the backtracking on here makes me laugh...if only people could have a steady, not kneejerk, reasoned train of thought these idiotic threads would not be needed.

‘Football isn’t instant coffee. You have to work at it. You must grow the bean, grind it.’ Ian Holloway

Spot on. Schlupp and Townsend spent a good chunk of last season injured.

I’ve only said Roy should go if we have a good new manager agreed coming in.

It’s a bit funny reading people getting carried away after 2 results when in reality we’ve got on the right side of Roy’s margins for now with barely any possession, taken our few chances, been gifted a penalty, to be taken twice. Roy is what he is. It goes alright with a bit of luck and then matches are hopeless after 20 mins. It just doesn’t get me interested much anymore. In time it will change. If anyone enjoys this apart from the goals then I don’t see how. But if he keeps us here for something better then fine. It’s when he inevitably doesn’t change during hopeless runs of losses people get frustrated.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (19 Sep 2020 11.58pm)

COYP

I didn’t say that. We were on the right side of things. This is Roy’s strategy. Play out the season, take advantage of clubs who need a win and maybe get the breaks. Other times it’s game over after 20 mins as there’s nothing different going to happen. It isn’t gripping but needs must if the owners are how they are. At some point there will have to be a new manager and change.

COYP

After beating United last year, he stuck with 3 defensive midfielders up to the second to last game of the season.

Roy’s got it right so far this season. Both Southampton and United have played one friendly, pushed too high, conceded early, and were very poor.

That shouldn’t detract from getting the tactics right so far this season.

The complaint wasn’t really aimed at how we performed against big sides. It’s more about how we played against villa, Burnley etc.

Have a look at the players we had available against Burnley and tell me what team you would have picked ?

By ditching one defensive midfielder, we can now play someone who faces forward. Also Benteke's injury has given Roy the option to refashion the forward line and it cannot be coincidence that we look so much more dangerous and incisive in our attacking play.
It is a tactical switch that has improved us no end, and credit to Roy for making it so.

I agree that the negativity is misplaced.

I also agree that we seem to have one tactic. Cede possession score early and then hurt on the break. It all falls apart if they score early or otherwise sit deep and invite us to break them down.

Do we now have the players to unlock such teams?

The plus is, not many teams in this division who will do that.

Schlupp was our inspiration yesterday.

This "talk" will be interesting after ten matches into the season, to see what the next 8 matches brings for us, when teams we play like UTd have more games under their belt, its going to be very interesting. We have a big test against Everton...