redkeith

I watched Real Sociedad win at Leganes Yesterday. Saw them play a few times last season asin the flesh. They are definitely a possesion based side, playing it a lot better than Saints do, but it was noticable yesterday that they weren't afraid to launch it if the ball if they were in a similar situation that THB was on Saturday. They did almost give away a comedy Saints style goal when was facing his own goal with 3 attackers on him, but by and large, if in doubt, they just cleared it. A bit of pragmatism from Martin like that amd maybe we could have avoided giving away 10 goals so far this season.

I have lost count of the number of hospital passes that Lumley has played tonight, at least 5 , although I am not following it that closely. Can't ever remember having a player Sent off from our own corner. Strip him of the captaincy, prick. I suppose a shitshow was predictable that we would have problems when 6 of our 8 pl players are absent, but WTF!

I know Fernades is good, but even Dani Olmo wouldn't try a turn like that on the edge of his own box with 4 opponents pressing on him. It says a lot about our recruitment and squad management that we end up with our only Defensive Midfielder playing at CB, while 2 summer CB signings are not on the bench, and neither is ABK or Charlie Taylor.

Best team Shilton Golac M Wright Van Dyke Dennis S Williams D Armstrong Le TIssier Paine R Davis Channon Manager Lawrie Mac Worst top flight team ( not counting players that didn't have a run of Games ) Bazunu Kenton Davenport Johanson Todd Groves Quashie Redknapp ( 2nd Half) Mc Cann Dixon M Hughes Manager Nathan Jones

McCarthy, Baz Bree Manning, Taylor Stephens, Edwards, Wood Downes, Smallbone, Aribo, Charles Edozie, Amo Ameyaw, Fraser, Sulemana Armstrong, Diaz, Stewart, Sugawara and Bednarek Ramsdale and THB will all find a some interest. Dibling and Fernandes will be off like a shot. Archer has looked good on the counter, it is a shame we hardly ever try it. Lallana would not be able to cope with 2 games a week. Tall Paul's contract is running down, so I think a last day piss take offer grom Turkey will get accepted. Other than Charles, none of our loanies have made enough of an impression. The 2 goal scorers for the U21's last night looked promising, as does the double barrelled Irish midfield player. Lets uses them more than we did Meghoma and SAA.

Dermot Gallagher on refwatch just said he thought both decisions were right, even after Scouse Sue and Warnock explained to him that the defender was obstructing Fernades! They all then agreed that it wasn't enough of a foul for the 2nd one, even though you could see most of his vest ! Still no shots on target against the current worst defense in the league is another great stat to add to Rusells collection. As for the late switch to chuck on as many supposed goalscores as possible, rather than someone to take people on and put crosses in, words fail me.

I can't help thinking that we would be better off letting Les and Cornet go back to their clubs and bringing Edozie and Charles back. It would save us some money and give some PL experience to 2 of our own assets. Maybe there will be some PL squad players that wan't to put themselves in the shop window who would fancy a loan, like Hayden at Newcastle.

I know it is not as bad as Brentford away, for example. I just don't like blind passes , unless they are in the final 3rd.

Arsenal's 2nd, blind pass by Downes intercepted. I think we are getting better at not trying to control and pass hospital balls. I think we have still got away with a few close shaves, but there is a definite improvement

Agree with a lot of your comments Derry. It is very hard for forward players to keep making runs if the ball never comes to them. ( eg Gabbiadini under late stage Puel, Pellegrino and Hughes ) Les was bad again last night. It was a hospital pass to him for the 2nd goal, so why try to control it under preasure ? Why did he only jog back when he lost it, and why was our only defensive midfield player so far up the pitch in the first place ? It was interesting to see Tall Paul on with two wingers, but we obviouslly had spend no time in training practicing crossess to him ! Some of the summer recruitment has been shocking. I can only hope that Les can go back to Chelsea, and the Charles can come back from Wednesday. It would be nice if the Blades want Diaz on loan as well.

Mike Dean in the 3 2 home defeat against Chelsea . Only gave Alonso a yellow for a late knee high challenge on Long. Alonso got 2 assists that game. Dean also awarded a red card and penalty against Bednarek at Man utd , when it should have been a yellow for Martial for diving. He even overruled the Var team. Turned a 5 nil into a 9 0.

I would pick Ramsdale Sugawara THB Bednerek Taylor Dibling Downes Aribo KWP Fernandes Sterwart Give Downes and Aribo strict instructions to both stay near the centre halves to provide cover. None of this box to box nonsense which resulted in Downes being in the wrong half when Bournemouth scored the 2nd. Aribo is probably our 2nd best DM at the moment based on Monday's evidence.

Sam Gallagher just scored to put Stoke 3 1 up against the Skates. Well done Sam, although I could never get a tune out of him in FM2018

For me there have been definite signs of improvement. Since Brentford there have been much less passing around at the back, and less hospital passes. I think some of this is down to having a leader at the back in Ramsdale. What a keeeper too! The defence looks more balanced with a natural Left back. Taylor also gives us more height when defending set pieces. KWP has been a great servant, but Taylor and Suga are better defenders. For me KWP should be used further upfield unless one of the above are injured. The midfield looks good with Downes and Fernandes and either Lallana or Les. They are a lot better at turning and playing forward than Smallbone and Aribo, so that makes us much quicker in the transition. Dibling is outstanding already. His through ball to Archer was brilliant, and towards the end of the game on Saturday, he was killing Ipswich, even with his legs gone, with the weight of pass to Sugawara. Their combination is giving me Channon/Golac vibes. Archer looks great on through balls, less so on crosses. Ostenstaad was similar, and his goals dried up after Berkowitz left. I would hope that Archer gets into double figures, with Lallana, Fernandes and Dibling setting him up. If Aribo had cleared that corner against Forest, and not shied away from the shot on Saturday, we would be in mid table on 4 points now.

3 match ban. Let's hope they keep so e clean sheets in the mext 3.

My bad thought it was a gallic channel and did Scotland and Wales.

Maybe football Italia will return on S4C?

I am not sure about whether Victor Hugo would bea good influence in the dressing room. Heard he is a bit Miserables

Mc Carthy played well, good job too because we didn't create anything. First half in particular Smallbone and Aribo were constantly looking for the safe option. Having said that, if Aribo had taken the safe option and put his laces through that corner, we would have got a point. Dibling needs to come on earlier if we are behind, and Diaz should be played inside more if we are behind, not stuck on the wing. Hopefully, Fernandes is in for Aribo next week. Also, there should be retrospective booking/ban for any player that feigns a head injury to get play stopped. Pure cheating and dangerous too, as it runs the risk of a genuine head injury being ignored.

I think that playing in the Turkish league gives the players Visa points so that they can get a work permit for the season after. Much like Brighton did with Mitoma.

You give central defending a bad name !

Jo Aribo on Saturday looked well off it. Brain Clough would have been throwing a bag of Portland Cement at him on Monday yo see if he had a first touch. The ball was bouncing off him everywhere.

It is free on getaffe website if you VPN yourself to Spain

Steven Davis from Rangers, maybe Boruc as well ?

Jack Cork is on a free. He would be a good experienced back up to Downes , even if he only plays 15 minutes at the end of games, and covers injuries and suspensions.