When can we make a judgement? (3 Viewers)

[samccov1987]

I’m sorry, promote George boateng

Are you actually being serious???

Yes i can see Doug doing it if he didn’t he’d be admitting they ain’t up to it. Not sure Doug likes to admit he’s wrong.

 

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[Chris1987]

When a shit load of money is spent on the squad expectations inevitably and justifiably rise.
Consequently when the performances are repeatedly poor with little obvious direction and adaptability to opposition tactics questions have to be asked. Let's face it this season has been pretty dire and clueless in most respects so far.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

Robins reacting is not our biggest issue. We’re far too easy to score against and concede lots of very poor goals. That’s the issue. It’s his issue, he’s the manager. Don’t disagree we need to change shape, we’re horribly exposed down the flanks but we should be starting like that, not reacting with it. Simms abject form means we can play Wright centrally now and get some solidity in the midfield.

Simms is a strange person to call out. What chances has he missed? I’m sorry but strikers won’t do much if there’s no chances for them to score and 2024 of last season proved that he’ll finish chances he’s given.

Bassette has this really positive fanfare atm because he’s shown decent glimpses and looks busy. He’s scored no goals. Likewise, BTA looks busier but only scored one goal, the same as Simms.

If we were creating lots of good chances and strikers were missing them, by all means, they deserve criticism. If we’re not creating chances, the blame lies elsewhere.

 

[Matt smith]

Yes i can see Doug doing it if he didn’t he’d be admitting they ain’t up to it. Not sure Doug likes to admit he’s wrong.

If robins left the new manager would want his own staff

 

[hinckley cov]

He deserves the season…. It’s not even quarter gone yet!!!

You’re having a laugh surely, no one should be given long enough to relegate us don’t care who they are or what they’ve done for us in the past , when times up it’s up .

 

[procdoc]

The need for Pampers is strong on here tonight.

Okay, things are going great

 

[Matt smith]

Simms is a strange person to call out. What chances has he missed? I’m sorry but strikers won’t do much if there’s no chances for them to score and 2024 of last season proved that he’ll finish chances he’s given.

Bassette has this really positive fanfare atm because he’s shown decent glimpses and looks busy. He’s scored no goals. Likewise, BTA looks busier but only scored one goal, the same as Simms.

If we were creating lots of good chances and strikers were missing them, by all means, they deserve criticism. If we’re not creating chances, the blame lies elsewhere.

Simms is a box player, we don’t create anything

no blame attached to simms

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Simms is a box player, we don’t create anything

no blame attached to simms

Not just that, he just doesn’t suit the Solo striker role imo. Last year with Callum’s work rate I think he got away a bit more and was allowed to be a poacher but now, think he struggles to do the work needed.

 

[SAJ]

Judgment is ongoing game by game. That’s football. Lots of absolute crap about how he should have “changed things” today. There only looked like one winner today and we were sucker punched at the end. There was no need to change it. We could be playing better but it’s fine margins costing us. Robins is safe as houses for me, and so he should be.

Take it you were at a different match to me. We went ahead against the run of play. Were second best over most of the field. Yes we had a good 20 minutes towards the end of the second half but if we’d won that it wouldn’t have been deserved. Maybe a draw was a fair result but I think your kidding yourself.

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

Took a mate today who hasn’t been to watch us in a while. Couldn’t believe how bad we were.

 

[samccov1987]

If robins left the new manager would want his own staff

Yes and I can’t see Doug paying them all off. I think he’d give the current coaching setup a go first before having to acknowledge it’s wank.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It’s getting harder to defend his position with each performance, but he is not the only one responsible. Some of these players are just not performing even allowing for questionable decisions above.

It’s clear that Robins isn’t happy with players taking the ‘easy options’ which is probably aimed at the wide players and midfielders. Too often we pass backwards and don’t risk putting the ball in dangerous areas until the opposition has 10 men behind the ball.

I do think the biggest issue in our team attacking wise is that Eccles-Sheaf axis, they do v similar things. Personally, I think we need a CM that is more box-to-box, can carry the ball and gets more G/As. They both sit deep and spray the ball horizontally, there’s little penetration.

 

[Chris1987]

Many alarm bells ringing in my opinion. Unless many of our squad show a massive improvement we will be nowhere near the play offs and any player sales with the exception of MVE would be at a loss. There are a lot of things to fix which would cost a lot of money. Will Doug be prepared to do this ? I doubt it very much.

 

[Ian1779]

Okay, things are going great

Not sure I said that either but this is our first real spot of adversity in the last 4 years so let’s just take a breath I think.

 

[Chris1987]

Not sure I said that either but this is our first real spot of adversity in the last 4 years so let’s just take a breath I think.

Look at the results over the last 20 games. It's not great .

 

[shmmeee]

I’d give him until Christmas at the very least.

It’s clear that Robins isn’t happy with players taking the ‘easy options’ which is probably aimed at the wide players and midfielders. Too often we pass backwards and don’t risk putting the ball in dangerous areas until the opposition has 10 men behind the ball.

