Robins (9 Viewers)

[baldy]

Very good players make average players look and play better than they would otherwise be capable of. We don't have any very good players in Midfield with out Sheaf. When he is back things will change BUT we needed another in there who was also very good. After losing the Preston lad to Sunderland and the Shamanic debarkle I would have thought Austin and King would work something out in the 10 weeks they had to address an obvious weak area in the team. But no, instead King just sold our most creative midfielder and decided to replace him with fresh air and optimism!!!

*Stamenic

 

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[procdoc]

New season, same old MR out narrative being spun.

Yesterday was poor and very little to take forward as a positive. However we’ve a long way to go and we’ve been here before.

Expectations and pressure are certainly higher this year, partly because we have a plethora of attacking talent we aren’t utilising, but let’s give MR a chance to work it out shall we.

No one is saying get rid of the manager

 

[Chris1987]

Its King thats spent it! Hes taken control of all transfers

Financially yes , choice of personnel no. He's just doing the deals on the options placed before him. Your comment has no context at all.

 

[napolimp]

Kinda worrying that our best performance we still only nicked it in injury time. We beat them 6-2 with the reserves last year.

Robins will eventually sort it out, but will probably take a tactical and personnel change. Problem is he's so slow to react. Last season we turned a corner when he changed formation, but there were posters on here crying out for the same change months earlier.

 

[Chris1987]

Very good players make average players look and play better than they would otherwise be capable of. We don't have any very good players in Midfield with out Sheaf. When he is back things will change BUT we needed another in there who was also very good. After losing the Preston lad to Sunderland and the Shamanic debarkle I would have thought Austin and King would work something out in the 10 weeks they had to address an obvious weak area in the team. But no, instead King just sold our most creative midfielder and decided to replace him with fresh air and optimism!!!

There was obviously plenty going on to try and get the midfielder in. It didn't happen because what was deemed as the right option couldn't get done. Would you prefer that we bought any old mid to fill the void even if he is shit?

 

[Matt smith]

Robins will eventually sort it out, but will probably take a tactical and personnel change. Problem is he's so slow to react. Last season we turned a corner when he changed formation, but there were posters on here crying out for the same change months earlier.

I think a change of the Centre backs and left back would be a good start.

I’d try a personnel change before a shape change

 

[napolimp]

I think a change of the Centre backs and left back would be a good start.

I’d try a personnel change before a shape change

I agree with you, and was thinking same. Just looking at Norwich goal yesterday, Bidwell completely out of position allowing an easy cross, Binks headed clearance down towards the centre of the area, Latibeaudiere ample time to rush out and close down the shot, but instead opts to block Dovin and deflect into his own net. It's poor all round. Thomas and Kitching aren't perfect, but they're a presence at the back, they get stuck in, they like to carry the ball, and they offer an extra threat up top.

I'm convinced Robins is playing Latibeaudiere because he feels he needs him as captain whilst Sheaf is out.

 

[Matt smith]

I agree with you, and was thinking same. Just looking at Norwich goal yesterday, Bidwell completely out of position allowing an easy cross, Binks headed clearance down towards the centre of the area, Latibeaudiere ample time to rush out and close down the shot, but instead opts to block Dovin and deflect into his own net. It's poor all round. Thomas and Kitching aren't perfect, but they're a presence at the back, they get stuck in, they like to carry the ball, and they offer an extra threat up top.

They’re not perfect, but at least we try and penetrate through the lines too, and like you say offer a threat at set pieces. I’d definitely just back them and stick with them.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Calmed down from yesterday. Still think Robins has a lot of work to do and annoyed with the wait attitude. We can’t keep having bad starts if our season aim is play offs.

Said it pre season however robins takes time to get his formation and tactic in place but when he does it clicks.

Don’t think the break could have come at a better time but a part of me wonders how much tactical input did Adi have. Might need some of the new coaches to step up in this regard.

 

[shmmeee]

Robins will eventually sort it out, but will probably take a tactical and personnel change. Problem is he's so slow to react. Last season we turned a corner when he changed formation, but there were posters on here crying out for the same change months earlier.

I was one of said posters. The move to 3 up front and 4 atb was obvious TBH. I don’t see it with this squad. We’re doubled up in some places and lacking in others. EMC isn’t a right winger, neither LB is quite right, midfield is lacking some key elements. 3ATB solves some issues, like the left hand side, but creates others like fitting Wright EMC Saka and Rapha in. BTA looks like he needs a partner as does Bassette. 442 just isn’t a goer with our CM options. We don’t have a 10 or the right 8 for 4231.

TBH I think the system is less of an issue this season, it’s basics around shape and patterns and motivation that needs fixing.

