The recruitment since Ronald/Paul Mitchell left has generally been abysmal, that is the majority of the reasons why we are in a mess combined with the crass sacking of an experienced coach and being replaced with a relative novice from the lower end of La Liga. I agree that the buck always stops with the Manager but last season I saw a reason for hope with Ralph but it just hasn't taken off this season (thanks partly to no first team CB and back up LB being signed). It is difficult to win games when you constantly concede weak goals.
Totally agree and been saying this for some weeks. All recent home games in particular with the exception of perhaps Norwich, it’s the same old routine in the first half. No-one knows what to do, never get a grip in midfield, lose the ball cheaply, often in dangerous places, and nerves frayed within 10 minutes. Even if we change the players! So how come? Every team coming to SMS knows that this is our formula and take full advantage. I could understand one or two matches that go this way but a whole season?
Equal nonsense IMO. Ralph has been trying to develop a side that can change shape during a game and vary formations depending on the position. It's a tactic employed by Klopp, Guardiola and many European managers so not new but essential to compete at the top level. Unfortunately, we just don't have the players of sufficient quality to absorb what he is attempting. Ralph would do well at Chelsea or Arsenal and maybe that's where he should be. But we're lucky to have him and with a few more changes maybe he can start to see some reward for his efforts. In the meantime, our current squad will only deliver to his style when confidence is high - which is not there ATM. Maybe that's why he's not rotated in recent weeks and why he's stated to settle on a 4-2-2-2. It's something that the players can understand and if he can build a bit of confidence that way, who knows what we could be capable of. Give him a chance - even if it means dropping down for a season. He's got some pace in the side now but still lacks that dominance at the back. I don't normally like us taking part in the January (inflated £) window but two defenders are essential in my view.
Been a big defender of Ralph. But he now needs to start shouldering the blame. Can't keep making the same mistakes.
FLT I have been saying for most of the season that the current team is decent enough and has been hampered by the defence. The team should have been enhanced in this respect in the summer and I would suggest that there is probably 100% consensus amongst Saints fans in this respect. In respect of the various merits or otherwise we the recent managers, the appointments have been poor since Koeman left. I am not at all convinced that retaining Puel would have been the answer. I agree that his teams may have been better organised in some respects and that Ralph would have been unlikely to have nullified teams like Liverpool to quite the same extent as Claude. In fact, the home match against Liverpool was , for me, the very definition of what Puel's teams were about. However, Claude Puel's greatest failing was that his tactics were sleep inducingly dull and there was always a lack of goal threat. Had Puel been coach with the current squad, I would have expected us to concede with the inferior defending yet the attack would still be static, rather like Saints in the first half last night. I would totally reject any suggestion along the lines that we didn't know how good a manager we had in Claude Puel nor blame the fans who were ill-disposed to his playing style. It will be interesting to catch up with an acquaintance I have in France who is a St Etienne fan and to ask his opinion now that he has rocked up there. I am not sure that getting rid of Ralph is the answer. There have been moments where the team has played well under his management even though I think he has been fortunate with some of the wins last season and with the Djenepo hand ball not being picked up last week. In my opinion, he needs some decent coaching staff around him. There is the core of a decent team within the line up and we are not getting the best out of them. If we address the coaching issue, sign some decent central defenders and maybe get someone who is more of a leader on the pitch, the team should advance up the table. I am hoping that the new DoF appointment will address the current shortfalls but we are still in for a relegation battle having not picked up some of the points we should have.
Sadly l agree. Too many games we have to change tactics at half time and end up chasing the game. We are reactive rather than being on the front foot dictating the game.
I don't mind if you dismiss my argument as 'nonsense', if you actually offer a rational response. But all you have done here is offer sheer hypothetical assumptions. And completely unrealistic ones to boot. You really think ol' "9-0" Ralph would swan into a club like Chelsea and do a job, when the likes of Scolari, Sarri, Benitez, and Mourinho (second time round), failed to do so?! That's a hell of a claim. And you think Ralph has only just started to settle on 4-2-2-2? He's been doing it since last season (lightly), and from day one this season. Your observation that he is trying to build a team capable of changing formation mid-game - well that's hardly groundbreaking stuff, mate. Come on. As for giving him a chance, we are unfortunately in the cut-throat world of the Premier League bottom five. He's had a year, and we are substantially worse than we were nine months ago, and that's even with the addition of an in-form Ings, plus Djenepo and Adams.
It's should be a positive, being on the front foot dictating games but if you remember we dropped something like 25 points from winning positions last season. That was equally frustrating. We can be bad in a variety of ways
Ralph said he'd do it but Beddy said he's not having it and he'll close the thread if necessary unless Chilcs promises to vote Tory from now on.
I can’t help feeling his biggest mistake was coming to us in the first place. I don’t think he can be blamed for us not being as good as West Ham. Compare what they’ve invested in their squad to us ffs. Ralph’s not the problem, really.
Better off putting the average fan in, as we've ben calling for that line-up and formation for weeks, he reverted to type in the last 10 mins though, surprised we didn't throw it away. Carlos Sanchez for Haller, what. a. ****.
Hang on! He put a DM on for a striker to try and protect a lead and he got crucified.... our manager is getting crucified for not doing that last week at Newcastle Who’d be a manager???
I think you’re missing the irony of me using the word ‘nonsense’ - I was quoting your previous post. No opinion is nonsense.