Martin, not the be all and end all.

[RAMPANTRAM]

Think everyone would agree that the display today was very disappointing, Baird, Wiemann and Warnock can find other clubs for me. One thing that I was pleased with was bringing Martin off, don't get me wrong I'm a big Martin fan on his day but his ball control and passing just lately has been quite shocking, and him looking for free kicks all the while can at times be quite embarrassing. I think it was brave of Clement to sub him with him being so popular and has been our key player over the last few seasons, but today proved there is another way. I'm glad Bent got an opertunity and a goal, we looked much more penetrative when getting round the back of the defence, I think we looked much better with Hendrick on the pitch also.

[AngryRam]

Been thinking this for a while.. Yes, he brings goals but are the negatives outweighing the positives? A total embarrassment to the shirt today.

[RamBusta]

I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here and say play Bent and Weimann up front as a pair with JR and Ince feeding them off the wings and RJ through the middle

[RAMPANTRAM]

That sounds pretty good to me as an option.

[Forestarecrap]

i am finding myself becoming irritated with Martins body language and lack of effort and constant moaning. Yes he has a good goal scoring record, however his hold up play etc recently has been appaling. He still looks a stone overweight to me.

[southernram22]

we were better when he went off.?

[Forestarecrap]

yes, Bent provided more pace and the tempo increased with Jeff in midfield

[Rapid]

a bit harsh on martin. we're not playing to his strengths under this style of play, that's the problem for him.

martin is pure class, even when he's not playing great he's always capable of a goal out of nothing. that brilliant goal against leeds for example and that snap shot against burnley when heaton made a first class save that nearly won us the game.

as ella and I have always said football is so much about round pegs in round holes. if we don't play to martin's strength's we can't expect to see the best of him.

[doodle]

Martin as a 1 is a waste of time. Get someone near him, either an extra striker or a midfielder up with him and then see his class. We were poor today no doubt. But if Ince had been linked up with Martin like he was with bent then Martin will shine. I blame the manager for not making the most of his assets. If he doesn't realise after today that Baird should not be in over Jeff and 2 need to be up top. Either a straight 2 or the diamond with 1 and 1 just behind then I fear for him as a manager and us as a promotion threat. Oh and by the way he also needs to learn not to tit around with the back 4. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[AngryRam]

a bit harsh on martin. we're not playing to his strengths under this style of play, that's the problem for him.

martin is pure class, even when he's not playing great he's always capable of a goal out of nothing. that brilliant goal against leeds for example and that snap shot against burnley when heaton made a first class save that nearly won us the game.

as ella and I have always said football is so much about round pegs in round holes. if we don't play to martin's strength's we can't expect to see the best of him.

Firstly apart fom Messi and Ronaldo, nobody is pure class and Martin is far from pure class.
So we have to play to Martins streghts? What about Martin doing something else?
England always fall inro the same trap, picks and not a team.. Yes Martin can bring goals, nobody is desputing that. The team was critised for being one dimensional and having no plan B previoulsy. Martin HAS add more to his game and stop