08 Aug 2023 21:11:16
So it took a league 2 team to suss out our frailties! Look at possession stats! They mean nothing! I post this 56 minutes into the game. Championship teams will work out how to beat us or draw, possession means nothing! And we have, allegedly, 50 million of players on display!

1.) 09 Aug 2023
08 Aug 2023 23:05:30
2408 …
Well I’m hoping that the new manager is going to learn from this and just maybe will change his game plan. Having read so many comments from Swansea fans, all saying that this is how he likes to play, I’m hoping we don’t have another Ralph . ie this is how we are going to play end of!
More worryingly, it was obvious to all that we had been found out, but we didn’t change anything!
Please don’t tell me he has only a plan A . been there already!

2.) 09 Aug 2023
09 Aug 2023 09:34:58
I watch a lot of championship and league one football. Swansea never changed tact and went on their run of results when they had nothing to play for. There are only 7 or 8 players from last season who are good enough for the premier league with Ryan Manning being one. I was damning of RM appointment and remain so, if he doesn’t have plan b/c etc it’s going to be a long possession based and uneventful season.

3.) 09 Aug 2023
09 Aug 2023 09:56:32
7 or 8 from all remaining championship teams.

4.) 09 Aug 2023
09 Aug 2023 09:58:49
Well it didn't take long for the boo boys to.come out. Yes it wasn't a great performance I feel positive though. don't forget at the moment we are still clearing out players that don't want to be here.
And as rm said players going off script is what didn't help. It's also a contest that championship clubs don't seem to take seriously 8 clubs went out last night.
Let's give it a bit of a chance and see where we are come November/December. I think the idea of how we will play will work once both fitness is where it needs to be (usually about 4-5) games in and the more they play it.

5.) 09 Aug 2023
09 Aug 2023 11:52:30
It’s just another example of managers trying to be clever dicks.

Why play a weak side when you have a gilt edge chance of building on Friday night’s result. Winning breeds confidence and so to experiment after one game is just reckless.

Had we won, what would it have proved? Losing in the manner we did just underlines RM is as stupid as many who went before him.

Mark my word, playing pretty but pointless possession football will not get us out of the championship. It won’t be long before RM’s head is on the block. God, I hope I’m wrong but as South Hants Rich and 2408 have pointed out, there is a depressing sense of deja vu with what is going on.

6.) 09 Aug 2023
09 Aug 2023 17:22:29
This is not boo boy because we lost one game, it is because is was obvious to anyone who understood coaching football that RM tactics won’t win enough games to get promotion. Quick question…. If you have 3 lightening quick strikers but they are light weight, do you play the ball over the top / through channels or do you try and walk the ball into the net? Let defenders get tight to Tella AA Edozie Sulemana Mara is stupid and inept! Adams and Onaucha are the only 2 who have the strength to hold them off and they are not first choice. Michael Carrick Gary O’Neill and dare I say it Jones would get us out of the championship, with the squad we will have left, not RM!

7.) 09 Aug 2023
09 Aug 2023 18:31:47
Exactly - apart from the inclusion of Jones in your list!

And how naive is it to forfeit a run in the Cup because we are focusing on promotion - one game in!

A little run where we might meet and beat Portsmouth or go up against one of the big PL teams would be great for morale and possibly add a little spice to the fixture list.

As I said earlier - too clever by half.

8.) 10 Aug 2023
09 Aug 2023 23:13:43
Miller and 2408 … it always amazes me, this bizarre attitude that we as supporters are not allowed to criticise the team or manager. Like you two I’ve supported saints all my long life, even flying home from work in Germany to see the Saints V Forest cup final!
The modern day manager, be that Pep level or other EPL managers, have a game plan, a style that they want to play. But and most importantly, while the style is imbedded in the mindset, the game plan is tweaked and adjusted throughout the game.
I remember seeing changes by opposing managers that literally changed the whole dynamics of a game. The last manager that I thought was amazing was Ronald K. you knew when RK was watching the game, he was watching through the eyes of one of the greatest and successful defenders of all time.

