Well I guess it will answer the debate was it the players or Ralph which it feels like we’ve been having for a couple of seasons at least.
And we may realise what a gem in Ralph we had. Especially in a year or two when he goes to a 'sleeping giant' and gets them in the top 4
We’ve got to give it a bit more time surely. I know there are echos of Ralph performances at their worst, but hopefully performances will improve. You never know, we may sign someone decent in Jan. Got to have a bit of hope.
I think the point is, considering where we are, as a team, mentally, physically and reliability any win is essential to even start turning things round. Once they cross that white line, winning is the only result the players, in a team like ours, need to have as their motivation whatever the competition. Nothing less, nothing more.
This may be a combination of 'Happy Clappy' and 'Light at the end of the tunnel', but in the Liverpool game, and the Lincoln game, the improvements after half time were very obvious. It's as if NJ tells the team what to do before the game, the team try things their own way in the first half, then at half time NJ's team talk is a combination of 'I said this wouldn't work' and 'Let's do this instead', and the ear-bashing is so fresh in the players' minds that they actually pay attention and play in accordance with the manager's plans. The only problem with this is if the opposition are nearly out of sight at the end of the first half (as with Liverpool), so any team talk cannot undo the rubbish performance in the first 45 mins. Either that, or we got lucky in the second halves of both games.
I listened a lot of the commentary on Radio Solent having decided not to go to the game and was disappointed that so little appeared to have changed. In Jones' favour, I would argue that there can be no real improvement until reinforcements are brought in during the transfer window. However, picking up on Jo Tessam's rather scathing comments about the performance, my fear is that the supporters are not going to get behind this manager. I feel the die has been cast. Ralph was popular and he has been replaced by an unproven and pretty much unexpected replacement,the fans' reaction to which has been lukewarm at best. I am not sure Jones will be given any honeymoon period. Most fans I know do not think he was a good appointment. The other thought that crossed my mind was that , whilst I think it was time for Ralph to move on, you wonder how much the issues we have experienced are due to the playing staff. Ralph was an enigma to me - someone capable of crafting a swashbuckling performance whilst similarly making bad errors of judgements which culminated in some dire matches. Without doubt, SR should have welded the axe back in the summer. My fear is that we lose to Brighton and get cut adrift in the relegation zone which undermines our ability to buy decent reinforcements. Undoubtedly players like Alyn Armstrong will be moved on to make way but I can see Jones taking the flak for a disappointing close to the season even if the transfer failings are down to SR. Iam not sure Saints fans will cut Jones much slack. He has got a difficult if not impossible job to do and needs quick results. Otherwise, I think his tenure will be very short due to fan pressure.
I didn’t think we came out any better in the second half yesterday. If there were improvements it was marginal stuff. For me at least the improvements came with the triple sub and change in formation at 63mins. I still don’t think we were great after that but we were better. How much was down to Stu and Edozie and how much due to the formation change I’m not sure.
I think my biggest issue yesterday was the formation. NJ must have known that Ralph had tried 3 CBs and with his wife’s family being Saints fans he absolutely must have been told that we are crap in that formation, yet he still went with it. I hope that he doesn’t have a selfish, over confident opinion of himself that makes him persist with that lineup if it keeps on failing.
Come on guys what do you expect in pretty well the managers first game responsible for the way they played? I did notice a slight difference in that goal kicks free kicks throw ins were more urgent and faster. I was still frustrated with the back three passing backwards and across the field, then booting it long when they were challenged to know one particular.. When they had space in front they didn’t encourage the opposition forward, to open spaces. Some clearly were not doing what they were supposed to as the manager was continually beckoning players into better positions. As were some of the players getting frustrated when other players didn’t do what was expected in certain situations. The game was frustrating to watch when passing back or sideways when front players were calling for the ball in unmarked positions several midfield players were very guilty of this in particular prowsey. As for the missed open goals…… I cannot imagine how they can call themselves professional players missing open goals….so sad. Especially supposed premier players!!! Pleased we hustled through let’s see what happens on the 26th. Coys
I don't think Jones cares about what went on with Ralph. And he shouldn't. Jones has played 3 at the back a lot with Luton (successfully) so he was bound to try it with us.
I ****ing hate agreeing with Tom, and I have a lot on this thread. I must have got a bump to the head
I think he should care about what went on before, because the 3CB style was a disaster. As they say, if you don’t learn from history you are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. I get that he played that system at Luton but you have to have the right players to do the job and if you don’t then you absolutely must use a system that suits the players we have. I hope he is successful but if he’s not I can see him losing the dressing room PDQ simply because he doesn’t have that great a resume.
I know Salisu and ABK have had the least time with Jones, but they did unsurprisingly both look very uncomfortable with being in a back 3 once again. Given the state we are in, I don’t think we can afford the time in trying to get them used to playing that formation during PL games that we need to be winning.
Well yeah, but on the other hand I hope he has sufficient confidence in himself and his ideas, that he will do whatever he thinks is right, and if necessary learn from his mistakes.
