Saint Fan CaM

Absolutely this. And if the system is not allowing the quality of Fraser and Brookes to get results, then Edozie and Mara are unlikely to find success either. Match preparation must be either non-existent or largely ineffective as both the midfield three and the forward three looked liked strangers today. That’s on Martin and the coaching staff…perhaps they’ve switched off knowing their boss has buggered off or perhaps Rasmus has returned to swing his dick around Staplewood? 🤔😉

Yep, as I said earlier in the thread, Russball can be easily countered by any standard of team above L2. Does not bode well for the play-offs one iota.

Utter, utter shit. I’m done with Russball. It’s just so easy for any team beyond L1 of whatever ability to defend against. Martin is not the answer whatever the question, but he will survive another season to keep us rooted in the Championship just like Swansea etc etc.

Only four mins of added time?!?!

KWP off for Mara. WTF?!

What a shite corner by Smallbone and shite attacking move by Sulemana.

Stephens is not a LB…not in anyone’s dreams.

Blackburn looking favourites to steal 3 points.

Date I say it. Brave.

We’re going to get caught down their right - Stephens going missing and Bednarek being pulled out of CB to help him out.

Brookes has been shite, but then he can hardly be considered match fit given Russ doesn’t know his best team (whatever that is).

Bet the Blackburn halftime dressing room was a lot more positive than Saints!

Fuck me, thank goodness we’re dragging Blackburn down to our level!

We’ve resorted to defenders trying long balls to our powder puff forwards, bypassing midfield entirely. Completely ineffective of course. Naturally Blackburn close to scoring on the break.

Aribo heads onto the bar - completely soft if that goes in, but at least the ball went forwards!

This is utterly boring stagnant football from Saints.

Front three and midfield three playing like strangers.

Blackburn with a player down already. Not sure - maybe ok?

Coventry 1 up vs Leeds

Massive miss by AA proving he’s no CF

Going on the reported team line up, think we’re going to be losing this. Martin has declined into a weak manager - he’s just not learning from his own mistakes in failing to correct individual player poor performances and favouring certain players over team balance. 2-1 Blackburn.

Well to answer your question, you could argue it was shocking that once again we dominated the game but failed to capitalise and win. Pretty obvious I would have thought. I don’t think we were ‘miles better’ - just different. And frankly whatever the difference, they must have been better than us because they won and did so without any flukes. There’s a reason they’re league leaders and it’s probably the no nonsense coaching/management IMO. Something we can’t seem to get wholly right.

The Ipswich game really was a shocker and I have little hope that this will be any different. 1-1 at best but probably 2-1 to Blackburn with a late goal.

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.