Dusic

The 3 CBs doesnt work for us. Our weakest position is CB, so why pick one more than we need to? We are at our best when we have two high energy strikers and get our full backs forward. The 3 CBs takes away both of those and also nulifies Armstrong. Poor selection tonight as well as performance. I think Ralph should have brought on Adams after about 30mins.

We were on a clear path to relegation when Ralph came in. We are now comfortably midtable whilst having an extremely low net spend and always selling our best players. Thats a better than average job.

Clearly Everton, Newcastle and Villa are in a different league financially. Our direct competitors are the likes of Brighton, Palace, possibly Wolves and Leeds. That in itself shows how hard it is to improve on where we are...for a club like ours the first priority will always be to stay in the league. However, it doesnt always take ludicrous cash to improve a position. For example not crazy to suggest we could have signed Jose Sa, Guehi or Raphinha who would all hugely have improved our side. Indeed we did sign KWP and Salisu who arguably fit that kind of level - KWP certsinly does. We need 2/3 good signings to give ourselves a chance to improve.

Simple question but no obvious answer. Is it even realistic to ask for more given relative resources vs PL rivals? Clearly strikers make a huge difference and its no coincidence that our best form this season has been when Broja has been at his most productive performance and goals wise. IMO if we look at positions I would judge as follows: GK - can improve. Forster has been better than McCarthy but is still so stiff in movement and is clearly not the sweeper keeper Ralph wants. The decision to extend McCarthy's deal already looks a mistake. Full back - strong area, keeping what we have will be an achievement Centre Back - we have one really good CB, despite Salisu's recent wobbles. Bednarek is hit and miss and perhaps is coming to a natural end at Saints despite having overall been a good signing. IMO Lyanco is the issue...neither he nor Stephens really put any pressure on Bednarek. Considering we were following Guehi and then signed Lyanco it shows how big a gap there is from Salisu to Lynaco and Stephens...and it shows. One of them needs moving on in the summer to improve in this position with a starting player. Centre Mid - lets be honest there wil be more interest in JWP this summer and surely if a top 6 club really move for him then he would (and should) go. His partnership eith Romeu is generally great and a strength kof our side. Diallo in 18mths hasn't shown that he is ready to be a PL starter and Smallbone isnt strong enough to play there. Investment needed. No 10 - alongside CB our weakest area. Armstrong is good, but can't deal with 3 games a week and all the others are flaky. Moi has shown more this season but IMO still not enough to be a nailed starter each week. Djenepo is obviously on his way out and I'm sure an agreement could be reached with Walcott as no point having a glittering career and ending it like this. Big opportunity here and should be #1 focus if we are to improve. Striker - tough one as so much depends on Broja. Keep him in some form and our four (Broja, Adams, Armstrong, Tella) are fine. If, as expected, he isnt here next season then its a massive gap and even to stand still will need a shrewd signing that has a near immediate impact. Whilst Adams was poor in much of his first season he improved at the end of the season...can Armstromg do the same? If its clear Broja won't be here next year will we give AA a run for the last few games? So much depends on Broja and for both parties a second loan makes so much sense...but football is not based on sense! In the background...is Tella actually good enough? Doesn't have the required composure to be a good striker IMO. Handy option for now but not one we can rely on and I wouldn't stske much on him being a PL.player in four or five years time. Summary - very hard to improve but keys areas are GK, CB and No10.

Pretty fucking obvious that a team like Saints will be in better form when a striker is playing well and scoring vs when they are not. The same as almost every team outside the top 6. We know enough about Ralph's football to realise the way we play is very effective when we are on it and from time to time is very open to a big defeat when we are not at the level, like today. This isn't any different and isn't a sign of anything bigger.

Imagine at some stage in the future he will look back at the last 3 years in embarassment. Very, very few players at any club are afforded such legendary status and ruining it to the extent of having to stand down as an ambassador is quite something.

Sad to see his radicalisation over the last couple of years. Probably started by having too much time on his hands and then doubled down instead of admitting he was wrong. Where will it end?!

You do realise that we cannot sign him until the summer, even if we actually want him at all?

