Has Martin turned the corner and we should support him?

[SafewayFox]

6 minutes ago, slymunn said:

Dropped or rotated?

 

No one can be expected to play 50+ games, especially early on in careers when you have a squad of 25 players.

I’m totally aware about the need to rotate players but all you have to do is read Russell’s comments about the age of our players.

 

When we had that awful run of results at our first 3 game match week, he couldn’t wait to bring in the “experienced” players.

 

Any starting 11 that includes both Cullen and Reid is hideous with two anonymous and ghostesque players.

 

If we went with your rotation logic, that’s poor planning that you include them both and leave out the legs of Braybrooke/Alves etc.

[MPH]

Going to need a couple more convincing wins before I can truly believe we have turned the corner….

[slymunn]

19 minutes ago, SafewayFox said:

I’m totally aware about the need to rotate players but all you have to do is read Russell’s comments about the age of our players.

When we had that awful run of results at our first 3 game match week, he couldn’t wait to bring in the “experienced” players.

Any starting 11 that includes both Cullen and Reid is hideous with two anonymous and ghostesque players.

If we went with your rotation logic, that’s poor planning that you include them both and leave out the legs of Braybrooke/Alves etc.

Any starting 11 that includes both Cullen and Reid is hideous with two anonymous and ghostesque players. - Completely agree this won't work in games.

 

I do think the overall fitness is improving, along with having players like Braybrooke/Alves/Doyle into the team. It shows what a lot of late signings does to the balance and match fitness/sharpness. 

[Guy]

Nice to (finally) win back to back league games obviously but to be 10th in the third tier by the mid-latter part of October as promotion favourites just shows how poor a start we've had. Also facts like the team has yet to  truly gel, Martin still doesn't know or hasn't been able to play his best side, while playing his questionable style of football in League One team still doesn't sit well with most of us so far. Also rotation is another factor in his methodology I suppose. As others have said then the last two teams we beat, we should be doing so by cricket score lines, the latest win is probably the one from all of them so far that we should be winning by that scoreline with our eyes closed versus a team who were still in the Conference League South whilst we were winning the Prem. Still somewhat surreal to think....! As others have said he still needs another couple or three consecutive wins to convince most of us the tide has turned I feel....starting with an awkward looking trip to Luton on Saturday, with the easiest one on paper (Wigan at home), sandwiched between another homer v Stevenage, a team who we've already lost to of course....

[Narborough Road Fox]

He's on probation for me. He has to keep pushing us up the table.

[Rob1742]

IMO, we have to try and create some stability within the club.

 

Smith, Cooper, RVN, Rowett were not bad managers, they just became victims of a club making a change when things weren’t as good as they wanted.

 

Keeping changing managers every five mi utes will just carry on getting us further trouble. 

[supernuk]

He's had a poor start for sure. However I'm sick of changing managers though, hopefully over the next few games we can place ourselves in playoff positions.

[kenny]

21 minutes ago, Rob1742 said:

IMO, we have to try and create some stability within the club.

 

Smith, Cooper, RVN, Rowett were not bad managers, they just became victims of a club making a change when things weren’t as good as they wanted.

 

Keeping changing managers every five mi utes will just carry on getting us further trouble. 

Smith - 43% win rate in the MLS

Cooper - 36% win rate in Denmark, now sacked after 28 games

RVN - Not managed since, now assitant coach

Cifuentes - 23% win rate in the MLS

Rowett - Not managed since

 

I wonder if in fact they are bad managers. Either that or LCFC drains all competence out of anyone that is employed here.

[Free Falling Foxes]

6 minutes ago, kenny said:

Smith - 43% win rate in the MLS

Cooper - 36% win rate in Denmark, now sacked after 28 games

RVN - Not managed since, now assitant coach

Cifuentes - 23% win rate in the MLS

Rowett - Not managed since

 

I wonder if in fact they are bad managers. Either that or LCFC drains all competence out of anyone that is employed here.

What are the stats for Rodgers? The steep fall in our fortunes began when he was coach and he certainly hasn't been hired by a Premier League side since.

Edited 22 October by Free Falling Foxes

[kenny]

Just now, Free Falling Foxes said:

What are the stats for Rodgers. The steep fall in our fortunes began when he was coach and he certainly hasn't been hired by a Premier League side since.

 

Sh*te leagues, but our Brendan isn't a bad coach like these other idiots we have employed.

[Free Falling Foxes]

1 minute ago, kenny said:

 

Sh*te leagues, but our Brendan isn't a bad coach like these other idiots we have employed.

Until he decides not to be.

[Atheonseye]

Not sure if this has been asked anywhere else but given the Bromley manager has been sacked as a result of losing to...Russell Martin...I was wondering when the last time a manager has been sacked after a loss to us? It feels like forever.

 

I know in the 15/16 season we sacked Garry Monk and Jose Mourinho in consecutive weeks.

[oxford blue]

The last two games have come as a welcome surprise; Martin may have occasionally changed formations at previous clubs but the pace and quick transition appear to be completely new. This has never been hinted at before in any of his interviews. After the debacle of the Peterborough game(and Oxford before that), he must have thought and presumably discussed tactics with Conor Hourihane. An interview extract (Dec 25) does demonstrate a similar philosophy but far more flexible approach than Martin:

“It’s like, ‘what can you do with your crop to win a game’, whether that’s possession, direct, low block, high pressing, a little bit of both. Obviously you want to have control, but do you want to be a transitional team? It’s about what players you have at your disposal.

“That’s probably what I believe in, tactical flexibility, rather than having a set way.”

 

“That again comes down to what you believe in - do you touch on the opposition a lot, or do you focus more on bringing out the best of your strengths and touch on the opposition less?”

