revolution saint

Thanks, I like how in the third video he develops a ring of fire around him which I suspect makes him harder to tackle.

You may have quoted the wrong person Whitey - I didn't say anything about stats.

This is a complete non-sequitur.

That's because no one has actually said that - you've just made it up. Well done. All saintant said was that we need to play the ball a bit quicker, and not only is he right but Russell Martin agrees too.

You do realise you can play possession football and still move the ball round quickly? Possession football doesn't equal pedestrian football.

Yes, agree with all this and we definitely need to play with a higher tempo. I'm still giving Martin the benefit of the doubt - always thought that August and September would be tough months with the uncertainty around players, new players coming in and all whilst still getting to grips with a new style of playing. I'm actually surprised we've done as well as we have done. Fairly hopeful we'll start playing a few long balls to mix things up - looking at THB I'm not sure he's ever passed the ball less than 50 yards and if we've got the pace of Sulemana, Fraser and Arma then there will be opportunities to exploit that.

I’d be really surprised if not a single club in Belgium wanted Tall Paul and by their deadline you’d think we’ll be practically giving him away (on loan).

Yep, me too.

Still open in Saudi, Turkey and Belgium so Tall Paul is a cert for Genk you'd have thought. Probably their plan all along because I can see us loaning him out for practically nothing this season.

I might be being a bit more charitable than most but I've never really disliked Djenepo. Always felt that if we'd played him as a winger then he'd have looked better than he has with us so far. He never fitted the 4-2-2-2 system though and most of the time Ralph concentrated on getting him to do the things he couldn't do rather than the things he could. Even last season he managed to get a goal and I think a couple of assists which considering the limited amount of time he was on the pitch is probably as good as most last season (not a high bar though). Anyway, good luck to him.

Baz KWP THB Bednarek Manning Charles Downes Smallbone A Armstrong Fraser Adams It's a bit defensive for a home game but Alcaraz hasn't done enough recently to justify a starting position. If Sulemana had a few games under his belt then he'd be a starter but hasn't played in months so he's on the bench. I think after the Sunderland game it's important to look defensively sound. Think Leicester play with three at the back so Fraser and A Armstrong both have the pace to get in behind their wingbacks. Also think Smallbone is best equipped at the moment to pick a pass out in the final third.

Fair enough. I think there are problems with the formation and always have done but still think the attitude of the players today would have fucked up any formation we put out.

A lot of talk about formations and I can understand that but I think you could have arranged those players in any formation you like and if they turn up with the same attitude they did today then I think the result would have been similar. They were second to every ball, didn't play with any pace and looked as if they didn't care. I'm not sure that's so much a tactical issue. FWIW I don't think Martin coaches them to be deliberately slow and ponderous apart from the messing around at the back which I admit is bloody frustrating. Anyway, hopefully Martin gets them back on the training pitch and reminds them they've got to fight for the right to play the type of football he wants to implement.

Well that was a wake up call. Team mentality was totally wrong and didn't seem up for it at all. You can have the greatest players and the best tactics but if the players aren't committed and don't compete then you'll always get shit. It was all far too pedestrian, too slow and far too safe. Lots for RM to work on.

Yeah, he is, but lets have a look in a months time. It wasn't a prediction for todays squad. Once Harwood Bellis comes in and starts I think that could push Holgate down to the bench and then Bree struggles.

Yeah, he can apparently play on the right too and that's kind of my point. Players like Bree are at best looking at the subs bench but even then it's going to be unlikely they even make that.

I reckon Holgate will probably cover that position more often than not.

Yeah, I tend to agree on the right hand side of the attack. In terms of squad harmony though it could be a good thing. We've got Sam AA and Aribo who would put that position down as their preferred position but then you've also got Fraser, Sulemana, S Armstrong, A Armstrong, Edozie that could also play there. Even Will Smallbone did when he first broke into the team. It's going to be hard to keep everyone happy so having a position that doesn't have a nailed on first choice pick will allow Martin to give players a chance to play even if it's not their position of choice. Fuck knows what we're going to do with Tall Paul, Djenepo and Bree - I don't see how they get in the squad let alone the team.

I said before KWP isn't going anywhere. It's too late in the window for him to go, if he was going to go he would have gone by now. That's how you fucking do it.

Has Wilcox given the finger to the football establishment and just fucked off down the pub? Sounds like he's come in done a bit of work on THB and Ross Stewart and thought screw this, it's Friday and I can't be doing with all this deadline day shite.

Anyone know why the Roberts move is supposed to be off? I know Sunderland were trying to get some kid from Palace in on loan but that depends on whether Palace can sign Hugo Ekitike from PSG (according to the Palace fan at work).

Do well and you might get to sign for Southampton in January?

That might not be particularly good news if they're supposed to be on a plane or coach to Sunderland.....

Yeah, sounds like he could be decent. I guess he could also be the alternative to Roberts if Sunderland decide they don't want to sell him.

Bit of info on him here: https://themastermindsite.com/2023/04/29/why-tajon-buchanan-is-perfect-for-inter-milan-tactical-analysis/ Seems like he's an attack minded wingback. Could be decent cover for full back and winger roles especially if someone like Bree leaves.