derry

Martin didn't win promotion finishing fourth. He won the promotion lottery, how? he ditched the style he's reimposed and went pragmatic for four games. We won the shootout at Wembley with a goal and a clean sheet. He get's the prize, a place in the Premier League then promptly reverts to the tactics that despite his boasting hadn't won a thing in five years. Having lucked out and had £100m to spend we are back where we started, playing the same stupid way. Usiing the same pragmatic formation, playing stupid, proves to me that if we hadn't cut out the stupidity we wouldn't have made it through the play offs. He needs to change or be changed. We need to play clever not like a poor man's Manchester City in a rich man's league.

Personally I don't buy bullshit. The ball rotation and resultant mistakes in our own final third have resulted in far more mistakes than the goals we've conceded. Playing out from the back is all very well provided it doesn't involve intricate ball rotation. One of the big faults with the system is that we are destroying the natural self preservation whilst endorsing the taking of stupid risks. The players are literally brainwashed that a pass is better than a clearance even if it's increasing the risk, well it bloody well isn't. A further fault is it is turning the forward players into spectators whilst midfielders are guilty of returning the ball back into our danger areas. The message to any opponent is that it's the way we play and we accept any risk. What utter bollocks. All opponents have to do is press our defenders because they know two things, one we will eventually give them the ball and two we aren't trying to break their press because if the ball does come out the midfield may well return it into the danger area, especially Smallbone. Anytime a defender is threatened and there isn't an out ball there should be a clearance into wide safe areas where we have players and it's their job to press and win it back. Even row ZZ is better than rotation. Even better put it out of play so it rebounds back onto the pitch as it stops a quick throw. Personally I believe in playing smart not stupid which this is especially with the level of ability in the Premier opponents.

However the letter says look into wallets it doesn't say they have to handle them.

Stop trying to reinvent the wheel. Stick him up front if he plays. same with Archer. We need to settle on a system to accommodate the players, raise the tempo, cut out the tippy tappy and have a defensive back four.

An example of where taking defenders on and slickly moving the ball with a smart shot at the end is possession football of the highest order rather than the mistake ridden negative dross in our own penalty area. Where they got the idea that a ten yard ball forward to midfield should be followed by a twenty yard first time rebound pass back into our goal area, Smallbone's trademark, is beyond me. Because Man City and Liverpool do it doesn't make it the way for less accomplished players to play. Especially as they rapidly move the ball wide and commence to pull teams apart with rapid ball movement often ending in a goal chance. If Martin uses the next fortnight to drill more of the dross than less he needs firing. Passing the ball rapidly committing defenders is the way to go in the opponents half not going backwards in our half. It doesn't matter how often we practice it, it only takes one stupid pass or error to concede.

Our playing it aimlessly around, sideway and worse backwards again is the reason we attract the press and pressure ourselves into hurried mistakes. Secondly when we do play it out eventually the opposition defence is consolidated and eleven players goalside of our attack. Playing out from the back it isn't, its a nonsense. The play out should be moved quickly up through the midfield, breaking the lines and attacking the back line. We don't do that.

On reflection several things stand out for me. Firstly playing out from the back isn't a problem. Secondly what is a problem is players like KWP, especially Smallbone, Aribo, Stephens receiving the ball then doing the easy option and sending it back towards the goal which then causes us problems. My suggestion play it out but that's it. If anybody passes back then the ball gets the full treatment out of the danger zone. The play out should be received and played forward. and the midfield / forwards should be ready to pass it forward and attack the opposition goal area. Possession for the sake of it is inviting problems which currently we create in spades around our own penalty area. I favour four at the back, Sugawara, THB, Bednarek, KWP. Stephens' ball watching and tendency to drop players in it is a no,no for me. BBD / AA aren't wide players so stop playing them there. Midfield, Downes deep, Ugochukwu, Fernandez, with attacking - Cornet/Fraser, BBD/Archer/ AA, Dibling. the jury is still out on ABK mainly because he needs to be totally committed to staying and playing for the team. Lallana can be introduced as required depending on the state of the game. As an afterthought maybe 4-2-3-1. Midfield Downes and Ugochokwu, Fraser/Cornet Fernandez, Dibling, Archer/BBD/AA

For a start three games five goals conceded. Newcastle, McCarthy passes to Isak, NF, Aribo tries to control the ball instead of clearing, Brentford, KWP sloppy underhit pass started it, Two more errors, Why wasn't a defender on the back post for long throws. The throw usually goes near post for a flick on.Martin's one trick pony passing in our own penalty area will get us relegated, Thats three games and no points. We cannot keep on doing this. Martin needs to cut this crap out and defend hard, pass forward and play from midfield. We brought on substitutes for Smallbone, THB, Armstrong and Aribo. BBD on the left was a nonsense, chasing the game pair with Archer. Dibling brilliant on the right, Fernandez an improvement, Lallana was clever when he came on. Martin needs to accept that playing with four at the back then they are defenders. Go 4-4-2 not 4-3-3. Dibling, Downes, Fernandez and a left winger. Martin has an obsession with playing from the back, it's too slow and allows opponents to consolidate the defence. Brentford cut us apart on many occasions because they passed and ran with rare recycling. Ramsdale is an excellent long passer so let him do it. We need to play more dynamically, pass quicker and break rapidly.

it's born AFTER 01/01/2003 not before so THB Wood and Archer aren't exempt. but the other 7 are. Plus Bazunu makes 25

Ron Davies the most dominant header I've ever seen because of his extraordinary timing and leap was only 6' 0". I've seen photos if him winning headers his feet hip high by defenders.