Again, it’s balance. And being able to respond.

This philosophy has been demonstrated; the quicker pace has brought out best of ream; I do wonder the contribution Hourihane may have had in the change.

(Fair play to Martin though if he continues this style, but adapts if necessary depending on opposition)

[ParkerPen]

11 hours ago, oxford blue said:

The last two games have come as a welcome surprise; Martin may have occasionally changed formations at previous clubs but the pace and quick transition appear to be completely new. This has never been hinted at before in any of his interviews. After the debacle of the Peterborough game(and Oxford before that), he must have thought and presumably discussed tactics with Conor Hourihane. An interview extract (Dec 25) does demonstrate a similar philosophy but far more flexible approach than Martin:

“It’s like, ‘what can you do with your crop to win a game’, whether that’s possession, direct, low block, high pressing, a little bit of both. Obviously you want to have control, but do you want to be a transitional team? It’s about what players you have at your disposal.

“That’s probably what I believe in, tactical flexibility, rather than having a set way.”

 

“That again comes down to what you believe in - do you touch on the opposition a lot, or do you focus more on bringing out the best of your strengths and touch on the opposition less?”

Again, it’s balance. And being able to respond.

This philosophy has been demonstrated; the quicker pace has brought out best of ream; I do wonder the contribution Hourihane may have had in the change.

(Fair play to Martin though if he continues this style, but adapts if necessary depending on opposition)

This is the part you can beat Martin with, because he has taken way too long to make any kind of correct assessment in this regard

 

last two games show signs of promise yes

[woznotwos]

He seems to have switched formation and style. Something I never imagined he was capable of. We are a little more adventurous with more outlets , wingbacks impacting games. I’d like to see us continue to earn points for a couple more games yet but it looks like he has turned a corner here. We shall see. I’m not baying for blood like I was for sure. 

[Lesta2014]

We will have only turned the corner if we have A) found a settled side and B) keep getting points on the board.

[OntarioFox]

Seems premature after two wins against shite opposition, but the style of play has definitely changed to something more direct (and, more importantly, the 3 at the back has somewhat improved our appalling defensive record).

 

Let's see how we do against some tougher opponents before we say we've really turned a corner - but things look promising.

[sphericalfox]

The litmus test is when we actually play a team further up the table. Bromley are essentially a L2 team.

 

Whilst we are showing more attacking intent,  we still on occasion look vulnerable at the back. The unfortunate part is we need a lot more chances to be able to convert. But maybe that's to be expected with the quality we have in the team, and perhaps some players needing a confidence boost or two to get them going.

 

I still reckon we'll have good patches, but also some slip ups in us, as we are heavily reliant on our young players to deliver. These old heads brought in aren't currently on the whole showing any value for money aside from a one or two exceptions.

[fkas]

Couple of wins in a row is a very welcome change of form. Need to turn that into real momentum and keep those wins coming. Certainly delivering wins at home will ease pressure on Martin and the team, particularly if those wins come from more direct and hard working displays.

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

It could be the making of Luke Thomas as well who will not do as much defending playing as wing back when compared to being a full back in a back 4. He can’t defend, but he’s ok going forward. It also makes Souttar look half decent.

 

Winner winner chicken dinner from Brussell. Just need to add some meat to the bones, and a nice bit of gravy and we’re cooking again. 

[jayfox26]

16 hours ago, kenny said:

Smith - 43% win rate in the MLS

Cooper - 36% win rate in Denmark, now sacked after 28 games

RVN - Not managed since, now assitant coach

Cifuentes - 23% win rate in the MLS

Rowett - Not managed since

 

I wonder if in fact they are bad managers. Either that or LCFC drains all competence out of anyone that is employed here.

Yeh none of them are good managers. Whilst I agree with the post you were replying to, that changing the manager every few months doesnt help, the fact is, if we'd hired at least one competent coach over the past 3 years, we wouldn't be where we are. The fanbase was pretty much unanimous in not wanting Martin, yet they hired him anyway. Top/Rudkin are clearly utterly useless as recruitment but there is also the question of whether any half decent manager just wouldn't come here. Useless owner and board, financial issues, toxic fanbase (rightly so), doesn't exactly sell the club to a decent manager. 

[Rubbersoul]

We finally had an unchanged team and we’ve won two in a row. The change in tactics have clearly helped us but we’ve also played two rubbish sides. 
 

Just keep winning. Has to be minimum of 7 points from the next 3. Luton aren’t great but I still don’t trust us so would take a point. 
 

The back 3 brings the best out of Souttar. Page & Lundstram work well together. Doyle & Braybrooke have been really encouraging in the advanced roll.

 

So have to credit Russell for making the change but it’s still way too soon to go too crazy. 
 

Oh and whilst Riis can be a bit dodgy with his touches he will score plenty at this level which is huge. 

Edited 23 October by Rubbersoul

[foxinsocks]

20 hours ago, MPH said:

Going to need a couple more convincing wins before I can truly believe we have turned the corner….

A money could put wins together in this league.

I am worried about his personality.... it just worse when the results are bad

[Narborough Road Fox]

15 hours ago, Atheonseye said:

Not sure if this has been asked anywhere else but given the Bromley manager has been sacked as a result of losing to...Russell Martin...I was wondering when the last time a manager has been sacked after a loss to us? It feels like forever.

 

I know in the 15/16 season we sacked Garry Monk and Jose Mourinho in consecutive weeks.

Didn't we have done for Liam Manning at Norwich last season? 

[Atheonseye]

38 minutes ago, Narborough Road Fox said:

Didn't we have done for Liam Manning at Norwich last season? 

Id forgot about that. It feels strange that we somehow got a manager sacked last season