This seems an odd statement given that he has stuck with these players week in, week out. Ralph is supposed to be coaching these players and the buck rests with him. If I am honest, he has had sufficient time to address these issues
If you want to see effort and entertaining football (and a winning mentality) then you should come and support the Saints Women!
He's the excuses king, and it's always someone else's fault. Not surprised so many players (allegedly) get pissed off with him.
You can't always coach a bad player into a good one, that isn't on Ralph. What is on Ralph, and more so the board, is that we knew how bad our defence was last season yet we have bought one defender who is apparently not any better than the crap we have. To then go and moan about our defence not being good enough is ridiculous... we know they are crap - so spend some of the £50m+ on improvements! So simple.
Funnily enough, I’ve extended my season ticket to include womens football. I’m really looking forward to it - for the reasons you state!
What frustrates me most is we battered spurs for long periods last season by taking the game to them. So why do we change to this far more passive system now. Is it just to cater for No Peraud and a lack of strikers? We had something that was working then we just stopped doing it
I take it nobody gave Sali the shout that he was under no pressure there then? Ho hum. Disappointing to have been so timid, particularly in the second half. First game nerves maybe? I dunno. Before the game I was most worried about Kane and Son being on form; didn't even consider the attacking threat of Eric Dier :/
Expected the loss and wasn’t too worried about the prospect because I think Spurs are going to be a bit of a force this season and I accept we are still redeveloping a dire squad. The performance though was completely unacceptable and a total continuation of last seasons mistakes. Reinforces my concern that we need a first team ready made CB and Striker. Its not our model, but the reality is relegation is more expensive and very possible if we don’t fix those issues with the squad. 4 points minimum needed from Leeds and Leicester.
I really would rather go back to 4-2-2-2 again. We actually look like we have a plan when we play that way, and would make much more use of S.Armstrong and Aribo.
What is a ready made CB and ST though? You'd be looking at £30 million each, but the bigger problem would be convincing a player of that quality to join us.
We are garbage playing 5 at the back. Apart from the obvious i.e. we still cannot defend, it robs us of everything that makes us hard to play against; we cannot press, cannot attack and cannot get our players into their best positions. Ralph hasn't evolved his tactics he has ruined them. Get back to 4222 accept we will concede a few and have a go at teams again.
Total pleb answers but Tarkowski and Dennis would have been instant improvements on what we have. Granted Tarkowski was snapped up by Everton. Dennis we could certainly buy and had a better season than Adam Armstrong and Che Adams last season in a worse side, he is still available.
I had no expectations for this game. Gone are the days where I would look at the fixture list and try and predict where we would get points from, simply because I think our squad is bang average. I thought the same last season and defended Ralph because I believed that it was his style and system of play that made our players, certainly in the first half of the season, look better than what they really are. The biggest issue for me is that when we played the 4-2-2-2 pressing game, we were a force to be reckoned with, a team that could hold their own with the best in the division. We had a recognised style of playing, that was admired by football pundits and fans alike. Despite being beaten by the top teams, we were often “plucky losers” who gave it our all and, but for a lack of quality in front of goal, could have turned many of those defeats into wins or draws. Either Ralph reverts to Plan A, on which he has built his career, or we will have to continue to suffer more performances like this, and like the end of last season. Fortunately, my low expectations for the team don’t affect my mood or enjoyment of the rest of the day. Chins up everyone, still plenty of time for improvement.
He picks and coaches the bloody Defense. Buys a new defender, plays him in pre season, benches him first league game, and brings on a tried and failed player instead of him at half time, who’s hardly featured in pre season. Sorry but the man hasn’t got a clue.
The very same defenders we had last season? The very same defenders that were **** last season? Salisu is ****ing **** I can’t see how he gets a game Same **** as last season and Ralph hasn’t changed one bit. The club had an opportunity to get the **** out and replace but instead chose not too and even worse bloody play the ****. I was always happy to keep Ralph but now he’s really beginning to push my buttons. Hopefully the club will see some sense and get shot sooner rather than later
Just got back in. My summary: 1. It was ****ing hot 2. JWP cannot be sold this summer under any circumstances 3. It was ****ing hot 4. Lavia already shows immense promise. I'll be surprised if City don't buy him back in a few years. 5. It was ****ing hot 6. Outside those shambolic 5 mins when we conceded the third and fourth, we were ok. Good in parts. OK, some of what Ralph did didn't work but the time to try something a bit different is away to Spurs and not at home to Leeds next week. 7. It was ****ing hot 8. The new signings have clearly improved the team. Just requires a bit of patience from the fans. I understand this is wearing thin but Ralph needs a chance with these players. 9. BUY A CB AND A STRIKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
