ErwinK1961

Maybe, depends who comes in for him I guess. I think you’ll see more of this now - with PSR making it harder for clubs to spend in the same way, you’ll see clubs trying harder to keep hold of players, which will mean players will be hesitant to sign new deals so they’re not stuck.

Not knocking his character, I just think he probably expected not to be here and probably messed a bit with his head. I’m sure he wouldn’t let us down, but it’s realistic to expect he won’t be 100% focused.

We’ll agree to disagree. I don’t believe there is any manager in world football who is happy to leave three opposition players completely unmarked on the edge of the area from a corner. Looks to me like the players got too caught up in the moment, not one leader on the pitch with a calm head organising anything. If Lallana was still on the pitch, I’d put good money on that not happening.

Absolutely pathetic defending. Say what you like about Martin and his tactics, philosophy etc. but there is absolutely no way he’s instructed the players to defend a corner by sticking everyone in the 6 yard box. Where’s the leaders on the pitch taking responsibility for marking? What are THB, Bednarek, Downes, even Ramsdale doing to organise?

Probably a wasted endeavour, but whilst he’s here let’s get him a song. Needs work; ‘Ohh Tyler Diblings magic, he doesn’t need shin pads He went and tried out Chelsea, came back and said fuck that He scores goals with his left foot, and dribbles with his right And when he plays in red and white, we’ll sing this song all night’ I’ll get my coat.

Hopefully one of the top 4 buy him and loan him back, deciding a season playing regularly in the championship would do him good.

What on earth is he doing here?! No idea how we’ve pulled it off. He’s going to win player of the season and get relegated for a third time in his career.

Would have probably had Les in place of Fernandes, but seems a reasonable selection otherwise. KWP not been at it, probably didn’t expect to be here still so his head must be all over the place.

Least surprising news, if he wanted to do it he’d have done it a while ago. He’ll probably end up leaving in January for £5m.

MLT v ABK? Really?

Impossible to know.

I agree finishing bottom and getting towsed most weeks isn’t good enough, want to see us giving it a good go. But getting relegated is a very likely expectation and always has been. The gap between Prem and Championship is just getting bigger and bigger. To stay up you’re relying on points deductions and one of the established teams having an absolute shocker.

ABK was a bad egg in our last relegation season. He was given the opportunity to knuckle down and be involved last season, he wanted nothing to do with it and wanted out. No one would pay what we wanted, he (and we) ran out of options and ended up on loan at PSV. Same happened start of this pre-season, again he wanted out. Club lowered asking price to try and get a sale, again not a huge amount of interest. Eventually they thought sale was happening but as we all know it fell through and there were no other offers club was willing to accept. He’s been given two opportunities to knuckle down and muck in, twice he’s snubbed it. Now he’s got nowhere else to turn until January and his careers on the wain. Who knows, maybe the penny will drop with him and he’ll realise his best bet is to be invested in the team. But up to now his attitude sucks, putting a post on instagram when he has literally nowhere else to turn, isn’t going to change that. If he does want to sort himself out, it would be a big plus as he’s clearly got ability. But he’s also not worth comprising team spirit for in my opinion, he isn’t going to be the difference maker in keeping us up.

It’s not.

Not when he was part of the clique the year we went down and he doesn’t want to be here.

He played to demonstrate he was fit to buying teams. Didn’t work out.

That’s worked out well for them.

Don’t think it’s a case of ability (though think his ability is being somewhat exaggerated at the moment, bearing in mind what’s happening on the pitch), more attitude and application.

Has there ever been a case of ‘player gets infinitely better when not in the team’ than TP and ABK.

Well… that’s handy.

It was so on the line, he didn’t get sacked until January. Not after 4 games.

The same Cortese who didn’t sack Adkins after 5 points from 11 games after promotion?

CMFG

The root of our problems… wow. Think you’re going to be in for a shock when he comes out the team and… nothing changes.

He was responding to the point around Shaw, Bale and Walcott.