Match Day Thread Saints v Wolves Sunday ❤26th September❤ K.O. 14.00

[SaintinNZ]

I think, as others have already alluded to, our biggest issue is the lack of quality in the No10 position.
When Lallana left, I was calling for him to be replaced by two players of similar style, to either both play in the team or to at least pressure each other to play at their top level, but the nearest we have got to that is Stuart Armstrong, who IMO is not as good as Lallana at his peak. Not a criticism of Stuart, just how I see it, and I can’t wait for him to come back from injury.
Redmond should be able to play that role - he has the ability and has the vision to make a pass, but all to often he plays it safe and doesn’t take responsibility.
I get that he’s a confidence player, but even without crowds in the ground to get on his back, he never consistently stepped up to the plate.

Alien Lucy has surprised me with his endeavour and willingness to run the ball from deep, but lacks pace and often gets closed down before he can create much.

Djenepo - very talented and has improved massively, defensively, but so frustrating that he never knows when to release the ball or where to release it to.

Theo, when he first came to us, was very positive, always receiving the ball on a half turn, so he could immediately drive forward with the ball, but that seemed to change over the season with him becoming more Redmond like, taking the safe option instead of running the ball and committing defenders.

As others have also said, I am in the try Tino in the role, as he has the engine, pace and ability to move us forward very quickly and can beat a player for pace and with a little trickery at times. Could he become a right footed equivalent of Bale? I wouldn’t mind seeing him in front of KWP or Perraud. On the left he could cut in, or release Perraud out wide to hit the crosses.

Bottom line is that we can’t afford the quality we need, for a No10, and will need to rely on finding a bargain like Tino, or continue with what we have.

it’s also a case of not really playing with a 10. We are stuck with the big hole created when Romeu and JWP play in front of our CB and then we have Adams and Armstrong up on halfway. The two forwards can play off each other but very often we ping a pass up to them and wait 20 s for the left and right mids and full backs to come bombing forwards. By that time they get there the oppo is all organised. We find the wide areas closed off and recycle the ball into the middle, back to the CB, back to the keeper and …

neither Armstrong or adams is an adept 10 so having them drop into the hole doesn’t play to their strengths. Neither JWP or Romeu are very good at pushing up into the hole as a creator either. I’d like to see us trying a 4-1-3-2 or a 4-2-3-1.

It could be a language issue keeping Peraud out at the moment but going forward KWP isn’t a good option at LB. he cuts inside all the time on his right playing into the LM area and obviously isn’t great crossing with his left.

 

[Libby]

I said at the end of last season that he has until Xmas to get the team playing the way that he wants them to with good performances to match reasonable results.
Now, after just 6 games of a new season is not the time for a change IMO but there should be no excuses about the quality of the squad as Ralph has had plenty of time with them now and 2021 so far has seen some very poor results.
He picks the team and must stand by his decisions good and bad and he himself will know that the buck stops with him. We have seen, particularly in 2020 how good it can be and he must somehow get the team playing to that standard again and I still believe that he can but time is running out and performances like the one against Wolves are not to the standard that he surely sets himself.

Yeah I think Christmas is about right too.

Like you I think this is the first time Ralph has actually had his own squad and am therefore not buying the excuses of it not being good enough.

Has to live and die by his results now ultimately, it was only 4 weeks ago that the majority on here were saying how we'd had a fantastic transfer window so it seems to be odd that some are already reverting to saying our squad is awful.

I think our results so far have overall been decent with a tough start. This one feels bad as it's the first game we were actually favourites to win imo. A point at City won't make a huge difference come the end of the season whereas a home loss to a relegation rival could.

See where we are after the 5 game run post Chelsea imo.

 

[mowgli]

Ralph is as honest as the day is long. When he feels he has taken us as far as he can, he will step down. Big season for him this one…

On a more positive note, was that Chris Nicholl sitting next to MLT on Sunday? I know he’s not too well but good to see him. Great bloke and one of our better managers over the years. Instrumental in easing MLT into the side.

 

[Le Tissier's Laces]

Ralph is as honest as the day is long. When he feels he has taken us as far as he can, he will step down. Big season for him this one…

On a more positive note, was that Chris Nicholl sitting next to MLT on Sunday? I know he’s not too well but good to see him. Great bloke and one of our better managers over the years. Instrumental in easing MLT into the side.

