West end Saints

Strange post. Ignored qpr not due to skill but they were irrelevant to what I was curious about. We are not, and I would be very surprised if we improve this season into a team close to Burnley of last season. So I don't need to give anything up. Although if did hold that view doubt a Victor meldew rant would change my view! We aren't doing great. We had a terrible run of 4 games but before/after that we are doing OK. RM will be here all season, relax and enjoy the ride of good football mixed with some silly weak defensive play!

Just because I was interested, not to prove anything either way, The final top 6 teams after their first 13 games last season: Burnley 3rd 22 points Sheff U 1st 24 Luton 12th 17 Middlesborough 15th 16 Coventry 13th 17 Sunderland 5th 20 We are 5th with 21. So more points than any of play off teams had. 1 point off where champions were, 3 off where second were (who then lost a couple)

We are 5th? I am not 100% convinced but find it quite amusing how negative people are on here about him. I was gutted when we went behind, telling the TV we would never equalise and having a good moan then. But he as at least turned the bad run of 4 defeats into 5 unbeaten, and 4 points from last two away games. He ain't that bad!

Hilarious, recent games have saved him from the sack... Pretty much like every other manager! In other words, recently he is doing well.

2nd half leading to winning goal, 68% possession Shots 14 - 4 AccuratePasses 291 - 124 Pass accuracy 90% - 82% Shots 14-4 From the commentary, and stats sounds like Martin's half time plus substitutions got us a deserved 3 points.

They have won one in last 6?? We've won two!

Win every game we go up. We are improving. We are playing some good quality attacking football. Results still disappointing. I'm happy with him as our manager for the foreseeable future. But with all managers, lose 6 in a row you are shit, win 6 you are great, in between there will be mix of views.

think many posts are understandable frustration and emotional. We played well for a decent part today. The first 25 mins or so was excellent. Apart from the finishing no one can complain. Good possession, moving the ball quickly,midfielders overlapping etc. Could have, and should have been 3 or 4 up. Clearly how the manager set them up so don't think it was his fault at all today. I enjoyed it. The scary (close to me) medical emergency understandably took away some of the atmosphere and energy from both crowd and players. But we all knew we would suffer from not killing the game. In the second half Rotherham were offering nothing, sat back, seemed happy to keep to 1-0. We started to run out of ideas and slowed down. I could not see why Che was even considering giving their keeper the ball, and him being a mug led to the goal. I am frustrated and disappointed. I am also unhappy about how far off the top two we are. But personally don't agree with booing players, and manager after 7 points in a week and a game where we played well, created loads, etc but missed out on a win due to 1) a goal keeper having the game of his life 2) missed chances 3) Che stupidity 4) a period of 20 mins or so when we looked a bit complacent and slowed down go play out the game. Not sure how we will do under Martin but he is no where near being sacked and nor should he be.

Good post. I think many posts are understandable frustration and emotional. We played well for a decent count of today. The first 25 mins or so was excellent. Apart from the finishing no one can complain. Good possession, moving the ball quickly,midfielders overlapping etc. Could have, and should have been 3 or 4 up. Clearly how the manager set them up so don't think it was his fault at all today. I enjoyed it. The scary (close to me) medical emergency understandably took away some of the atmosphere and energy from both crowd and players. But we all knew we would suffer from not killing the game. In the second half Rotherham were offering nothing, sat back, seemed happy to keep to 1-0. We started to run out of ideas and slowed down. I could see why Che was considering giving their keeper the ball, and him being a mug led to the goal. I am frustrated and disappointed. I am also unhappy about how far off the top two we are. But personally don't agree with booing players, and manager after 7 points in a week and a game where we played well, created loads, etc but missed out on a win due to 1) a goal keeper having the game of his life 2) missed chances 3) Che stupidity 4) a period of 20 mins or so when we looked a bit complacent and slowed down go play out the game. Not sure how we will do under Martin but he is no where near being sacked and nor should he be.

Thought interesting thing in press conference was when a comment was made about how useful Sulemana will be if he can get his head right that Martin looked shocked at the comment, and then spoke very highly of his character and confidence. Maybe any rumours about sulking etc are miles off

To be fair I can't judge a player by one game. But one thing you did get right Piroe played nothing like Armstrong

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