I do think the biggest issue in our team attacking wise is that Eccles-Sheaf axis, they do v similar things. Personally, I think we need a CM that is more box-to-box, can carry the ball and gets more G/As. They both sit deep and spray the ball horizontally, there’s little penetration.

It’s why I want Rudoni deeper, Eccles started to do it a bit, but both him and Sheaf and the CBs and the fullbacks just play across and back all the time. A few times today first half one of the front three made a run looking for the ball over the top that never came as they just passed it between them again.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

It’s clear that Robins isn’t happy with players taking the ‘easy options’ which is probably aimed at the wide players and midfielders. Too often we pass backwards and don’t risk putting the ball in dangerous areas until the opposition has 10 men behind the ball.

I do think the biggest issue in our team attacking wise is that Eccles-Sheaf axis, they do v similar things. Personally, I think we need a CM that is more box-to-box, can carry the ball and gets more G/As. They both sit deep and spray the ball horizontally, there’s little penetration.

It starts at the back. The defenders all taking 3 or 4 touches to move the ball anywhere, usually sideways. It then either gets lumped forward or passed to a midfielder who’s then under immediate pressure himself. All the while nobody is moving off the ball to give someone an option.

This is not how playing out from the back is supposed to go if done properly. Today the opposition were advancing the ball in one or two touches, making well timed runs in behind the back which sometimes worked, sometimes the pass was miscued but I liked what I saw.

If they had players who could finish it would have been a hammering. Röhl has got his team playing how we are aspiring to but are nowhere near. And he’s doing it with a 50 year old Bannan at the heart of midfield.

 

[Chris1987]

It starts at the back. The defenders all taking 3 or 4 touches to move the ball anywhere, usually sideways. It then either gets lumped forward or passed to a midfielder who’s then under immediate pressure himself. All the while nobody is moving off the ball to give someone an option.

This is not how playing out from the back is supposed to go if done properly. Today the opposition were advancing the ball in one or two touches, making well timed runs in behind the back which sometimes worked, sometimes the pass was miscued but I liked what I saw.

If they had players who could finish it would have been a hammering. Röhl has got his team playing how we are aspiring to but are nowhere near. And he’s doing it with a 50 year old Bannan at the heart of midfield.

Robins should be embarrassed by the way Rohl out thought him today. Difficult to believe that I'm posting that but sadly it's true.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

It starts at the back. The defenders all taking 3 or 4 touches to move the ball anywhere, usually sideways. It then either gets lumped forward or passed to a midfielder who’s then under immediate pressure himself. All the while nobody is moving off the ball to give someone an option.

This is not how playing out from the back is supposed to go if done properly. Today the opposition were advancing the ball in one or two touches, making well timed runs in behind the back which sometimes worked, sometimes the pass was miscued but I liked what I saw.

If they had players who could finish it would have been a hammering. Röhl has got his team playing how we are aspiring to but are nowhere near. And he’s doing it with a 50 year old Bannan at the heart of midfield.

Agree, it does start from the back but we had the same issues with Lati and Binks on the ball who to be fair to them, advance the ball better than Thomas and Kitching. Eccles and Sheaf played in the 22/23 season, but they were not our primary playmakers and now they are. I honestly believe that a capable playmaker in the mould of Hamer would resolve a lot of our issues. Hamer was good enough defensively, but carried the ball through midfield (neither Eccles or Sheaf does this really) and he passes the ball behind defences. Wright, EMC, BTA and Simms are all quick players so we want them against defenders in foot races. Giving the ball to Wright around 1-2 people to take on and then cross isn’t going to optimise him. He’s not a tricky winger by trade like Sakamoto. The xG in our games speaks for itself, we’re creating next to no ‘big’ chances.

To be honest, I’m glad you brought up Bannan because it’s an example of what good experience and leadership can give a team.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

No he won’t. As I’ve said multiple times before - we won’t be getting a “manager” we’ll be getting a head coach whose values align with what we got. He may get to bring a no2 but the staff behind the scenes won’t change

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Robins should be embarrassed by the way Rohl out thought him today. Difficult to believe that I'm posting that but sadly it's true.

No out thinking really, just a much better coached team playing a more expensively assembled one off the pitch for most of the game.

He needs to sign better finishers though, it should have been 5 or 6 but they’ve squeezed through and somehow avoided two blatant red cards on top.

 

[Chris1987]

No out thinking really, just a much better coached team playing a more expensively assembled one off the pitch for most of the game.

He needs to sign better finishers though, it should have been 5 or 6 but they’ve squeezed through and somehow avoided two blatant red cards on top.

The major difference is though that he has nothing to spend.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Agree, it does start from the back but we had the same issues with Lati and Binks on the ball who to be fair to them, advance the ball better than Thomas and Kitching. Eccles and Sheaf played in the 22/23 season, but they were not our primary playmakers and now they are. I honestly believe that a capable playmaker in the mould of Hamer would resolve a lot of our issues. Hamer was good enough defensively, but carried the ball through midfield (neither Eccles or Sheaf does this really) and he passes the ball behind defences. Wright, EMC, BTA and Simms are all quick players so we want them against defenders in foot races. Giving the ball to Wright around 1-2 people to take on and then cross isn’t going to optimise him. He’s not a tricky winger by trade like Sakamoto. The xG in our games speaks for itself, we’re creating next to no ‘big’ chances.