Yep, sure was. Seeing as he's been unwell, I do hope he wasn't listening to any of Matthew's odd opinions on public health...

 

[garysfc]

Worked against City too in fairness.

I meant in an attacking format. Yes worked vs MC defensively & you might argue it had something also going forward that day but KWP on left mid vs Wolves was pants & won’t work going forward as for reasons already pointed out.

 

[garysfc]

Redmond/Walcott/Djenepo

Yep, that’s who I thought! Must have skinned them all.

 

[Le Tissier's Laces]

I meant in an attacking format. Yes worked vs MC defensively & you might argue it had something also going forward that day but KWP on left mid vs Wolves was pants & won’t work going forward as for reasons already pointed out.

I would argue that it did, yes. Sorry, but I don't buy one good game, one bad game means it "won't work going forward". That's a bit of a leap.

Look, I do agree, I'd prefer him not to be playing LB, and I'd prefer Perraud there. But we're jumping to huge conclusions off the back of a single game (which is somewhat countered by what happened the game before). It's like the people who are saying that Ralph is tactically clueless and stubborn with systems, failing to notice that he was tactically brilliant and changed the system the previous game!

 

[garysfc]

I would argue that it did, yes. Sorry, but I don't buy one good game, one bad game means it "won't work going forward". That's a bit of a leap.

Look, I do agree, I'd prefer him not to be playing LB, and I'd prefer Perraud there. But we're jumping to huge conclusions off the back of a single game (which is somewhat countered by what happened the game before). It's like the people who are saying that Ralph is tactically clueless and stubborn with systems, failing to notice that he was tactically brilliant and changed the system the previous game!

Ok, different views but personally I don’t think he’ll play there again. Let’s see

 

[Lemons and Oranges]

We need to address the Elephant in the room. Ralph is just not good enough, he needs to go. We have a team of decent/good Premier league players who are not being managed or coached correctly. Ralph keeps banging on about things not being right yet he fails to address the issues. we had a far better team than Wolves & more possession yet we were the ones left wondering. I know we are only 6 games in to the season but the facts are we have been poor for a long time. I know many people will come back at me with the "who would you bring in " argument, but It is time for a change

I think Big Sam is the answer. In which case it was a bloody stupid question

 

[Ian Thumwood]

I felt that the performance against Wolves was deflating. For me, this is the kind of game we should have won and which serves to give Ralph's detractors their ammunition. We seemed too slow goinf forward on Sunday and players like JWP look desperately out of sorts. In his current form, I would be inclined to consider dropping him. Of all the players, I have been more disappointed with him so far than any others although I think Armstrong is very much a work in progress.

 

[Franny's Tache]

But nobody in the world would’ve done better

"Nobody in the world would have done better" What a ridiculous statement! Are you seriously saying that No other Manager in World football would get better results with our current team? I knew some of the Pro Ralph team were deluded but this is a whole different level.

any other manager with Ralph's record would have & should have been sacked a long time ago.

 

[ChilcoSaint]

"Nobody in the world would have done better" What a ridiculous statement! Are you seriously saying that No other Manager in World football would get better results with our current team? I knew some of the Pro Ralph team were deluded but this is a whole different level.

any other manager with Ralph's record would have & should have been sacked a long time ago.

I think he was being sarcastic. The problem remains though, that neither you nor anyone else has suggested a single “Other Manager in World football” who a club with our limited resources could reasonably attract, who could do a better job than Ralph. There is absolutely no point in just sacking Ralph, you have to replace him.

Over to you.

 

[Saintmagic]

I think he was being sarcastic. The problem remains though, that neither you nor anyone else has suggested a single “Other Manager in World football” who a club with our limited resources could reasonably attract, who could do a better job than Ralph. There is absolutely no point in just sacking Ralph, you have to replace him.

Over to you.

This is just as ridiculous a statement as my one tbh. As far as I’m aware none of us are employed as football analysts/scouts/talent evaluators.

The club will have these working full time on players and managers. They’ve obviously decided to stick with Ralph which I would say is the general consensus amongst the fan base as well.

