Indeed exciting times ahead,just hope we get who Ralpf wants/needs........surly when he took the job he would have knowledge of available funds to him. Wonder who is on his wish list?
https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/1...l-on-his-sides-premier-league-safety/?ref=rss Ralph talking about our future...our plan is to bring youngsters through the Academy, but sometimes you need to bring players in to fill gaps in the squad. Also mentioned the need to suddenly change things around because Maya pulled out late with illness.
Which of course was the original plan when Staplewood was invested in and expanded by Markus and carried through by Kat (thanks). I still think that the main problem with the current first team is central defence and we are sometimes playing two players (in a central 3) that are probably not good enough to start regularly and it affects the whole team's balance. Buying a dominant and mobile leader as a CB could well solve this IMO and make a huge difference or maybe Alfie Jones might come through and shine also. I think that Boufal may well be given a chance to help the creative side and I expect that a bid may well be made to sign Adams from Brum to boost the Forward department.
I'm sure I've read that Ralph's points haul extended over the season would have us in 8th. That's with the current squad. That would make us a reasonably secure top half side as is, should it continue. Vin
I'm in the "evolution not revolution" camp, we have already proved that we can compete and were even in the matches against Citeh and Liverpool under Ralph. The squad needs serious pruning and the first team needs tweaking like I said a few posts ago but I think that we will probably be between the 7-10th places next season...BUT i'm not demanding it and as long as we play good football and compete i'll be happy.
Enjoyed yesterday greatly despite the pitiful antics of Bournemouth. Dozens of niggling little opposition half fouls that the ref never felt the desire to punish more than a free-kick once they'd successfully broken up play. Add to that the fact that their players went down like felled oaks every time one of our players went near them then rolled around for a minute before miraculous recovery. They did it so much that the ref stopped taking them seriously. All of that was enough to make me overjoyed that JWP scored while someone (Brooks?) was in apparent agony over on the left wing. He looked like he might never walk again but once the ball was in the net he managed to regain his feet. Happened several other times when we just played on and apparently dead players arose, Lazarus-like when the ref ignored them. Interestingly, it only happened when they were level or ahead. They seemed much more robust when they were behind. Odd. I hate it when we do it, I hate it when other teams do it. If someone's down and it's not a head injury, leave them be for a minute. Amazing how often they recover. Vin
If we played the whole season like we have under Ralph we'd be 7/8th. Now I know life isn't like that, but it does show the standard we have been playing at under Hasenhuttl. Top half standard.
No doubt we under performed under the last two managers, but I think Ralph is getting the maximum out of this squad. It’s great we’ve been competitive against all opponents, but we’ve not exactly won any games comfortably either and if we’re not at our best then we don’t have the necessary quality to still pick up points.
I was thinking about this today and how I don't disagree with you or Fran ... which is clearly top quality fence-sitting However, like you say I do agree he should have behaved better and its to his detriment he didn't He's damaged his reputation and may do the same again to Liverpool (and I would never say he's a big man to like a tweet as I could never equate tweeting with the real world) BUT, like Fran says lifes too short to get bitter about everyone who's crossed you and it's his loss He'll never be the man SRL is
I do agree he should have behaved better and its to his detriment he didn't -------------------------------------- For me, seeing him 'like' that comment, reflecting us staying up, seems like he's being a little contrite. The first sign of that I've seen. I've hung on to my bitterness for a few leavers, like Lorven & Lallana, but also let go of a few like Fonte & Koeman. I prefer the feeling of letting go, so I'm taking it as a subtle apology. One of the best players I have ever seen play, and I would like us to have a little credit for helping his journey to greatness in the future. We have taken a step towards that now.
