17 Aug 2025 10:37:30
First big test coming up at Ipswich today.

Two played and two fairly unconvincing performances albeit two wins.

Happily take another uninspiring victory against the Tractor Boys.

Very interested to see who plays up top.

1.) 17 Aug 2025
17 Aug 2025 14:31:43
I shall respond to myself - first sign of madness.

So, three unconvincing performances on the bounce and more woeful defending. As a back three, they are just plain awkward. TH-B reminded me of Paul Bennett, one of our cart horse defenders from many moons ago - absolute liability.

We still haven’t got this playing out from the back needlessly, out of our system. Bazuna needs more therepy to cleanse his mind of the RM obsession. Hopefully Will Still will convince him one day, that it is ok to go long.

It turned out to be a better point for us than them.

I also think that above all else, today reinforced the need to keep Fernandes at the club. He is the only one in midfield that is capable of taking the ball on the half turn and bursting forward.

2.) 17 Aug 2025
17 Aug 2025 15:51:04
I am feeling a mixed bag Millertime. I am concerned about the back line and lack of a stand out scorer.

At the same time, we have more grit, versatility and fitness than before and if you had told me we would be ahead of Ipswich, Leicester and Sheffield Utd after 2 games, I would not have believed it!

3.) 17 Aug 2025
17 Aug 2025 16:08:58
Mixed bag is exactly what it is. Lack of goal threat in their box (their keeper hardly had a save to make) and the woodwork coming to our rescue once again.

Robinson was the bright light but Armstrong seems off the pace, although to be fair he was feeding off scraps. Archer no real impact when he came on. Fraser was ok to be fair.

Next week against Stoke is going to be very interesting.

4.) 17 Aug 2025
17 Aug 2025 17:30:48
We have a bloated squad of similar standard CBs and strikers. It pressures Still to give everybody a go and tweak the formation to get more on the pitch but we lose the experience + synergy of a settled 11. That is the SR strategy of bulk buying and hoping for a big sale.

In theory, Archer, Stewart and Armstrong should be an all start championship front 3 but Fraser, Manning and Robinson have been the game changers.

Stoke will be key. Hopefully we can grind out results while we take 7 orni games to establish ourselves.

5.) 17 Aug 2025
17 Aug 2025 19:39:00
And because we are bloated the performances are sluggish and pedestrian. There is little pace and purpose except for the last 5 mins against Wrexham.

What winds me up are the comments on other channels about our resilience and character - really? Shouldn’t that be a given. Doing all you can to pull a goal back when you go a goal down is basic football psyche - it is not a cause for celebration.

And our dreadful performances last year should not be used as a meaningful benchmark for performances this season for obvious reasons.

We can only get better and the sooner we shed a few and the transfer window shuts the better.

6.) 18 Aug 2025
18 Aug 2025 06:45:55
Absolutely and I am sure a lot of disgruntled players not getting game time sours the team spirit too, so managers make subs to keep people happy rather than for good tactics.

Your comments about the bare minimum are true. I am happy the recovering from adversity has improved but it should be expected for any athlete.

Reading that the 3 4 2 1 is actually more Still feeling he does not have the wingers to play 4 2 3 1 now or a fit and firing big number 9.

I would like to see Archer or Armstrong playing off a target man. They do not have the presence as lone strikers and Downs and Stewart not reliable enough. Needs a combo.

I think Edwards, Wellington, Quarshie, THB need time to get up to speed out of the spotlight. Wood and Stephens to start. Robinson, Stewart and Armstrong/Archer too then Fraser, Archer and Dibling as subs.