To be honest, I’m glad you brought up Bannan because it’s an example of what good experience and leadership can give a team.

The point is we are just miles away from where we need to be and have quickly turned from a team that was more than the sum of its parts into a Stoke tribute act. Stoke don’t get any better by constantly sacking the manager though and have a bottomless pit of money to spend.

I don’t know what the solution is for us but I would start by banning players from going abroad for international friendlies and double their training workload to just focus on passing and movement.

In some kind of weird symbolic moment I think an embarrassment at the hands of Luton will be the final straw for King.

 

[HuckerbyDublinWhelan]

I would point to Sunderland aswell. New manager walks into shit show where the players are bought via data and a recruitment team..

Coaching staff allegedly not good enough - they seem to be doing alright with a new manager

 

[hill83]

Usually it’s give it until Christmas or whatever. But there’s usually the underlying bones of SOMETHING. This has just been complete and utter dogshit.

 

[SAJ]

A lot of talk of relegation battles and Robins out. I’m honestly not sure how I feel on either, but interested to know when the judgement can be made? What is the sample size of matches? I’m tempted to say up to next international break, but it’s going to take some nerve to get there.

I’ve got a feeling King may well be thinking this now.
You have to question several decisions today.
Why did we leave both Eccles and Sheaf on to the end when they were both a yellow cards? Neither could commit a foul to stop the game which is exactly when should have happened with Wednesday’s 2nd goal.
Why did Wright remain on the pitch when he clearly wasn’t interested? I accept Bassette hasn’t yet scored but at least it looks as though he tries even when it’s not going for him.
After the Swansea match, he suggested he wouldn’t play the same team again as he had learnt, well obviously he hasn’t. We looked flat from minute one.
In his interviews he now constantly says the players aren’t doing what they have been told to do as a game plan. This suggests that either the message isn’t clear or the players don’t listen which in turn suggests he has lost the dressing room.
Robins undoubtedly has been the saviour of this club but I think King will now be seriously considering what to do next. He will be looking at details like why have we capitulated since Lawrence and Vivash have gone. I know many will suggest King is equally culpable which may well be true but King won’t see it that way and it’s him that will make the decision.

 

[Chris1987]

The point is we are just miles away from where we need to be and have quickly turned from a team that was more than the sum of its parts into a Stoke tribute act. Stoke don’t get any better by constantly sacking the manager though and have a bottomless pit of money to spend.

I don’t know what the solution is for us but I would start by banning players from going abroad for international friendlies and double their training workload to just focus on passing and movement.

In some kind of weird symbolic moment I think an embarrassment at the hands of Luton will be the final straw for King.

I keep asking myself as to whether the squad we have assembled isn't really that good or just badly coached and managed

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

I keep asking myself as to whether the squad we have assembled isn't really that good or just badly coached and managed

A bit of both I’d imagine, but if we’re being honest this group of players have really only been good for a spell of about 12 or so games.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

I keep asking myself as to whether the squad we have assembled isn't really that good or just badly coached and managed

It isn’t as good as it was being made out to be, but it also shouldn’t be struggling to this extent. It’s a top half squad in my view.

 

[Saddlebrains]

You really have no fucking clue

I've muted him the bollocks he talks is unreal

 

[Diogenes]

Judgment is ongoing game by game. That’s football. Lots of absolute crap about how he should have “changed things” today. There only looked like one winner today and we were sucker punched at the end. There was no need to change it. We could be playing better but it’s fine margins costing us. Robins is safe as houses for me, and so he should be.

This is completely demented

 

[Cally Fedora]

You really have no fucking clue

Calm down. Try a bit of consistency rather than over dramatising completely normal events.

 

[Cally Fedora]

I've muted him the bollocks he talks is unreal

And they say irony is dying out.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

And they say irony is dying out.

I mean your take on the game was pretty absurd to be fair

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

The point is we are just miles away from where we need to be and have quickly turned from a team that was more than the sum of its parts into a Stoke tribute act. Stoke don’t get any better by constantly sacking the manager though and have a bottomless pit of money to spend.

I don’t know what the solution is for us but I would start by banning players from going abroad for international friendlies and double their training workload to just focus on passing and movement.

In some kind of weird symbolic moment I think an embarrassment at the hands of Luton will be the final straw for King.

I don’t think Robins will be under real threat unless we’re in serious trouble for relegation after January. An honest assessment of this team is that it’s top-heavy. So there’s multiple stakeholders at fault here and that includes King if @Saddlebrains intel is accurate about MR wanting Matty James for example.

Southampton in 22/23 invested heavily in talented players who were inexperienced and the cost of that recruitment policy was relegation. We have no experienced pros in the team outside of Bidwell really.

We can tweak formations and combinations of players but the reality is, today’s eleven is probably the best we have. Maybe 1 or 2 players here or there. Our project is far from complete and we’re just lacking quality in multiple areas.