for_heaven's_Saint

Get a CB off, Fellows on, Scienza out to the left.

We’re so shit. No idea what to do when we have the ball at the back. Also these Preston commentators are so fucking annoying. Calling them ‘PNE’ every time, give it a rest.

Welington suspended after his red at Blackburn. Wonder if it might be Azaz as a false 9 and AA on the left.

You can’t complain that you don’t have the players to play a back 4 when you have a right back and a left back in the starting line up. Better fucking win now or he’s only got himself to blame when the fans turn.

So with Charles and potentially Downes out and Aribo AWOL, we might be left with a recently-ill Jander as our only senior CM. Wasn’t impressed with Azaz there the other day and sure as hell don’t want Stephens in there. Time to stick a youngster in there?

Maybe but they’re still letting in loads of goals in a back 5 anyway. If we’re going to concede regardless, we might as well give ourselves a chance to outscore the goals we concede by playing an attacking side.

The thing that annoys me most is how much Still has talked about being pragmatic and not wedded to any one system then he consistently plays a style that needs a big striker. Then at the other end he refuses to play a back 4 because he says we don’t have the players for it. Can’t have it both ways. If he’s that pragmatic he needs to work out a style that works with the players we have, which is not just getting it up the wing and crossing it every time.

Blackmore can fuck off as well, trying to make up excuses for Still. Watching a stream with Solent commentary you can see just how often he calls things completely wrong.

He’s got to go.

Does anyone actually think we’ll sack him? Not sure SR have the bollocks.

Great now Charles has done his hamstring.

What a fucking surprise. He’s got to go if we don’t win this.

Even if we do win it it’ll be in spite of Still, not because of him.

lol Stephens gets run past like he’s not even there in his first involvement. Fuck off

RE 5 atb- I'm not sure we have much choice with such a lack of CMs. Don't think he would've played 4 any way mind you.

Yep Still said he was injured in his press conference. Agree with everything else you've said too. Really want it to work out but he only has himself to blame if he keeps making this many changes and it doesn't.

Not sure Quarshie deserves to come back in to be honest. That seems to be the only unenforced change.

The formation, the style of play and the subs are all shit.

I think it’s as much about style of play as personnel. If our only style of play is long balls to the striker or getting it wide and crossing in the air, it doesn’t really matter who we play there.

I’ve been reluctant to criticise Still because I thought he needed time and I also like the way he speaks in the media. But I am really starting to have major doubts; he’s supposed to be a pragmatic manager, yet he insists on playing a style that doesn’t suit our players and he doesn’t seem to have any other game plan except get it out wide and cross it in. We have a squad that is comfortably top 6 in this league but at the moment we look like anyone could beat us. We need massive improvements and soon.

True, but I also thought Downes and Jander worked really well together at Anfield. If it’s Charles again I won’t be upset though- he’s had a good start to the season. I’d love to see us find a formation that can fit all 3 of them in and allow us to play with a proper attacking front 3 but probably not going to happen.

Haha fair point. But still don’t think we had a grip of the game despite taking the lead.

I’d still like us to find a way to make 4 at the back work so we can get more of our best attackers in their natural positions. I’d also like to see Still make substitutions that change the game in our favour. For me, the definite names on the team sheet should be: McCarthy, Wood, Jander, Stewart and Armstrong. All the rest are up for debate imo, including who plays with Jander.

Yep, outstanding save and made another good one later too.

Nathan Wood was outstanding today and Ross Stewart did exactly what we needed from him plus a couple of good finishes. I think Jander looks a really class player and will only get better.