27 Sep 2021 12:00:20
Had a bit of hope having not lost in four, but that's evaporated now. I don't necessarily think that Ralph needs to go yet, but he needs a number two to balance him out as he tries to get too clever when there's no need.

No goals in three, players already being played out of position. Classic Ralph trying to find wins when there's no creativity out there.

Forster
Perraud, Bednarek, Salisu, KWP
Romeu
Armstrong, JWP, Tino, Tella/ Moi
Armstrong

That's the best XI I think (injuries aside) - feel Tino is a bit wasted at the back when we have a very good RB anyway, free him up further forward somewhere in midfield.

But that might be tinkering Ralph can't work out while he's busy playing a RB at LB and playing Redmond at all.

1.) 30 Sep 2021
30 Sep 2021 09:40:37
I agree SaintGGsy. If Redmond and Djenepo played for Watford, Newcastle, Norwich or any of the other lower Prem league teams they would struggle to get a seat on the bench yet Ralph seems to think that they both do a good job in the starting 11 for us. Unless Ralph comes up with a winning formula over the next 6 weeks I think he'll be gone before Christmas.

2.) 30 Sep 2021
30 Sep 2021 12:43:15
That is a very damning truth. Went to watch Bristol City play last weekend as I live in Bristol and he definitely wouldn’t have stood out if he had been playing in that game. He probably wouldn’t make Fulham’s bench either. It is worrying if the management cannot see something that tens of thousands of fans can.

3.) 30 Sep 2021
30 Sep 2021 14:47:19
The problem is, we're a selling club. We look for young players with big potential and sign them (Redmond, Djenepo, even Elyounoussi) . We give them big contracts, they don't ever reach that potential and even get worse over time. So what happens? The large clubs won't want to buy them (like we initially hoped) . Mid-tier clubs won't buy them because they can buy better talent at the same rate. Smaller clubs won't buy them because they afford them. So they need to stay at Southampton. Of course, that doesn't mean these players need to play every match.

But I agree with both of you, neither players offer us anything going forward. They don't create enough chances. They just fill space on the pitch.

4.) 02 Oct 2021
02 Oct 2021 08:43:22
It is bizarre that Ralph can not spot what is so obvious to thousands. He keeps changing the forward line, but with virtually no service coming in from midfield/ wingers, we’ll never score goals. The contribution to attack from Djenepo and Redmond is virtually zero; add in the two defensive midfielders in Romeu and JWP and there isn’t a hope in hell of one of them doing a defence splitting pass.
In fact most of our attacking impetus comes from Tino and Perraud/ KWP
As everyone is saying, playing KWP at right back and move Tino forward. But I’m guessing just like Ralph’s stubbornness over not playing Tella, he will only play Tina at right back….
Another game against a great manager and team. Their manager will change the dynamics of their team multiple times over the game; Ralph will bring in Djenepo….