Fernandez, Ugochukwu, SAA, Dibling, Edozie, Edwards Larios, Robinson, Maybe THB, Wood both in England U21 team, all probably exempt from squad list 25. There may be others exempt.

Neither confirmed, plus Buck fro USA on loan for U21 initially until January then decision on transfer.

Fraser

SSN Saints agree deal to sign Maxwell Cornet.

Jack Stephen's biggest fault and he's been like it for years, he ball watches and loses the important player. He also makes stupid pass choices and drops us in it.

I can understand the sentiments but Edozie is our go to on the left. His footwork is dazzling but his output is below zero. He needs sending out on loan to learn beating his opponent means nothing if the resulting pass if there is one goes to an opponent. Fraser is a good footballer that utilises his lack of pace by checking out onto his right foot and putting in dangerous accurate balls.

I think, looking at some of the opinions on Onuachu that people are looking at the 6' 8" lumbering CF. I understand that, however he is brilliant at getting across last man defenders either heading or getting a foot to the ball. He has scored plenty of goals and apart from penalties most of his goals have come that way. We put in loads of crosses but we are hopeless at beating defenders to the ball. That's what we should be doing with him as he's not that good in the air as a target man. The delivery needs to come from wide at an angle then we might just have our goalscorer.

As an example, Fraser in the same position as Ings at Newcastle, wants to leave but won't leave without his contract being paid up and made a free agent. Newcastle not agreeing. He either has to stay and not play or take a financial hit.

If West Ham are terminating Ings contract they will have to pay it off which in itself solves a problem as it takes care of what could be Ings reluctance to take a pay cut. Being a free agent he would then be able to earn even more from another club having trousered the remainder of his contract already.

I got that but it pretty much sums up our performances especially evidenced by the possession chart and goal threat.

Taking that the full circle, play ten defenders and stick the ball into the back of the stand. Both equally stupid and unsuccessful unless the team is full of £100m players as per MC. Doing what we are doing playing keep ball in our own last third eventually hands an easy chance to the opposition and by present standards will relegate us. Cut out the crap and compete. The aim of the game is score goals not keep the ball. Doing what we are doing is neutering our goal scoring ability. If Martin is too frightened to play the game the way it was supposed to be played then just stop trying to con the supporters and leave. We were promoted not because his football did it, it didn't. Until he changed for the last league game at Leeds and cut out the possession from the goalkeeper we did just enough to get promoted. Now his plan, keep the shape and go back to the trash. It won't work.

I don't think these reactions are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. People were hopeful but also worried about several deficient aspects. The poor goalkeeper, the aimless go nowhere intricate passing for possession sake, the lack of penetration from midfield, two strikers isolated on the wings, the full backs despite three centre backs and what looked like three holding midfielders were unable to break free of the back passing and rotation passing. We didn't look the least bit competent against a mediocre team because their four forwards tore us a new one. Collectively we were a clusterfuck, however I don't believe that individually all these players are that bad. A back four of Sugawara THB Bednarek KWP isn't that bad or Taylor for KWP. Downes is a decent midfielder, Armstrong and BBD because of the restrictions placed on them were unable to perform. Edozie, Smallbone and Aribo are liabilities because of their deficiences. Archer in two appearances looks more like a support striker rather than a centre forward. Having said that we need a new goalkeeper either Bjillow or Ramsdale, A proper leader up front that is pysically a threat and knows where the goal is. A change in emphasis, two midfielders that are a threat as attackers, hopefully Fernandez and Ugochukwu can provide that and cut out the mind numbing kamikaze rotation at the back. Win the ball, pass it forward to the midfielders or up the wings and support the ball and get bodies into the box. That's the place to do the passing not our own penalty area. Any danger or threat stick it over the opponents back four and fight for it. The sterile crap we are playing in the Premier will have one definite result, we will lose a lot of matches and in a short time produce a toxic atmosphere with the supporters.

Agreed but it's up to the midfielders and forwards to get into that area. What it should be, not what it is. I'm a firm believer of forwards attacking the blindside on the 45, It's an area we rarely cover but incredibly difficult to anticipate and defend. We aren't very intelligent with our attacking. In addition set pieces are abysmal both the delivery and the positioning. The best headers shouldn't stand in the goal area being grappled they should spread out and start their run from outside the penalty area and arrive with the delivery giving them the best chance of outjumping defenders. BBD 6' 1". Ugochukwu 6' 3" plus THB and Bednarek.

There is no point judging the strikers. Firstly, separating them is stupidity as they can't even support each other and are easily dealt with. Secondly, we need at least two midfielders rapidly getting forward. Thirdly, the formation is ultra defensive and the ponderous possession obsession allows the opposition to snuff out our lightweight attacks. The three centre backs got us promoted but now against better teams we can't score which wasn't a problem in the Championship. I think the tactics have to change. Win the ball and pass it forward immediately and two of the midfield get up quickly and become attackers. 4-3-3 could give us Sugawara, THB Bednarek, KWP/Taylor, Ugochukwu, Downes, Fernandez, Armstrong BBD Archer. We have to win some matches, Smallbone and Aribo are negative especially Smallbone's wall passing, mostly backwards. If we want to have slick passing do it in the opponents final third. Dibling should be used as the first attacking change, certainly not Edozie. Keep Alcaraz but that ship may have sailed. It's a shame about Fraser as he is a good footballer that hits good crosses into dangerous areas.

He is also a compulsive ball watcher.