Match Day Thread S0uth4mpton v Chelsea Sunday 6th October 2pm

Still not answered the question. How exactly would it affect the squad if the business side of the club are allegedly falling out? Unless you're claiming the two factions were having a full on battle on the pitch at Staplewood for the last 6 days thereby removing valuable training time.

We could admit that Ralph is actually mediocre, and tactically poor, or try and blag that his head space was taken up with the fraud and kat arguing all week which totes made him totally forget he's allowed to use substitutes.

 

And won't be for some considerable time either. Lampard is doing well with his youngsters, however.

 

They have some international standard youngsters though Romsey. Their transfer situation could be a blessing in disguise.

 

I feel what Lincoln is saying, although I'm not at his melt-level yet. I just get f*cking pissed off with all these managers/players who seem to give up as soon as they don't get everything they want. I obviously know nothing about the situation at the club, but it does seem that too many managers blame the boardroom conveniently to cover up for their own below-par performances.

Number one person at fault here, is Ralph. Let's not allow any conspiracy theories to cover up for what have been some absolutely bewildering team selections and tactics.

 

Oh l agree FLT, but he has to put them in and seems to be nurturing them well. I also agree with the blessing disguise, said to Chelsea fan in the office before l left work today that they might end up with the makings of Class of 92. Also said to him they would thrash us this afternoon, sometimes it nice to be wrong...

 

Number one at fault is whoever let our team get to the point whereby our choice of CB's are Yoshida, Bednarek, Vestergaard and Stephens. It doesn't matter what tactics are used or what players are selected elsewhere - it doesn't change the fact that not one of those CB's are currently good enough.

That is the basic problem here.

 

Yes but they have a billionaire owner who has invested for the last ten years.
What do we have?

 

I get what you’re saying Black, but I don’t think Ralph has blamed the Board yet; Laces just threw it in as a potential issue.

I worry that he’s tried several things but not getting what he wants from the players. Same errors time and time again. I didn’t agree with his substitute timings today or the order of the personnel, but I feel he’s between a rock and a hard place. I do worry about what Billy mentioned earlier about him not wanting to be here.

 

True

 

Yep, turn it around mate to me Fats!

I've never mentioned anything about standards.

Ive literally nothing against you, seriously. Am I not supposed to give my opinion I wasnt rude just didn't think there was a need for it.

I'll leave it there, I'm not looking for an argument. Maybe drop me a pm later if you really think I've overstepped the mark or if I'm picking on you

 

Ralph knew what he was taking on when he joined though.

 

We are caught in a storm
The storm is going to get worse
Like all storms there will be eventual calm
We need to ride it out
Results are poor, performance has dropped but it can all change again. We should get a boost just getting Djenepo back.
Team must stick together and believe.
Fans must believe.

In fairness it's not the spurs or Chelsea games that will keep us up. We have got to get right for Norwich,Watford,Newcastle,villa games etc

 

Yeah, fair enough.

But, what could have happened in less than a year? I can only assume it's to do with transfer policy. It's difficult to fathom what else it could be, since the owner and everyone else was here prior to Ralph taking the job.

 

Woeful

 

Well he knew he was taking on a problem, but did he fully appreciate the depth of that problem? Rhetorical question really none of us probably know. What we did hear was that the club would back him financially over the Summer, but the caveat seems to have been after we offloaded the dross, which we didn't. Its a below average squad, let's be honest, well below compared to what we had a few seasons ago and one devoid of a team spirit to play for each other. Ralph can only do so much with what he has.

 

Sure. But Ralph has history of jumping ship.

Maybe Everton have tapped him.

 

Just got back from the game..........oh dear what a shambles...........if we can’t do better than this we are going to struggle. For me that was the worst I’ve seen saints play this year............I wonder who they are lining up as the next manager.....Can’t see Ralph lasting long with displays like that...........

 

You are, yes, we know. Nevermind. Perhaps you find another sport, competitive knitting perhaps?

 

It’s difficult to stick up for our defence, especially when Valery goes walk about for their second, but throughout this game, and in so many others, they are being left hopelessly exposed by the midfield.
I don’t see any real shape in there and haven’t got a clue what Hojbjerg’s role or position, within the midfield, actually is.
Could say the same for JWP as well, to be honest, as both he and PEH seem to roam all over the place, which is one of the reasons, when we concede (all too easy) possession, we regularly get caught out when the opposition quickly switch the ball across the pitch, or pass it into the wide gaps they leave. This in turn leads to the defence being pulled out of shape and often leads to them diving into desperate tackles, which then leaves the defence further exposed, if the tackle fails.
There were a couple of times, today, when you could have thrown a blanket over all three of our midfielders, out by the touch line, which leaves acres of space where they should be.
Watching us trying to work an opening, whilst Chelsea had their back four in a line, with a midfield three plugging the gaps in front of them, made me yearn for that type of defensive discipline in our team.
Not sure I understand how Ralph’s preferred line up (4-2-2) is supposed to work, or if he even uses it, but I would much prefer to see us play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, with midfielders knowing their role.
I think if we did, the defence would improve.

 

Perhaps we should have a chat with Levy, do him a huge favour and take back MP1...