Midfield_General

Exactly. Say what you like about Martin, but it seems pretty clear that he places a high value on what he perceives as 'character'. He talks about showing loyalty a lot, and obviously expects that back, however that might be interpreted. Whatever's happened behind the scenes with ABK, it's pretty obvious that he's lost the trust of whichever staff were around at that time, and who are still there now advising Martin. The only reason he brought him on in the Cardiff cup game was in response to his failed medical at Hoffenheim the week before, to show other clubs that he was physically fit in order to try and sell him before the window closed. He hasn't so much as made the bench in any other game. That suggests he's at least seventh choice as a CB option behind Bednarek, Stephens, THB, Wood, Edwards and probably Taylor. One way or another he has royally pissed on his chips, and while it seems very unlikely we'll ever know what he actually did in order to debate whether it merits this treatment or not, for as long as Martin's in charge, rightly or wrongly, he's done here.

Need to show we can keep a clean sheet. Need to show we can score goals. Ipswich at home should be the perfect opportunity to do both. Should be.

Yes I can see the Northam taking to that

I'd have that but with Lallana and Fernandes swapped round so Lallana is playing off the left, with KWP and Suga under instructions to get forward on the overlap to provide the width. Cornet on for Dibling and Fraser on for Lallana when they tire in the second half. BBD just doesn't look starting quality to me, especially not wide left where we've got options who are better with the ball at their feet, better at picking a pass, more intelligent and just generally look like more cultured footballers who suit our system more effectively. I'd drop him to the bench and consider either him or Stewart as the option to bring on more centrally in the second half if it's not happening for Archer. Need to find a way to scratch out three points here by hook or by crook, because if we don't I think the knives will be sharpening for RM. I also think he knows this, going from a couple of his recent post-match comments. I think we'll do it. Couple of early goals to calm everyone down and then olé it for the rest of the game to secure those sweet, sweet 83% possession stats. 2-0 Saints. COYR.

He said it right at the end of the press conference on Saturday as well. Was finishing an answer about what might happen to the squad in January, and signed off with "If I stay in the job that long", without a smile. Whether someone's said something to him, or he's just really feeling it, underneath all the bluster he's obviously highly conscious of that risk.

Dinamo Zagreb were 3-2 down to Bayern after 56 minutes, ended up losing 9-2. Impressive.

Lallana off for Fernandes.

We didn't though did we. We scored a header from a cross.

Sky Sports giving us 77% possession and zero 'clear cut chances'. Bit of an odd stat, given we've scored, but quite representative of the feel of it generally.

Half time. Armstrong getting very little service but generally looking utterly ineffective down the middle, yet again. A spectator, barely touched the ball. I wonder how many times they need to see it before they finally accept he can't effect the game as a no. 9 against any half-decent opposition. Pretty weak for the goal. Macca missed the cross then we got beaten to two headers. THB should have done better. Great delivery from Taylor for the equalizer; good header from THB. Lallana showing a few little flashes of quality, decent feet and one of the few looking for a forward pass. Wood having a physical battle with Beto and doing OK, but looks clumsy. Bree giving the ball away a fair bit under little pressure. Fraser looking lively when he gets the ball but lacking quality with his delivery. Generally lots of the usual sideways and backwards possession with little point to it. Very little real attacking threat from open play. Overall, seen worse but pretty damn average all round.

Your obsession with Russell's looks is very odd. Presumably you're much better looking than him?

'Leonardus'.

Just watched the Man Utd post-match press conference in full and the very last line was interesting. RM was giving an answer about the size of the squad, talking about how they were handling it and how there would need to be a reassessment in January, and at the end he signed off with "I'll have to stay in the job for that long first". He didn't say it with much of a smile either. Even if it was just a throwaway line, it shows he's clearly feeling the pressure. There was some talk that the contract extension meant that he may have been given assurances that he'd be allowed to stay in the job if we went down, to bring us back up, but I don't think someone who has had that sort of reassurance makes a comment like that. He comes across as quite bolshy sometimes (although, in my opinion, nothing he said in that press conference was particularly aggressive or out of order), but I don't think he's under any illusions as to the expectations and the likely consequences of falling short of them, even this early on. He knows his job's at risk already.

Play the same team in the same formation, swapping in THB for the suspended Stephens if ABK is still persona non grata. Leave everything else the same. We need to find a consistent first team and shape and they need to learn how to play together and win together. We’ll never do that if we’re chopping and changing from match to match. Let’s see if the same team can build on what they did for the first 35 mins on Saturday, by converting chances, cutting out defensive mistakes and doing it for 90 mins. This is a great opportunity to play without the pressure of PL points at stake and get the feeling back of winning against PL-level opposition. We’re not in a position to piss that away by putting out an experimental or reserve team. We need to go into the Ipswich game with some confidence off the back of a win, not feeling even lower after another demoralising defeat.

Onuachu isn’t getting called up, under any circumstances. He’s as far away from being a Martin player as it’s possible to be. Unless we have a major, major injury crisis he’s not even making the bench.

The Championship

Absolute screamer. What a goal.

Calvert-Lewin spunks a one-on-one with all the time in the world, then Watkins equalises for 2-2. 58 mins. Everton are going to find a way to lose this.

Three words to strike a chill into any heart: Frank Lampard's Southampton. Careful what you wish for.

Uh-oh

He's at least being able to show what he can do, which is presumably what he wanted. At least three great saves today, would have been an ugly scoreline without him. Regardless of the result, you don't have people talking about any great saves you made if you're sat on the bench every week.

The psychological collapse was what was most concerning there. For the first 35 mins we played them off the park. The shape was loads better, we looked well up for it, we were first to everything, we were much more forward-looking and direct, and they couldn't handle Dibling at all. Lesley should have put that free header on target before the penalty was given, and it was criminal that no-one had taken up a position for a cut-back tap-in when KWP dribbled it all the way into their six yard box. But as soon as we missed the penalty you could visibly see the belief drain out of them. That led to the first goal and then we just collapsed and were lucky not to concede three in that fifteen minutes before half-time. Second half, there was just nothing there, the belief had completely gone. We've seen a thousand times, usually from teams we're playing against, how going 2-0 down is far from a sure defeat - pull one back and it's game on. But we didn't get anywhere near that because there was no belief that we could. We were beaten as soon as things went against us. Our heads went down the moment we missed the penalty and didn't come back up again for the whole match. Individual performances aside, it looked like the players are already starting to doubt that they belong in this league. That's really worrying this early in the season, although hardly surprising after four defeats in four matches. If they're looking that dejected already, Martin's got a huge job on his hands just picking them up and keeping confidence and belief in the team, because when that goes and heads start dropping every time you concede, you really are screwed. The Ipswich game is massive now. He has to find a way to scratch some sort of result out of that, however ugly it might need to be to get it. We need to find some street fighting mentality to get some points on the board however we can and then build from there. Ramsdale was good though. Thank god we've got him, because with any of our other keepers that was five or six today, easily.

One more player and that side would probably do alright in the championship

United starting Eriksen and Fernandes together in midfield with Mainoo means they don't really have a recognised DM. That's a midfield that can be bullied if we get it right. Fuck 'em up Big Les. Rashford starting over Garnacho is an interesting one. And no Casemiro. United fans not happy at all with their line-up.

If we give ourselves a chance by not doing anything silly at the back then that side is more than capable of giving them a proper game.