Give it to Ron

I didn’t think he was as bad as some have posted either. A player not trusted by the manager to come on in previous games all of a sudden is put in midfield on his own. Aribo and Fernandes spent most of the game wide leaving just Big Les in middle against 2 or 3 Stoke players and he got swamped. He won several good headers, his passing could be better but his job is to just pass back and sideways so no wonder we looked vulnerable when he lost it giving free run at us.

Nothing to do with tactics of management then? If you had watched him you would have seen multiple runs beyond but every time the ball got played back to full backs or centre halves. We could have Haaland up front but until we stop this ridiculous tactic nothing will change. I thought just maybe last night would have seen BBD in middle to hold and link it as an outlet but again wasted wide

I will gladly u turn if by some miracle we win enough games to stay up. However this absolute shit show of passing back to centre halves all the time means I very much doubt it. Again last night we left their number 22 alone on edge of the box from a corner what does it take for penny to drop? Ball went to him too luckily Rams was fouled

He even managed to trip over own feet with no-one near him! SAA being blocked by Fraser, Cornet, BBD and Sully when Sam offers far more potential . BBD just looks so crap

How can anyone think that having your two worst players on the ball and see it more than any other player on the pitch. I reckon Bedders touched it more than the Stoke team altogether . Martin talks about bravery yet not one wide player or forward takes on a defender and just recycles backwards sideward to other wing and back. Players make runs in behind but then stop doing as the ball just gets played back to 2 centre halves. Fernandes is only one that does but even he gave up with just Archer and 4 defenders in middle all rest just passengers wide.

Why would we be hot favourites last time we finished 4th? So your theory is we get better at a system that doesn’t work . We only got promotion because we abandoned that or are you ignoring that fact?

The monkey is caused by the manager not being able to make a sub while he has a hole in his arse! Leicester game being prime example- why Fraser not Taylor? Why Smallbone who can’t run tackle, head or defend when under the cosh? Lallana starts this week but couldn’t manage 10 last or Big Les who he should be coaching play in his natural position. Having said all above believe we are stuck a) We can’t get anyone willing to come that board feel is worth risk changing b) we can’t afford to pay his settlement

Sammy Saint going by results

The theory or one of them is you have the opposite team running around and chasing the ball drawn out of position and tired. The downside is that with 5 subs now it doesn’t work as half outfield is refreshed normally. It also doesn’t work if you can’t pass it forward at pace to take advantage but between defence and goalie loses that opportunity.

Well just maybe if he could make a sub, coach a defence on defending a corner, pick the best 11 , not try and be the new Pep, strikers 60 yards apart or no striker then just maybe we wouldn’t?

Can’t be arsed n/t

There were 3 occasions that Leicester had player on the D unmarked from a corner in first half right in front of me. After the game he called out a player not doing his job so either they have stopped listening or he hasn’t coached that enough but guess poor Russ is blameless again.

I have no problem with how others see it but find the Smallbone thing baffling - in fact one bloke after game said why bring on tall Paul he didn’t win a header!

In my posts I am not making Smallbone the scapegoat here this is all on the manager. I can’t make out whether Lighthouse is joking, poor judgement or totally in love with Russ he would rather date Anne Widdecome than Pinder. How anyone thinks bringing on a player that hasn’t played in 6 weeks when under the cosh is such a gushing lickspittle it’s laughable! Oh and his injury re-occurred and now out again so we won’t see this important player again for a while. The players are playing to the managers tactics if no-one did their job that’s on you - you put them on the pitch and you coach them!

What has Smallbone ever done in that position that you bring him on then especially when not played in weeks? Armstrong did ok at Arsenal - Fraser was shit at Bournemouth.

But we moved two players as well for one sub - Manning who hasn’t been trusted as left back but was ok at left mid at Arsenal and today . It should have been just straight swap Charlie Taylor

We had Big Les a defensive midfielder and Lallana on the bench and getting over run in whose head would think Smallbone is the answer when he hasn’t played in weeks? Ok Big Les had bad game at Bournemouth but so did Fraser!

Cannot do anymore how about stopping Fatawu or get within 20 yards of him ! Tactically so naive when was last time we won the midfield especially in centre and bringing on a player who hasn’t played in weeks when getting over run is so stupid especially when he has no power, can’t head it, can’t tackle yet you are under the cosh . Lets give Martin more time he just may one day make the right substitution

Longer to do what?

They have invested a lot of money in this system and it will take them a lot to admit they got it wrong again or it’s now not working. It will take a lot more money to change again and will that change work no guarantees it will.

How many times did we play the U shape or have 5 attackers on bench and no forwards last season? If he can stop trying to be the new Poundland Pep and get a few wins then all changes but tactically I refuse to believe someone like Carrick wouldn’t be a better option than Mad Russball

Can you tell me which other club plays a U formation with strikers 60 yards apart? Can you show me a club that leaves 5 strikers on bench and best 2 midfielders out of position? Just brings players in from nowhere like Manning Saturday (although did well). Where is our German international? if that is being hipster then I am glad I can’t grow a beard. Unless we get a Potter or a Moyes I don’t see point in just changing to a Corberon who Russ beat a few time last season tactically. Eustace isn’t the experienced manager this club needs to run it with the lack of know have at board level. Thing in back of my mind is the way we just abandoned the play throughout club to appoint Jones how do I trust them to get the right man and coaching team.

Let’s see the Saints v Leicester starting 11 and if TP not in it he has lost the last bit of credibility with me. We finally had an outlet and focal point someone the better players could play off.

I was concerned by performance at Bournemouth players not putting it in just cannot say that today worked really hard for each other.

Few beers at new Spoons in Waterloo can’t temper my disappointment no way was this a 3-1 game. Fans tried hard today to get behind the team so obviously outclassed by standard and cost of players compared to ours. How do you go from not playing to starting Manning but he was one of our best players today didn’t put a foot wrong. Defensively tried so hard competed every set piece, cannot fault players today gave everything. TP gave us the focal point we have needed. Fernandez will be some player, my one criticism is on Downes who when presses leaves us open as he is the only holding player and back four exposed we don’t need him to press just stay solid. I never normally talk about away stewards but looking for trouble that wasn’t there had to get involved twice from mainly same one with chip on shoulder picking on mate and son who did nothing. Decent performance today considering but long season and we will need to get points soon