Saint Fan CaM

When I think about the deficiencies in the side and the manner in which the team is managed, I wonder how we’ve managed to sustain what is a reasonable season. Objectively much is right, with many games resulting in great wins. The problems must be marginal ones, but what are they? 1. Bazunu. The times when a keeper really sets himself apart are when presented with a need to show something extra…to pull off a really good save…one that you normally wouldn’t expect most keepers to get to. With Bazunu that logic is inverted…he seems to consistently fail to propel himself to positions to get an opportunity to save. In my view his legs are unconditioned…too weak perhaps…just not enough spring to make a difference. Consequently he’s a very average keeper. 2. Inconsistent team selections. The best Managers I’ve witnessed over the years are those who know their best team. Russ seemingly doesn’t, making selections that unbalance the team to shoehorn in favoured players. He will say it’s to keep players happy - I would counter that by saying weak Management. This has a knock-on effect in key positions, but mostly across the backline where we suffer most (no one can argue this with the goals against this season). And also the in-game awareness - on many occasions he can’t utilise his squad to best effect to see out games or counter tactical changes made by the opposing team. 3. Underperforming players. You can pick out specific players in defence but in my opinion that’s down to poor coaching of a consistent CB pairing for example, rather than the players themselves. The key area of concern for me is Che Adams who has been on average poor, but mostly the disgracefully negligent failure to sign a striker who performs at a consistently high level. Also, I think of Smallbone who lacks the movement and intensity of Downes…again he’s not terrible, but not at the required level to make a difference. I think of Sulemana, Mara and Edozie - they’re probably lovely to watch with their tricks in training, but there’s not enough end product and when the going gets tough they go missing ambling around the field and not closing down quickly. 4. Lack of a midfield enforcer. A player like Romeu who puts his boot in and lets the opposition know they’re in for a fight. Ipswich had several players like this who somehow didn’t get a card - perhaps they did their homework and knew the Ref was soft on hard challenges?

Martin screws around with a winning team time and again. Bazunu has no leg strength so every time he has to jump/spring for a shot he’s left short. Recruitment of a decent non-crocked striker a telling fuck-up for 4 seasons. Watch the rats try to escape the sinking ship now - except Manning…he’ll stick around for his mate.

And there goes our auto slot.

There we go. Ref bottled it again. Stupid from Bree, but he was in a no win situation.

We’re going to lose this. Just feel it.

Edozie is not the answer whatever the question.

Honestly, this Ref is having a shocker…our players get clobbered and he gives nothing. They fall over and he’s all over it.

WTF is Bazunu doing???!!!

Absolute disgrace - that’s a red all day long.

There you go - bottlers. Martin has fucked up by not getting KWP on.

Trouble is he’s been a timid fucker all game.

Think this is the time to get KWP on.

Ref is letting Iswich rough our players up which favours them for the run in. Disgraceful shithousery.

Saints with some sustained pressure but no goal…yet.

So close from Bednarek - we need a goal.

Yeah but that’s three (four?) games unbeaten and possession through the roof. Russball wins again.

So disappointing. Honestly, Adams is a waste of a strikers position. He has no pace, no composure and no positional sense. And seemingly other priorities other than scoring for Saints. Whether we go up or not, I’ll be glad to see the back of him.

Knew it. And I blame Che fucking profligate Adams.

Can see us conceding - not enough urgency from some key players. Cant see 1-0 being enough.

Smallbone really looking a bit slow and not bothered to beat the keeper to the ball there.

Bree is a such a huge upgrade on Manning.

Honestly Che can go do one - he is absolutely shite.

Have a horrible feeling Russ has had too much time on his hands to overthink team selection and will go with something daft like Stephens at CB, HB at right back and KWP at LB. If he does we’ll lose…we don’t do breaks well generally.

Love it - I would actually buy that shirt and I don’t do that too often.

There will always be richer clubs than other clubs whatever league you’re in. That’s not the issue here. It’s whether you ruin the COMPETITION by cheating rules or simply use your money to hoover up talent and plonk it on the bench so other teams don’t get a look in….thats the problem. Leicester are as complicit as City or Chelsea and should face points deduction now for their past misdemeanour’s.