Match Day Thread The new rejuvenated Saints v Man City Saturday 2nd November 15:00

His reputation hasn’t been dented by the 9-0 defeat for me but I have written off the players who capitulated so pathetically. He is absolutely the best since Koeman because there is so little to compete against in that department. I remain convinced he will deliver the results given support, time and players. Time will tell if he gets those things.

I appreciate the importance of man management and that 9-0 defeats don’t come from nowhere but this group we have is little changed in 4 years and in that time we have had our worst seasons in the recent EPL. There are problem players who need to go not a manager who can’t man manage.

 

I think the group is massively changed in the last 4 years.

Toby, Virgil, Mane, Pelle, plus loads more I can be bothered to look up.

All replaced with Hoedt, Vestergard, Ely and countless other crap.

 

Sorry Ian, you are wrong. Ralph is here for the long term and rebuilding the team is going to take longer than a lot of fans would like, but that is the reality of not having endless cash to throw at it.

Ralph looked very upbeat at his press conference ahead of the City match so my guess is he is feeling supported, at least by those who count.

 

Don't worry - so will we

 

In this situation so would we, sadly we haven't got one.

 

Ralph is our best coach since Koeman.

 

Was that within 4 years? Then I meant 3. As I’m sure you’re aware, that is the point I was making. The players we have had under Puel, mp2, Hughes and now Ralph are not fit for purposes.

 

This is a throwback. 2016, saints in their worst run of form since 1989. Koeman was the manager and Pelle, tadic and Mané our front 3.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/1...adic-and-sadio-mane-have-been-in-rotten-form/

 

I wasnt sure what point you were making, but you're right, we have a pretty **** team, but possibly have regressed under Ralph from last season.

Id suggest we see how we go till Christmas and evaluate ...

 

Just as well that we will be too! Better not tell Citeh fans, let’s give them a surprise! COYR.

 

As is often the case- leaders fail to see their impending downfall.

I do think Ralph has potential but what can he do with this drek?

It feels like we’re back in the 90’s relegation scraps every year. But no le tiss.

 

Tadic mane and Pelle were good players in poor form. With the exception of redmond and ings our current team are poor players in expected from.

 

MATCHDAY


Hibernating

 

Gutsy performance today saints and don’t lose too heavily please.

 

Will miss the game today as at a 17th century history seminar but that will probably be more exciting than watching City picking over our bones

 

What’s the seminar covering - Saints last home win?

 

I guess what I was thinking there was, if Koeman, with THAT team managed us into our worst run of form for almost 20years, maybe the lynch mob could give Ralph a bit more credit and half a chance with the dross he has got at his disposal.

 

I assume this is the BBC history magazine weekend. I am off to another lecture with Tom Holland in a minute and have another tomorrow morning which is about Simon De Montfort - pretty appropriate given the current state of parliament.

 

Chilco

I am really on the fence about this. Some of the performances at home initially showed an element of endeavour but then things have reverted back to type. I cannot comment on the away matches. What I have witnessed has been poor and I am not 100% this can be levelled solely at the team. Ralph has got to take a degree of criticism for the position we are in along with the board who did not support him with the kind of recruitment the squad needed. I felt that, given the players, Ralph would have a successful season at the helm yet what we have witnessed at St Mary;s is as bad as under Pellegrini. I would not single Ralph out for criticism as the blame lies throughout the club yet I don't think he merits that much praise in 19/20.

As far as the best manager since Koeman, it is now starting to look like Puel had far more nous than the three managers we have had since. I think Puel knew what he wanted and knew how to implement it. He was more tactically aware than Ralph and knew how to effectively prevent teams like Liverpool from playing. Unfortunately, it was a cautious and tedious approach and the football was dire as a spectacle. However, if we are weighing up the best "post-Koeman" manager, I cannot see how, given the results, Ralph is still seen as being that credible. Any manager whose team loses 9-0 at home surely loses a lot of credibility. I like Ralph and respect what he is trying to do with an abysmal squad. However, I think last weekend amplified many of the questions supporters had regarding his ability. If we appoint a Director of Football, I would not be surprised if Ralph's performance is serious scrutinised. I cannot see that he is here for the long haul based on the last three home matches. If we play like we did against Liverpool, I feel he has a chance and it is imperative we put in this kind of performance against both Everton and Watford. I am not worried about today's result and no one expects anything.

 

Yes and look how the fans basically pushed Puel out! I really hope the baying mob don’t get to Ralph!