| Saito slide 10:03 - Nov 9 with 8773 views | WestbourneR |
As some may remember I was a huge advocate of Saito’s resigning. And I still obviously believe he is a highly skilled player at this level with a great engine.
But a few players have arrived at the club this season brimming with confidence - and now their form has just collapsed.
Kone is one.
But Saito is really worrying. Ipswich game was his third solid poor poor performance in a row. The guy is just a shadow of himself. Not only is he tripping over his feet suddenly and pretty anonymous off the ball as well - but for the first time ever (even when we were hopeless last year) his smile has gone. He’s grimacing and looks to struggling physically and mentally.
One of the things I liked about him is he seems to have indefatigable morale. That is now clearly not the case.
Dunne looks miserable too. Smyth is flouncing for the first time ever. Dembele looks permanently like someone has pissed down his leg.
I’m starting to feel it isn’t a very happy camp under Stephan. That’s my fear. |  |
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| Saito slide on 10:21 - Nov 9 with 5802 views | JamesB1979 |
He looked the best I’ve seen him against Charlton and that seemed to be a little more central as he was turning up and causing damage on both sides of the pitch. That’s why I would like to see just behind Kone or Burrell in some games. |  | | |
| Saito slide on 10:28 - Nov 9 with 5774 views | Hunterhoop |
Dunne is playing with an injury and painkillers, from what I have heard. It’s his hip and my guess is he really needs surgery but that would put him out for 3+ months. With the (lack of) cover we have, the club are trying to get through the season without losing him.
So some slack needs to be cut there.
What is concerning me is that when Saito and Kone joined and played against Charlton, they looked lovely, sharp, and fit. Kone finished that Charlton game very strongly.
After a couple of months working with our “performance team”, they look slower and less fit. Frey looks a lot heavier and slower than last season. Hayden didn’t have a club all summer but was deemed fit enough to play straight away (off the bench) when he joined.
It feels like the standards of fitness we work our players towards is lower than other clubs. Perhaps that is for the time of year we’re at, given what BW has said about this gradual loading lark. But seeing players join us and get slower, less lively, and less impactful is a legitimate concern. |  | | |
| Saito slide on 10:38 - Nov 9 with 5717 views | ozexile |
This is where I have some sympathy for the manager. All the players have fallen off a cliff. I do wonder if they don't really know what's being asked of them. Too many instructions? How can not one player stand out. | | | |
| Saito slide on 10:45 - Nov 9 with 5665 views | Esox_Lucius |
| Saito slide on 10:28 - Nov 9 by Hunterhoop |
Dunne is playing with an injury and painkillers, from what I have heard. It’s his hip and my guess is he really needs surgery but that would put him out for 3+ months. With the (lack of) cover we have, the club are trying to get through the season without losing him.
So some slack needs to be cut there.
What is concerning me is that when Saito and Kone joined and played against Charlton, they looked lovely, sharp, and fit. Kone finished that Charlton game very strongly.
After a couple of months working with our “performance team”, they look slower and less fit. Frey looks a lot heavier and slower than last season. Hayden didn’t have a club all summer but was deemed fit enough to play straight away (off the bench) when he joined.
It feels like the standards of fitness we work our players towards is lower than other clubs. Perhaps that is for the time of year we’re at, given what BW has said about this gradual loading lark. But seeing players join us and get slower, less lively, and less impactful is a legitimate concern. |
The fact that we have a cycling fitness coach in charge of this instead of a football fitness coach may have a lot to do with it. |  |
| The grass is always greener. |
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| Saito slide on 11:00 - Nov 9 with 5590 views | KensalT |
| Saito slide on 10:28 - Nov 9 by Hunterhoop |
Dunne is playing with an injury and painkillers, from what I have heard. It’s his hip and my guess is he really needs surgery but that would put him out for 3+ months. With the (lack of) cover we have, the club are trying to get through the season without losing him.
So some slack needs to be cut there.
What is concerning me is that when Saito and Kone joined and played against Charlton, they looked lovely, sharp, and fit. Kone finished that Charlton game very strongly.
After a couple of months working with our “performance team”, they look slower and less fit. Frey looks a lot heavier and slower than last season. Hayden didn’t have a club all summer but was deemed fit enough to play straight away (off the bench) when he joined.
