saintant

I don't think it's all on the centre backs. Our problem is that the rest of the team is packed with small players who lack the height and physicality to defend corners against big sides like Sheff Wednesday. Add in the fact that Baz rarely, if ever, comes out to catch or punch and it is a problem that will be difficult to resolve.

There's a long time left in this window and I am sure we will receive numerous offers from Prem clubs for JWP. Over 3 weeks to go and clubs will be assessing their squads and looking at what they need and what is available. It's hard to imagine all 20 Prem teams could not use JWP for his experience, fitness, passing and that's before we mention his brilliant goal scoring record from set-pieces. He'll be much in demand as the window unfolds in my opinion. Hope I'm wrong but that's how I see it playing out.

Maybe the new set-piece coach will rectify this and other defensive failings against corners/set-pieces. What I don't want to see is bloody zonal marking!

They need to think back to how a, less than full strength, Man City side absolutely destroyed them in a cup game last season.

I have no doubt that a fit Danny Ings, with his clever runs and movement, would score a shed load of goals for this team.

Defending set pieces is a difficult one to resolve because the stark reality is that we are a small side lacking in physicality apart from the two centre backs. I fear we will concede quite a few goals from corners/free kicks crossed into our box because we just don't have the height in numbers to combat this. Sheff Wednesday are a big side and the advantage to them at corners was very evident and led to their only chance/goal - other sides will certainly look to exploit this weakness in our armoury. One way to combat it would be if Baz was more aggressive in coming out and claiming/punching crosses but he doesn't appear to have that in his game and he's not the tallest or most imposing figure. Maybe the new set-piece coach will help but he has a job on his hands in this respect.

Some of what you say is valid. The major point you miss is that we are very much a work in progress. There was far more pass and move last night than we have seen for far too long and that is a good solid base to start from. Moving forward we need to see more clever runs into the channels and opposing penalty box like the one JWP made to set up the goal for Adams. That is how we'll make chances rather than choosing to go down the flanks and cross hopeful balls to our diminutive forwards - we were guilty of trying this too often last night. If we can encourage the clever runs from deeper positions central to goal we will be on to something and will become a very tricky side to play against. I'm sure Martin and his coaches will be working on this aspect of our game. For me the signs were very good and, as to meaningless football for the sake of it, I would draw your attention to our ability to hold the ball and run down the clock during the nine minutes of extra time when, in the past, we would have been in a panic and hoofing the ball at every opportunity. Let's see how this team evolves because that was just game one in a long season.

I don't mind players who aren't happy at being substituted. It shows they have some passion and fight. For too long we've been a submissive side that has not looked up for the fight. If players are going to show more grit, determination and a desire to win then I'm all for that. Russell Martin comes across as a nice guy but I reckon there is a bit of steel about him and he is someone who won't tolerate lack of effort or commitment, things we've been missing of late.

He is far too good for the Championship - would be a real coup to keep him but I think he'll be snapped up by one of the mid-table Prem sides.

Great start to the season. It wasn't perfect by any means but lots of positives. We moved the ball well although not always with enough purpose but hopefully that will come. Che's goal was an example of how we can open up defences. Rather than go down the wings which we did far too much we had the run of JWP into the box which created the opportunity and Che finished smartly - more of that please. This is the way to go rather than down the wings and hopeful crosses to our forwards who are not the tallest. I loved the way we managed the 9 minutes extra time which was far more comfortable than we are used to. One worry for me is that we are a small side and will struggle to defend corners and crosses into the box - that was how Wednesday scored and, in truth, you couldn't see them troubling us any other way. Lots to be encouraged about and we will get better.

Wednesday are playing like the away side. They know that if they don't keep nearly everyone behind the ball we'll rip through them with our slick passing - this is making it difficult to create clear cut chances. At some stage you would think they are going to have to come out and that might give us more space.

KWP had a superb first half. Are you watching a different game?

Total domination, some lovely passing Phases and great shape. The only thing missing is goals - apart, of course, from AA's deft header 🙂

I hope we have a plan to prevent 33 year old Barry Bannan from running the match.

Not an unexpected line-up.

Know nothing about him but his pedigree is pretty good. Let's hope he is able to improve our set pieces for and against because, other than JWP's goals, we score far too few and let in far too many. It's an area we need to improve vastly and this guy may be the one to do it.

I bow to your obvious superior knowledge.

At times in these clips he looks shambolic. Easy to see why we might want him 🙂

Orisic did score some incredible goals - along with others I am baffled by what happened to his game when he joined us. I guess we'll never know.

I haven't said he'll never improve over time - he's just not ready to be our first choice at this stage in his career from what I've seen.

Lots of mistakes, unconvincing on crosses and poor with his feet - he'll fit in perfectly as an alternative to our existing keepers.

Maybe swap him for Aribo.

Either you can save shots or you can't. Which division you're in is not so important.

Seriously!