I was a few minutes late to the Stadium today, and consequently arrived about an hour too early. You all know that I am a Sandal-wearing, glass half full type of optimist but boy... I fear for us already.
Well, at least you are coming on this forum and telling us all what you think!! Thank god, without you we'd all be thinking that things were good when they're actually really, really, really bad.
This would answer a lot of my problems Cedric at RB JWP dropped Armstrong starting ... IN MIDFIELD! Nathan needs a reboot. .. confidence issue against Ings is quality and needs creativity round him
NZ You are usually very much in favour of Ralph. I think Kat was at the ground today for a reason. Can't see Ralph lasting until Christmas, to be honest and wondered if the board were going to make a decision before the international break so whoever comes in has more time to work with the squad. I cannot see Ralph turning this around.
With this squad I can’t see Jesus turning this around! On the other hand Jesus would want us to be in the Championship anyway, too many merchants and money-lenders in the EPL Temple
Yep, I am in favor of Ralph but I am not a blind optimist, I have criticised him for the LB and RB choices which I can see no logic in. There is no logic in it, but more so I don't believe for a second that he's a fool/conman and I've convinced myself that there is more at fault here than the manager. Intuition aside the facts speak for themselves, we are still playing the same players that haven't performed for 2-3 seasons, we've changed the manager with no effect. Changing the manager one more time will not produce a different outcome. I am not optimistic about our chances of staying up. I would like to see Ralph trying something new to get us scoring goals because we can't keep a clean sheet with 11 defenders. My sole enjoyment these days is watching Djenepo and Boufal. I will just fast forward the rest.
PEH has been awful for ages as well, would be tempted to drop him. McCarthy Valery Yoshida Bednerek Bertrand Djenepo Romeu Armstrong Boufal Ings Long
The fault lies with so many factors but it is going to be difficult doing anything with a manager who the players have clearly given up on. Merrington made a good point in the commentary during the first half that Ralph has all week to coach these players and make them improve their game. Despite this, we seem to make the same mistakes time and time again. The defence is not fit for purpose and it is unfortunate that there is no one in the reserves we can introduce either to improve matters. Despite this, we never seem to learn from our mistakes. Granted Ralph has a difficult job when he should have been backed by the club in the summer in rebuilding the club. I think he has undoubtedly been dealt a bad hand which is not of his making yet I am seeing his decisions costing us matches every time I turn up at St Marys and just feel he has lost the backing of his players and is clutching at straws for solution. No home wins at home since April and our record defeat has got to mean it is curtains for Ralph. Forget the guff about his being the "new Koeman", he strikes me had fielding sides that have the same fear of playing as MP2's and the rationale for the team selections is redolent of Portvliet. The rumours that Rohl had the tactical nous as opposed to Ralph does not seem incredible to me. I don't agree with chopping and changing manager as it usually leads to disaster. However, I cannot see how Ralph's position remains tenable but the same accusation similarly applies to all elements of the management of the club right up to Gao whose involvement has been an unmitigated disaster.
I really thought that Ralph was the answer and I hoped he would stay a few years, but, even allowing for the players we have, he has done poorly. Unless the plan is to stick with him and hope he will do better in the Championship, he has to go. Having said that, it's never easy to replace managers as we have seen in recent seasons.
Watch Saints sack Ralph get the new manager bounce then turn to utter **** again. We don't just need a new manager, it doesn't solve all the problems
Cedric, yosh, Bednarek, Bertrand. Basham, Egan, oconnell, Baldock. One of those defences is 6th in the league and conceded 9 goals One of those defences is 19th and conceded 29 goals. No household names, just basic solid defending and teamwork. You can't underestimate stability and confidence.
He was dealt a terrible hand but hasn’t really helped himself. Continuously playing people out of position is driving me crazy. I’d rather he promote a youth fullback.
With a better run of games (in theory) coming up he really needs to pick a defence and stice with it for a bit. We all know the obvious limitations we have in the squad but they're never going to get organised when there's so many changes imo.