austsaint

Yep, January looms as a risk of losing someone important. As you say, Downes and THB are here for the season. I have a feeling that KWP is such a decent, honourable individual he will stay put until the summer. Sulemana's fate is harder to predict. He will be in demand; probably depends on whether SR want to cash in should a good offer come in during January.......if not it will almost certainly happen in the Summer, depending upon promotion, offers etc

I think your fear is justified. There are probably four players in that 'too good to play for us for long" category. Downes, KWP, TBH and Sulemana. It makes finding a way to get promoted this season all the more important.

You have copped a bit of flak on this forum; some of it probably justified following your "lecturing" style towards critics of RM and his system, tactics, team selections etc. Today, many of those Martin critics (me included) can easily give him credit for picking just about the best side - employing a faster movement of the ball and using the subs bench well. He also gets praise for removing the suspicion that Manning was undroppable, and he's noticed that a player like Bree, judging by his last two appearances offers a better all round defender game. Your summary is good too - the only point of difference I have is questioning whether Will and Flynn deserve an equal billing for "what they do very well again". I might be too harsh on Smallbone but I'd rate Downes game as close to best on the ground as he controlled the midfield, intercepted and passed faultlessly. Smallbone on the other hand seems locked into a simple recycling role with lots of premeditated short passes; he often seems to be beaten (for pace) by fast, counter-attacking players and while his technical skills are good, he doesn't seem to be on the same wave length as attacking players like Stu, KWP, Sulemana, Alcaraz when he pushes forward. I hope that RM puts the microscope on WS' continued automatic selection in the side when a player like Stewart becomes available. Just as he's seen that there's an alternative to Manning's place in the team, it may be that the likes of Alcaraz and Charles offer more to our CM/AM roles than WS does. Either way, a strengthening of CM in January may be the missing part of a really strong starting 11, assuming Stewart is the answer to our striker deficiencies.

Bree did very well again today. He's quick, balanced, passes well and knows how to defend. Manning shouldn't be replacing him anytime soon. A little nervy after the Brum goal but for the most part, a slick display with quicker ball movement, good use of the longer ball and three clinically taken goals - should have been a brace for AA.

I wonder when Stewart is ready to play whether Martin will consider playing Alcaraz in Smallbone's spot.

Just gives the back four greater balance and there's a composure about his passing and movement. Manning has a good left foot but Bree more all round skills and athleticism. Playing S. Armstrong, Alcaraz, Sulemana has improved our attacking threat along with KWP's licence to get forward.

Yes, Charles didn't warrant a spot based on the Preston performance. Like you say though - competition for Smallbone is desperately needed - he's a luxury player we can't really afford.

Good call to keep Bree at LB instead of Manning. Would like to have seen Smallbone replaced but otherwise, just about the best 11 have been picked.

And without KWP, Sulemana and sporadic efforts from Stu and Alcaraz we lack runners and players with an eye for quickening the game and finding an attacking pass. A situation made worse by Martin's version of possession Football.

I was restricted to extended highlights on youtube without knowing the score. The youtube headline was "last gasp" which immediately conjured up a last minute equaliser or winner for Hull - so good to see the Downes cross be swept away first time by Fraser. The highlights revealed a well taken goal by Smallbone after great lead up by Sulemana and KWP. What was Smallbone's game like otherwise? An away win v Hull is not to be underestimated and more points in the week ahead will certainly settle nerves and give Martin breathing space. As someone else said, it would be nice to have a clear cut win soon against ok opposition. Well played to all supporters who navigated the weather and the transport hurdles to get to the ground - you deserved the joy of that late goal.

It was a stupid interview. I like Downes - based on his last two games you can see he’s an accomplished midfielder, not far off Prem level. Just the same, there were two mistakes he made in dressing down the fans…….Rotherham were/are the weakest opposition sighted for a long time. And the recent history of Saints is littered with poor management appointments; rubbish owners and boardrooms and lukewarm on-field performances dating back to the Puel era. Bit much for a recent arrival to rip in to the supporters while missing that context.

Ha, ha. Done over by predictive text. No, I mean the mob from oop north.

