Badger

Not overwhelmed by the appointment last summer, but as others have said this is a question for the end of the season. Big fear is getting rid leaves SR with the opportunity for another fuck up. If we’re going to go for Rosenior for example (another ‘possession’ manager ) or Carrick (no real achievement and living off his name as a player) then doesn’t seem any real upgrade on RM.

White sleeves ? Bit ‘Arsenal’ isn’t it ?

We’ve yet to repeat the 1976-80 Admiral twin stripe kit. Not necessarily advocating it, but suspect it will make a comeback at some point. It should at least be better than some of the crap featured on the Puma link above in the thread.

I miss Dave Merrington on the summary, but Tessem has grown on me. I was fortunate not being able to go yesterday so listened to Solent. Tessem certainly didn’t hold back yesterday in his criticism of the team, and especially RM’s selection and tactics (nor did Blackmore although tried to be a bit more ‘balanced’). Tessem particularly highlighted Jack Stephens ( what is he meant to be doing), AA , why he was playing up front, it simply wasn’t working, his miss in the first half, the inverted full backs, a Bazunu cock up in the second half that could have been costly. Made a refreshing change from the “he’ll be disappointed with that” bollocks.

I heard this on Solent, and seems poor management. Tessem made the point that Armstrong has scored 20 goals from a wide position and been one of our most effective players. Quite simply, Martin should have pointed that out to the player, emphasised his importance and left him playing there.

Feel a bit sorry for RM and some of the criticism coming his way now. For me the two biggest failings have been GK and striker where he inherited Bazunu and has not been given a fit striker since arriving. (How instrumental he was in pushing for Stewart we don’t know). But recent performances and especially selections remain on him and are difficult to justify.

SR* are unlikely to make such a bold move, or gamble. * wonder who the decision makers will be with Willcox going/gone. No confidence if it’s still with Rasmus to get it right.

Surprised none of our players helped him to his feet, brushed him down, enquired if he was okay, before allowing him to take the shot. We really seem that obliging at times.

So which was it, “defensive disorganisation” , or “piss poor play by our attackers”, possibly both ? Actually I don’t think our forwards were involved in it at all. My recollection is that Bazunu launched it like an Exocet missile, over AA’s head and straight to their GK. As I said on an earlier thread it was reminiscent of Crouch v Everton in 2005, the ball should have been put anywhere but to their GK who was always going to return it upfield into our half. We spend large parts of the game needlessly passing it between the CB’s and Bazunu, but not it seems when that was required. ( I can understand that we needed a win, so perhaps an excuse, but in terms of that match it was ridiculous). No wonder Martin was annoyed with Bazunu at the end of the match.

Continuity for me is probably the main reason to persist with RM rather than ripping it up and starting again. Not convinced either way. Also comes back to who else then ? Having said that next season will be a ‘give him ten games’, ‘end of October’, ‘ see where we are at Christmas’ type of season if things aren’t flying.

Perhaps the previous recruitment team and DOF also shoulder some of this responsibility for the GK’s signed, and the absence of a decent striker.

This is quite a telling, and accurate observation that most on here would agree with. But let’s not advertise this too much or loudly as it’s the type of stat that RM and Rasmus W. would get a ‘hard on’ over. Dress it up as this is how we exceed expected passes between the penalty areas type of bollocks.

Thanks for the views, interesting observations and comments. First visit to Portman Road and Ipswich on Monday. Bastard of a journey but nice place, and good traditional ground. Not a great fan of some our passing it around for the sake of it sometimes but on Monday thought we passed it well and for most of the match with a bit of purpose moving it forward. Ipswich as others have said certainly have a winning spirit about them and keep going. Hope we both go up, although we’ll have to endure the play offs ( and will probably balls it up). Expect it’ll be Leeds and one other. Don’t remember the 1993 match, but other memories of Saints v Ipswich are : 1969 - my second league match - Saints won 4-2. First time I saw a Saints goal disallowed (don’t recall why). Sense of ‘injustice’ has lived with me ever since. 1981- Saints won 4-3 after being 1-3 down at HT. those were the days, our current lot would go defensive second half for damage limitation or concede another six.

Agree. How much did Leicester pay for their GK from Denmark, or Ipswich for theirs ? The Ipswich bloke made the sort of save on Monday at a crucial time of the game. Can we say the same ? The Rotherham GK is light years ahead of anything we’ve got. Can only hope Darren Mowbray can find the sort of player - not just GK - that has eluded our recruitment team.

And yet at times yesterday we played some good, and neat, passing stuff moving the ball forward well (perhaps the last bit is a little uncharacteristic of how we often play though). The tippy tappy at the back gets on my tits though. Agree with you about the lack of grit, and weak spirit when needed. All it needed was for someone to put a foot in, or clear the ball at the end. (Incredible the Ipswich player had time to fall over, and get up to toe pike the ball in, with what seemed like three Saints players stood around watching).

Wasn’t Lumley regarded as crap at his previous club(s) ? Can’t say we’ve seen enough of him for an informed opinion, other than at the Watford cup game thinking Bazunu might have been crucified on here had he conceded the free kick that Lumley had. Another coup by our recruitment team perhaps.

Age - 17! “One for the future”. Great, that’s exactly what we need for a promotion push.

The only stand out moment with Bazunu for me has been his save at West Brom from a close range header. From our position at the other end it did seem a certain goal. On seeing it again on highlights it could be said it was a nice height for him etc, but he still had to get to it, and get it away (without putting it back towards an oncoming forward).

Would seem so to simple folk like you and I, who only pay to watch, but fortunately there are great opportunities for youngsters on Planet Semmens, and with Rasmus W involved.

amazing isn't it that no other club seem to have spotted his clear and obvious potential. Our scouting network really are on a different end of the spectrum to others.

As soon as he launched it, I wondered wtf is he doing, we spend all game tippy tappy keeping possession at the back, and the stupid sods only had to do it for about 40 seconds to have earnt a draw. Not the result we needed perhaps but commendable after going down to 10 men. When the ball landed with their GK, it was the Peter Crouch v Everton moment (just keep it in the corner flag) relived again...

The Jeremy Clarkson theory

Whereas we on the other hand ??? Are we unlucky, or do we just allow games to peter out and needlessly concede ?

We might still win on possession and get a bonus point

Leicester will at least be confident of beating us in the playoffs