Billy the Kidd

Spurs - that could have gone either way. Sorry, but I cant accept we looked better under MP2 - to me that is total bollocks. I do worry he now cant out of this mess were in, and could be part of the problem, but I stand by my view to see what we are going to do in the summer window. And again, how was he outclassed by a 29 yo rookie - you just say that as you think it backs up your point - it really doesn’t, Spurs have world class players, and in Bale stil one of the best in the world. We turned to Moussa Djennepo - says it al really. I’d be interested in your analysis of what specifically the 29 yo rookie did, tactically, to turn the game. Other than say “Play better lads”.

Yeah I do agree, and I’m not far from totally losing faith in Ralph. You are clearly an intelligent guy, can you see anything in Ralph that could work out? I just think see the season out, the powers that be know now how much we will spend, if it isn’t going to be enough to support Ralphs needs, he should go and get someone who can work better with what we have. If they back him, i think he could be really good. Re Spuds game, i think that was less a 29 yo debutant manager being better, rather spurs had better players who upped their game. Football is a game of fine margins (not the 9-0’s), and Spurs could have gone either way. I get it didnt go our way, but it could have. Maybe the one thing we do agree is Ralphs stubbornness, particularly around subs. I was quietly boiling in the Leicester game, same v spurs, they came too late and v spurs weren’t the right call. And if he keeps persevering with Nathan and Moussa, he may need taking out back and putting out of his misery.

and with those two we barely looked like, or were capable of beating anyone. With Ralph, sure we have had a horrendous run, but we are also capable of, and have, beaten mot and played outstanding football.

Fair enough, I was only replying to your response to my comment, where it wasnt said we were top. Although not sure if you feel elevated above other posters by constantly referring this ‘cult’ thing. t really makes you appear pious and quite ridiculous. Now, i expect you wouldn’t give a fuck about some random fuckwit saying this on a forum, but it really doesn’t make sense to me, just because people see things differently to you.

I meant to say are not! Teach me not to check what I write!

The 2 things can co-exist. People, definitely me, see that Ralph could be more adapting to the players he has, but also recognise that he has some outstanding qualities that could benefit us longer term. What is clear is that no one has a de facto position on what will happen, and yes other coaches may have done better this season. But this season for obvious reasons is a bit of a strange one. Lots of teams have under performed or over performed. My main concern with Ralph is that is he the right manager at the wrong time, in so much as if a takeover doesn’t happen quickly, I’m not convinced, as you say about stubborn, i dont think he will want to change. I dont believe he is naive, more stubborn and believe his tactics can work, with slightly different players.

I'm amazed people are not calling for Arteta's head considering the season they've had. Pony.

Sure you are correct. Just as my glass is half full, someone else's glass may be half empty. Do you seriously think we are going down?

You literally just said what suited your rhetoric without looking and answering what I wrote. We were top for a very short period, but we were top, but to be top, we must have showed outstanding form for an extended period. Chapel Road said it better than I could...

To be honest, you have your view and I'm not trying to change it. Next season for me is a new start, if you want to wallow on what went on before be my guest. I'm not sure we've been sussed out as such, we just had a perfect shit storm. And who knows, you could be right and were fucked next season, but I'll wait to see what happens in he summer. Of course I see the plummet from Jan this year, and of course it is concerning, very much so. Our form is nailed on relegation, and if we do nothing much this summer I'll be calling for his head along with you, as he needs to adjust the way we play to suit what he has. But, so you not recognise Ralph has the potential to raise the team next year if we get the summer window right? I do which is why I prefer to wait until what is done over summer. If fuck all is done on transfers we may be better changing, and then if we do and results are still shit the first 19 games, he has to go, but I'd be willing to try it out.

Sure, but a season is 38 games, not 15 or whatever our run is. Now, I’m also not suggesting we may win the next 6 games, but the season is roughly what we are, just a bit average over a season.

But we are safe, not sure of the relevance.

So, we didnt go on a brilliant run? You must really enjoy being so miserable. It's weird, but everytime I read your posts they always sound like Eyore narrating them.

