stfrancisofbenali

We need to harness his infectious personality and positivity.

He's 100% right. Whether you're Still in or Still out, you've got to respect this approach.

And the board refused to open the purse strings so he buggered off to Goodison. That was our chance to 'do a Leicester.'

I was using him as an example of a big, gnarly, Championship-hardened target man for others to work off rather than suggesting he was our dream signing! We don't have that player and (with other experienced signings) it would have made an enormous difference in terms of leadership on the pitch and in the dressing room.

Signing players with potential rather than experience is a risky strategy, made all the more risky by appointing a young manager with potential rather than experience. It's this double whammy which is costing us dear. I've no doubt that WS is on an extremely steep learning curve and will become a better and stronger manager for this experience but unfortunately we are having to endure it in the here and now. Three very experienced Championship signings (Viktor Johannsen, Connor Coady, Ollie McBurnie types) would have made Still's life so much easier and it is the board who are entirely responsible for not predicting that he would need this on-pitch support.

Criticising Will Still for not having enough experience is a bit like criticising a 9 year old for not having any O-Levels. It’s not his fault that we have taken a gamble on him at such a young age and he was always going to take much longer than older managers to find his feet. The mistake of SR is appointing a promising and inexperienced manager at the same time as recruiting potential over experience in the squad.

Ralph was never backed financially and did a remarkable job with limited resources. Imagine if he’d had the transfer kitty that Jones was inexplicably given. Things could have been very different.

It’s the idiotic fanbase who did for Ralph in 2022 and led to the doomloop of Selles, Jones, Selles, Martin, Juric and Still. I said at the time be careful what you wish for and here we now find ourselves staring League One square in the face. We have to take some responsibility ourselves in thinking the grass is always greener. It isn’t!

The lack of resilience in our squad is astounding. For me that comes with recruiting two or three ugly, older, experienced players who don’t mind getting a bit gobby so that the younger ‘talent’ can learn from them. EG: Connor Cody, Viktor Johannsen, Ollie McBurnie types. We have spectacularly failed in the balance of the squad assuming that recruiting potential will be enough.

Why did we concede possession for their goals? Because they pressed us high and knew that we would shit ourselves. Their game plan worked and with limited resources, they were far more streetwise, despite the fact we dominated possession. If you can’t see that, you don’t understand football.

They played very well with what they had and absolutely schooled us.

7 mins of injury time on Saturday, zero ambition to go and win the game. 26 mins of normal time left tonight, zero ambition to really dig in and fight our way back into the game. A tactical lesson from Bristol City who were so much smarter than us.

This is why I didn’t understand all the positivity on Saturday after drawing 0-0 at home against a poor side. Good sides find a way to nick that 1-0. We’re not a good side as tonight is proving. Bristol City have so much more fight and positivity.

Er, he didn’t work out a system to beat Swansea because we didn’t beat Swansea! Second half was piss poor having dominated the first 45.

I’m afraid it is. Players are culpable of course but if you can’t work out a system to beat Swansea at home with the squad we have then it’s very much on the manager.

Still’s post match comments seem to be becoming more defensive, which suggests he knows he’s under pressure. A promising first half performance which made the second half even more unforgivable in its lack of urgency and intent. The game was so glaringly there to be won and it’s on him that he didn’t get the players grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck. He still needs time of course and may well get it right, but not beating Swansea at home is not a good look.

Unfortunately we all know that we are never going to get more than 2-3 games out of RS before another injury. He’ll play 12 games maximum this season. Not his fault of course but surely one of the most idiotic signings in our history. Who sanctioned it?

We’re above Ipswich.

6 draws last night out of 8 Championship games. No one is running away with it this year.

I actually think Sheffield Utd were half decent and are in a very false position in the table. O’Hare and Hamer are quality so that’s a very strong away win. On the Quarshie debate, don’t change a winning formula. Same starting 11 with impact subs ready to come on.

Still very emotional at full time. Like it.

Charlton can’t believe we let him go.

Before the pen I was about to type that I just can’t see this group having the fight to come back and win this. I held off. Now I feel it more than ever. Hope I’m very wrong.

The players at his disposal are the two top assisters in the Championship from last season and others who have scored 20+ a season at this level. No reason this squad shouldn’t be competing for promotion.

After only seven games it’s a brave call to say we aren’t getting promoted this season. Put 4 wins together in this division and you’re right in contention and we have the players with the ability to do just that.