I can absolutely assure you he hasn't gone with the fan demand (in terms of making the change because it's what the fans wanted). And rightly so.
Agreed - point badly made on my behalf. I didn't mean to suggest he went with 4 at the back to placate fans, only that his chosen line up, for tactical reasons, happened to be similar to what fans were calling for.
Got his formation right, got his lineup right and got his subs right. Four points from the last two games is a good return and I would've happily taken that. If we can add two or three new faces, retain the useful players and get Tino and Perraud back fit, we'll have a pretty tasty matchday squad.
Whether you're Ralph-in, Ralph-out, or Ralph-I'm-not-really-sure-either-way, I think everyone can agree that wins are a good thing, and a manager being under pressure is a bad thing. Rodgers, Gerrard, Lampard and Lage are all arguably under more pressure right this minute than Ralph. And that pleases me.
Watching the game today, it was great to see Ralph and his coaching team, getting together during a stoppage in play.
Your comment pretty much sums up what is happening for the better. Ralph has, in the past, shown he is unsafe in his tactical decision making (l could have put that less politely) but l am seeing him engaging with his staff this season and he/they seem to be making the right calls.
Sir Alex F always said that the life cycle of a team is 4 years. Ralph took over in 2018 and so we are refreshing right on cue. FERGUSON "Although I was always trying to disprove it, I believe that the cycle of a successful team lasts maybe four years, and then some change is needed. So we tried to visualize the team three or four years ahead and make decisions accordingly. Because I was at United for such a long time, I could afford to plan ahead—no one expected me to go anywhere. I was very fortunate in that respect. Analyzing player transfer data reveals Ferguson to be a uniquely effective “portfolio manager” of talent. He is strategic, rational, and systematic. The goal was to evolve gradually, moving older players out and younger players in. It was mainly about two things: First, who did we have coming through and where did we see them in three years’ time, and second, were there signs that existing players were getting older? Some players can go on for a long time, like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Rio Ferdinand, but age matters. The hardest thing is to let go of a player who has been a great guy—but all the evidence is on the field. If you see the change, the deterioration, you have to ask yourself what things are going to be like two years ahead." For Ralph to make it for another 4 years (assuming he wants to) is entirely possible if we can recruit well in this window. I agree with others that we are a still couple of players short and if we continue to refresh the squad and coaching team with a couple of new faces at regular intervals we will have the basis of a really good squad. I do feel that losing romeu will be bad for the ago balance of the squad and for my feelings but so be it. Some of the other long standing individuals have had their time and need to be moved on. I'm reasonably optimistic that doing that instead of thinking the players have the power is the best move.
Yesterday's performance, in particular the new recruits plus Adz and Moussa, certainly tips the balance further towards Ralph in.
Sorry, but l do not agree. I think the ship has been balanced, but that is not necessarily down to Ralph; more a reflection of the new owners. He got it wrong tactically with the back-five for both Spurs and Leeds. He got his subs right for the Leeds game - so that was a plus, whether that was him or the new coaching staff making the suggestions, he still gets credit for actioning it. Still in the out camp, but there has been improvement and he deserves some of the credit.
But surely by it's nature, if you want Ralph out, you want him out now. And sacking Ralph now, for me, would be the very epitome of mad.
The out camp is a small but noisy minority. If you check his performance in the Bundesliga when managing a properly financed team with good backroom staff that may give some measure of his ability and worth to SFC.
No, most of us wanted him gone last season. But I don’t think anyone is that desperate that they still want him to go right now. The general consensus is, give him 10 games or til Xmas.
I have been opposed to Ralph for some considerable time now. However, you may recall that l wrote before the season started Ralph had been backed by the Board and l felt he deserved 2 months to improve. Some, after the Spurs game wrote he should go now. I was not one who supported that view, reiterating he needs time. I am still of that opinion that he needs 2 months to prove keeping him was the right choice. So, l will consider changing my opinion at the end of 2 months. Until then, l will be consistent in all that l have written before.
On the contrary, its the Ralph supporters who have consistently misrepresented opinions of others on this Website and been quite vitriolic in their statements (sadly). I am not sure either that we are in the minority either, but that's a subjective discussion that goes nowhere.
I thought the general consensus was that the board had backed him and he needed to be given time. The only reason he would be sacked now is if we had someone lined up, ala Adkins. Im pleased the rot has been stopped but won’t be changing my vote until around 10 games in.
