21 Dec 2025 19:50:27
16 Dec 2025 06:49:09
Maybe he needs to put Martinez in front of the back four in CM and just sit.
16 Dec 2025 10:09:26
Red man, Martinez doesn’t have the discipline imo to sit and screen. He will just jump into tackles.
16 Dec 2025 21:22:42
He is not a cm and won't be played there it would be stupid.
What do I know?
21 Dec 2025 20:07:19
Looked better than Ugarte there in all facets.
21 Dec 2025 20:18:58
Key,
We all would. He’s lost the last 7 PL games he’s started. He’s started 3 this season and we’ve lost them all, we’ve only lost 2 all season. He came off at 2-0 against Grimsby. We desperately need a CM on loan in January if our long term target isn’t available.
21 Dec 2025 20:20:20
He looked very good, another option.
21 Dec 2025 22:24:59
Well I suggested Martinez in CM, people disagreed but Amorim played him there. Gave us more control away from home.
We were unlucky today, two Yoro mistakes. You cannot let players cut in like that. If he does it again, it would be a concern.
Heaven looks a player.
First impression of Lacey is he needs to get the quicker pace of the league. He didn’t look quick with his movement. Hope to see more.
Fletcher, looked ok, again pace and strength needs to grow, needs to adapt.
22 Dec 2025 10:57:05
Red Man,
Lacey had 5 minutes and managed more shots on target than most of the team, I’d say it’s impossible to judge him on that.
22 Dec 2025 11:10:57
I'd have Dalot most at fault for the second Red Man. He just stood off and watched the Villa player cross it in. Say what you like about Shaw, but he very rarely let's someone in that position on the other side get a cross in.
As for Martinez, I did suggest the same move when we were struggling in midfield under ETH, citing him doing it the odd time at Ajax.
Not a fan of square pegs in round holes generally, but players nowadays need to be adaptable, and he always struck me as someone who could slot in there from time to time.
Certainly a better option than Ugarte, who I'm really disappointed with. I genuinely thought he would do well here.
22 Dec 2025 11:42:56
Feel for Yoro he should have been on his own there. He is struggling, seems so slow at the moment definitely confidence.
If either of Villas goals was against a decent defence there would have been 3/4 defenders busting a gut to close Rogers down, even more so for the 2nd.
It’s never a one man job. Happens too often as well. As Keane said where is the desire to make sure they don’t get through.
Pretty good going forward though with so many players out very encouraging. You can really see 2/3 players making a huge difference, Still lack quality.
22 Dec 2025 11:59:18
Another post overflowing with humility as always.
22 Dec 2025 12:03:33
Redman even a broken clock is right twice a day?
Let's see if he plays him there when not desperate and with injuries and suspensions out of the way.
45 min sup appearance does not suggest RA will play him there when midfielders are available.
22 Dec 2025 12:07:01
GDS2
Plenty of time for Lacey at least he got some time in what was a tough environment.
Kurtis, was that aimed at me?
22 Dec 2025 13:09:01
We are indeed desperate in that midfield area Ken, it wasn’t and isn’t a long term solution
How we have no midfield with all the money spent is an utter disgrace. Even Cas and Bruno are in their 30’s
Utter shambles that the club not Amorim are accountable for.
22 Dec 2025 19:00:55
The midfield will get fixed in both this upcoming January window and the summer one. Relax, we are moving in the right direction.
We just outplayed the most in form team in the EPL and what for 2 worldies, we should have won that game.
I have long thought we are about to click, folk on here have said I'm overly optimistic, but I genuinely see positive strides being taken across the board.
There are times I am frustrated at some of the things the team throws up, but in the main, we are moving as a unit to where we should be.
Top 8 was and remains the target for this year.
Perhaps the hierarchy are sensing and opportunity to shift that target with a January investment seeing as the league is very open.
Time will tell, but we'll have fun watching it unfold.
23 Dec 2025 14:38:25
Here’s me thinking you put £20 on us winning the league Jimbo, bit of a row back now saying 8th…. or reality clicked in at last.