0 down and somehow hope they would dangerously over-commit. Instead, they had all the space, all the attack and all the chances. Changes the faces added no changes to that. Stephens red card just meant there was one less person to get in a late block. I guess Martin will look at the good start that the comments say we had. That we have to take our chances, and then look to being at 10 men when the thrid went in. He has to do that. Because we are not set up to fight, or take risks when conceding. Studio saying he will not change, and saying much the same as above. Looking for changes in personnel within the same system. Looking at highlights.... Dibling taking spot of Tella. Not a strong penalty. Martin will point out that's another set piece we've conceded from. Did our set piece guy leave? Stephens playing everyone onside. By a mile. Deserved red card too. THB letting everyone onside for the third, by a country mile too.

A limping Harry maguire, 250 year old Johnny Evans and Casemiro who they subbed recently for being a liability. Absolutely no pressure on any of them from us.

Whew! That was close.

Gosh! We nearly had a chance for Fraser or KWP to get a cross in. So glad it's gone all the way back to Ramsdale.

'tator 14 touches in opponent pen area in the first half. 2 in the second. Worse possession. Worse shots and shots on target by a far bit. Really not capable of getting back into a game. Which, combined with us setting up to always concede at least one, is not a good sign. Like AA, Martin will no doubt pint out that we have to be clinical with the chances we get.

Martin booked too. Down to 10, so that should mean we're harder to play against. Well, it works that way when it's our opponents that go down to 10.

yeah, it looks worse. He was well beaten and it was a poor challenge. Looks up thread to check for cheers over suspension... 🙂

Yellow for Stephens...oh,, red!

Nice move from Bedders, but couldnb;t get it past their defender.

From the comments, it sounds as though we were doing okay up until that.

Tator saying United have had all of the attempts. They are comfortably knocking it around, inviting us up. That's after they had pelnty of the ball in our final third. We're not laying a glove on them this half.

Fraser, Stewart, Cornet and Lallana on...

Creating chances a problem there, with BBD playing into noone. Other than that, holding onto the ball a problem, against a team already 2-0 up.

Just back for the second half... oh...

And Stephens can also pinch the ball off of Bruno.

Marxist?

When KWP stayed, I thought that Bree/Manning would be loaned out. Larios coming back from injury might have kept him here, but I'd not have been surprised for him to be loaned either. Leaving a group of KWP, Sugawara, Manning/Bree, Taylor and Stephens (in a pinch). Like Edozie, the arrival of Cornet and Fraser limits SAA minutes. When he can clearly push on. The bloated squad was a hurdle Martin was glad to see the back off last season. Shame we're stuck with it for this one, unless a few move on at the end of the window.

I'm reading it as loyal to the players he felt worked best in his system, to get us promotion. He's tried them at the start, but performances mean changes. To get results and from seeing others in training. He'll be torn between thinking he's close with the current team, and seeing others deserving opportunities. He has started players he feels are immediate upgrades, such as Ramsdale. Others might be less clear cut initially, but look to be more effective, like Fernandes. Some of the issues are old ones. Stephens would often negate Will's influence. Will would be asked to a different role less effectively. AA might want to be central, but is better wider for us. Although not with him wide and no one in the middle.

Bucket

And that's when we will spring our trap! Well, hand the trap about a bit, try it out in a few positions, drop it when running into Stephens...but then spring it! 🙂