Really strong performance, Ralph got this spot on, great performance from him. Didn’t think he got anything wrong tonight. Hoping we can go on a run now, feel like we are on the verge of one, and boy does he and the team need one. And I had a sneaky feeling about Lyanco, he seems everything Bednarek isn’t, just hope we continue to see him, as going back to him isn’t going to be fun.
I do hate how shane gives the inches signal with his hands to the ref when given offside. They have VAR now mate. If you think you are inches offside you are going to get caught out so get on bl***y side.
How did we actually line up? Ralph talked in his interview about a new system with Valery at CB.... was it 3/5 at the back with Djenepo as LWB?
Yes, and Djenepo was great. Though on one occasion he beat three Chelsea players before tackling himself.
No VAR last night. If that offside hadn’t been given by the lino and had led to a goal, it would have stood.
It wasn’t his debut, but that was **** so let’s consign that to history and make this his new official debut! Wonder if he will now get the nod over Bednarek this weekend.
Just in case anyone is tempted to still take the public vote BBC listings seriously - Diallo - 6.62 Lyanco - 6.83 Romeu - 6.91 Adams - 6.92 (our second highest score) Now, I know that Che scored, but putting him (well) ahead of Lyanco and Diallo? Maybe the vote is made purely by Garth Crooks?
I'm catching up, I might not be first, but what he needs is a 'Road to Damascus' conversion. The only trouble is, he'll change his name to Paul, and he still won't be booked
Public vote decisions on player ratings: Do they play for a 'big' team? No, so give a low rating Did they stop the 'big' team scoring/playing? Yes, so give a low rating Did they score, but still end up on the losing side? Yes, so give good rating, as sympathy for the plucky underdogs
The trouble is, most of these votes come from the 'fans' of the sides in question. So this will be the impression that Saints fans will have had. It's so dripping with agenda, it's painful. Hence why Redmond will pretty consistently be in our bottom three scores, even if he plays a blinder.
I watched the game and was certainly thinking that one of our strikers wasn't good enough - it certainly wasn't Armstrong! He looks better than Che Adams imo and Adams has had a couple of seasons to adapt. Armstrong has only had a handful of starts and looks more lively than Che. He has a far better first touch, is quicker and if our midfield every decide to start creating chances... we will find out if he can finish!
Two things last night proves is that we have plenty of good options now and that Ralph has more than one plan and is adaptable. If we play with the same energy, commitment and team spirit moving forward it's going to be an enjoyable ride.
This. Last season he didn't have anything like the squad options that he now has, which explains why the haters accused him of not having a Plan B. He has demonstrated several times this season that he can change things up.