It’s hard to separate the two. I think the players are more likely to show a lack of effort, if they believe the instructions they are being given aren’t the right ones. Its hard to know what individuals are like in the dressing room and on the pitch. It does seem like we lack passion, but I also believe it was a policy of Ralph’s that players shouldn’t surround the ref (something I respect him for). So who knows? Regards JWP, at least he is more loyal than the other star players we’ve had down the years. I definitely feel like there will be some truths revealed down the line. The whole A. Armstrong situation is just strange. Ings/Bertie/Vestie all wanting out last summer was weird too.
Yeah believe me taking points off the top teams is fantastic. Hats off to Ralph (and the players) for that. But we've lost to all the promoted teams. We have lost 7 games out of 8 against bottom half teams over the last couple of months. The only point we earned was against Leeds. It seems like we are trying to emulate the playing style of a top six team, with the players of a bottom six team, and I just don't think its suitable for a club like ours at this given time. Maybe if we buy 3 or 4 top first-team players this summer, then great, let Ralph do his thing. But if we don't have the budget for that, then we need a more practical coach at the helm.
Actually if we lose at home to Watford I think you’ll find that the points against Man C become even more important
It really wasn't meant to be taken literally. Obviously getting points against anyone is good. What I'm really saying is that we need someone in charge who is better suited to setting us up against the teams of similar quality. There are what, five or six 'top' teams. Realistically we should expect 6-7 points from those games (I know this season we saw a good return, but it would be mad to expect the same every season). Teams of our quality, well there's at least 9-10 of them. So the number of points up for grabs is far more numerous, and more likely to be earned from one season to the next.
Exactly! Shows how little he knows. He's picked players who have left and made out they were the superstars of our squad, anything to reinforce his point that Ralph is a good coach. I'd argue Clyne and Lovren were much bigger losses comparably.... His whole argument hinges on us getting better players next season. We absolutely won't. At best, the club are going to buy 2 players (less than 10 million each) and some 16 year old who will apparently be "one for the future" probably a CB. We'll then flog JWP to pay for it. Ralph can't get a tune out of this team so we need someone who can. We're not getting 15 new players so we need 1 new coach
As others have said, it is the lack of quality in the squad which is holding us back and this is never more obvious than when we play against a team that is happy to sit deep and let us have the ball. Other than KWP, JWP and Tino, I don’t think we have many other players who could be considered a great loss to the team, if they were transferred out. The majority of the squad are at journeymen level (or still learning/settling in) capable of half a dozen really good games a season, with as many awful games on which most will agree, with the remainder of their appearances being middle of the road, with people on here arguing that they were either great or ****e in those games. I think I am still with those wanting to give him the opportunity to bring in players that would give us more consistency, but the problem he will have is the Southampton Way is to invest heavily in young players who aren’t renowned for consistency. I wouldn’t be against 2 or 3 older players (25+ years) being brought in to give us more nous and battle, when we are up against it.
Everything in football is transitory and every manager understands the nature of the game and you are only as good as your latest run of performances and results. I defended Ralph at the end of last season throughout the desperate run in the second half of it because I understood the problems of playing our high energy, high pressing game that brought good results in the first half of it was severely compromised by a crippling injury list, not having the full medical facilities for recoveries, a detrimental fixture schedule and very thin squad cover. Overall the final tally was acceptable because of those hindrances but this season things are different and the team haven't made progress despite not having the same problems. I do not believe it is a great achievement to simply keep us in the league this season, we have the potential to finish higher than the 14th position last time and beat the points total, especially when we stay relatively injury free so this run of poor form is so perplexing because we have all seen how well the team can play. I'm willing to give Ralph the opportunity of a summer with the new owners to maybe bolster the squad with a bit more first team quality because it is the starting XI that has mostly stayed the same with signings tending to be back ups but if this wretched form continues into next season then his position will have to be reviewed.
To me it’s those experienced guileful players that can make a huge difference eg a Case or Fonte type who can nurture and cajole younger players during the game. Tbf it’s not easy to do that from the dugout.
So the Ralph fans who want him to stay, how much money do you think he needs in order to make the team successful? From reading here, most people believe we need: GK (possibly x 2) CB (possibly x 2) CAM As well as replacements for Long, Redmond, Djeneppo, Walcott, A Armstrong. Yep, we'll definitely spend that sort of money! Or we can accept that will never ever happen and replace Ralph.
We don't need replacements for all those players. We do have an academy that is flourishing you know. Now I'm not saying for one second we can rely on teenagers to play a major part but there's some serious talent starting to come through and we shouldn't be scared to play them. We certainly need a number 10 type player, probably another full back with Tino out long term, and a Jose Fonte type CB. We desperately need a leader back there. And a keeper obviously. I would look to sell Bednarek, Djenepo and one of Redmond/Elyounoussi.
GK, CB, CAM at a minimum, maybe CM too. It really wouldn't be too hard to bring in one of each this summer and improve the starting 11. I'm more excited about getting back to our recruitment of 2012-2015 again, which with the track record of Rasmus Ankersen should be possible.
So 4 players? How much do you seriously think this club will spend on 4 players over the summer? For them to be half decent they'd need to be in the 20 million range. When have we ever spent 80,000,000? If the "serious talent" was serious we'd already be playing them. A few months over the summer isn't going to make a difference
Where's this money coming from? This summer going to be practically the same as Gao levels of spending.
Gao literally couldn't invest because the Chinese government stopped him. Why do you think the new owners will not invest then? You're just making up bullshit to justify your stance. I'm not saying they're going to do a Newcastle but they're not exactly skint.
That's why we've had constant reassurance from the board is it? Statements about buying players in the summer? Why we didn't sign **** all during the Jan window? So, how much money do you think will be spent in the summer? How much would you be happy with?
So have you got insider information about spending levels? Just spouting anything to justify your Ralph out agenda doesn't add up. Every post ends with replace Ralph as though the new man with the "same as Gao levels of spending" will bring some miraculous improvement.
