Saint Fan CaM

Not sure he’s too bothered about attack either…it’s all about possession - if we’ve got the ball they can’t score and we may get lucky and find a way past 11 players. Trouble is our team is so fragile that unless the opposition are really poor, they allow 30% possession to convert into more goals than we can score and we end up with a disaster or an uphill battle at best.

That’s right…it was so marked how they moved the ball so much quicker and their passing accuracy was not that much worse than ours as far as I could tell. Their closing down in packs was consistently ruthless and clever in that the Ref let many challenges go that left our players on the ground complaining. It reminded me a little of early Ralphball. The only thing I’m not so agreed on is the comment that we have a great squad…I think it’s mediocre actually and let down by the undroppables - Bazunu, Manning and Bednarek. Add in Holgate who is rubbish and a system that doesn’t pressure the oppo goal enough and you’ve got a disaster in waiting. You hear about teams who use cohesive hard work to overcome skill - we’re the team those teams love to play. I don’t think Martin has figured that out yet.

Yeah, I was also one that stayed to the end of both 0-9 losses. I also seem to remember that lessons were supposedly learnt after those games too! I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought I’d never see a drubbing like that again, but the players did a bloody good job of trying on Saturday! IMO that’s symptomatic of trying to play a system that the squad is not good enough to deliver.

Excellent post - one of the best summaries I’ve seen on this forum.

The line up shown above is close to being optimal, but (a) I would give Lumley a try…”this is your chance lad” as Baz is shot and (b) it is essential that Martin re-thinks his tactics and messaging to the team in terms of pressing out of possession and not allowing both FB’s to be in advanced positions at the same time to counter turn-around breaks. Whatever, still think we’ll lose the game by two goals.

Add in Alcarez and it’s starting to look like a real balls up by Martin. No excuses.

Leicester have a blueprint to beat us and the players to deploy it. Let’s see if Martin is any good whatsoever by setting the team up to counter that. I have concern that he’ll keep trying to do the same thing. And continue to select Baz.

Where does one start to analyse that shit show? Most points already very well made, but for me there’s some key comments. 1. Martin is arguably the best Manager available to deploy the Pep type system at this level, so as it seems SFC are intent on utilising this system, where do we go if it still doesn’t work with Martin? He’ll be given a lot of rope before he’s hung out and I can foresee many more days not unlike yesterday unfortunately. 2. We’re trying to play like Pep’s Man City but with players that are of a lower quality in many aspects - their brain function, ball skill, fitness etc. Can it work? I’m very sceptical because so far I’m seeing a group of players struggling to deploy what’s being asked of them tactically. They’re just not good enough collectively to pass through the lines meaning easy turnovers and counter attacks which in turn can’t be defended. And importantly, opposition clubs have been given a clear blueprint on how to get at us and win. 3. Bazunu is not a Championship level keeper, let alone Prem. I read lots about his hands, but worse still he is not athletic enough to get to shots which should be bread and butter for a good keeper. It’s his legs which don’t get him anywhere near some of these long range shots. Plus his positional sense is poor too. A really bad decision to persist with him. Overall, I really fear for our season and I don’t mean in terms of promotion. No, I mean fundamentally the team mentality will start to erode very quickly if the key issues are not sorted now and it’s looking pretty damned screwed already. At this point based on the evidence before us, I predict we’ll be languishing lower mid-table by Christmas…about 14th…possibly worse. Martin and his team have a huge job on their hands to figure out how to make this system work.

Well he certainly makes a mockery out of the belief he’s a Prem player - he doesn’t look good enough for L2! Needs dropping to the bench and shackles placed around his ankles, but we all know RM will give him another chance against Leicester…oh sweet Jesus. 😳

Apologies - I meant year before. Although they were top six last season so obviously a team on the rise.

Downes just stands watching and Baz does a bad impression of a pro keeper. 5-0 to a team that were in L1 season before last. An extremely poor performance from Manager and his team. Sunderland wanted it more. Embarrassing doesn’t really cover it. 8/10 window…mmm?

By losing Tella we’ve lost balance in attack and Mara is NOT the answer. We need SAA to provide the pace otherwise every attack will be very slow and we’ll struggle to score all season.

Baz makes a 1 on 1 save to get picked next game.

I just don’t understand how they are so much better drilled than we are. They have had so much more space to break into. Alcarez on. Might I suggest it’s a bit late?

Oh goody - Aribo on. We’re going for the 4-0.

Adams trying hard to get a red.

Mara trying hard to impersonate a striker. And failing hard.

70% possession and fewer shots on target than Sunderland. It ain’t working is it Russell?

OMG - was there a fucking clause in Stewart’s contract saying we’ll lose 8-0 to compensate for us spanking them? It’s an absolute shit show…no excuse.

Oh Holgate you stupid fucking twat. And Bazunu reminds us of what a shit keeper he is. Can see a real fucking nightmare in the 2nd half too.

Holgate is just a terrible defender - not a clue. Just before half-time and he gives away a stupid FC on goal. Then Bazunu makes a complete hash of a simple save. Shambles.

The big difference is they don’t need possession because they break so quickly. We look like we’re continually on holiday.

Sunderland basically have our number - well set up to break up our play and hit us on the break. Not a great advert for Martin.

An unlucky deflection. All uphill now. Big job to pull this back.

Shit defending from Edozie - Fraser should have started.