O'Neil In, Out and Shaking it all about

[The Dude]

There were obviously mitigating circumstances when we went on that bad run at the end of last season, but it's his job to deal with that. If you're struggling and have limited attacking options then you have to find a more pragmatic approach so you aren't just chaotic and shipping goals.
He probably just about gets a pass because of the injuries and his lack of experience but for us to carry on in the new season in the same manner is just not good enough.
Hopefully he's learned lessons and we can move forward (and upward). If we drop our standards from the last game he'll immediately come under pressure again and doubt he'll survive.

In my opinion, for two seasons in a row now, GON has come within one poor result of the fans turning en masse.

Hobbs and Fosun, by the skin of their teeth have avoided that intense pressure from the Hoi polloi. Defeats v City last season and Saints this, may well have resulted in his dismissal.

 

[Tony Towner]

The FB's played well this week. Plenty of examples this season of them not playing well though.

RAN can defend, often times (when he's drifted in to the centre circle) he doesn't though, leaving the left flank exposed. His lack of discipline has cost us many times.

But yeah, played really well v Fulham.

I still believe in the main that's by design not spontaneity though. Part of the tactical plan to add an extra man in midfield in possesion, without the ability to retain possession like City or Liverpool do, when playing well.

 

[Del Woppio]

Yeah absolutely - there's no way that's just RAN deciding to go for a wander and ignoring the manager's demands for positional discipline.

 

[The Dude]

I still believe in the main that's by design not spontaneity though. Part of the tactical plan to add an extra man in midfield in possesion, without the ability to retain possession like City or Liverpool do, when playing well.

Fuck me, struggling at the wrong end of the table and trying to play like City or Liverpool.

There's a time to try these things, there's also a time for pragmatic rigidity...

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Everton try and practice that. Doesn't seem to be going swimmingly for them.

 

[Tony Towner]

Fuck me, struggling at the wrong end of the table and trying to play like City or Liverpool.

There's a time to try these things, there's also a time for pragmatic rigidity...

Yeah, I'm not suggesting it was the correct tactic, along with a lot of the other things we've done at points this year- the high line, the uber press which we are dead on our feet from at half time etc just that I don't think it was RANs idea.

Not absolving him from blame though he has been loose in possession in a lot of games, but unlike others I think he's a good natural defender when that's the brief as is Semedo

 

[The Dude]

Yeah, I'm not suggesting it was the correct tactic, along with a lot of the other things we've done at points this year- the high line, the uber press which we are dead on our feet from at half time etc just that I don't think it was RANs idea.

Not absolving him from blame though he has been loose in possession in a lot of games, but unlike others I think he's a good natural defender when that's the brief as is Semedo

He certainly has buckets of ability. He also has a tendency to not realize that ability on a fairly regular basis.

He has the potential to be a top LB/WB but is still very raw in my opinion...

Only game time is gonna help iron out those deficiencies though. At some time in the near future I'd expect him to be a far more dependable fullback.

 

[Alan]

Yes I know I already made this joke

 

[YoungWolf]

He should be sack right now but unfortunately these morons are too up each others arse to care

 

[Kenny]

Live in hope.

Right now Potters agent should be looking at his phone and refusing to answer a call from Jeff Shi..

 

[Tony Towner]

Live in hope.

Right now Potters agent should be looking at his phone and refusing to answer a call from Jeff Shi..

Shi is more likely to call Brian than Graham

 

[Squeak]

So today he decided that Lemina was a better first choice option than Dawson or Bueno. That is as clueless as it comes.
He got away with it last week but was never getting away with it today. He then did nothing after we went 3-1 down after 18 mins.
He's had plenty of time to sort this shambles of a defence out and completely failed. No more Shi. No more.

 

[Wolftone]

You'd need Harry Potter to stop some of the laughable errors

 

[Wolftone]

So today he decided that Lemina was a better first choice option than Dawson or Bueno. That is as clueless as it comes.
He got away with it last week but was never getting away with it today. He then did nothing after we went 3-1 down after 18 mins.
He's had plenty of time to sort this shambles of a defence out and completely failed. No more Shi. No more.

Lemina was a better option than Dawson judging by the latter's performance.
Why Bueno, who has been our best central defender the last few weeks, didn't start ahead of Toti I dont know.
I suppose it's to Allow RAN-dom to do whatever the fuck he likes.

 

[Squeak]

Lemina was a better option than Dawson judging by the latter's performance.
Why Bueno, who has been our best central defender the last few weeks, didn't start ahead of Toti I dont know.
I suppose it's to Allow RAN-dom to do whatever the fuck he likes.

Dawson never got the pace of the game coming on as a sub. That comes down to bad management as well.
This nonsense with allowing RAN to do and go where-ever he wants has to stop. Yes, he's a skillful player but his first duty is in defence unless we have now decided he isn't a defender... and in which case, he needs to be told where to play and stay there. He then needs to be told what the defensive duties are in regard to his new position. As we've seen both he and Cunha are allowed to roam wherever they want and sod the consequences. Came off last week... will not come off often enough to keep us up.

 

[Mel Evo]

You'd need Harry Potter to stop some of the laughable errors

Poor old GON. All these mistakes week after week, and nothing he can do about it. It would be unthinkable for anyone to do better. Isn’t he trying his hardest everyone!!!

 

[sycophantia]

Dawson never got the pace of the game coming on as a sub. That comes down to bad management as well.
This nonsense with allowing RAN to do and go where-ever he wants has to stop. Yes, he's a skillful player but his first duty is in defence unless we have now decided he isn't a defender... and in which case, he needs to be told where to play and stay there. He then needs to be told what the defensive duties are in regard to his new position. As we've seen both he and Cunha are allowed to roam wherever they want and sod the consequences. Came off last week... will not come off often enough to keep us up.

It can't be RAN just going awol off his own bat surely, got to be instructions from the coach?

 

[Wolftone]

It can't be RAN just going awol off his own bat surely, got to be instructions from the coach?

Must be. He must think Ait Nouri can win us games. Ridiculous idea and a sackable offence in itself.

 

[Squeak]

It can't be RAN just going awol off his own bat surely, got to be instructions from the coach?

No other explanation really. GON must have decided he's a useful attacking player with skill and allowed him all the freedom in the world. It's probably why RAN hardly got a look in under Nuno... plus he was younger. Thing is, for the few goals that RAn has contibuted or had a hand in, we have conceded far more from him going AWOL. Usually, when you allow one player so much freedom, then there is bigger emphasis for another player to cover... that doesn't seem to happen much under GON.

 

[Alan]

No other explanation really. GON must have decided he's a useful attacking player with skill and allowed him all the freedom in the world. It's probably why RAN hardly got a look in under Nuno... plus he was younger. Thing is, for the few goals that RAn has contibuted or had a hand in, we have conceded far more from him going AWOL. Usually, when you allow one player so much freedom, then there is bigger emphasis for another player to cover... that doesn't seem to happen much under GON.

I’m no great fan of Rayan’s, but Nuno played him plenty. Not sure where you’re getting that.