Great game but frustrating we couldn’t see it out. We’re two quality players short of a top 7 side. One CB and one striker.
Pretty impressive that Stephens can have an even worse game than normal (god that guy is awful). But look, we're safe; we scored three goals, we created chances, we didn't lose, and with the possible exception of a bit of extra prize money, not winning today is irrelevant. So I'm going to sit back, relax, and thank Ralph. Rather than focus on Stephens.
You can't surely be looking at the top six. So becoming a top 7 side simply equates to being the 7th best side. And there are many sides with that aim. I think you might be raising your expectations a little too high - or underestimating a few other sides - if you think a couple of players is suddenly going to shoot us into 7th next season. A couple of quality players away from being a top half side? Now that I could agree with.
Remember the good recent days when fans longed for “entertainment” and bemoaned a dull 1-1 draw or 1-0 win.... “I want to be entertained” I heard them cry. Now they’re entertained, I hear them cry. FFS. Football fans.
I'd have been pulling my hair out today if we were three or four points worse off. But given that I was entirely confident of our safety, I found myself really enjoying the match. I could happily leave with more games like that next year. It made me think of the 3-2 home loss to Villa a few years back, which I also thoroughly enjoyed despite not winning.
Crikey. Is it really worth disagreeing over? This side would make top 10 given Ralph’s influence. 7th is one big push away. What is actually going through my mind is if we don’t qualify for Europe next season we will struggle to keep Ralph.
His confidence evaporated after the first goal - for which he wasn’t massively to blame. Guilty of a terrible bit of ball watching at one point when he let one bounce in front of him and got robbed. 2nd half he played much better. If he could cut out the basic errors, he could make it at this level. That last sentence applies to all our CBs, with the exception of Bednarek.
I'd just rather that expectations were lowered somewhat. Ralph is clearly a very good manager, and I'm confident that we're heading in the right direction at last. Just give things time, and let us climb our way back up - rather than instantly looking at becoming the best of the rest once again. Arguably our second biggest problem last time (after the failure of the club to replace the players sold) was the sense of entitlement that we belonged in the top 7 or 8, off of the back of just a handful of good seasons. If you offered me today an 11th placed finish next season, I would take it. If the football is good (which I think it will be).
This is the basic point, as long as I enjoy an exciting match played in a good atmosphere without the constant threat of the "R" word then i'm getting my money's worth.