As for someone who would’ve won more than 4 games in 2021 with this squad, I highly doubt Sam Allardyce would’ve done any worse and most likely better than that record. We probably couldn’t get him due to wages but I haven’t put too much thought into it. I don’t want Allardyce btw, just giving you a name

 

[ChilcoSaint]

This is just as ridiculous a statement as my one tbh. As far as I’m aware none of us are employed as football analysts/scouts/talent evaluators.

The club will have these working full time on players and managers. They’ve obviously decided to stick with Ralph which I would say is the general consensus amongst the fan base as well.

As for someone who would’ve won more than 4 games in 2021 with this squad, I highly doubt Sam Allardyce would’ve done any worse and most likely better than that record. We probably couldn’t get him due to wages but I haven’t put too much thought into it. I don’t want Allardyce btw, just giving you a name

Well you demolished your own argument there, we couldn’t afford Sam, who, I would remind you, failed miserably at Everton and failed to stop West Brom getting relegated.

As you say, the full-time analysts employed by the club obviously can’t see a better option than Ralph at the moment, despite his poor record this year. Anyone would think they know more than we do, or maybe they should all be sacked as well.

 

[Franny's Tache]

I think he was being sarcastic. The problem remains though, that neither you nor anyone else has suggested a single “Other Manager in World football” who a club with our limited resources could reasonably attract, who could do a better job than Ralph. There is absolutely no point in just sacking Ralph, you have to replace him.

Over to you.

Once again the only come back the pro Ralph team have is "Who would you bring in"? It isn't my job to employ the manager for the football club, that is down to the recruitment team/board.
For what it is worth I will give a few names for arguments sake.
All are available & I am in now way saying they would come to us.

Lampard.
Howe.
Gerrard
Conte
Fonseca
Garcia

 

[Franny's Tache]

Well you demolished your own argument there, we couldn’t afford Sam, who, I would remind you, failed miserably at Everton and failed to stop West Brom getting relegated.

As you say, the full-time analysts employed by the club obviously can’t see a better option than Ralph at the moment, despite his poor record this year. Anyone would think they know more than we do, or maybe they should all be sacked as well.

How do we know they aren't already looking at a replacement?

 

[Saintmagic]

Well you demolished your own argument there, we couldn’t afford Sam, who, I would remind you, failed miserably at Everton and failed to stop West Brom getting relegated.

As you say, the full-time analysts employed by the club obviously can’t see a better option than Ralph at the moment, despite his poor record this year. Anyone would think they know more than we do, or maybe they should all be sacked as well.

It’s not at argument, I’m fine to give Ralph more time. But I would back multiple managers who have been available at points during 2021 to have done better than 4 wins in 2021.

The argument “well he failed here” is a stupid one when it comes to seasoned managers. Basically every manager has failed at some point in their career, but also if they are at PL level they have had success as well.

Poch was sacked with Espanyol bottom of the table before he came here, we definitely shouldn’t have employed him.

The question re Ralph is do you regard his time here as a success/failure or somewhere in between. I would say overall he is leaning more towards success with the constraints we have, but if we continue on a similar run as we have been for 2021 until the end of 2021 then a change will probably be needed

 

[ChilcoSaint]

It’s not at argument, I’m fine to give Ralph more time. But I would back multiple managers who have been available at points during 2021 to have done better than 4 wins in 2021.

The argument “well he failed here” is a stupid one when it comes to seasoned managers. Basically every manager has failed at some point in their career, but also if they are at PL level they have had success as well.

Poch was sacked with Espanyol bottom of the table before he came here, we definitely shouldn’t have employed him.

The question re Ralph is do you regard his time here as a success/failure or somewhere in between. I would say overall he is leaning more towards success with the constraints we have, but if we continue on a similar run as we have been for 2021 until the end of 2021 then a change will probably be needed

I would agree with your last point. If there aren’t signs of an upward trend before Christmas I think he’s done.

How do we know they aren't already looking at a replacement?

At least take the time to actually read what I said.

 

[thereisonlyoneno7]

All are available & I am in now way saying they would come to us.

Lampard.
Howe.
Gerrard
Conte
Fonseca
Garcia

Sorry to pipe in, but I think you lost the argument at "Gerrard, Conte, Fonseca and Garcia".

 

[thereisonlyoneno7]

If we are just going to throw names in the hat of people that are or will be available, I raise your Conte et al and give you

Koeman
Costa
OGS
Pep (said he may not renew)
Klopp (He has to leave sometime)