It feels like the standards of fitness we work our players towards is lower than other clubs. Perhaps that is for the time of year we’re at, given what BW has said about this gradual loading lark. But seeing players join us and get slower, less lively, and less impactful is a legitimate concern. |
I can't remember where I saw it but one of the pieces I read about Stephan when he joined us said his methods are very intense and his teams tend to start the season fast then fall away as the players get mentally and physically fatigued.
Maybe this gradual loading approach will balance that out. [Post edited 9 Nov 11:04]
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| Saito slide on 11:04 - Nov 9 with 5577 views | LowerloftLad |
I keep thinking that if we get Quick hard low balls into the box and kone will be scoring goals for fun. Instead we get slow side to side passing then eventually a high cross into the box and kone eventually finds himself with his back to goal and trying to turn a defender.
With saito,kone and burrell we should surley be able to play straight through the middle with some strength and pace.
Its a strange one because we seem to have some very good players and the manager doesn't seem to have a clue on how to utilise the squad. |  |
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| Saito slide on 14:27 - Nov 9 with 5235 views | SK_hoops |
He'll be back. Form is temporary, talent is permanent. Loads of players gone through rough patches and come through the other side and I'm fully confident he will be back to his best sooner, rather than later. | | | |
| Saito slide on 14:46 - Nov 9 with 5174 views | 7374Ranger |
| Saito slide on 10:45 - Nov 9 by Esox_Lucius |
The fact that we have a cycling fitness coach in charge of this instead of a football fitness coach may have a lot to do with it. |
Couldn't agree more.
It isn't just down to the players' performances, but more to do with fitness and training programmes. Also, maybe down to Stephan's management. | | | |
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| Saito slide on 18:13 - Nov 9 with 4953 views | Jigsore |
this is just what he's like, he's a winger. it's what I remember most from him his last season and why I wasn't as enthused about his return as most. |  |
| “The thing about football - the important thing about football - is that it is not just about football.†|
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| Saito slide on 19:04 - Nov 9 with 4803 views | Logman |
I think he's been doing OK. Definitely a case of form is temporary, talent is permanent, as stated above. Throw in a bit of opposition teams learning how to play him and we probably have to get used to a slightly different Saito. | | | |
| Saito slide on 19:59 - Nov 9 with 4658 views | Hoopsie |
We lost 3 in a row and one point in last 4 games, dropped from 6 to 16, the whole team are low in morale and not playing as well as they should, not just Saito |  |
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| Saito slide on 09:03 - Nov 10 with 4428 views | Spaceman_P |
Is it a case of too many chefs ruin the broth at QPR.
Biggest failure i think is Steve Bould... our defense were united now floundering like a virgin in a brothel. |  | | |
| Saito slide on 09:14 - Nov 10 with 4400 views | wombat |
| Saito slide on 09:03 - Nov 10 by Spaceman_P |
Is it a case of too many chefs ruin the broth at QPR.
Biggest failure i think is Steve Bould... our defense were united now floundering like a virgin in a brothel. |
the whole we dont report to the coach cant also be helping things . still have no idea when pretty much everyone reports to nourry and not the coach esp the defensive coach. remenber when we used to creat chances from corners ? that seems a distant memory as well |  |
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| Saito slide on 09:40 - Nov 10 with 4341 views | KensalT |
| Saito slide on 09:03 - Nov 10 by Spaceman_P |
Is it a case of too many chefs ruin the broth at QPR.
Biggest failure i think is Steve Bould... our defense were united now floundering like a virgin in a brothel. |
On Saturday we had:
- A keeper on debut
- CM at LB
- RB at CB
- CB at RB
It's a miracle we came out of that with a clean sheet. Especially when you look at the strikers the Blades have.
Bit harsh to pin that on Bould. | | | |
| Saito slide on 09:51 - Nov 10 with 4309 views | wombat |
| Saito slide on 09:40 - Nov 10 by KensalT |
On Saturday we had:
- A keeper on debut
- CM at LB
- RB at CB
- CB at RB
It's a miracle we came out of that with a clean sheet. Especially when you look at the strikers the Blades have.
Bit harsh to pin that on Bould. |
do u honestly belive we made the descsion to change keepers on sat just before the game ? thats not something you just suddenly decide | |
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| Saito slide on 09:55 - Nov 10 with 4300 views | TheChef |
Just mentioned on the match review thread, but form and fitness seem to be a real issue for the attacking players in particular. A player might come off the bench and do well in one game, earn a start for the next game, and then be absolute dross. I think Burrell is the only one being consistently good. Why is this? (I think we know).
