saintant

Did the ref choose who we brought on from the bench?

Yeah and add that to the decision to bring on Fraser instead of Taylor. You do wonder what goes through Martin's brain.

As was the decision to bring on Fraser instead of Taylor.

Yeah, you've got an experienced left back on the bench who has played in the Premier League and was probably unlucky to be dropped but smartarse Russ thinks it's a better idea to bring on a guy who plays as a winger. You couldn't make this shit up.

By applying poor game management.

Or alternatively 'Bored, need to act tonight'

He'll not be sacked.

Seems like it was down to very poor game management.

Very predictable.

Any idea why your pal Russ never picks him?

Taylor will add a chunk of injury time and they'll score a winner during it.

Sounds as though we've had a decent first half so here's hoping we can push on and secure a much needed victory. The first 20 minutes of the second half will be crucial. Think we might still need at least one more goal - stats show Ramsdale has made zero saves although I think they hit the post. We need all 3 points, nothing less.

I'm not sure even he thinks a bigger club is going to come in for him.

Just watched part 1 of the press conference. Near the end RM seemed to be intimating that those in charge are not too bothered about results and it's more about sticking with the process. He said something along the lines of the perception inside the building being totally different when Adam Blackmore asked about how the club stop the noises about his position being under threat. This is a worrying attitude from those running the club.

But not the worst football team ever to play at St Marys judging by our home games so far this season.

Last season RM did ok but nothing out of the ordinary considering the squad he had. True to form he presided over a team that let too many goals in. I've seen and heard nothing from him so far to convince me that he is capable of managing at a higher level than the Championship - one of the glaringly obvious reasons for this is that he continues to prove himself unable to set up a team that plays in a compact manner meaning we are still conceding far too many goals a lot of which stem from mistakes which are often a by-product of the set up and tactics he prefers. Conversely we create too few chances and don't score nearly enough goals because he remains hell bent on the tippy-tappy system of playing out from the back. Combine the two and it's a recipe for certain relegation and I get that we don't have a squad capable of above mid-table but he is not making the most of what he has largely due to being welded to a system that doesn't and will not work with the players at his disposal. A decent manager looks at what he's got and adapts to get the best out of them.

Ramsdale Sugawara THB Bednarek Taylor KWP Downes Dibling Lallana Fernandes Archer Tall Paul on the bench but give him 30 minutes and get some crosses in. Also SAA on the bench and give him 20 minutes to show what he can do running at a tiring defence.

Win, lose or draw I think RM will be here after the Leicester game.

I can't seeing Russ being sacked tomorrow. Forget some meaningless charity game, he'd surely have gone after the Arsenal game leaving the incoming manager with the best part of two weeks to get his feet under the table. Will be surprised if RM is not still in charge for the Leicester game.

Amen to this. Very much spot on in my book.

The problem with your argument is that we haven't seen these players put into a system that suits a newly promoted team. Until we do it is hard to judge them as they are continually being thrown under the bus by a manager who refuses to accept that his tactics do not work despite every football commentator and pundit plus many fans telling him week in and week out that it won't.

Option 3 depends on the fans putting up with him staying for the season and I don't believe the majority will.

There is a good article about RM and Saints posted on The Ugly Inside under the thread titled Inverted Full Backs and False Nines. It includes the statistic that, for goal kicks, we are the joint highest with Spurs of teams who play the ball within their own six yard box 84% of the time. It also states that our opening set of fixtures were the 4th easiest out of all teams.

Carsley will be available soon.

Greece proving that underdogs who are well drilled, well coached and set up in a good formation can upset the big boys. They broke quickly, passed horizontally, got between the lines and gave England a harsh lesson. Are you watching Russ?