The months of preparation came down to the last 48 hours of action

[ARQS]

No offence but could you see Watson giving Duff exactly what he wanted? If Cooper who given us a very competitive team couldn’t get who he wanted and Martin complaining likewise I can’t see Duff getting carte Blanche.
I think it’s more like someone who hasn’t a Scooby in recruitment terms trying to play football manager for real.

Not particularly... I'm just clutching onto anything at this point.

The summer recruitment just looks absolutely mad. You can't knock them for not spending money but what a massive waste.

I could have accepted Pederson as a player to play in the cup and as a back up but if those wages are correct, it is absolutely inexcusable.

I'm guessing the owners or whoever has put this money in can't be happy with it all. It's almost a totally different issue to Cooper and Martin who didn't get the money. We spent in the summer but it was just on crap

 

[cadleigh]

It was generally agreed (on here at any rate) that our priorities for the transfer window were a creative midfielder, a striker and - perhaps - a CB. We got three wingers.

There’s a reason Mrs Watson never let her son take the family cow to market.

 

[Vetchonian]

I think though that's rhe issue what do the coaches think we need as to what the coaches in the stands believe we need.
Much is written this season about Cabango,Wood yet these were the CB pairing chosen by Martin for that much talked about run which took us close to the playoffs from April last season.
All players have mistakes in them even those topping the PL..we have players of lesser quality bit sometimes reading the forums I wonder what some fans actually see or consider.
Players performances are affected by coaches decisions and tactics look at that Liverpool defender we had who the season before had played in the Champions League as well as many PL games yet our then manager/coach elected ti play him on the right side of defence whereas he had been playing on the left for Liverpool ..let's hope Williams knows what he is doing but let's give him a chance...after all he is the pro unlike us armchair managers

 

[TheLoneRanger]

I think though that's rhe issue what do the coaches think we need as to what the coaches in the stands believe we need.
Much is written this season about Cabango,Wood yet these were the CB pairing chosen by Martin for that much talked about run which took us close to the playoffs from April last season.
All players have mistakes in them even those topping the PL..we have players of lesser quality bit sometimes reading the forums I wonder what some fans actually see or consider.
Players performances are affected by coaches decisions and tactics look at that Liverpool defender we had who the season before had played in the Champions League as well as many PL games yet our then manager/coach elected ti play him on the right side of defence whereas he had been playing on the left for Liverpool ..let's hope Williams knows what he is doing but let's give him a chance...after all he is the pro unlike us armchair manager

Liverpool recalled Rhys Williams halfway through his loan deal with us ( 2021/22) because they believed he wasn't getting enough minutes on the pitch.

The following season (2022/23) he was recalled half way through his loan deal with Blackpool for the same reason.

The following season (2023/24) he was again recalled half way through his loan deal with Aberdeen because he didn't get any minutes.

Jan 2024 he joined Port Vale and was recalled back in February because he didn't get any minutes.

All those managers can't be wrong in not giving him the time Liverpool expected.

Wood hasn't been the same player since that run in last season, when he had his hissy fit - when he didn't follow Russy to Southampton - an expensive fvck up by the owners!!

 

[Manselton Jack]

I think though that's rhe issue what do the coaches think we need as to what the coaches in the stands believe we need.
Much is written this season about Cabango,Wood yet these were the CB pairing chosen by Martin for that much talked about run which took us close to the playoffs from April last season.
All players have mistakes in them even those topping the PL..we have players of lesser quality bit sometimes reading the forums I wonder what some fans actually see or consider.
Players performances are affected by coaches decisions and tactics look at that Liverpool defender we had who the season before had played in the Champions League as well as many PL games yet our then manager/coach elected ti play him on the right side of defence whereas he had been playing on the left for Liverpool ..let's hope Williams knows what he is doing but let's give him a chance...after all he is the pro unlike us armchair managers

Ok I'll bite here.
You've made it very clear what you thought of Martin but at least get your facts straight.
Williams did well for a short period at Liverpool with quality players around him but since then he's done nothing much.
Your wrong about Martin playing him on the right side of the defence, not my opinion but a fact.
He made his debut against Hull on the left of a back 3, played in the same position against Blackpool & then again when he had a mare against Andy Carroll.
If you don't believe me check out the match highlights.
Williams will be lucky to have a career in League one.
Martin made plenty of mistakes but Rhys Williams wasn't 1 of them.

