VAR has changed a lot of things and Referees aren't to be blamed for some of the issues, there used to be an unwritten law called "benefit of the doubt", sometimes later proved to be wrong, but accepted for what it was at the time. Now we have "doubt of the benefit" where VAR is being used to find any infractions as a reason to disallow a goal. Fans are naturally biased to support their teams and they will always react to these seemingly unfair decisions. VAR is fine, it is down to the individuals that are operating it, there is still the human element and humans always make mistakes.
According to the Mirror we have had talks with the agent of Jorge de Frutos (whoooooo?), a 24 year old winger playing for Levante. Previously on Real Madrid’s books.
Ralph talking about needing a bigger squad (but didn’t he once say that he liked working with a small squad and using the youngsters?) https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/19124209.hasenhuttl-need-bigger-squad-future/
Sounds to me that Ralph has had his eyes opened to the realities of the attritional nature of the Premier League, combined with a cup run and no real winter break. Add to that the depleted nature of the Academy, where as we all know, we just haven’t got kids ready to step up in the positions we really need them. Tella, Watts, and N’Lundulu are probably good enough, but we already have cover in those positions. Jankewitz will get another chance tomorrow, when hopefully we’ll see why expectations are so high of his prospects, but at the moment he is just about the only one good enough covering a position we actually need someone urgently. Contrast that situation with Man City’s bench yesterday, with in excess of £300 million worth of squad depth for Pep to call on, and that’s not even counting Phil Foden’s value. Obviously unless we are purchased by Jeff Bezos we are never going to compete with that, but having the squad depth of Everton or Leicester is essential for a club intent on a consistent top half position. The real worry is that if Ralph doesn’t get backing with this there will only be one outcome.
Well, i didnt want to pre-empt anything, but I am getting rather excited. Jeff did say he was stepping back a little from Amazon to focus on other projects, and he also hears that JWP had the best delivery in the world. Apparently it was just killing Jeff that his little Amazon didnt have that title. So he went all Remington on us, and is going to buy the Mighty Southampton.
The best part if we were purchased by Jeff Bezos would be that if we had an injury we could order another player on Prime for next day delivery. Though to be fair that player may arrive injured as the driver throws him over the fence.
Though their return policy is excellent so we wouldn’t be lumbered with the likes or Carillo and Hoedt again....
I think we also need to, in the immediate future, be looking at bringing in one or two “more mature” players, even if to just give a little more strength from off the bench, whilst waiting for the academy to catch up. I think the transfer policy was geared towards bringing in young players looking for their first big move, who can be shown how to play the Ralph way, but both Ings and Walcott have shown that some “old dogs” can be taught new tricks and fit in, so a look through the out of contract list might be worthwhile in the summer. Bezos would have them on zero hours contracts, so no play, no pay.
Presumably we’ll sign Walcott on a two or maybe three year deal this summer. He will be free, which is great for us, and I can’t see him getting an offer from a better team so I imagine he’ll be keen for it too. We’ll also need two full backs (and that’s if Bertrand signs his contract). Be interesting to see who we’re able to bring in - I see us getting loans rather than permanent.
I think we need to be getting more out of our full backs, offensively. Just 1 assist apiece, at this time of the season isn’t a great return, given how high up the pitch they play.
Thats just a stat. When we were in a good run of results and when we were playing well but not getting results, the FBs and KWP particularly were a key part of that. I’d say KWP has been one of our best 3 players this season, so to say we’ve only contributed one assist from FB is very misleading in my opinion St B. Yes, it would be good if they had more, but they may have assists of assists, or kept the opposition pushed back without even touching the ball. I wish stats weren’t reported sometimes
Totally agree, and it is far too easy to reply on assists and goals. KWP and Bertrand have been heavily involved directly in a lots of goals and very good moves that almost resulted in goals. Ryan has been a little off form, and KWP has been injured, and that is a major issue in the way we play.
Another reason for signing two full backs this summer won't just be to give us the depth we desperately need, but in the case of Bertrand it's to spur him on to another level, and in the case of KWP, it's to motivate him to maintain his usual standards. Must be very easy to get comfortable when you know you won't be dropped or replaced. Not saying Bertand has done that by the way, but competition for places usually results in better performances.
Didn't we used to have a stat thread? Had a look for it but couldn't find it. I read somewhere that we have fewer points after 25 games this season than we did after 25 games last season. I've not stat checked that, but surprised by that even given our teribble form.
After 25 games last season, we were in 13th place: W9 D4 L12. GF: 31 GA: 46 GD: -15. 31pts. After 25 this season, we are in 14th place: W8 D6 L11. GF: 31 GA: 43 GD: -12. 30pts. EDIT - interestingly, we were 7 points clear of the bottom three after 25 games last season, just as we are now.
Love them or hate them, they’re here to stay, not just in football but our own working life, where we are set targets and judged at our appraisals. I bet you used to point to your goals scored tally when you were playing, if things were going well. On their own they can be distorting but it’s not that long ago that we were discussing, during a game, just how bad the quality of the crossing was. Given their freedom to get forward, I don’t think it is unreasonable to expect them to have a few more assists. I am not detracting anything from other areas of their game. In their defence, with regards to crossing, I recently mentioned that we need to have players arriving in the penalty area, behind Ings and Adams, so that if they are attacking the 6 yard area, there is someone following in for a pulled back cross. We don’t make it easy for them.