So, do you feel we were 'pony' (I cant believe I just wrote that word) for every game this year? I thought we played well in some and got nothing, such as Villa at home. I agree other games we could have played better, and at times down right shit, but not every game. Even v spurs we were ok. And yea, some of the blame goes on Ralph, but do you attach no blame to the players who go out there? I get you could say that Ralph is the one who picks them, but on occasions some of the performances have been questionable, and he only has so much to chose from. I think Ralph has made huge mistakes, such as playing Bednarek at RB which I think cost us in those games, but the failure surely is collective, or is Ralph at fault for some players unable to pass a simple ball 10 yards?

Well, who says we cant afford to pay the manager off? I think we will spend this summer, they dont have a choice as relegation will be financially worse than actually buying players. i can see a fair few leaving also.

So, maybe he will start next season with new players, new ideas. I agree Ralph has got a fair bit wrong this season. I just hope we play the next 6 games far better, get a couple of wins and go again after England lose the Euros.

Oh i totally agree if fans were in stadiums I think he would have either been sacked, or be very close to it. I lost commend the Board - this will either prove to be a stroke of genius or a terminal failure of relegation next season. And I have zero idea why, i just think next season will be good. I’m expecting to be content over the transfer window, and think we may pleasantly surprise people, in a good way that it...

What do we realistically think we will get for Jannick? another £15m or so? With PEH, i was surprised at that price not other interest came.

Not sure, i dont believe that tbh. Ralph has a large release clause for clubs who wanted him (not relevant this season) but if we wanted to dismiss him the fee wont be the same, the two things are separate. It would likely involve paying his contract up, until the point he got another job perhaps.

So, I would for sure give him the rest of this season, and if those game go better than recent ones have, I’d give him maybe 10 games tops thinking about it of next season. As i said earlier, i also would see what happens in the summer. If we get taken over, he may go as part of that clear out, if we dont i think he will stay. The tactics and formation are what also brought success earlier in the season. I think our issues are now more in the heads than anywhere else, and that is something Ralph has to get over. That said, i think we massively over achieve in the 1st 15 games or so, but i dont think we are as bad as we are currently playing. I hope to god we dont offer Bertrand a new deal also, I just dont think he has what we need right now.

Yeah I wouldn’t disagree. isn’t Rafa out of work just now? Not sure AVB would come here, and Potter wouldn’t leave for Saints, but I like how he has Brighton playing, albeit they dont score enough. I still would give Ralph more time, but lately i wonder how much his heart is still in it, at times he looks lost and like a beaten man...

So i do get the concerns about Ralph, but those that keep saying it dont appear, to me at least, be offering a way out of this. What would you do, who would you try to get? At least with Ralph we know he can be good. The only one I would consider right now, if we got rid would be Rafa Benitez, always thought he was a quality manager.

So not necessarily, i just think James was the best at being disciplined in the squad, and is an ok player, but I stick to what I said about pace and moving the ball quickly - with Saints James doesn’t do that. We will be able to replace, our model, whilst being underperforming over the last 3 years, has been to buy £10-£15 mil players. And I think we will keep going with that, and maybe our scouting this year will be better than previous, let’s face it, it couldn’t get much worse could it.

Well, maybe time is all it needs. I’m not for one minute not concerned by our poor form, but I do believe Ralph has massive potential with us. You say the issues are too deep rooted and endemic, which to me sounds like you believe that they go further than the manager, which is likely the case. So getting rid of a manager that has successfully kept us in the league with these issues going on is a bad idea? Is that what you mean? I am for one looking forward to doing an Adkins, and drawing a blue line under this season, seeing how Ralph is supported over the summer with players - both keeping the ones we want and buying the ones we need. If we dont back him over the summer, then I’d agree his style would worry me more next season if we cant do great things this summer. Try and be happy though Charlie, the sun is shining and we may surprise you in the next transfer window...

Yep it is a shame, but I also think whilst I value JWP, I think Ralph's style demands pace and moving the ball quickly, which James doesn't have either in abundance. I imagine he would be fetching a fair wedge, not sure how much but I'd expect north of £30m. I'm out of messages now, think I will sign up proper in the morning!