There’s an honesty to the frustration here: taking over from Russell Martin and steadying the ship isn’t the same as having the stomach to win the big prize. You can admire the short-term improvement, but that doesn’t excuse the clear, recurring problems that feel like manager issues, not just bad luck.

Formation and tempo — where it goes wrong

To be fair, shape matters. The persistent 4-2-2-2 has become the easy headline for plenty of fans, and for me it’s not about gimmicks. It’s about the way the team functions or fails to. When our tempo drops and the press disappears, that system looks static and slow. We don’t see the natural fluidity you’d expect from this squad. Possession often becomes possession for its own sake, not a platform to hurt opponents.

Inconsistency over 90 minutes

We either start brightly and fade, or we’re sluggish early and only wake up late. Rarely do we control the full match. That is a managerial responsibility — getting the players mentally and tactically set to deliver a full 90, not just patches. If we’re honest, that lack of control has cost points at times when the league was still there to grab.

Spending, expectations and leadership

Spending in January was brought up for a reason. If resources are used and there’s visible improvement, fans are patient. But spend without clear progress, and patience thins. It’s not just about tactics either — it’s leadership on the touchline. For many of us, Rohl doesn’t inspire. He looks cautious and, yes, a bit uninspiring. That matters when margins are fine and belief makes the difference.

Maybe he’ll turn it round. Maybe not. Right now, though, the argument that he’s done wonders feels overstated. We’ve got the squad to win the league. What we need is a manager who can make us play like it for 90 minutes, week in, week out.

Written by Never4231: 20 June 2026

Tags: tactics match-review