derry

Nailed it, not much more to say!!!

How long before our opponents use their kick off to pass to our back four then press.

I feel sorry for Sulemana. He has lightning pace and needed a team to play to that strength, early through balls to feed him. We didn't. Playing tippy tappy and receiving the ball facing his own goal just destroyed any chance to use his pace. The same theory with TP he needed to get into the goal area and get across defenders and first to the cross. We didn't play to him either. Our one trick pony style doesn't suit them so it's better they go where they are valued and understood. Alcaraz was also a wasted talent. In a way an indictment of the manager. Rather than designing a style to suit our strengths and weaknesses we get a one size fits all approach that the players have to fit whether suited or not.

Possession statistics are a nonsense because it is a count of passes made by each side irrespective of where they were made, how short or long or more importantly their value. A two yard knock on has the same value as a sublime forty yard through ball that splits the opponents defence. Most of our possession is short rotational passing keeping possession until we lose it or have to lump it. It is mind numbing and not clever because sooner or later under pressure as the press tightens the passing becomes hurried forcing mistakes in our penalty area. Possession in attack is good but in our penalty area a nonsense. In this league we are becoming cannon fodder and a laughing stock because of it. 70% possession and lose, what a nonsense.

IMO he has to ditch Stephens and raise the tempo moving the ball upfield rapidly, but not leaving us outnumbered at the back like MU v Liverpool often 4 v 2.

I just watched the Sky analysis of Liverpool v Man Utd. Liverpool did to MU what Brentford did to us. On numerous occasions bypassing the high MU full backs and putting in four forwards against two centre backs. Liverpool played possession at times moving up the field but often played long or two pass direct and tore MU apart.

You missed the main point, yes, he maintained the play off formation but he reverted to the tippy tappy in our area whereas in the play offs he abandoned it and went more direct. Now the tippy tappy is back and killing us. What's worse the players know it and have nowhere to go.

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.