If Ralph wants to play a high line he needs more mobile central defenders and a sweeper goal keeper. He knew he has nobody with these attributes in the team he selected. He also needs a fully fit team to keep the high press going for 90 mins. He has said before his team needed more fitness. Ralph previously tried to shoe-horn players into tactics and formations that our players cannot action - with poor outcomes. This lesson should have been learnt. Ralph needs to get his **** together, he is under performing as much as his squad. Plenty of time to sort this out, no need to panick.
Interestingly Hoddle on the BT post match suggested we were playing a very similar way to Bayern Munich, so essentially it’s a system that can work, but you need a Bayern Munich quality squad to pull it off.... Semmens has his work cut out me thinks.
Really interesting analysis from Carragher on MNF. Basically saying our high line wasn't actually the problem, it was Jack Stephens switching off and not marking Kane correctly which gave them all the space
I don't think that any of the midfield and defence covered themselves in glory defensively but that is interesting, I assume that he showed instances on video? If Carra spotted it then i'm sure that Ralph would've also.
In the 2 league matches, this season, Stephens has worried me the most. It looks to me as if his head goes down very quickly, especially when he is exposed for pace and doesn’t sprint back. He seems to accept that a 1 on 1 with McCarthy will equal a goal (yeah it did yesterday) but it doesn’t always, and on those occasions I want him to have busted a gut to get back into position to clear the ball, if McCarthy has pushed it out. I don’t enjoy seeing him jog back as if the goal is a given. I thought he could have done better for their 3rd (?) and certainly should have been in position to cut out the pass to Lamela, for the 5th, but he was standing in no man’s land, ball watching.
Yep, highlighted the goals and said Stephens wasn't goal side of Kane and not concentrating, but said the line was acrually fine until the last couple when we were pushing on to try and equalise
Have to admit Stevens does get caught ball watching at times. He has improved put now and again it creeps back.
Very true but I think it’s too early to pin the blame on one or two individuals. Worth reminding (again) that we were deprived of a pre season and then the better players disappeared on international duty. With 3 games in 8 days it’s been all about preparing for games (and trying to get players close to match fit) as opposed to proper training. This is the first full week Ralph has had with the squad since we finished the season against the Blades. For me, the season proper starts on Saturday.
Mission accomplished. We managed to turn a Spuds team from looking like they hated their manager and had no clue what they should be doing, into a 5 goal super team. Thus, Jose stays in the job for a little longer, extending the joy of us all watching it fall apart for a little longer and their fans being convinced they are brilliant while they once again end up winning nothing. Job done. Now off to Burnley to start our season with a win.
Just looked at the table. Not sure what table some are looking at, but I see us as 3 points off Europa and 6 points off a Champions League place. Actually, we are only 6 points off the top of the table with 36 games to get them We got this. COYR!!!!!
Keep up the positives TIO1#7! Enough to be down about in these times. It's only a bloody game just blow the doors of doom away.