The players you have can dictate the formation a manager prefers, but until the manager tries out various permutations, how will he really know what’s the best for his team, with the exception of a couple of 4-3-3 attempts, bobby seems wholly committed to the 4-5-1 formation no matter who the opposition are home or away and more importantly for me however the tide of the game is going. The more experienced prem managers not only embrace change on the hoof but regularly turn the tide switching formation and getting results with it. Now I know Bobby’s inexperienced but in quite a number of games especially at home from being on top and a goal up, it has become obvious that the opposition are getting on top before they actually score. I would agree with the article that most fans would go for the result over the performance especially in a managers first season. I am not of the martinez out brigade but am very disappointed both at his lack of trying different formations and his thinking on the spot.

A major point in the article seemed to be that 4-5-1 works great at clubs with a scoring sole striker amongst a host of scoring midfield, would that we were so blessed. We dont have anybody good enough to play upfront on their own, especially since their hardly ever seems to be midfield support in the box when we are attacking. The main reason I believe that this formation doesn’t work for Martinez is the enigma “Scharner” yes he might win headers and score the odd one, but his footwork, passing and positioning do nothing to help the inexpierienced Diame and McCarthy and ruin Martinez’s preferred passing game.

Kirkland

Boyce Caldwell Bramble Fig

Nzogbia Diame McCarthy Moses

Hugo Moreno

Subs Vlad, Mario, Scharner, Thomas, Sinclair, Watson, Kupisz

Garswood_latic

I would suggest that they go to watch another band, who are nearly always note perfect.

I was one of those there last night, poor performance yes Would I have played 4-5-1 no definiteley not. But hindsight is a wonderful thing if we had won 5.0 last night playing 4-5-1 who would have moaned. Bobby out, give me a break he’s only just got here. He might be getting quite a bit wrong, hes new to the prem job. He’s made some new signings and it looks like we now have some competition for places. All he and the team needs is support and patience. Do you actually think booing him and the team will help our cause.

Thought it had the atmosphere and passion of a local derby, that said was a bit disappointed with our passing game, quite a few of our passes were either short of another player or way overhit. For me that was scotland’s best team performance by a mile, however why he hit his first chance left, with virtually the whole of the goal open to his right indicates his finishing is still championship level, there may be more to come from him, but if we had some half decent strikers he would be on the bench. Yes Hugo missed some chances, all strikers do, but at least he knows where the net is.

My first negative comment of Bobby came yesterday, with Scotland having his best game, why did he not keep him on, put hugo up front and go 4-4-2 after all we were the home team. That said we were the better side yesterday, but one clinical strike says it all in this league.

Charlie was quality and our main threat again yesterday, but was very impressed with James McCarthy who covered nearly every blade of grass, made some cracking tackles and looks an absolute bargain.

Judging by the startling reactions of some of our so called fans, you’d have thought that we had lost last nights game 9.1 (now that still hurts) not 2.1 to a side their manager says are improving. Some of them say it’s Whelans fault, if what I have read and the clubs debt has been reduced to a mere 15 million then he has done a decent job. Now quite a few of those so called fans want Martinez to be sacked, as far as I can see we aren’t bottom and miles adrift of other clubs, which is quite possibly where we could be had Bruce stayed with the club, and had started this season, the way we had finished last season under him.

Manchester City have forked out mega millions, signed lots of players WITH PREMIERSHIP EXPERIENCE, who Tevez apart haven’t exactly set the world alight, Martinez signings haven’t had premiership experience, some like Diame and Thomas havent played in England before let alone prem. From what have already seen Diame is a class player who in a few seasons will be one of the best in the prem, the much derided Thomas is a bit rash, but has one of the highest tackle counts in the premiership.

WHETHER YOU PAY 1 MILLION OR 50 MILLION FOR A PLAYER MOST PLAYERS NEED A SEASON OR 2 TO SETTLE INTO A TEAM AND JUSTIFY THE MONEY SPENT. Martinez and his signings need just two special commodities from our genuine fans.

1. A little more time
2. A lot more patience.

Whilst he has a prolific goalscoring record he’s only 5’8″ and whilst Artiz is 6′ 0″ if what I read is right he’s 11stone 9lbs, with no premiership experience it could take them a while to settle in. Although we would have 4 strikers, they would all be light weights, I think the club could do with at least one striker with prem experience who is a bit meatier and not easily pushed off the ball, e.g. Jason Roberts or James Beattie.