Chez

I think the one eye on the cup thing is load of bollocks. Win today and it lifts the players a bit and beating Leicester will give them some much needed confidence too.

Not sure we are capable of grinding out a 0-0. Seems a while since did that. Your alternative sounds very feasible. Can't wait for the game now. It's been a fucking horrible period of watching Saints, but I'm going to try to forget what we have done recently and go into the game with nothing but optimism. We can win this game. Leicester are a very good side, and we are not, but upsets do happen.

He's leaving. There is no reason to `gift' him minutes to improve him. He's on the bench in case he is needed. No more, no less. If two CMs get injured, he will probably get on the pitch. If not, he wont. Not saying I agree with this. IMO he should have got minutes earlier which may he prevented his transfer request, but we are where we are. Pity as he may turn out to be a talent.

the Shane Long comparison is a good one. Runs fast in straight lines, works hard, offers something, but if you want to create a side capable of fighting in the upper echelons you need more. With the funds we have that means gambling a little on youth, a lower league player or someone from abroad.

I have never understood why managers stand by the sideline pretending to be some sort of ringmaster. It feels like its just done to give the TV something else to show and make them the star so they can earn the big bucks too. You can see a lot more, especially the shape, from up in the stands. The Pulis type non stop shouting of encouragement snd instructions...how much does that actually help? As a player, do you really want you manger constantly barking instructions at you?

Early tactical changes. I might be harsh here, but does Ralf ever make them? Often hard to see when watching in TV and sometimes it can be subtle and sometimes it simply makes no difference, but I hardly ever recall us changing shape early doors when we are clearly too open or set up wrong.

we were pretty shit in the final too though really compared to how we had played all season.

if you were expecting a comfortable win, then you haven't watched us for the last four months or WBA for the last 6 weeks. Good question though, why did we win games before and not now. At the end of last season I put our good run partly down to teams other than us not training well enough and being on the beach. We benefitted from closed stadiums and zero atmospheres. Not sure why we were able to carry that across nor lose it so spectacularly, other than raft of injuries. Loss of confidence perhaps from the losses when we had injuries?

I'd of put my house in him hitting that side of the goal. I think about the last 10 pens he and Ings has taken have all gone to that side.

When do we ever make it hard for an opponent? We don't seem to have it in us.

shite Davis?

I've never been a big fan. He is willing to foul and chuck his body at things - and sometimes you need that, but he is too slow of thought and body IMO. We don't protect out CBs enough to be fair.

other than coach the first team, what does Ralf actually do? If we need a defensive coach then we may as well get rid.

Slow centre backs surrounded by players that want to bomb forward all the time. It's a recipe for disaster.

do we still look bothered? Nothing to do with lack of effort. We just ain't any good.

In your opinion. mine differs from yours.

when teams press us, we crack. Sit back and we will pass all day long.

we always look bothered. We just ain't very good. Only difference second half is WBA have sat back

we are creating chances. Who do you want to take off?

too slow and bottled using his left. Adams would have been crucified for that. What a shit break. Far far too slow.

our defending when WBA break is horrific. Players are slow, don't work hard enough and don't actually look where opponents are.

top much space around them. Full backs bomb on. Armstrong and Walcott not done enough to support them. It's a collective issue.

another chance for us. We have had opportunities. I think that's our problem. In order for us to be creating chances we have to leave ourselves open. We can't get the balance right, or dont have the quality of player to allow us to get the right balance.

with hindsight yes, but in reality you don't kick the ball into the stand, you just make a better pass. He fucked up. Not Ralf's fault. Others things are though.

give it time my boy, give it time.