Anyway. we seem to have had in Ralph and now Martin, two managers that have 100% decided the way we ARE going to play! Regardless of 1-0 down, up or 5-0 down . I used to think with Ralph, is he just hoping we might score, because when it was obvious from the first 10 minutes, the whole formation was not working, it just stayed that way . meanwhile we lost and lost.
Our first win of the season, while welcome. was possession football at its finest . but not what wins games. So we carry that into the cup match against gillingham. their manager must have said to their players. ‘don’t fear them, just get it off them. they will just pass it around all match’ . and that’s what we did!
Even a 1-0 and the. 2-0 down, yepp were still playing the same possession football. In any sport I ever played, fear of the opponents attacking menace was a huge factor in the game plan. Fearing/respecting your opponents ability to score, determined everything from formation, to dynamics, to width . to tactics .

So Gillingham clearly had absolutely no fear of our attacking ability! They went for the win and the win they got. Well done to them!

So Martin has decided that his way is the only way to play and he’s not going to change it. Regardless of the skill set of players he has. As 2408 said, we have a very strong attackers in Adams and the unused tall Paul. Others like Tella are dynamic, quick, skilful.
So what do we do … not exploit their skill or ability one bit!

Compare the Burnley side that one the league . superb! A manager that has been there and done it, that transferred his superb football brain into management. When it wasn’t working, he changed things . he analysed, he changed, he tweaked.- and what a team he produced!

Meanwhile . we have possession football .
all the sideways and backwards nonsense.

So yes I am deeply concerned with our new manager. Even worse all the Swansea fans telling us exactly what football he will play . and they are spot on!

Phew …

9.) 10 Aug 2023
10 Aug 2023 10:42:19
Well said South Hants Rich…!

In other words, the right manager could achieve something with this squad - the wrong one would win a few, lose a few.

10.) 10 Aug 2023
10 Aug 2023 11:10:20
@2408

As you know Championship Football much better than I do. I am curious which players with PL potential you think it would be worth us going for?

11.) 10 Aug 2023
10 Aug 2023 13:03:27
I’m not answering for 2408 because he has a wide football knowledge through multiple leagues.
My point would be, do we need EPL players now? Or players that are well proven in the championship, then when we get promotion we can think of EPL quality.

12.) 10 Aug 2023
10 Aug 2023 14:46:54
So this is players still left with championship clubs. No loan players from other leagues. Some have been sold such as Gykores and Pedro but here goes. Max Aarons, Yasir Asprilla ( young and petulant but a wonderful talent) Chuba Akpom Paddy McNair John Swift ( when motivated) Gustavo Hamer ( small but wonderful balance and vision) Jacob Greaves Alex Scott ( think he’s off to Bournemouth) Victor Johansson ( imo best keeper in division) Ross Stewart (when fit) Jack Clarke.

13.) 10 Aug 2023
10 Aug 2023 14:50:35
League 1, Johnson Clarke Harris of Peterborough might be worth a punt, think he would do well in championship but definitely not in premier league. If we sell Tella to Burnley try and get Scott Twine in part exchange, going to be a top player.

14.) 10 Aug 2023
10 Aug 2023 19:30:53
Pretty much agree with the consensus that Russell Martin is going to fail. Very much in the mould of RH in terms of inflexibility, and already coming out with worrying soundbites.slating the team so early in the season is worrying. We will get a mid table finish this year and no better. Would be understanding of the current situation re transfers if Martin was showing leadership, but he is already playing the victim . Norwich will win by 3 this weekend

15.) 10 Aug 2023
10 Aug 2023 19:54:41
And furthermore, if Saints really wanted to be unique, and after RM has been seen to fail, then appoint Sarina Wiegman to the post and see a real football brain at work for the first time in a while. Bonkers? yep.but not really

16.) 11 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 11:32:22
South hants rich, you are spot on!

17.) 12 Aug 2023
11 Aug 2023 17:28:52
Aarons Hamer Scott now sold, list is getting shorter