saint michael

I think that’s a really good assessment Nick. I agree the squad isn’t the squad he expected to have this year, and is now stuck in the same scenario as last year of survival. This has to be the strange reason for some of the selections and some of the drops. He clearly has some players he is forcing to play because he has few options. Yoshida’s comment on pressing struck a chord with what Strachan used to say, which was when you haven’t got the most talented group they have to work harder to be fitter and for their skills to last longer. I do believe we are still stuck in the bad recruitment loop, dealing with bad buys and this is combined with the inevitable shrinking financial pool of self funding from ops.

Think we lack belief. Feels like you are just waiting for the mistake and goal to come. Why oh why we stayed with 5 at the back after they went to 10 men I just don’t know. We move the ball to slowly again. Think we are going to see some highs but we are also going to see more like this. Not sure how we are going to change this type of performance without a major team shakeup. Anyone know why he didn’t put Valery in when Cedric got injured?

Not really surprised when we haven’t solved last years defensive issues. We have changed in that we press a lot more but we still don't move the ball fast enough and you can see players holding the ball until people move rather than instinctive moving. We seem to play as a group of individual talent rather than team talent. I don’t believe we have changed enough from last year to make us different this year. All being exasperated by playing players out of position. Playing at home also requires a different approach and strategy and don’t think Ralph has got this right yet. Sadly think we have more of this to come

Ralph seems happy with the performance up until we went behind. That’s worrying for me. He talks about being nasty. I’m not sure how we will show this with this pool of players. I’m not sure how capable we are of changing things when we need to and that’s why the heads drop. We have very few players who can consistently impose themselves on a game. I don’t believe today will be an exception... hope I’m wrong

Definition of madness is doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Very little change in today’s set up other than more familiarity with system and fitness levels. We all know the defensive weakness and this just hasn’t been addressed. If you continue to use only the operational pool of funds sell and hire what you gain. Unless you are unearthing gems and making big funds sooner or later the pool becomes smaller and you start to fail. We may be ok and am sure will win some but predict another season like last year few more points maybe. I know people will trot out how well Ralph did in the second half of year. Let’s hope he can do that again. I thought Huddersfield game at end of last season was opportunity to show momentum and change. Again showed mindset.

The worst bit is that the fans spend hard earned money to watch that so expect a performance and just don’t get it. Ralph decides its a chance to see some squad players which we all know aren’t up to it. The inevitable is that we lose in a shambles of a performance. I thought Ralph should have come out and said it as it is that it wasn’t good enough and some players clearly aren’t up to this level that for me was a big mistake. Season clearly over and we just need to move on

Great keeper, saw him play for stoke against us and he was a special keeper of that age. RIP gordon. Another 66 player bites the dust

We have been told that we need to balance the books on all transfers so ins will be dependent upon what this position looks like and how much that budget allows for us on the type of players needed. ....bargain basement or good young recruitees with potential.

What was the total tv revenues during this period. Hasn’t the last couple of years awarded the bottom side around 100m per year? Investment transfer budgets would usually be set around total picture

These may well be the 5 defining games or at least 4 of them. We do really need to win the 4 against the teams around us. Pretty well make us safe then

I don’t know how we are going to offload ALL the players we need to. How Jack Stephens gets near this side is beyond belief. Look at both goals and miss for them at the end. Throw in Cedric Targett Long... that’s just from the team playing. Very worrying Ralf looks really ****ed off.

I agree we have other needs but I think that the lack of defensive cover by a good DM has a huge effect and is an important piece of the whole defence issue we have

I see Wanyama being touted for loan move to WBA. We could do worse than take him back

A Agree with all these points and also great to see Redmond on top form long may it continue

Attack All the defenders have weaknesses and prone to individual mistakes. What they have all lacked I believe is any structure and organisation around them which I would blame the management for. Also think we are weak in midfield defenders and who are incapable of breaking up play retaining the ball and protecting the defence. I am sure RH will help some of this but we def need to change a few players out before we see this get better

Ideally giving full singing end to saints sounds good especially if safe standing gets the go ahead. Don’t think we help ourselves when we insist on letting away team kick towards their fans in second half usually when we are under the cosh Can you tell us what else is being discussed by this group and the club please

Hope so with Viera as manager

Welcome Arsene Wenger

I can believe what you say Nick, their poor fitness is showing in first touch, shooting, and making and moving into space. It’s all so ploddy

I thought that was shockingly bad today. We were playing Newcastle not City... Austin is just a cart horse and is in the past. Ow Hughes has the audacity to stand on the line and have a go at the fans near the end when there was a groan about passing beggars belief. We have an unfit team that are unorganised and untrained. I’m not one for calling for heads but time to F off hughes

Agree with most of that Nick. That feeling of no competition takes away the whole point of sport for me. I just can’t see things are sustainable for us at the moment so something has to change. This owner needs the prem money but looks highly likely to lose it soon. Can see the search for another buyer at some point

I think going down is the least of our problems, with that form it’s almost certain. The club imploding again is of much more concern

Well that was fun wasn’t it... Inept owner..inept Board...inept manager...inept team... pick any, change needed at all levels..we are beyond a quick fix now, need To take some sensible longer term decisions and live with the short term Shyte being served up. Think the set up is getting off very lightly from the fans paying and watching that week in and out

More cross with second half v Brighton Think we have losing mentality rife in club now and cycle will be difficult to break Poor tactics and structure Poor performances Shame cant have clear out from top to bottom and start again. We will go route down league and clear up again before coming back. Also feeling less bothered as really hate prem league more and more. Never really expected winning at Liverpool over the years but always felt like we would give it a go.