Anyway I don't envy Stephan in that department, he must be tearing his hair out (or whatever he has left of it). |  |
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| Saito slide on 09:59 - Nov 10 with 4278 views | OldPedro |
| Saito slide on 09:51 - Nov 10 by wombat |
do u honestly belive we made the descsion to change keepers on sat just before the game ? thats not something you just suddenly decide |
Hamer said he only found out on Saturday morning |  |
| Extra mature cheddar......a simple cheese for a simple man |
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| Saito slide on 10:24 - Nov 10 with 4211 views | wombat |
| Saito slide on 09:59 - Nov 10 by OldPedro |
Hamer said he only found out on Saturday morning |
yes thats not great planning is it ? we played weds night and hang on ive an idea lets chuck a keep in whos not played for 8 months with no warning | |
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| Saito slide on 10:35 - Nov 10 with 4162 views | nick_hammersmith |
| Saito slide on 09:59 - Nov 10 by OldPedro |
Hamer said he only found out on Saturday morning |
He also said he didnt know about the six second rule...
Now, I don't want to pick holes or call people out, but if I'm an electrician or a gas engineer, then I have a pretty good grasp of the laws around my job. If there is a major change that affects my job I'm all across it.
IF in the previous game I was a keeper get penalised for holding the ball too long, while I'm on the bench watching this game, I probably know about it.
I reckon he probably knew he was going to play last week, probably after the debrief from the post game analysis |  | | |
| Saito slide on 10:43 - Nov 10 with 4135 views | KensalT |
| Saito slide on 09:51 - Nov 10 by wombat |
do u honestly belive we made the descsion to change keepers on sat just before the game ? thats not something you just suddenly decide |
I don't know when or why the decision was made.
Nardi was on the bench so he can't have been injured.
But it was game three in the proverbial three game week.
Bould can't have had much time to work with this makeshift defence. So a bit harsh to put this one on him.
Completely changing the defence for the third game of the week looks like some panicky decision making. And once again we seem to be papering over the cracks of some poor recruitment decisions. | | | |
| Saito slide on 11:19 - Nov 10 with 4058 views | OldPedro |
| Saito slide on 10:35 - Nov 10 by nick_hammersmith |
He also said he didnt know about the six second rule...
Now, I don't want to pick holes or call people out, but if I'm an electrician or a gas engineer, then I have a pretty good grasp of the laws around my job. If there is a major change that affects my job I'm all across it.
IF in the previous game I was a keeper get penalised for holding the ball too long, while I'm on the bench watching this game, I probably know about it.
I reckon he probably knew he was going to play last week, probably after the debrief from the post game analysis |
I agree with you totally that as a professional, he should have known about the rule change that directly impacts him.
Don't understand why he would lie in his interview and say he wasn't aware of the change. | |
| Extra mature cheddar......a simple cheese for a simple man |
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| Saito slide on 12:36 - Nov 10 with 3926 views | Sonic_Hoop |
| Saito slide on 10:45 - Nov 9 by Esox_Lucius |
The fact that we have a cycling fitness coach in charge of this instead of a football fitness coach may have a lot to do with it. |
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| Saito slide on 12:45 - Nov 10 with 3897 views | Mole_Senior |
Is it a coincidence that Saito's form has dipped since the return of Chair?!
He shows for the ball and often get's ignored, whereas before, the team were trusting him and getting the ball out wide quickly and often. |  | | |
| Saito slide on 19:02 - Nov 10 with 3562 views | stainrods_elbow |
| Saito slide on 09:51 - Nov 10 by wombat |
do u honestly belive we made the descsion to change keepers on sat just before the game ? thats not something you just suddenly decide |
You obviously didn't listen to Hamer's post-match interview, where he said at the start that's exactly what happened! |  |
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| Saito slide on 19:04 - Nov 10 with 3556 views | stainrods_elbow |
| Saito slide on 10:24 - Nov 10 by wombat |
yes thats not great planning is it ? we played weds night and hang on ive an idea lets chuck a keep in whos not played for 8 months with no warning |
Eh? You just told us before it was literally incredible! Why not just admit you got it wrong? | |
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