15 Aug 2021 22:00:17
Our first half performance Saturday exceeded expectations, sadly the second half was wholly predictable. Ralph must take responsibility for his selection and use of subs - very hard to know what's going on his mind. At 1-1 do we stick or twist?
I'm just interested if I'm on my own with my view about JWP. if a £45 mil bid was made I would take it every day of the week and twice on Sunday. He contributed nothing going forward in open play on Saturday and his set pieces were ordinary. He doesn't have the pace or technical ability to go past players and he doesn't possess a 40 yard killer pass hence everything is sideways and backwards. Vestergaard offered more offensively.
So, whilst he is hero worshiped by just about every Saints fan I know, including those on this forum, I have to disagree. Take away his awesome dead ball ability and he becomes workmanlike. I suspect this will evoke a flurry of counter opinions but heh, that's football.
Ever so slightly concerned about United at home Sunday!

1.) 16 Aug 2021
15 Aug 2021 23:56:54
You won’t get any objections to your JWP comments from me. He sinks deeper and deeper in each game, only coming forward for dead ball situations. His offensive play is non existent as is his midfield play.
His dead ball play on Saturday was repetitive and predictable. Vestergard couldn land the ball anywhere on the pitch and with both feet.
With Romeu being the holding midfielder, Walcott and Djenepo offering nothing, add to that JWP playing deep, our midfield is absolutely awful.
What makes it worse is that Tella, Dallio, Armstrong, KWP all sat on the bench, all capable of adding so much more as an attacking threat.
Redmond, Djenepo, Walcott and JWP. need dropping and/ or selling.

2.) 16 Aug 2021
16 Aug 2021 02:48:05
Agree 100% with all of you guys accurate comments re; JWP and others plus imminent player requirements. I guess that this collapsing trait when in the lead has been evident for many months now -maybe Ralph should have a good hard look in the mirror!

3.) 16 Aug 2021
16 Aug 2021 08:06:24
I am starting to think that Ralph believes in his own hype.
Once given the chance to write ‘the book’ on how Saints should play at all levels, he thinks his way is the right way.
Djenepo (and yes I go on about him) and why he has such awful stats in his PL career. No end product . we’ll ok 1 completed cross to team mates per NINE games!

Walcott, didn’t even know he was on the pitch.

But Ralph persists even with such a strong bench .

4.) 16 Aug 2021
16 Aug 2021 10:33:11
I would be sad to see JWP go. I feel it’s not all his fault as he is a good 8, but he has to play as a 6 as Ralph has no Plan B. JWP would be much better as an 8 playing in front of a solid base (2 x6s? ) . If Ralph continues with his Plan A, then cash in on JWP and go get Harry Winks - a much much better 6.

5.) 16 Aug 2021
16 Aug 2021 11:42:06
I was once asked by someone at SFC (new to the club) how did JWP get in the England team. My answer mirrored your sentiment. he was used as a number 8 very effectively, playing the ball around at will, controlling the centre of the park …
Sad to see him playing the number 6 role, but is it on instructions?

6.) 16 Aug 2021
16 Aug 2021 12:27:23
I believe that should Villa return with a successful bid for JWP manager Dean Smith has identified and recognises that by playing Ward Prowse much further forward in his own formation would transform the player. However Ralph doesn’t appear to recognise this possibility and prefers to continue playing him in a much deeper defensive role.

7.) 16 Aug 2021
16 Aug 2021 15:07:38
Go get a good No6 - spend the money. Play JWP as a No8 and bring in a free DC for cover - Gary Cahill, Mustafi, Kabak. Sorry Ralph 4:2:2:2 has been tried and hasn’t worked. I know you wrote ‘the plan’ but be honest and admit when things have to change.

8.) 16 Aug 2021
16 Aug 2021 16:56:15
I’m no Football Manager (only the game) but how about 4132?
Forster
KWP Bednarek Salisu Perraud
Romeu
S Armstrong JWP Tella
A Armstrong Adams.

9.) 16 Aug 2021
16 Aug 2021 19:23:26
Be more than happy with that lineup Manny561 but JWP needs to start playing further forwards instead of dropping back amongst the defenders all the time. He's not half the player he was 18 months ago. We need him whipping those crosses in for Armstrong and Adams.

10.) 17 Aug 2021
16 Aug 2021 22:02:14
Ralph isn’t going to change unfortunately. If he’s seen what happened so far this year, plans his sides in pre-season and sees it isn’t working in match one, and STILL doesn’t change anything, when will he ever.

He’s said the team are set up and trained to play 4-2-2-2. He says he doesn’t like a back five. Trying to work it out backwards, our best outfield players are KWP, Bednarek, Perraud, Salisu, Romeu, JWP, Adams, Armstrong, Armstrong and Livramento/ Tella. Which is probably a 4-1-3-2 or even a classic 4-4-2. We don’t have another CDM to allow JWP forward in a 4-2-3-1. If we get someone good in, maybe that’s an option.

For now, Ralph is going to make it hard for himself for absolutely no reason. KWP, Bednarek and SArmstrong played zero minutes on Saturday. Just why. They are quite literally our three best players.

United I’ll take 1-4 now. It could easily be six or so.