goodymatt

Propaganda football is possession football for possession’s sake? But we actually created a lot of good chances today, just weren’t clinical enough to protect ourselves against Rotherham scoring their only half chance. It’s a poor result for sure, but our performance was pretty dominant. I don’t think we will dominate like that too often. I understand the frustration after dominating a game so much and not winning. So annoying and we have to stew on it for 2 weeks. I can’t believe we didn’t win today.

His cameo vs QPR made me question my initial negativity on this loan signing, but other than work hard and make a few sliding tackles, he has contributed nothing so far.

Is rancid dogshit football creating at least 4 big chances and dominating the majority of a match? We saw much worse footy for the majority of the last 2 years. We are underachieving overall and those 4 straight suicidal footy results were a world away from today’s performance IMO. To be out of the automatics race so early in the season is not acceptable but I can’t agree that what I watched today was a poor performance. We won’t dominate teams like that too often, very unfortunate to not comfortably win this game. I remain unconvinced Martin is the right guy to get us promoted but today was on the finishing of our players.

Fully agree with this assessment and to already be out of the running for automatic places with this squad and our resources is unacceptable. For that reason I can understand why Martin is being questioned. I just feel that today’s result wasn’t on him at all. I’d say 9 times out of 10 we win this game by multiple goals. To only score once today was ridiculous.

Even though the second half was much less productive, Smallbone still missed a huge chance and we also had one cleared of the line. Meanwhile they scored their only shot on target. It was an excellent finish tbf, out of nowhere and totally against the run of play. Regarding the subs, it’s third game in a week and Martin would have been hoping Fraser, Edozie and Alcaraz could give fresh impetus. Sadly none of them did and Edozie in particular was very poor. Solely responsible for wasting away most of the added time. I don’t think this is why we don’t win though, it’s the big chances missed.

I don’t understand the lazy blaming of Martin-Ball. Did you actually watch this game? We absolutely battered them and should have scored at least 4 playing this style. Rotherham had 0.07xG, it was daylight robbery. We’ve all been frustrated at times this season but Martin didn’t cause our players to miss big chances today. He set us up to win the game comfortably and we only have our finishing/their keeper to blame. One poster even compared it to Forest last season where we didn’t even have a shot on target. Quite ridiculous.

Martin’s set up really isn’t the issue here. We should have scored 4 goals today at least. Shocking finishing or great goalkeeping is the difference, they are your options.

The game really should be over. Good saves from their keeper but we have not been clinical enough.

It was so short! Hopefully part two gives us something interesting to hear…

Some Rotherham stats: xG Against - 2nd most in the league (1.62). Actual goals against is 21, worst in the league. xG For - joint least in the league (0.74). Actual goals for is 9, third worst in the league. 5 away games played, 5 defeats, scoring just twice and conceding 13 goals. The only team in the league without an away point. Meanwhile Saints have the second highest xG For in the league (1.85). Actual goals for is 1.6 per game. I want and expect to see a comfortable win here, opportunity to close on the poor goal difference. There is no better team to play at the moment. Unlike Boro, it’s not a better side that was clearly going to turn a corner. 3-0 Saints.

Joint top scorer for the league (unless the dubious goal panel take one off him). He’s not so bad after all! I like his work rate and his finishing yesterday was fantastic. Where has this calm finisher been? We are used to seeing him hit everything first time and hope. Maybe that’s just the difference in time you have in the championship. I also liked his QPR goal too. Don’t think he’s captain material but he’s contributed 8 goal contributions in 9 games, he deserves to be in the team more than most.

Agreed Stephens is not going to play LB. Do think Manning slips and gives chances away in pretty much every appearance though. Even today, he managed to stand on the ball in the box but got away with it. Overall a much better performance though, hoping he stop these individual errors/moments of bad luck.

We need to build on today’s win with another three points. Stoke will take confidence from their late winner after being 2 down. Sadly I won’t be able to make this game, despite it being my closest fixture to home - it’s my wife’s birthday and the offer of tickets to Stoke away were not well received! Play like we did first half today and we should be able to win this one. 1-2.

Sounds like Juan Larios has had another setback and will be out for another 2 months.

I think we went with Stewart just because he was cheaper than Piroe. How can Martin say Piroe was never as option due to the talent we already had but then go and sign a new striker who will be ‘brilliant for us’. Jacob Tanswell (Athleic) tweeted recently that Dragan wanted more control on spending, which would support why we went with the cheaper option. It was reported Piroe was interested in coming here but Leeds wanted him more, I think we would have stepped up our interest if Che had been sold earlier in the window. It’s a shame it didn’t work out that way, as he will walk for less in January or nothing at season's end.

We are so fragile at the moment. Now trying to play more conservatively but that’s just killed our attacking threat whilst still making defensive mistakes that cost us. We inevitably end up chasing games and giving teams multiple big chances. Leeds are flying at the moment, we are playing with fear. It’s very hard to see anything other than a Leeds win. The only way we can win a game like this is if we get our first clean sheet in 20 games and Che Adams actually scored his 1 chance a game. Going to be a difficult watch, I think. 0-3. Assuming the presser is today, anyone know what time?

You’d think these 2 would be starters every week at this level

I’m hoping it’s Holgate at RB and KWP at LB, rather than a back 5. Overall a very conservative lineup looking to end the losing streak. I would have liked to see a proper AM and a proper winger out there though.

Rumours that the pitch disease has returned. Women’s games have moved back to Snows stadium whilst the groundsmen try and sort it.

Bit early for this after just 7 league games, but I’ll play along. What about someone like Giovanni van Bronckhorst? Didn’t he get Aribo scoring in a euro cup final?

Can you summarise for us?

Edozie stat mentioned during the Leicester game that he had completed the most dribbles in the league so far. He beats players so easily and it’s good to see him getting some goals now. If he can give us some consistent end product he will be a key player for us. High ceiling IMO, think he will come good.

Bazunu KWP Bednarek THB Manning Charles Smallbone Fraser Alcaraz Edozie Adams Sulemana, Stu, Armstrong to all come off the bench when the time is right. This game is all about showing we can actually defend. I’m really not too confident about this one but surely we will show improvement? 1-2 and a much closer game would be my guess.

I’m struggling with us losing 5-0 to Sunderland and then changing nothing. How can a manager just blindly keep things the same, definition of insanity? Going forward I’m seeing positives but defensively it’s absolutely horrendous. One of the best squads in the league getting ripped apart like we are bottom of the league again. We are also playing with more fear now, giving the ball away much more often. We don’t have the ability to really control games, despite all the possession, evidenced by the number of goals conceded direct from a kick off, I can count at least 4 already: Plymouth, Norwich, Sunderland, Leicester. That’s 66% of games! Worst defence in the league, 16 goals in 6 games with a 50% save percentage. I’m sure it will get better over time, getting used to the system, players back fit, settled team etc. I’m also pretty confident that time lost will cost us promotion, certainly automatics.