I understand that as a team, we're not really very good. I understand that we haven't got the buying power to compete with the elite teams. I get all that. What I don't get is how we can be SO bad, when we are bad. Surely guts, team spirit and professionalism are a prerequisite and shouldn't be budget related. How can we be so hopeless, so regularly? That could have been 9 again yesterday, we were lucky it wasn't. How can we as fans be expected to give our support to a team that doesn't even try? A team that will completely capitulate and give teams a free go at upping their GD on a regular basis? I can't stop supporting Saints, but I've stopped enjoying it because the team don't seem to care, so why should I? And breathe.
Just noticed she’s playing Southampton Guildhall on September 15. Sadly, I’m going to be away or I’d buy a ticket …… Think we need to move this to the music thread before we get into trouble …….
I've been a Saints fan long enough to remember being really ****, like totally crap hanging on in the PL by our finger tips, not to mention the season going down from the champ. I don't think I'm being precious or demanding by being annoyed at how we are under RH. Yes the Koeman years certainly were incredible, but overall I'm realistic about what we can/can't achieve. That being said this team and manager at least once every season under his tenure, throw in the towel and just can't be ****ed. I don't get it, it's unacceptable. It's a bit of a **** you to the fans and it doesn't seem to happen to other clubs. Ultimately if RH gets the plaudits during our purple patches, he sure as **** deserves a slating when this happens
The JWP one is tricky as he does seem a luxury at times with his free kick capability. At the start of the season he was also great at running into the box for low crosses for tap ins. This appears to have dried up. He does not have the killer attacking pass we desperately need to link up the defence and attack or the ability to run on the counter like Armstrong. He is good at tackling but not enough to do it alone like Romeu or Kante. This leaves us in a tricky position as we either play defensive player alongside him like romeu or more attacking like smallbone or Armstrong but leaves our defence no protection. With our strikers not firing his free kick goals are one of the main reasons we are not in a relegation fight.
I do not think JWP has been so good this season but this crux of the problem for us is that when are best players are performing poorly, the malaise affects the whole team. There seems to be a lack of a big character in the squad. We need someone like Jimmy Case in this current team. The squad is not poor and I think people in here were quite correct a few months ago outlining the depth in all positions. I just feel we are one or two players away from being excellent but that this is always going tobe a problem if we do not have a character in there to motivate. Too many Indians and not enough Chiefs.
The worrying thing for me is that Ralph has admitted that he is still looking for solutions despite being in the job for 3 years and now having a deeper squad and no injury problems. He is saying now that the players cannot play the high press effectively when they have had success with it in the past. Personally I feel that it is a 90% defensive problem and would be looking at better coaching staff in that area and signing an experienced CB leader who can organise the backline on the pitch.
Oh I think they care. Just because the EPL has such a high profile and results in them being paid obscene amounts of money does not really make them any different to us that play on a Sunday morning. We have good days and bad days. Saturday was a car crash. And when you get in a skid, there's no individual component that fails. It all goes wrong. When it all goes right it's a joy to watch.
I think when Ralph says he is looking for solutions that is lost a bit in translation from German. I don't think he has no solution and is still searching if you see what I mean.
I'd far rather he continued looking for solutions then thinking he'd got everything sorted, and there was nothing more we could do.
There's always more to do, no such thing as a finished process, striving for improvement is an ongoing task. Line drawn bring on the Arse.
The thing is that Ralph has built his reputation on a high pressing, high energy style and when it works it is a joy. The problem is when we play any other style or slow it down then we just don't look like a very good team. I'm wondering why the team can go off the boil so dramatically for a run of games after looking good for a while and the only conclusion is that the mentality of the squad must be weak or they are not fit enough. There can be no excuse for the shambolic display against Chelsea (which should've been a heavier defeat) as with the previous 9-0s as there were mitigating circumstances with both. We have a deeper squad and have been lucky with injuries this season and Ralph himself declared being satisfied with it. Ultimately it is about making progress and it's difficult to say that we are with this recent poor run and Ralph himself seems at a loss to why that is.
Refrained from posting over the weekend & I’m still shell shocked now. We were very lucky not to have lost 9-0 & in some perverse way, I wouldn’t have minded - trivial pursuit masters!? Stayed still the end & took a ****e load of stick from Chelsea fans (stand next to). A few have said take the ups & downs, cash strapped, etc. etc.but for me, losing by a stupid scoreline isn’t acceptable. Players are obviously culpable but it’s Ralph’s team & his responsibility. Spurs away was great but maybe 1-1 there & 2-0 loss Saturday could be considered better? Work in progress? every club is a work in progress, even whoever finishes bottom. Really hope Ralph gets this sorted. Edit: Just listened to TSP. Agree with all. Talk a lot of sense those guys, especially Glenn. Dodgeball training And just realised, don’t turn up again, lose this & it’s 5x at home on the trot!