 

[Vetchonian]

Ok I'll bite here.
You've made it very clear what you thought of Martin but at least get your facts straight.
Williams did well for a short period at Liverpool with quality players around him but since then he's done nothing much.
Your wrong about Martin playing him on the right side of the defence, not my opinion but a fact.
He made his debut against Hull on the left of a back 3, played in the same position against Blackpool & then again when he had a mare against Andy Carroll.
If you don't believe me check out the match highlights.
Williams will be lucky to have a career in League one.
Martin made plenty of mistakes but Rhys Williams wasn't 1 of them.

Check out the FULHAM game where Martin played Williams on the right and Cabango on the left Martin did this quite a bit.
My point wasn't about having a pop against the exalted one but an example of how players are affected by how coaches/managers set them up in teams,another example being Geuhi he looked awful initially under Cooper who then switched toca back 5 where Guehi looked more at ease then blossomed.

 

[ARQS]

Check out the FULHAM game where Martin played Williams on the right and Cabango on the left Martin did this quite a bit.
My point wasn't about having a pop against the exalted one but an example of how players are affected by how coaches/managers set them up in teams,another example being Geuhi he looked awful initially under Cooper who then switched toca back 5 where Guehi looked more at ease then blossomed.

So why’s Rhys Williams been dreadful everywhere else hes been then?

I mean maybe if you’re looking for an example of a player barely given a chance here but excelled elsewhere, there’ll be one on display tomorrow afternoon for us all to see.

 

[Vetchonian]

So why’s Rhys Williams been dreadful everywhere else hes been then?

I mean maybe if you’re looking for an example of a player barely given a chance here but excelled elsewhere, there’ll be one on display tomorrow afternoon for us all to see.

There you have it but I'm not discussing that my original post was about how capable players can be affected by managers...much has been posted about Cabango and Woods performances this season yet as I said they were Martins go to cb pairing for that run at the end if last season . When he switched to a back four and played more like he has this Season at Southampton.
Cabango and Wood were mainly rock solid during that run.

 

[ARQS]

There you have it but I'm not discussing that my original post was about how capable players can be affected by managers...much has been posted about Cabango and Woods performances this season yet as I said they were Martins go to cb pairing for that run at the end if last season . When he switched to a back four and played more like he has this Season at Southampton.
Cabango and Wood were mainly rock solid during that run.

I agree that Wood and Cabango in a normal back 4 where they just need to defend are absolutely fine.

 

[Manselton Jack]

Check out the FULHAM game where Martin played Williams on the right and Cabango on the left Martin did this quite a bit.
My point wasn't about having a pop against the exalted one but an example of how players are affected by how coaches/managers set them up in teams,another example being Geuhi he looked awful initially under Cooper who then switched toca back 5 where Guehi looked more at ease then blossomed.

Ok, just baffled by you mentioning Williams playing on the wrong side again when he didn't - he only played a few games for us & they were on the correct side - he wasn't in the squad against FULHAM (I was at the game).
As regards your general point yes I agree to a certain extent but I still think the better players will adapt & shine in any system.

 

[Jackflack]

I feel as disconnected from this football club as when we were owned by Ninth Floor.
The club has lost its soul.
The team have lost its soul

 

[Niigata Jack]

Positives:

We've added pace which we badly needed. One is a Brazilian who looks handy, the other is a loan from Arsenal who looks like he's out of contract in the summer and the other is a short term deal that we can extend if possible. That aspect is quite good. At least now LW can play the way he apparently wants to and there should be less square pegs in round holes.

We are obviously trying to right the wrongs of the Summer which is something. Let's hope Pederson does okay at Sheffield Wednesday and he can get a permanent move in the summer.

Negatives

Every single other problem still exists. We have a hell of a lot of work to do in the summer.

The people who are righting the wrongs of the summer are the ones who got it wrong in the first place. We can only hope that Duff being manager has somehow skewed things in terms of recruitment (basically Watson delivering exactly what Duff had asked for) and with the right manager asking for the right sort of player, this data driven approach they claim to use can work.

The midfield was in dire need of attention and we did nothing and are stuck with Fulton and Grimes, incredible stuff Jeff!