saintant

Equally you could say how many times did he come on as a sub when the team was flying which is a lot easier than coming on when the side was struggling - I'd hazard a guess it was mostly the latter. I've always advocated that Armstrong, with good supply, will score goals and, let's face it, the service he got in the Premier League gave him scraps to feed on and that's being generous.

I think how we play/perform tonight will tell us a lot about the direction we are headed. Will it be a carry on of the big improvement on Saturday or will we revert to the tippy tappy, low intensity levels of the preceding 4 games? RM needs to get the line-up and system spot on - if he does we should have nothing to fear against Stoke. All 3 points would be great but a point will be fine as long as it's a decent performance.

Weather forecast is for zero rain and a fairly light breeze - should be a doddle now we've sorted out how to play football.

We set up wrong and are badly coached in general although Saturday proved what can be done if we are willing to change the system.

Well, according to the song 'Diamonds are Forever' so it'll be more of the same from Saturday.

3 goals in 3 games for Tall Paul 🙂

Not been mentioned strangely enough.

I think the deft little glancing header for his opening goal gave him the belief and he's gone from strength to strength.

I think all 3 goals we scored were as a result of an improvement of players at last showing more desire to move into good spaces to receive the ball - the first goal was a brilliant move starting from Baz and then great movement and awareness to move the ball up the pitch culminating in a cool finish from AA. If we keep doing that we'll only get better as will results.

I'd rather a player looked pissed off to be subbed as opposed to one who looked indifferent - shows he thought he was playing well and had a passion to be on the pitch helping his team to achieve a much needed win.

Didn't see the game but that's a huge result so well done to players and RM. It seems it was a vastly improved performance and, from what I gather, we had less possession perhaps because there was more intent to get the ball forward using less passes. Appears we came out of the blocks fast and won more tackles. So we did much of the different stuff many of us have been calling for. Let's hope this is a turning point and lessons have been learned because this performance is evidence that we have good players but were using them in a system that was not working. More of the same on Tuesday and we should get something at Stoke. The slight concern is that RM may revert to the possession tactics because he is clearly wedded to the project.

They just won't learn. Everything we do should not be outcome based. Get them in early on Monday and show them exactly where they are going wrong.

No place for that sort of football in this day and age. Drop all involved in this goal for a few games.

Every week we have to listen to RM say how good the training is and how intense. Well, in case you haven't noticed Russell, it's not translating onto the pitch on match day so something is not working.

Well unless they are completely stupid I'm sure they know how to turn the negativity into positivity yet 'for several years' they have been unable to.

We seem to be blessed with many people who talk a good game which begs the question why do the team so rarely play a good game? Maybe the old adage that talk is cheap is spot on.

You need to specify which season you think this promotion will be achieved.

Maybe change their name to Sports Repub-team-lic

The sort of book that once you put it down you can't bring yourself to pick it up again.

He was introduced to Rasmus.

Well if you read my posts regularly you would soon find out that I am very even handed. When the team is playing well I speak as I find and will praise the coach and players. Equally, when they are serving up what we've witnessed for the last 4 games I will be critical. Sitting on the fence is boring. Comment on what is being served up, good or bad. I'd rather it was all good but we've been hopeless on and off for far too long now. Sorry if it offends you - maybe put me on ignore.

Lots of sense in this post.

Must be for kicking the ball away or back chatting to the ref because our lot don't put in enough meaty tackles to warrant yellow cards.

Yes, all those managers we hounded out and who were immediately snapped up by other clubs. I see where he's coming from.

Maybe that's because literally everything at the club is being badly run- or perhaps you think we're being run like a well oiled machine.