funkyrobot

Can’t believe Stolarcyck is getting the blame for that. That was Page losing the ball again and a stupendous shot from their lad that went in off the bar

Toying with Ipswich now. Going down to 9 men by bringing on the ghosts of Cullen and Reid is pure showboating

Isn’t Pearson an absolute shithouse? We could seriously do with a nasty snide git in midfield kicking people.

Fingers crossed that Stolarcyck has a good game otherwise we are trouble. McCarthy as 1st choice for Martin is reminiscent of the self destructive partnership of Ward being 1st choice for Rodgers. It feels like it’s only going one way. We really should’ve signed direct competition or an upgrade to Stolarcyck rather than friends of Martin - a veteran back up wanting a last hurrah and a vibes man 3rd choice clearly signed with both parties not expecting him to play a game in anger.

I get your point but if attending a match and matchday revenue was irrelevant then what’s the point of fans? They have an intrinsic value to the club in terms of the matchday revenue they bring in, additional non matchday revenue they bring in and the finances they generate by creating an atmosphere that can help the club progress up the divisions and earn bigger rewards. A club with significant weekly attendance will be of higher value to buyers of clubs, particularly overseas clients, than a club whose fanbase has potentially deserted them (even if it might be only potentially temporary) as there is much more risk attached. A buyer would have to trust that those fans would come back for a start. The fact remains that an empty stadium with boycotting fans is more likely to help push a club into administration than a fuller stadium with attending fans even if those fans are thoroughly pissed off like we all are.

I see you agree with me about the club being more likely to go into administration. I’ve not said any blame lies with the supporters btw. I’ve been quite clear where the blame lies. Top and Rudkin.

There’s no argument from me about the catastrophic almost criminal mismanagement of the club by Top and Rudkin. The last 6 years has been an utter, utter shambles from them. That being said, it’s still reasonable to state that if there is a full boycott and there are next to no fans buying tickets, if there are fans cancelling season tickets, fans not buying merch, not buying refreshments, local businesses not buying hospitality, then the club is more likely to go into administration than it would be if that wasn’t happening.

Lots of points I agree on but I draw the line at criticising people for being season ticket holders and attending games. Fair play to Jord for deciding he won’t go to games but attending them doesn’t make you any less of a fan or any less entitled to be disappointed/frustrated/angry about the owners and the direction of the club. Jord’s logic that the only way we get rid of the owner is by not attending games doesn’t add up. The best way for these owners to leave for all of us would be for them to sell the club, and if there’s no fanbase because of a mass prolonged boycott then this makes the club less sellable as an asset. The scenario of the owners leaving due to administration, in part brought about by a potential long term boycott is far worse for the club, for the club employees and the fans. That being said, keep up the good work, other than the youngsters coming through there is very little positivity at the moment and that’s rightly reflected in honest podcasts like BSLB!

He gets caught on the ball a lot but for some reason when he gets caught on the ball he looks like he gets cut in half! The defenders don’t foul him but Cullo somehow gets his body position in a way that he gets robbed of the ball and receives a humiliating scything down at the same time! 🤣

On one hand McCarthy is a modern day Dave Beasant. A big keeper with a massive mistake always on the way. On the other hand he’s a veteran version of Danny Ward - he lets in goals he really should save AND has a massive mistake always on the way.

Welcome Kanga!

Yeh so there’s proof that Martin’s system does incorporate a quick break. Doesn’t change the fact that in league one we will have most of the ball whether you like it or not. You cannot force another team to have possession, particularly when you are seen as the big fish in the pond.

Cooper does not play that style, nor does Rowett. As for counter attacking football, that is only possible when you cede possession to the opponents. It was fine when we were an underdog in the premier league when we won it and opponents wanted the ball. In this division even more so than The Championship, we are the big dogs, the majority of opposition will not want the ball. They’ll hold a deep block and try and do us on the break or settle for a draw. We can’t force an opponent to be the possession based team at this level. What we have to be is way better whilst inevitably dominating possession. We need to be quicker, more intelligent with our passing, more incisive and yes at times way more pragmatic than trying to play stupid passes via a goalie that can’t kick the ball to defenders who can’t pass a ball. We aren’t though built for a 442 longs balls into the box. The squad lacks that skillset and the physicality in the attacking middle in numbers for that style of football.

Caleb lad, get yourself off social media and get your agent to get you a move back to Italy. It’s just not worked. 3 consecutive relegations. You were shit playing pragmatic Cooper-Ball pragmatic Rowett-Ball and you were shit trying to play out under RVN- Ball, Cifuentes-Ball and definitely Martin-Ball.

Okoli has stunk the place out since he’s been here. There is no evidence that a different style of play will make him a better player. He’s had 3 consecutive relegations across 2 teams with numerous managers and numerous systems of play.

I’m one of the fans having a moan about him if you read through this thread. That’s different from demanding his sacking after 2 games because of the results or because you never wanted him here in the first place.

Fans ARE asking for him to be sacked after two games. Read this thread. Yes many fans didn’t want him to be here in the first place. Thats irrelevant tbh. Once a manager is appointed you HAVE to give them more than two games, whether you think he shit or not, particularly when you are still within a first transfer window.

He played a significant number of games and was with a club for over half a season that was subsequently relegated. Him being involved in 4 consecutive relegations is an absolute fact,

There’s no historical evidence that playing a different style of football at this club will more suit Okoli, Skipp, Thomas, BDCR. They’ve been shit previously playing the different styles that span Cooper Ball, RVN Ball, Cifuentes Ball, & Rowett Ball. Our fortunes won’t change whilst we are reliant on these players, irrespective of who the manager is and what style he tries to play.

Thomas was relegated with Sheffield Utd on loan during the season we got promoted!

I’m not focusing my attention on the wrong place. We all know the owner and top management are not fit for purpose. BUT football still continues during this period when the owners are looking to get out. The demand for a manager to be sacked after 2 games irrespective of the owners is just crazy. You have to give him a chance. I don’t like the fact he’s signed and is playing McCarthy, I don’t rate Okoli, Thomas, or Skipp I’m not particularly impressed with your mate Souttar, Cullen is peripheral BUT I do applaud his selection of Braybrooke, his selection of JJ, Alves, Howell, Aluko. I do see the logic of signing Chaplin and Burns, I do see an attempt to play forward, I do see he’s inherited massive weaknesses in key areas (particularly centre back) irrespective of the style of football we play, and I do think it’s reasonable whoever the owners are, however poor the owners have been, to give a manager more than 2 games before demanding his sacking!

2 fkin games lads, 2 fkin games with a number of players he didn’t buy and for who he has no realistic alternatives (centre back.) I mean he might well not be the man to take us forward but ffs give him a fair chance.

This is the one decision that’s the biggest worry for me about Martin. Having a good keeper is absolutely key and yet he’s surrounded himself with unreliable GK’s since he was at Southampton. The purchase and the selection of McCarthy is bizarre. He’s a career (veteran) back up keeper and he’s not going to improve now and he’s not even good with his feet

We lost quality on the left when Alves was subbed off for Watson. Alves on the left and Howell on the right would’ve been a good combo - both have similar attributes. Not seen enough quality yet from Watson but at least he works hard.

Alves is fine on the wing. Braybrooke as the pivot with Page & Chaplin as number 8’s.