saintant

You cannot exonerate RM and his coaches of blame for this fiasco. They have hours on the training ground to try different set ups for every scenario at every moment of a football match and, defending a late corner whilst holding a one goal lead should be high on the list. No excuses for players or manager/coaches.

We could also flip this and say there are loads on here who wear red and white glasses despite what they are seeing on the pitch - both sides have their merit. It's about opinions and we are all entitled to one - doesn't make us 'bed-wetters' just because we don't agree with yours. I've had season tickets many times over the years but don't go to matches now but wasn't aware that not going to games makes my opinion any lesser or me not so much of a fan. I care about this football club and will voice my views on what I see whether the football be good or bad. As to PSR I get that it presents its problems but we shouldn't make it an excuse or suggest it leads to inevitable relegation.

That is a damning picture. Very amateur defending. And even with the whole team back defending our six yard box I can still spot two Ipswich players totally unmarked and that's not counting those waiting on the edge of the penalty area. This just should not happen at any level never mind the Premier league.

There are no last chance saloons I'm afraid. We are not suddenly going to change tactics and become a team that can hold it's own in the Premier League. We are being coached to play this fairly pointless possession football - it worked to a degree last season and we scraped promotion via the play-offs with a squad that cost millions more than virtually all our opponents. That's as good as it's going to get as RM has no silver bullet. There are better ways and systems than he is employing but he's welded to this idea that he can somehow turn us into a lesser version of Man City - he is swimming against the tide and we continue to make the same basic errors in every match. Along with many others I think the squad we have could do better but that would require a change of manager which is likely not on the cards. Our start in terms of fixtures was relatively kind but we sit second from bottom with a single point and the goal difference is already negative by 7 and would probably be worse had we not signed Ramsdale. I get that we don't have the strongest squad but I don't believe we are getting the most out of them. Others will disagree which is fine as this great game is all about different opinions and I admire the optimism of those who have faith in RM but he doesn't strike me as somebody who is capable of masterminding us to a position of safety.

Well, the manager and his coaches are supposed to analyse every minute of every game so, if they are missing such obvious mistakes and we are continually repeating them, you can only assume they aren't doing their jobs properly or maybe they just aren't up to the task.

AA has quite frequently been used as a central striker for RM and he played there against Everton despite the world and his wife knowing he is totally ineffective there.

Very difficult to score from your back garden.

I wonder if Dibling can play centre forward. I recall he scored 3 goals against Newcastle at St James park for the B Team and they were all from running through the middle.

Was anyone apart from RM surprised that our midfield was overrun until he brought on Big Les?

Lallana is not a ball winner - never has been. However, you can afford a luxury like him if you play a two man pivot in front of the back four like the best teams do. Shame RM is too stubborn to give it a try.

Yes, that is a very poor return from those three games. Plus we gifted 10 men Newcastle 3 points. It can't all be down to bad luck - we must be doing lots of things radically wrong.

It usually does down there.

We continue to do well on the possession stats.

He'll be even better when Russ realises he should be starting games.

Shhhh!

Seems so obvious to us you'd think a highly paid manager would be able to work it out especially considering the number of times it happens.

Fulham had 39% possession today yet had 22 shots half of which were on target and won 3-1. possession football....go figure.

More likely we'll get the back lash.

Why do we always seem to concede late goals either at the end of the first half or end of matches?

Could have been sat in 16th position.

If you miss chances you at least have to kill off these types of games. We didn't.

One point is very disappointing. We needed all three but as usual we sink back and try to hold what we've got. It rarely works and it didn't today.

AS night follows day.

It's just my take on how we should line up. Not suggesting it's not got limitations but think it would give us a better balance.

Would have played 4231 with Downes and Big Les as the pivots. Lallana, Fernandes and Dibling as the three and Diaz or Stewart through the middle. We are getting over run because Downes is getting no help and will struggle to hold out in the second half.