I suppose it depends on what our aim is for the season, at the time that Ralph departs (if he does). If that aim is to avoid relegation, then Dyche would make sense. Even if only short term. If you went out now and asked fans of any other potential relegation candidate to name three sides who they're hoping will be worse than them, I'm sure a huge majority would name us as one of their three. If we were to then appoint Dyche as manager and you go and ask the same question to those fans again, I think it would be a much reduced number who still name us. Do I want Dyche? Honest answer is that I can't decide. I'm not sold on the idea, but nor am I completely against it.
What evidence is there that Dyche would be better at keeping us up than Ralph? Ralph has kept us up and Dyche ultimately failed with Burnley last season although he was sacked before it was all confirmed I guess that he had even fewer resources and kept Burnley up? But he’d need to learn a new set up mid season etc I’m not sold on the idea that he would greatly increase our chances or make us loads more solid. It seems like some people need to take another look at Burnley’s results last season And that was with a squad he built. Defenders who could defend the way he wanted. He seems to have been turned into a present day Big Sam. Sam actually had examples of going in and stabilising teams and helping them stay up.
Ralph has kept us around 15th every season, so the question isnt what manager can help us stay up. If we sack Ralph it should be because we have found someone that can improve us and move us up the table.
Points totals under Ralph: 18/19: 52* 19/20: 52 20/21: 43 21/22: 40 *In charge for 22 games, but points total reflects what would have been, if averaged over 38. Two very good seasons, followed by a noticeable slump in the next two. And this is very much Ralph's squad, or a combination now of Ralph's and Sport Republic's.
40pts per season is just about surviving. We’re currently on course to reach 30pts, which will see us relegated. Ralph needs to turn things around if we’re to reach the impressive haul of 40pts.
40pts is not even an acceptable aim. Because that puts us at the mercy of luck, rather than skill or anything else. One injury to the wrong player or even one sending off, one deflection, etc.
Sadly in truth Ralph hasn’t been that bad considering what he has had to play with. In my opinion he hasn’t had the backing he deserves since arriving. If the new owners don’t/won’t invest we are always going to struggle no matter who is the manager. I’m guessing Ralph is as fed up as we are at what happening at the moment. He probably agrees with most of us that it’s time to go!!!
The only bit I disagree is this constant (not by you) assumption that the owners are like Gao - ie they are broke and won’t invest. £60 million with no real outs and a credible (if the player had said yes ) £30 million bid says otherwise. I’m not Ralph out, but no way can he say the new owners won’t/haven’t invested.
I wonder if they will try to go back in for Gakpo and compete with Leeds. It’s been reported to say they have agreed terms with him which surely means we could to? Quite how that makes sense given he apparently turned them down in the window I’m not sure but it is what is reported Or go in for someone of similar profile if we feel a bidding war will mean paying over the odds in fees (transfer and agent) and wages. We have been burnt before. And you only need to look at Man United for what happens when you hyper focus on one target and the seller knows it
I think in January we may go for a loan from another Premier League club for a striker that isn’t getting the minutes at a top team. No rumours just a hunch. Good way of getting a proven striker to get us out of jail.
Not wishing to nitpick but are there any “proven” strikers who won’t be getting minutes and in need of a loan and the club wanting to loan (so being far away from them) City - no Chelsea - no unless for some reason they and Broja decide he needs more minutes but this doesn’t seem likely Arsenal - seem to have two strikers in Jesus and Nketiah. So no Spurs - don’t have spare strikers that would be available. Has been true for a while. Didn’t have any backup options for Kane until signing Richarlison recently Liverpool - I don’t think they do. They did with Origi last season Man United - need a central striker in their own right. Maybe Elanga but he isn’t proven or the likely to be the answer So i don’t think the player you are referring to even exists. Maybe I have missed someone obvious Unless Newcastle feel they can loan out Wood or Wilson once Isak is embedded in? And Wood also probably isn’t the answer The premier league is striker light in general. Nearly half the clubs wanted one in the summer for their squads and many didn’t get one. In Wolves vs Chelsea yesterday there was one striker on the pitched across the combined two teams
This will obviously be Haaland. City will feel he’s not quite good enough for them and he needs to experience playing with absolutely no service from midfield to sharpen his game a bit.
Well we are 16th after 1/4 of the season so looking likely yeah. I do agree we haven't looked good this season, the only genuinely good performance was against Chelsea, which is why if we don't beat west ham, or at least draw then beat bournemouth, I would sack him. 0 points from 4 very winnable games (ignoring city) is not good enough and does suggest that despite spending £60m we haven't progressed since our poor end to last season.
If palace draw were 17th. And if our form stays the same we should expect 30pts this season, which should see us relegated.
