West end Saints

Win every game left then we go up... Simple plan

Dyche doing great 😂

Martin was talking to a player on the pitch when Sulemana got back, they didn't ignore each other. As he went off, and passed where I sit he was smiling and clapping the crowd. At the end of the game Sulemana and Martin were hugging and chatting, Martin then had him in sort of playful headlock / hug. It was his first start, he played exceptionally well, but was maybe tiring and prob right to sub him with a game on Tuesday.

I think there is a lot of sense in that line up. (not the one I would have picked though). No idea what Holgate is like at RB but likely to be more solid and adds height. I like KWP at LB, some of his best performances for us. Charles at DM - all agree. Smallbone and Downes both decent with DM behind them. I would have liked to see Alcarez but these are probably safer and have more experience. Front three Che - no other option Fraser / Armstrong both quick direct. More experienced than Edozie and Sulemana. Probably bigger characters to deal with pressure.

I believe good teams may switch some players around but have steady key partnerships, who get used to each other. Romeu and JWP, Cork, Hammond, Schniederlin, Etc The two key areas for me are CBs and the midfield group. CBs we have suffered with injuries and not found stability. Midfield we lost JWP, signed Downes later in the window, lost both him and Smallbone. Add this to the apparent lack of the manager being sure who he prefers. I think we have plenty of quality out wide, with Fraser, Sulemana, Edozie, Adam A, Sam AA. He is settled on his keeper and fullbacks. My hope is that if he finds his midfield /CBs and sticks with them for several games they will learn his Methods and more importantly working together. For me, at the moment CBs - THB and JB Midfield - Charles and Downes Alcarez I would probably persist with Edozie and Fraser, with Sulemana coming on at 70 mins, until hopefully he proves himself as a starter. With Sam getting decent minutes. Then suppose we have to have Che with one behind, AA, plus Stu coming on as needed. If we see that for a few games, hopefully their quality with consistency would work??? Players were looking lost and getting in each others way.

Amazed, when we need to toughen up in midfield, that Stu is being suggested... Our softest, laziest midfielder in recent years

4 first team CBs is plenty for any championship side. No championship side will keep any level of CB (other than youngsters) as 5th choice. I'm guessing last promotion season we used 2 or 3? Jack Stevens Jan B Shea Charles Holgate THB James Bree and Ryan Manning have both played as first team CBs. I can see an argument to sign to improve a starting CB but I would say signing more back up than the above would be madness. What are the chances of having so many injured we need to use Bree as CB? And for that remote chance would we get a better 7th choice than Bree? Edit Fonte 39 Jos Hoo 36 Martin 10

Personally I am still pretty comfortable with where we are. Key things for me: I enjoyed Norwich and Sheff W performances, moving the ball around quickly and precisely. Sunderland game may be a bit of freak result as: Transfer window uncertainty (albeit impacted other clubs to lesser extent) Injury to Stephens, Smallbone/Downes coming back from injury /illness Che Adams unsettled, Stewart not yet fit Holgate played early and probably not ready We started well... For about a minute, before letting a goal in, New team, Holgate debut, intense support, put under immense pressure from start. Sunderland had one of those days where everything they hit was hit beautifully, they won't often do that, teams against us won't. With the complete reset to be this close to the top at this stage is a good start. We are likely the let in a lot, but reckon we will do ok

The one in 7th or in 9th? Bad day, but we will be above them.

Russell Martin said he learnt from today, hopefully he has learnt that Stu and Holgate should not be anywhere near the starting 11. Stu has been woeful for years, weak, lazy, no positional sense, a total passenger. He is not good enough for this level. On highlights he maybe sometimes look passable, as he does do a couple of driving runs, which sometimes work. Often by luck as he doesn't look up and loses possession so easily and so often. And when he does lose it he does nothing. Sorry for the rant but I'm fed up of the emperor's new clothes style praise he gets. Watching games, home and often away you see how little effort he puts in. He should never be considered for a non-attacking midfield role. Perhaps behind a forward or wide, but even then surely Edozie, Fraser, Sam AA, Sulemana, Alcarez, Smallbone, Adam Armstrong, Doyle, Aribo, me can offer more and try a bit.

