Ralph sacked as Saints manager

He's not done a bad job this season from the fixtures we've had that's for sure.

 

I just find it tiresome that we may go 2-3 unbeaten, then the minute we lose "Ralph out" is raised again. Tiresome, boring and to be honest (not that it matters) keeps me away from the forum a bit.

So much negativity on here sometime, it is like people only come on to vent. I surround myself with positivity and this forum (as a few have now realised) is just not a good place anymore. Some only post (not directed to anyone in the preceding few posts btw) to rant and spout angry negativity. If that's what floats their boat I hope they enjoy their angry rants.

And breathe.

See you all in a few days.

 

Everton is the big one. If we play like this again for that game he has to go.

This is the first season that I am struggling to see 3 worse teams than us. At the moment Bournemouth, Leicester and ?. But Leicester will improve after they sack Brenda. That leaves just Bournemouth. We have to beat the teams around us

 

I think the problem is we were so, so bad for so long it will take a decent run to lift the negativity.

Good game, ok game then terrible game feels very stop-start.

Still feels like we haven’t got going.

 

100%. Whilst others might be banging on about it being a new season there is a massive massive hangover from last season. The goodwill and tolerance of the supporters has been completely pissed away. It will take more than a win against Chelsea to fill it up. Especially when that is followed up with 2 losses against teams which are around our level.

Most on here agreed Ralph would be in real trouble unless there was a turn around in the opening games. Still no clean sheets, still no comprehensive wins. Still the same baffling team sheets and poor substitutions. Nothing has changed as far as I can see from last season.

 

Yep. As a fan base we’ve been incredibly patient with him.

Last night was simply nowhere near good enough. He’s doing so many things which are obviously not going to work

 

If it keeps you away from the forum
RALPH OUT RALPH OUT RALPH OUT

 

I still find it impossible to gauge yet how Forest will get on. Could be anything from mid-table safety, right down to a total car crash and relegated in March.

Fulham have started well, but I suspect that will burn out (similar to Brentford last season - the difference with them though was Eriksen coming in and arresting their slide just in time).

I do agree with you that Leicester will turn it around. They have too many good players and are one of the few sides (outside of the big boys) who could go and put, say, five wins together.

Wolves, Everton, Palace, Leeds, Brentford; all possibles - but on balance, I look at each side individually and think that they should be able to survive. Like you say, no clear obvious three.

 

Post-Potter Brighton might get interesting too.

 

They have a good cushion from their start. At least for a while. They are 3 wins ahead of the strugglers and relegated sides usually don’t have significantly more than that (max 7 last season and we had 9)

 

I don’t think they’ll go down without a catastrophe; but Potter made that team far greater than it’s individual parts.

 

Brentford are another example. And I see that Thomas Frank is being linked to Leicester...

 

Forest, Villa, Everton, Leeds all in worse shape than us atm (and the latter three all with fairly shaky managers). And that's just off the top of my head. Just find it amazing to think people would want a manager who has just been backed this heavily in the market - with the players disposed to play his style - to be gotten rid of after losing the first match after that window has shut. Or the second match, in your case (being Everton).

And if we beat Everton? Does that mean he should stay? Not much will be too different in that space of time. And if he should then stay, should he then go if we lose to Manchester City the match after?

Surely, by even the most short-sighted of logic, it makes more sense to give someone a period of time to work with a new group of players he has just brought in - say, ten matches, or whatever it may be that anyone wants to give him?

 

When I want to feel good about Saints, I just think of everything that's happening at the club apart from Ralph. Wealthy owner willing to spend, brilliant board and directors with a vision, amazing scouting network and improving academy, fantastic summer window, a great squad of players.

Basically I feel we're going somewhere as a club, either with Ralph or without him. Having spent all that money in the summer, there's no chance Ralph will survive for very long averaging 1 point per game. And when he goes, I'm really excited to see who we get in as the next manager.

I've always said I want Ralph to turn it around. I still do, kind of. But it just seems that every time we make progress with him, an infuriating slump is just around the corner. One step forward, one step backwards.

Is this still a negative post? I've tried to spin it as best as I could into a positive one.

 

A few messages flying around this morning suggesting we will be replacing Ralph during this international break.

I am simultaneously shocked and totally unsurprised.

 

Can't see a huge amount of chat TBH.

 

I assume by messages flying around you mean among your contacts in the media world? Would be a big surprise and a little premature imo given the backing over the summer!

 

It does make me wonder what the owners thought about the last team selection considering they stumped up over £50m in the summer on several new signings and only one outfield player out of them started, presumably they were as nonplussed as us fans were.

 

Odds have been slashed to 9/4 on some sites this morning. DTLW have you been putting some money down?!?

 

Likewise, i am simultaneously happy and gutted to hear this #mixedemotions