CSA96

Had quite high hopes for him. He was absolutely hopeless

Yeah I agree we weren't sharp and it was sloppy but that's not anything I didn't expect from an early season game with the window still open, soon after an all-time misery of a relegation. The three relegated sides are all outside the playoffs so far, with Ipswich down in 18th. It always takes a bit of time for those teams to click again I sympathise with the journey though because that is one hell of a commitment, so I don't blame your grumpiness!

He's said (many times) that he's not someone who spends too much time on data and statistics, plus the computer game line is lame I don't think we failed to turn up, either. We had 18 shots, hit the post twice and forced a couple of big saves from Johansson. We played our way into trouble with Downes turning into traffic on the first and then got sucker-punched for the second, we weren't on the ropes and clinging on You won't catch me arguing over the passing being crap and us slinging the ball in from wide, but the game as a whole was not the disaster it is being painted as in some quarters, at all. I would like to see the end of the 3-4-3 sooner rather than later and certainly the end of Armstrong lone striker immediately, but I am pretty sure that's imminent enough and will accelerate as soon as we sign the much-needed wide players and No. 10

Quite. Although if there was a way to go behind in a 1-0 win, I am sure Saints would find it

Boro do, they’re second and on maximum points… Preston and Bristol City also do, so that’s four of the top 10

I think most people on here know that MF isn’t a 10 at this stage, no? He’s better running from deep, moving the team up the pitch and lifting the tempo, which is also something that his managers have said about him

Well yes, if you ignore the examples of flexibility and focus on one example of inflexibility (after three games) then there is no flexibility. That’s right

We used this formation in preseason and a L significant number of forum users were moaning about how awful we looked in it and how we looked better in the 3-4-3… Also, MF is not a 10

Apart from changing formation second half against Wrexham? Apart from hooking Armstrong at HT yesterday and then going with two up top? Apart from pulling Quarshie out of the lineup after the game at Ipswich and going for a more combative player in Nathan Wood? Come on, you can make your point without lying about things surely

Apart from the bit where he changed formation in preseason, then admitted that he’ll shelve his preferred formation for a little bit to cater to the players that he’s got available and revisit it after we make some signings? I can’t remember those kind of words or thoughts ever passing the lips of Russell Martin, that’s for sure If you think he’s not being honest or pragmatic then I don’t know what else to say, quite frankly

We’ve had enough of Russell Martin’s dogma and arrogance, we want honest, straight talking pragmatism! No, not like that! I’ve had enough of this honest, straight talking pragmatism!

Give them a double reach around, one with your own arm and one with the bitten off arm

Alan Nixon (yes, I know…) is reporting that Wrexham have offered £7.5m for Will Smallbone

Not sure, but you must be thankful that it will keep you out of the dole queue, based on the above

Yes I’m sure that would’ve been met with a totally balanced reaction. Honestly, I can’t believe we’ve now got people saying Stephens should’ve got himself deliberately sent off and criticising the fact he didn’t. One defeat has sent this place barmy

Writing a new manager off after four games (2W, 1D, 1L) because he lost a game by one goal and is waiting for new signings. Some lily-livered elements of this fanbase really do deserve everything they get

Not if Gladbach or Koln go anywhere near him. He looks a handful and tricky, though, although his career path is a bit unusual and he's risen rapidly

I think you're right that it'll be three permanents: GK, Winger, 10. But I am pretty sure we will use the loan market. There's no reason not to just take a punt on another wide player, given that a few will eventually get told by their PL club they can go out in the final week of the window

We are THREE games in. Downs has started zero of them and Quarshie has started two (the two which we didn't lose)

Oh ffs. The owner of the dinlow farm is going to have a long Sunday rounding all of these up

I spy with my little eye, something beginning with shortsighted, histrionic moron

We don't know how good Stoke will or won't be yet. On early showing, they're decent and they have a seasoned manager who has built top half sides pretty solidly. No promoted team wins every game at home, everyone is going to drop points

Agree, I know some like to think of him as a 10 or a creative midfielder but I think he's more of an industrious, workhorse midfielder than he is somebody who splits a game open or carves teams apart for the forward players, although he has flashes of it from time to time