 

[Hullinho87]

Calmed down from yesterday. Still think Robins has a lot of work to do and annoyed with the wait attitude. We can’t keep having bad starts if our season aim is play offs.

Said it pre season however robins takes time to get his formation and tactic in place but when he does it clicks.

Don’t think the break could have come at a better time but a part of me wonders how much tactical input did Adi have. Might need some of the new coaches to step up in this regard.

We had our worst start for over 10 years when we made the playoff’s and subsequently the play off final.

 

[Diogenes]

Robins will eventually sort it out, but will probably take a tactical and personnel change. Problem is he's so slow to react. Last season we turned a corner when he changed formation, but there were posters on here crying out for the same change months earlier.

Last season it was crystal clear what changes were needed. This time round it's really not clear what the root of the problems are (barr the CM issue) or what Robins needs to do.

I have a suspicion that MR is also at a loss given his odd selections, seemingly panic substitutions and flat post match interviews. This is what worries me and he no longer has his reliable backroom to rely on.

 

[StrettoBoy]

If we’re in the same position as we are now going into January, there’s no chance King will wait until the end of the season.

If we are in the same position in January then there is nothing to lose by waiting until the summer because we won’t make the playoffs anyway. It would be reasonable to see if MR can turn things around if we can get the player reinforcements that we need in the January window.

All bets are off if we are at risk of relegation but I can’t see that happening.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

We had our worst start for over 10 years when we made the playoff’s and subsequently the play off final.

Can’t do it every year tho. Take last year. While it’s a marathon, a bad start means you have to have a near perfect finish or your depending on others to slip up.

 

[San Francisco]

As others have said, we can’t afford to miss the playoffs again as the likes of MvE, Wright, Sheaf, etc will be gone and it’ll be another massive rebuild all over again.

 

[shmmeee]

As others have said, we can’t afford to miss the playoffs again as the likes of MvE, Wright, Sheaf, etc will be gone and it’ll be another massive rebuild all over again.

I think if we don’t make it this year you sell a few and install a new management team to spend the proceeds.

 

[blunted]

Right,this is 100 % true, robins and Doug have had words , robins went begging to Doug. We need a midfielder, our players are capped at 20k a year max, all,the players that we wanted in the transfer window. Wanted more than that which. is why we Didn’t sign anyone,lots going on behind the scenes, players not happy that new players that have come in are on more than players that have been here for years, robins isn’t irreplaceable we had nearly 20 million pound on the bench today, pressures on everyone to,turn it around, Doug isn’t happy

We have to have a wage cap. We simply cannot compete with the relegated clubs that have parachute payments and those like Hull that are funded by rich owners.
Surprised if King is happy with performances on the pitch, but he is the man making the decisions.
MR can ask for players and recommend but he has stated the decisions who we buy have been removed from his remit.

 

[blunted]

The thing for me is the football we were playing. Where has it gone?
This pass and move,make yourself available,never leave someone on their own football.
We were putting passing moves together that if they were in the premier league, commentators would be waxing lyrical.
Think we scored one goal where we strung 17 passes together and stuck it in the net,without the opposition touching it.
We were counter attacking at speed. We would defend a corner,and 3 seconds later be in their box.
Sometimes we applauded a throw in just because the football leading up to it was so good.
The quick passing was simply too much for most teams.
Now we are playing a completely different game,in fact I don’t know what we are trying to do. So if one of you more knowledgeable cares to explain the new style feel free.
Because unfortunately I think our signature football went out the door with Vivash.

I know Oxford were in L1 when we played them in the cup but online, one of their fans said Shit, we are playing Brazil.

 

[Great_Expectations]

No one is saying get rid of the manager

You’ve been on this forum since 2011, you’ve surely seen this dance before.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

The thing for me is the football we were playing. Where has it gone?
This pass and move,make yourself available,never leave someone on their own football.
We were putting passing moves together that if they were in the premier league, commentators would be waxing lyrical.
Think we scored one goal where we strung 17 passes together and stuck it in the net,without the opposition touching it.
We were counter attacking at speed. We would defend a corner,and 3 seconds later be in their box.
Sometimes we applauded a throw in just because the football leading up to it was so good.
The quick passing was simply too much for most teams.
Now we are playing a completely different game,in fact I don’t know what we are trying to do. So if one of you more knowledgeable cares to explain the new style feel free.
Because unfortunately I think our signature football went out the door with Vivash.

Share a lot of these thoughts but we were trying this approach last season too.

 

[wingy]

Last season it was crystal clear what changes were needed. This time round it's really not clear what the root of the problems are (barr the CM issue) or what Robins needs to do.