It’s a decent line up. I’d be playing Charles or Alcaraz rather than Smallbone, and if we had any competition for Manning, he would be playing LB. Surely it’s good enough to get past Rotterdam though.

Probably a minority view, but I’m a Smallbone sceptic too. Wasn’t bad last night, and took his goal well on Saturday, but I prefer an Alcaraz type as an attacking midfielder and Charles as a better proposition in a defensive/central midfield role. Think we have a gem in Charles and I see him ahead of Smallbone in the pecking order in the near future. Even if WS is a RM favourite at the moment.

Yes, we saw tonight (and glimpses v Leeds) why Downes is rated so highly. He held the midfield together defensively but also showed a capacity to link with the attacking players - he and THB look outstanding additions and it’s a pity neither are here permanently. while not a great game to watch, Saints willingness to graft it out against a typical Stoke lineup was exactly the performance needed in an away night game. Superb free kick from SA, good games from KWP and Bednarek and once again Sulemana showed what a crucial part of the promotion possibility he is - not just a dangerous runner with the ball, he drags multiple defenders out of position and picks out a good pass. A 3-0 score line tonight would not have flattered Saints.

Smallbone did play in an attacking mid position yesterday, and again was sub-par. Stu or Alcaraz starting or replacing WS earlier was the call I wanted. Sulemana and Edozie on earlier to benefit from the better attacking mid options we have but didn’t employ.

Smallbone’s continued selection is at the heart of my rather long list of convictions that Martin isn’t up to standard. WS has a few technical skills, but needs time and space to find a pass and has a default to sideways and backwards. Offers little defensively and is consistently beaten for pace and movement as he lopes around the park. With Downes not yet living up to expectation and Charles still finding his way, we have a midfield which is gifting all opposition the upper hand. Martin spoke about being too passive after scoring, yet passively left the lineup and structure (Manning change aside) much the same for too long. The introduction of Stu, Sulemana and Edozie improved the side straight away - we looked more threatening but the momentum of the game had long changed since the AA goal…which, from memory, was the only shot on target. And then the Martin post-game clap trap about how well we played, how bravely etc. A week or so ago I thought Martin was on the cusp of being on notice. He should now be shown the door. The patterns, shortcomings and self deception are clear. What a shit show.

The continued selection of these two will cement our slide into Championship mediocrity. And RMs decision to keep playing them is one of the reasons he should probably go.

So sorry to read this. I love your posts… full of insight and humour. My thoughts are with you and your family from whom I hope you can gain much strength and comfort.

Agree about reverting to an orthodox RB and LB set up - we are sacrificing the skills of KWP’s game at present. Charles has to slot in at CM; will Downes be fit? Don’t want to see Smallbone again anytime soon - I’d play Alcaraz as the AM. Lets hope your niece brings a change of fortune. RM is on the cusp of being on notice.

Midfield looks wafer thin again. Would have preferred Holgate partnering Harwood-Bellis with Charles and Downes in CM…..not at all convinced by Smallbone. Hoping Martin unleashes Sulemana early on….. he's going to be too good for most in this League.

Some may of turned on him. I think though the majority are just a little alarmed by a few things they saw yesterday from Martin. The selected team; the set up of players; the failure to adapt style and strategy and poor use of subs. What most alarmed me was shoehorning Smallbone straight back in at the expense of Charles which resulted in a steamrolling of our midfield and a confusion as to holding and attacking roles. I honestly can't see the appeal of Smallbone - neither a robust holding midfielder nor a running creative player - let's have Charles and Downes with Alcaraz providing the AM role. Watching Manning again only reinforced my belief he is not up to standard for a side aiming for automatic promotion - you can't afford such a ponderous, one footed, poor defender playing at LB. RM playing AA as a 9 again was another surprising decision - Mara playing out wide? Square pegs, round holes. Not starting Fraser in such an important game. The knives aren't being sharpened, but he has to prove that yesterday was an aberration, starting in a fortnight v Leicester.

Mara, Smallbone, Manning?

What is it about Smallbone I'm missing? Looks like a safe playing recycler....Charles looks the better midfield prospect.

Me too. Also surprised Charles drops out and Smallbone slots straight back in - Martin obviously rates him.