hypochondriac

All I was saying was that if he didn't want to start Bednarek or Stephens (which he clearly didn't want to) then there were really very few options which made it very likely that he was going to pick some players out of position. Anyway, the poster who went to the game on an earlier page said it was mostly Bree and Lyanco that messed up for the goals so I expect playing anyone other than Lyanco especially would have resulted in an improved performance. Maybe that's what he meant by getting the team selection wrong.

He probably figured that we had other attacking players which made giving Alcaraz a run out for the last half an hour worth the risk. It obviously is a risk playing any player, you might consider it a small one but it's still a risk clearly.

There will be risks at some point. In league games. I'd rather not take unnecessary risks in the cup this year. I accept that some people would prefer to but I'm with the manager on this one.

I had a look at league one Aaron Collins seems like he did well last year. Could he be a second striker if we get a couple? Ricardo Santos - cb at Bolton looks like a powerful presence at the back. Conor hourihane- bring a bit of experience to the midfield? Still need a striker though.

Any players worth pinching from league one? I know we were linked with Edwards who sounds like he's worth signing.

He didn't want to risk Stephens because we have no alternatives to him for Saturday. Likewise Charles was played in midfield I think his normal position because he didn't want to risk Smallbone for the same reasons. All logical decisions imo.

What would your team have been?

So two players out of position instead of one?

Reports from people at the game do not back this up. Ameyew supposedly performed well.

Fair enough and that's a judgement call isn't it. It's certainly not some sort of giant managerial error, Simeu has never played for us nor has he shown any ability to do so (does he even have a squad number?)

You mean the youth players making their debuts, Ameyew who played well or Armstrong who was excellent last week?

So who is playing rb in your team?

You're probably right. I get the thinking behind players bg Charles but if he were ti get injured we really would have been up hsit creek on Saturday. In some ways Charles being fit is even more important than Stephens if we don't have Lavia or jwp.

The players were absolutely shite and didn't follow his instructions. Calling that out post match was the least they deserved.

Probably because he walked in the door yesterday?

The that just emphasises my point. People are very quick to criticise Perraud being played at CB, but can't name an alternative other than the two who played on Saturday who Martin clearly didn't want to risk unless he had to.

I'm pretty sure he did? See his comments re team selection.

Can you become a scientist if you have a degree in chemistry?

Well they won't have long to get then in before Tuesday! I thought they wouldn't have had the last forum with Jones still employed but they did...

I hope jwp isn't in attendance to distract. I'd quite like a last minute Shea Charles winner and a chorus of "who the fuck is jwp and the saints go marching on on on."

Exactly. Lose on Saturday with the squad down to the bare bones in places and there's going to be real grumblings at the fans forum next week. I really do feel that this is the very worst time to lose some of the positivity from last week. A win on Saturday is so important.

It's like driving your new tractor through a field with land mines in when you have the farm show next week. I'd rather keep my new tractor safe in the barn for next week and use my horse and cart even if it does a shitty job because I don't really care about the mined field and I'd really like to win a rosette on Saturday.

Probably because if he got injured we woukd be forced to play Lyanco on Saturday. He probably weighed it up and didn't consider it worth the risk.

Any suggestions? Bearing in mind that he didn't want to risk a key player in Jack and Bednarek only returned from injury on Saturday.

Who would you have played? Only suggestion so far is Simeu which is at best a marginal judgement call given that he's never played for the club before.