Any midfield with Stu is too lightweight. He isn't good enough. Two head down runs a game, and a goal a season doesn't make up for it

I agree, how often does a club need a 5th choice CB? It's one position where you want a partnership playing each week. We already have Jack and Jan, club captain and a senior pro. We have signed two young players on loan who both would have been signed after being attracted by a decent amount of game time. Then we have, as @CamSaint said Awe, and whoever else is pushing from the under 21s. Charles has looked decent there. Bree has played, I think CB, if we have a crisis. We are only currently in one competition. So even if Bednarek and ABK leave we don't really need Wood or anyone else.

I'm relatively chilled about the departures. After watching the last couple of seasons, where we lacked character, style and team spirit a huge change was needed. I think (hope) we have the manager to address that, and although he clearly needs good players, he needs a group that want to be here, can gel and positively buy into his methods. If that means going from Tella and Adams to the Sunderland lads, I don't think it's a bad move. I can see us losing a CB if we are getting the Man City lad in (you don't need 5). I hope we don't lose KWP or Alcarez. We still have a few who may struggle for game time (Djenepo, Aribo, Stu). My only concern is we look light upfront, with the new signing injured, Arma moving back, Ballard/Che/Mara all maybe off. However, I bet all three of the promoted sides last season would have bitten your hand off for our squad 12 months ago.

And Sulemana at the moment

https://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?style=2&t=64469

Hard to call with so many variables we dont know, will Che be here, is Smallbone ready? If Sulemana still here how has his attitude been? ABKs fitness? Anyone else who will be gone? But I think Fraser, Downes and Smallbone are all seen as starters if fit. Could be Fraser/ Downes/ Smallbone/Edozie Arma Alcarez or Mara (or Che) Or maybe Charles with Smallbone in a more advanced role and Arma further forward.

Jesus wept, do some people not listen / believe the manager?

Release clause is the amount they have to accept, they may accept less depending on their, and the player's views - eg how much he is needed, do they need money, how long left on contract. No nothing about this guy

Currently top Too slow

For three years

We all see it differently... I thought Charlie struggled to get into the first half but still did a lot more than Stu, who I thought was a passenger throughout. (about three of his trade mark good runs, then watch the game go by with no interest in getting the ball back when he loses it.) I appreciate I maybe wrong, as he is popular on here, but I just feel that whenever he plays, for 90% of the time we are as good as a man short! Thought Charlie had a very good second half. What I like about him is that he plays quick incisive passes in the right area. Agree with most of the rest. Downes for Stu and I would be more optimistic. Adam A looked better on the left, and we needed Che as a target. Tella was in pain towards the end after repeated kicks.

After two games, turning around the lack of character of recent seasons, new manager, best players not available as they are on the way out but not yet replaced... We are.... 6th. Replace Stu with Downes and I suspect we improved significantly.

I understand him moving on, but his place in the club's history as the captain of a promotion winning side would have been very different to this, the captain of a relegation side, who left for West ham. He has been a good player for us, and seems a decent lad. However I don't think he should be anywhere near St Mary's on Saturday, if he has chosen to move on its about the current squad not him.

He took responsibility. Happy with youngsters. Stu, Aribo, Mara were getting minutes as part of their recovery, although he said was disappointed with Mara. Postive about Charlie and Che So seemed to be aiming criticism as Mccarthy, Lyanco, Djenepo, Perraud, Bree, Ounachu? Don't think he referred to Meghoma and Charles?

From what we saw on Friday, divisive as in those who like fast paced, skillful, intelligent, attacking high quality football And those who don't (or just don't understand) This is great as showing why the possession is different than recent seasons. Recently the passing was flat, slow, backward, CB to CM and back. This shows a totally different approach. And when we had a game won.