07 Aug 2022 17:31:13
I'd like to think I'm not one to overreact, but for all the bluster, changes behind the scenes, money put in, that was exactly the same as last season. Score, look shocked, and do our best to concede as many as possible as an apology.

Don't know where a back five has come from when individual errors are our problem, you could play ten defenders but if any of them pass it into their own goal we still lose. Play 4-3-3/4-4-2, play our best players in their best positions. Ralph won't. Hopefully we have a good option lined up to come in.

Most worryingly, where on Earth is the other desperately needed striker coming from? Zero reports, no-one wanting to buy anyone we have for sale, we need a good last few weeks to hopefully move a few on and get one or two more in.

If only we had taken a punt on Potter, Howe, even Silva when they were available. Ah well. Only one game down. Sure it'll get much worse.

1.) 07 Aug 2022
07 Aug 2022 19:31:47
Happy New Season SaintG
There were lots to worry about in that performance, especially individual performances. but it is Ralph’s performance that is the most worrying. Ralph seems to start from, ‘ok these are my current favourites, where can I play them’ . we bring in a new holding midfielder, but do we bench Romeu? Nope. we play Romeu, JWP and Lavia ….
We bring off AA and bring on SA while Che sits on the bench. His latest favourite Djenepo playing left wing back. He was never any good as a winger, even worse as a defender, so we play him as a wing back, eventually bringing on Perraud when the game was lost.
The centre backs were awful … Salisu, Bednerek and and Valery, all with mistakes a plenty.
Chaos and random . any good manager would have taken off Djenepo as soon as it was obvious he was being exploited for his poor defending, marking and positional play . but no, he is the Redmond . the gold star boy .

2.) 07 Aug 2022
07 Aug 2022 20:51:03
I think the most worrying thing is, give this squad to any other manager in the league. Do they play Djenepo, 2 DMs, Bednarek, 3 at the back, no out and out striker?

Absolutely not.

I’d say 17/19 play Bazunu, KWP, ABK, Salisu, Perraud, Lavia, JWP, Aribo, Stu, and any two forwards of Che, Adam, Mara. Something along those lines. But Ralph must see something no-one else does, from somewhere, in training, to make these decisions? We might never know.

3.) 07 Aug 2022
07 Aug 2022 21:11:37
Interestingly and unlike previous seasons, there is little disagreement between our group and nobody as far as I can tell is rushing to Ralph’s defence. In the past we’ve had the ‘give it time’ lobby, (and that’s not a criticism) but this time the condemnation of Ralph is shared by all.

One more point while I’m free wheeling - you cannot win a F1 Grand Prix with an F2 racing car and as I’ve said all too often, our squad has the look and feel of a championship side. There are very few teams with weaker squads than us IMO. So whatever way you cut it, every point is going to be hard earned and we can only pray that there are 3 teams who will fare worse than us. Time will tell, but given our run of games, I can only see us in the bottom 3 come the World Cup break.

4.) 08 Aug 2022
08 Aug 2022 02:35:14
The next one in has to be Ralph’s successor.After watching Graham Potter’s Brighton team overcome Man Utd. at Old Trafford in some style and other similar outfits with relatively ‘newly appointed Managers’ seem to be leaving us in their wake.I’m sure the Owners must be aware that if the right Coach is not installed with immediate effect their investment will be heading for the Championship League next season.

5.) 08 Aug 2022
08 Aug 2022 03:04:05
SUGGESTION BOX for potential replacement CANDIDATES: apart from the three candidates already missed (as highlighted by SaintGGsy) 1. Bruno Lage (WOLVES) 2.Unai Emery (VILLAREAL) 3. Patrick Viera (C.PALACE)

6.) 08 Aug 2022
08 Aug 2022 03:44:35
The problem we have now, is that we were once seen as an attractive club playing attractive football. Able to attract Koeman and Poch. We were pushing for European football, playing entertaining football. Now we are one of the clubs we used to look down, the clubs who year after year had a relegations fight. That’s us now!
Why would any of those managers come here? What do we have to offer?
Look at Brighton and their entertaining football.

I think our only hope is to entice Koeman or Poch back. They both loved it here!
We haven’t got a lot else to offer a manager, so let’s hope nostalgia wins the day.
I now love watching the likes of Palace, Brighton etc they play good football .
And the bottom line is .
we don’t!

7.) 08 Aug 2022
08 Aug 2022 07:02:35
Remember Levi Colwall? Ex Chelsea young Central Defender prodigy ( who we spent most of the pre season chasing ) has been signed and utilised by Brighton at Old Trafford.How come when we desperately need a Centre Back we keep missing out on these types of affordable Players? Chris Richards was another one.Guess we are too indecisive and been caught dallying too many times allowing another one to get away!

8.) 08 Aug 2022
08 Aug 2022 07:05:37
Correction Levi Colwall.

9.) 08 Aug 2022
08 Aug 2022 07:17:50
I think your not far out there south hants rich as Pochettino is now in the market but if he became available his entourage could be a deterrent considering our recent coaching re-shuffle.

10.) 09 Aug 2022
09 Aug 2022 04:52:30
SaintGGsy the team you suggested 7th Aug is 100% identical to mine (for better or worse)!