Dusic

Disagree with this. Its not terrible. It is a bottom third squad, for a team with a bottom third budget. Stronger in some areas than others. A few proven PL players and lots that are not. A lack of match winners as we can't afford them.

I have been pro Ralph for a long time but starting to waver slightly, for 3 main reasons: 1. After 3 years, sometimes players just need an alternative approach to keep them on their toes. 2. Our worrying pattern of being absolutely awful in most second halves - ultimately this is where the majority of games are decided, especially as a team that doesnt score many goals. 3. Strange selections, like not starting Lyanco today after a very good game vs Brighton. Dropping Adams a few times when in good form. That said, generally our biggest problem is not scoring enough goals when we are on top in games and I dont see how he is to blame for that. Ultimately, in attacknwe have #10s with no real history of scoring many goals and no proven PL strikers. Its no coincidence that our best spell under Ralph came when Ings was on fire and obviously we couldnt keep him and then replaced him with an inferior player who will need a season to find his feet at this level. One thing is for sure, any Manager to were to come in would face exactly the same challenges as Ralph: 1. Leading a club with no ability to spend more than we receive in transfer fees. 2. A lack of really good PL level players, plus a selling policy of any that do train on with less proven replacements signed 3. Unproven strikers 4. A PL that is ever richer with more clubs provided with serious investment. We probably have a realistic ceiling of about 12th/13th in the PL.

Why is Harry Lewis, aged 23 even at the club if they need to sign another goalkeeper so he doesn't have to play on the only occassion he is actually required? He should have been let go years ago.

Lewis is absolute dross. When he gets released at the end of the season he will struggle to find a club in the EFL. If McCarthy and Forster are out for all of December we are in big trouble and hopefully would look at a free agent.

Interesting snippet posted over on ldsports.com

Plus he said there was a seemingly good deal that was ruined by the pandemic.

Yes. No 10 is by far our weakest position, but he is the best of a bad/injury prone bunch.

To me it seems fairly obvious. No team can press well for 90mins and when you take away the high intensity we don't have much else. Pressing well requires everyone to function together, to move in sync and not leave large gaps when someone else has pushed forward. I think the longer the game goes, the harder it is to play this style and gaps open for the opponent where we aren't quite as sharp and also where they have gotten used to how we play and where the spaces are. In midfield Romeu often tires and isnt often replaced (no viable alternstive today) and we arent a team setup to keep possession for long periods. Aside from pressing we have little recognisable style and in the attacking third don't have the individual quality, and as the intensity drops we become a lot more basic. In addition, because we rarely kill games off in the first half the opponent nearly always raises their level, especially if they have been woeful like Norwich were.

As we have started to concede more soft goals I wonder if its time for a front sweeper who can defend all across the pitch and stop goals from going in? Romeu is too slow, Stephens too error prone and Lyanco too hyped. Seeing as he isnt playing much, I think Perraud could play this role well, as was once mooted for Frazer Richardson. ------------McCarthy------------- TL -------JB-------MS-------KWP <<<<<<<<<<Perraud>>>>>>>>> ----------JWP--------OR-------- ME-------------CA--------------AA

Maybe his contract situation has something to do with his minimal minutes?

When I look at the current PL table and the teams above us compared to Saints for squad quality and spending power I would conclude: - The current top 10 (Brighton aside) are on a different level and it would be a huge achievement to finish above one of those clubs over a league season. - Of the other 5 ahead of us Villa and Wolves have better squads and Palace invested a lot this summer. - Brentford & Watford have had some good results but will be bottom third of the table most likely. Conclusion: we are about where we should be given squad quality and spending power. To finish much higher we will need to be finiahing ahead of the likes of Villa, Wolves, Palace over a complete season which we may do, but certainly have no right to based on available playing and financial resources. Since our string of top half finishes we have become weaker whilst the depth of the PL has become stronger and more teams are able to spend big than has been the case before. Are fan expectations too high?

Given before today he hasnt missed a PL game since late 2018 I don't understand how you can make such a conclusion unless it is based upon literally 1 (one) game?

2nd loan probably the best we could hope for. No need for Chelsea to sell on the cheap, no real need for Broja to push from his side and the fee they would want will probably be beyond us sadly. He must be seen as a £15-£20m asset already and that will only increase.

I do feel that Amrstrong will score goals if we create chances for him. Thats our biggest issue, there aren't enough chances being created by the likes of Redmond, Djenepo, Moi, Walcott. Other teams in the bottom half have players like Sarr, ASM, Raphinha, Traore, Zaha - we have nobody who is anywhere near the level of these in terms of creative ability and threat. We badly need one of ours to find some kind of form.

From the press conference written section comments I wouldn't expect Broja to start. Ralph still thinks he is best as a sub for now, as Albania use him as well. I think it will be Armstrong and Tella again.

We have definitely had a tough start fixture wise but with no Bamford, and Raphinha doubtful at best there probably won't be a better time to play Leeds.

I've said it before but what is the point in Harry Lewis? Nowhere near good enough to have the slightest chance of playing at PL level and should have left the club a couple of years ago. When he does leave he will play L2 at the very best but most likely non league.

No sightings. Surely he isn't going to play until after the next Intl break at the earliest as also had no pre season.

Odds on this lad getting a red for his first tackle?

They knew enough about a 15yo in our Academy to poach him, so I don't think they (or any PL side) will be bamboozled by a full Intl who played in the Eredivisie last season! But agree, could be a good option if we go one up front again.

That team tonight is very young, and clearly some decent players in the U18s like Doyle who will take him to have an impact at U23 level. However when you think of our recent U23s who have been amongst the better prospects at one stage is it quite enlightening how many have utterly bombed in pro football. Off the top of my head: Will Ferry - L2, plays but in a dire team Jake Vokins - L1/SPL, not yet made any pro impact Jake Hesketh - National League Josh Sims - unattached Callum Slattery - SPL Tyreke Johnson - National League Marcus Barnes - Unattached Ryan Seager - Non league Alfie Jones - L1/Championship, probably the best of these Tom O'Connor - L1 Harry Lewis - hasn't played a proper mens match for about 4 years Probably 300 U23 apps between these lads and most either played for the first team or were hyped to.

Thats the thing: end of this season he could be worth £30m or £5m. Nobody wants a CB who makes big errors every 4 or 5 games. If he cuts those out (big if) and improves his weaknesses then he has a good game.

Hope we are trying to extend his contract. Regardless of what Saints do as a team this season, teams will be noticing him. As it stands, our optimal time to sell would be 2022 summer, so would be good to push that back a year and allow him to develop a little more. He could be a top CB if he improves a bit in possession and as a set piece threat.

IMO the reason he started the season ahead of Bednarek is that Salisu was going to be the no1 CB and Ralph realised that a Bednarek/Salisu partnership is fsr too limited on the ball to work. Both are decent defenders, Salisu is great 1v1 and Bednarek is generally solid. But the weakest element of both their games is on the ball, technical ability. Stephens has some pretty big flaws: concentration, aerial ability, size and ability to dominate physical opponents. But he is calm on the ball and has the ability to play passes to break the lines. He is a funny player overall, and you can imagine frustrating for Managers because if he could cut out the errors he is actually quite good, and clearly has leadership skills that are quite rare these days. But thats the thing, he will have good games but can he have 5 in a row with no big mistakes? History says no, but over to him I guess...

Well JWP hasn't trained this week due to a stomach issue so if any of our CMs miss out then it would surely be him.