First half we looked like a bunch of strangers, second half was encouraging apart from two poor pieces of team defending.
Their second goal was a great finish though tbf. And there was an element of luck for their first. JWP took a perfect free kick, not sure from where I sit if Pickford saved it or it was headed off the line. Deserved a goal anyway
7 points after our opening 5 games, considering the fixtures, was a good return. Wouldn’t have expected at the start of the season us to get 7 points from that run. Losing the last 3 against bottom half sides has completely undone the good work/little bit of good will built up in the first 5. Couple that with the complete **** from the second half of last season (yeah it does matter) and it’s clear fans are turning in him. Who could do a better job? Who knows, not my job to do that but Ralph clearly isn’t working in the main and 4 years or whatever time he’s been here is long for a manager so could be time to part ways
Anyone else think JWPs set peices outside of direct free kicks are poor and predictable? He seems to find the first man on 95% of his corners. Noticed Everton had their entire squad in the 5 yard box for corners and we had players lining up along the box, then the ball is pinged either straight at the first man in the five yard box or right into Pickford’s hands. Rinse and repeat.
We are clearly targeting the near post. Arribo kept trying to get there for, I presume, a flick on but lost out everytime. I don’t think someone of JWP quality on dead balls would hit the front man that often if it wasn’t intentional
That may well be true, but it seems to be the same every game and if it’s not working why do we persist, we need to mix it up because the opposition knows exactly what we are going to do every time. I do remember there was one short corner, but again that was quickly pinged straight into the same area.
Yeah we have been trying it every game, occasional success with ABK having a few chances from corners that he’s ****ed up. I agree it is predictable and we did go longer in the last minute when Caleta had a chance (that may have been a free kick though, I can’t remember)
I think the club acted foolishly by divulging sensitive information about Ralph’s retirement plan 2.5 years too early and revealing that they had a replacement in mind but missed the boat on getting him. Apart from putting doubts in player’s minds, what good did that do for anyone? Can a PL manager with thoughts of retirement ever be 100% fully committed to his job in the same way as a young hungry manager full of desire and ambition? Ralph is a thoroughly nice guy and a decent manager who just hasn’t had the breaks at Saints for one reason and another, and chances are he never will. If Sport Republic is serious about appointing another manager, please let it be Danny Rohl. I think the time is right for him to step up and take on the role of manager and his connection to Saints would create the buzz and excitement that is needed.
Seriously guys, I don’t understand the whole make-fun-of-other-managers thing, when our own is so completely useless. Lampard f*cking did us today. Thought he was supposed to be sh*t. Gerrard last week.
As dire as his teams are to watch, bar a few exceptions it is hard to argue he doesn’t get results, although his time has probably passed now. I don’t want him anywhere near this club though.
What made it more annoying is that Everton had zero interest in preventing us from taking a short corner. And yet only twice did we decide to oblige - with one of those occasions resulting in probably our closest attempt on goal from any of the corners.
I mean I do ultimately hold the blame at Ralph’s door, but our players do seem to lack a certain footballing intelligence. Often felt over the last few years they can only play strictly to their instructions and if those aren’t working they don’t have the individual capacity to try something different and just repeat the same thing over and over even if it appears to not be working. One small thing that annoyed me today that wasn’t really play related but why didn’t they put pressure on Mariner over Everton’s time wasting? Seems that we lack the ability to think on our feet and there is gamesmanship missing.
100% JWP has many skills. But I've never been convinced about his style of leadership. He should have been in Mariner's ear constantly. I've never been a referee, but I suspect I'd enjoy refereeing a game where JWP is one of the captains much more than, say, Keane or Noble or Terry.
Oh dear oh dear what a mess. The team are so slow in their thinking. Attacking mainly one sided. The changes he made for this game was unbelievable. If he can’t get them to think quicker I really think we will struggle. I’m sorry I really think the manager needs to be changed. I just don’t think he has got the dressing room. The team seem to lack confidence. Mind you I have to say the ref wasn’t a saints fan that’s for sure. Some of his decisions left a lot to be desired.
