As for Ralph, I'm in the 'in' camp but I do find this deity-like defence of him a bit odd. I think he's a decent coach but I don't understand what he's done to make people decide he's the reincarnation of Brian Clough? I wish Puel got this amount of love. I also don't think it's mental for people to have doubts about him despite wanting him to stay myself. There may have been a time that it was a bit mental (early this year) but I really don't think so anymore. Worst run in our history and 4 wins in 6/7 months of football is poor by anyone's standards ultimately.
There's a very good reason why the dialogue is heard in rugby but not in soccer. The referees in rugby are very good. Audio on football referees would simply confirm their sheer incompetence
I think for me personally, I learned my lesson about calling for managers to go after Koeman lost ten in a row. I was adamant sacking him was the right thing to do. But in hindsight, he was a great manager and it was worth sticking with him. This is why I currently am adamant I want Ralph to stay. If we lose our next 5, then I will change my mind. But I currently see a pretty poor, under-invested squad working as hard as they can for a manager who wants to be here. I couldn’t stomach Puel’s anti-football. I couldn’t stomach Hughes being totally clueless. But I can stomach a bright young manager working hard with what he has.
This applies to me as well. I was very vocal in wanting Koeman out but I was wrong. Hopefully I'm not wrong this time in wanting Ralph to stay!
I'm with you, let's see this through until we see the players not giving a toss, we'll know the game is up, but from what I see that is a totally different country from where we are at present. Revolving doors football management changes have a serious habit of hitting you on the face.
My view. We lost to Chelsea. European Champions. With 10 men. Played well. We are in the main playing well. Fergie had a few dodgy seasons and he worked out ok. Ralph is the best we can probably get and if he goes, we'll rue the day when he makes a go of it elsewhere. Maybe I am in the minority, but I am not knee jerk, one loss doesn't make it a disaster and one win doesnt make him the messiah. I have said it a few times, but I really wonder how some people cope in the real world with the knee jerk. Be careful of what you wish for. I may step away from this place for a while like others have done as it seems a competition to try and bring down the mood. I always think be happy, think positive and positive things happen to you. Getting really fed up with the negative drain on here. Some people are energy vampires and they win, I won't change them so I'll step aside.
Exactly. Champions league winners. Chelsea are so so strong this season. We were also the better side against wolves and were unlucky to be honest - who are no mugs themselves. if we lose to Watford, Burnley, Norwich then I will understand wanting Ralph to go. But right now, he still has my full support
That's a shame mate. People aren't here to entertain you though ultimately. There's always going to be differing views.
It's easy to get a seat on a busy train - just fake a couple of coughs and you'll soon have plenty of space to spread out
I didn't even want Hughes gone, let alone Ron (back then) or Ralph (now). Puel and Pel were the only two managers I've wanted rid of since Markus saved us. But the manager will always be the first to go. That's just modern day football. If the players don't pull it out the bag this month, I'm not sure Ralph will still be in a job come November.
I thought, especially in the first half, Chelsea were the best team we had played so far this season. Pace, passing, movement and the ability to beat players with the ball, something we have to do more often. The way they were going past one of our players, near the half way line, opening up space to run into and dragging other players out of position to create room for easy passes that hurt, is something we don’t do. Too often, by the time one of ours goes past a player, the opponent has dropped so deep that they are effectively doubling up, with a defender, making it easy to nick the ball. This is why Stuart is so important and different, because he will do that for us. He will go past a player early in his run and draw players out of position. Still not sure about Adam Armstrong. The way he took his goal at Goodison was very impressive, and it would be good if we occasionally played to his strengths, his pace, and tried to release him early, to see if he can do it again. Asking him to drop deep and play like Ings just doesn’t seem to be part of his skill set. As soon as I saw a better angle of the JWP challenge, I thought it was a red, so I wasn’t surprised when it was given. Maybe the enforced lay off will allow him to sort out whatever the issue is, that has been troubling him. Oh well, it’s only a game.
See im with you on that 100% mate. But I also understand why someone who's been in poor form for around 2/3rds of a season might draw some negative reaction from some football supporters. Me personally, I'm happy to keep him as long as he's trying to play good football and takes the cups seriously as that's all I'm interested in. Others might prioritise results over style and feel a more pragmatic manager might get more out this group? Like I say, that's not for me, and I'm fully in the same camp as you. I just don't think it's a completely unreasonable stance to take at this point in time (whereas it was in say Mid-january).