I have a suspicion that MR is also at a loss given his odd selections, seemingly panic substitutions and flat post match interviews. This is what worries me and he no longer has his reliable backroom to rely on.

The subs are not his bag as far as I'm concerned, they're prescribed!

 

[Boicey]

Robins needs to be less obsessed with rigid formation and play to players strengths to get some tempo and flow going.
Play Wright on the left and Rudoni as a central number 8.

 

[Hullinho87]

Can’t do it every year tho. Take last year. While it’s a marathon, a bad start means you have to have a near perfect finish or your depending on others to slip up.

That’s opinion though.
The Championship historically has shown that you can be lower half at the turn of the year and still make the playoffs.
Look it up.

 

[baldy]

That’s opinion though.
The Championship historically has shown that you can be lower half at the turn of the year and still make the playoffs.
Look it up.

We almost made it last season after a slow start,we managed to get there the season before last after a slow start plus the season before that,Forest did exactly the same when Cooper came in

 

[Dirk Turpin]

Robins needs to be less obsessed with rigid formation and play to players strengths to get some tempo and flow going.
Play Wright on the left and Rudoni as a central number 8.

I would add EMC to that as well he looks terrible on the right but twice the player when he plays on the left. Its a bit like we have the wealth of talent but we arent sure where to play them. Unless we play 2 up front then Wright will and should play on the left but where does that leave EMC who we paid a decent amount of money for

 

[Monty]

I would add EMC to that as well he looks terrible on the right but twice the player when he plays on the left. Its a bit like we have the wealth of talent but we arent sure where to play them. Unless we play 2 up front then Wright will and should play on the left but where does that leave EMC who we paid a decent amount of money for

I think the logic was probably that all our players need a rest at times, will get niggly injuries, and drop off in form. The current issue is that very few of the players have any form at the moment, and where players seem in reasonable nick we have 2 players in reasonable form in those positions, and then it exasperates the areas where we have issues. Dovin/Wilson not in bad form, MVE has started well. Wright/EMC both doing ok, Bassette started ok.
Sadly the list of out of form is much bigger

 

[Nuskyblue]

We had our worst start for over 10 years when we made the playoff’s and subsequently the play off final.

True, but that season was a low bar points wise for the top 6 wasn't it? We left ourselves with a lot to do that season, common logic says that is not going to be reliably repeatable.

For me we needed to be getting something like 18 points from the first 10 games, that is still doable but a big ask at this point.

Hopefully the international break has come at the right time for us, we need to get back to basics I feel. I find it alarming how easy we are to play through at times (this was evident in pre season, especially against Everton). In the second half the players looked genuinely clueless off the ball.

 

[Nuskyblue]

Last season it was crystal clear what changes were needed. This time round it's really not clear what the root of the problems are (barr the CM issue) or what Robins needs to do.

I have a suspicion that MR is also at a loss given his odd selections, seemingly panic substitutions and flat post match interviews. This is what worries me and he no longer has his reliable backroom to rely on.

I think it's down to instruction, the players looked like they didn't know what to do. Off the ball we were a mixture of sitting deep and pressing which left gaps all over the pitch.

 

[Hullinho87]

True, but that season was a low bar points wise for the top 6 wasn't it? We left ourselves with a lot to do that season, common logic says that is not going to be reliably repeatable.

For me we needed to be getting something like 18 points from the first 10 games, that is still doable but a big ask at this point.

Hopefully the international break has come at the right time for us, we need to get back to basics I feel. I find it alarming how easy we are to play through at times (this was evident in pre season, especially against Everton). In the second half the players looked genuinely clueless off the ball.

2022/23 was 3 points difference to last season to make the play off’s.
Been between 70 & 75 points 6 out the last 7 seasons.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

Look at this starting 11 against Wolves. What’s happened since? No Sheaf is the issue?

 

[Sky Blue Pete]

And confidence e

 

[skybluecam]

Look at this starting 11 against Wolves. What’s happened since? No Sheaf is the issue?

2/3 of our midfield aren’t available to us

 

[PVA]

Sheaf is one of the best players in the division, it's no surprise we're missing him really.

Stating the obvious I know. But we'll be miles better when he's back.

 

[wingy]

2/3 of our midfield aren’t available to us.

So we say that, what was Lati's role that day?

 

[Nuskyblue]

2022/23 was 3 points difference to last season to make the play off’s.
Been between 70 & 75 points 6 out the last 7 seasons.

22/23 had the second fewest point's required for the top 6 in the last 20 seasons (68 points in 08/09).

Our points tally that season would have us in the top 6 in four out of those 20 seasons, we were fortunate (though still deserved!).