Stephens is a good 4th choice CB for the following reasons: - He doesn't seem to mind large spells out of the team - He is totally used to how we play - Good communicator and definitely cares - Can be capable of good performances at times - Usually always fit and available - Counts as homegrown for the quotas The problem IMO is that he shouldn't be higher than a 4th choice. If Bednarek and Lyanco were not able to play then there isnt much else that could have been done as he is the next in line. My bigger issue is that instead of signing Lyanco - an unknown quantity who would need time to settle etc - we should have tried to sign someone who would genuinely compete with Bednarek for a starting spot. We all know why we didn't: money. Thats just an example of Ralph's "we know our limits" line.

Only summary of that game can be that we played well and two bad mistakes from our CBs killed us. They are too good to gift 2 goals and think you have a chance. Until the penalty it was a tough game for them. Love the fact that Ralph always plays 2 strikers and gives it a go against them.

I would imagine it means any fees (even loan) cannot be seen to go into the club and as they would also not be able to buy anyone I would assume that it means the chances of Broja being anywhere but Chelsea next season are almost none. Unless somehow the sanctions are lifted in the near future. Anyway, Chelsea would be out of their minds if they didnt have Broja in their squad next season regardless of this.

When we sell him it has to be for mega money as he is so good. Assuming he won't sign an extension is it better to get £50m this summer or £20m in summer 2023? Business wise it would be a no-brainer to sell him this summer. Obviously best outcome is an extension with a promise we won't hold him back next summer.

Looks another good signing. Really tenacious player, gets tight to people and is solid on the ball. Only thing we haven't seen is an ability to beat his man in the final third and cross, but his off the ball running is good.

Again, if Chelsea decide to sell Broja they are absolutely mental. Top player who has potential to be a superstar. What a loan signing, considering few of us had even heard of him.

Not suprised, just proves that the cup is always a lower priority for Managers and Clubs than the league. Not saying that is right, but its certainly true.

Its pretty obvious that he will rotate because no matter what, for clubs and managers the league is always a higher priority than the cup games. We have a big squad that he has to try to keep happy and a few players, Stuart Armstrong being one, that has to be managed carefully to keep him fit. Anyone who is suprised when they see the team tomorrow and we have made a few changes shouldn't be suprised and equally it doesnt mean we have no chance of winning.

Imagine there will be quite a fee changes for both teams. West Ham have looked tired for a few weeks now and Saints have players who really need game time, Armstrong, Diallo, Stephens etc

Easily overlooked because of Broja but Adams is developing really well and is a miles better player than when we first signed him. Good instinctive finisher (still misses too many more straightforward ones), works really hard and is nearly always available. If we paid 15m, he must be worth £25m now. Hopefully he gets the new contract he has earned.

If Chelsea were to sell him to anyone it would be a spectacular fail on their part.

He obviously meant Thomas Frank considering the comments and style of play employed by Brentford vs say Lage who is very pragmatic.

Would say our chances of a permanent signing are less than 1% and a second loan probably looking less likely by each game. Chelsea will surely use him next season and if they were to sell we will have no chance of competing with the big clubs that will want him. Great loan from a Saints, Chelsea and Broja perspective - just a shame we couldn't have bought him last summer.

So much better this season and in the last two games especially has been really good. But...the conundrum...with 18months left on his contract, what do we do this summer? A.) Sell for whatever we can and buy someone else B.) New contract, assuming a 3 year extension (should he be open to it of course) C.) Do nothing, keep him next season and then allow him to leave on a free at the end of the season I would say C is poor business, still not sure B is really the right thing unless he is fantastic for the rest of the season, so would still say A is the favourite at this point, but B not ruled out. Productivity wise, #10 is still our weakest area and if we make a good signing there then I think two of the current options need to go. Walcott and Djenepo probably most likely, so if that happens maybe we could keep Moi and still add there.

Did Ralph say if Bednarek's substitution was injury related? Down to only two fit CBs if so, with nobody obvious to cover that position.

Professional, robust, available for almost every game, improving and capable of high class moments. As Ralph would say, seems like a good package.

Had earned a contract extension IMO.