Forester

This. I thought Bednarek was very poor against Burnley, but has probably only had two or three bad games this season and doesn’t deserve to be dropped as a knee jerk. As other have said, great chance for both starters and subs to show why they should play at Wembley.

First the negative, which for me was a lack of protection for Fraser from primarily Bednarek (who had a shocker) but also late on was disappointing that our front four amongst others didn’t work harder to cut out Burnley’s crosses and long balls that put us under pressure. That said lots of positives, the second consecutive enjoyable attacking performance, six goals in two games, and we look a real handful going forward. Great to get Theo and Ings back, and while Theo not at his best was a good assist for the third having started the attacking move too. Genuine options from the bench finally, with three subs used but Minamino, Stephens and Tella all unused which shows some more depth. Redmond back to the player that many of us see him to be when he has confidence. Clearly West Brom will be tougher match than we may have expected a few weeks back, but now it’s very credible that we could target an improvement on 11th from last season and we are in semi-final.

My preference would be for him to sign contract extension. Fully fit he is one of the best around. However, every player has his price and in the three seasons we have had him he has had injury problems in two of them. History suggests the closer to 30 players get, they rarely suffer fewer injuries. So this becomes a cold hard “every player has his price” situation. In my opinion we need to sign two strikers in the summer, assuming we will look to move Long on. This could provide useful funds to do so

I am generally a big Ralph fan, albeit critical of his in-game management which I think is his weakness. Even so I would be careful with this stat as I actually think part of the problem is twofold: - he often leaves subs too late, so not surprising they haven’t yielded many goals or assists - on several occasions I would have liked us to shore up our position in games when we are winning and be more cautious. This won’t be popular with many fans but, if I had a magic wand, I’d like to see Ralph approach for the first hour and Puel approach for the last 30 mins! So I am less interested in how many goals and assists the subs generate and more interested in the score line at the time of sub and then the end result. On that basis Ralph definitely has a big development area

Very good post and aligns to my thinking. Reckon in Ralph’s 27 months in charge he has had two poor spells of three months. Let’s ride it out

I haven’t changed my view on this over the last month, where at least four points have been accumulated which is more than the previous month as horrific as it is to say. And we have a great chance of making semi-final of FA cup. In essence, the football is poor, the results are poor and we are going backwards in games not forwards. So all in all it is woeful. However...... ....the key for me is that this is a manager who across 40 matches in an entire calendar year finishing as recently as three months ago amassed top four points. Not a good month or two, a whole year. So unlike Pellegrino, Wigley, Gray as examples of Premier League managers we have had who are clearly out of their depth it is obvious that Ralph has something about him that is capable of getting a very average squad to outperform. We all know that confidence and momentum in football is massively important, and as others have pointed out our season has collapsed under the weight of injuries, playing twice a week and therefore a permanently unsettled team. I think we will benefit from the remainder of the season being largely one match per week. Let’s get through to end of season, somehow accumulating another six or seven points, and let Ralph rebuild in the summer. I think he has earned the right to have that patience from us and the board.

A deeply concerning performance, and with Fulham looking nothing like a bottom six team, we have to inject some energy into these last few games. I personally won’t be comfortable until we get 40 points and that looks a long way off the way we are playing. As an absolute minimum we need two wins, or one win and three draws, given our goal difference and the games are running out where that looks likely. A number of players individually under performed today, particularly KWP and Armstrong who are usually two of our best and most consistent players. Minamino also anonymous, and with him and Armstrong failing to protect full backs we looked over run on Brighton counter attacks while ponderous going forward. Seemed to take until stoppage time to figure out that you can’t play easily through a defensive block of ten Brighton players and so you need to get width and whip crosses in.

We need our two 10s to get back more quickly when Brighton break. Too many overloads

I can’t complain as before the Sheff Utd game I said that this was the lowest priority of the three games. If we draw or win against Brighton (don’t forget onus is on them to catch us) it’s been a decent week. Thought Redmond, Adams, JWP and after coming on Diallo were our best players. We played some very good stuff going forward. However an admittedly destabilised defensive line up didn’t work, and for me Salisu was very poor. Wont over react to this as remember how bad Vest looked when he arrived, but in my opinion he has significant improvement needed and isn’t a fullback.

Conserve energy for Brighton and protect those returning from injury. Forster Stephens, Bednarek, Vest, Salisu, Bertrand Redmond, Jank, JWP, Djenepo Adams

Really believe that Ralph needs to think about this week in totality, with three games followed by the international break. Won’t be popular with some fans but priorities in order for me are: 1. Do not lose to Brighton. Maintain, or stretch, the gap. 2. Try to beat Sheffield United today. 3. Try to get anything from City midweek. As a result I would try to play following 4222 in both Saturday games: Forster KWP, Bednarek, Vest, Bertrand Diallo, JWP Armstrong, Redmond Ings, Minamino Then for midweek I would go 541 (or 343 in possession) and try to protect one or two. So.. Forster Stephens, Vest, Bednarek, Salisu, Betrand Djenepo, Jankowicz, JWP, Teller Adams

I think the major divide between fans on this topic is not whether or not people think the football is currently poor and the results are worse. That is obvious. Instead the divide I think is between people who feel that 2020 was a genuinely outstanding year, with Saints racking up the equivalent of top four points, and therefore see potential in Ralph to again hit heights when he has a fit squad again, and those who don’t either recognise this, don’t believe he is capable of getting the team to rise again and/or doesn’t deserve patience and support. And I haven’t even mentioned FA Cup quarter final looming. I am firmly in the former camp and find it bizarre that a matter of nine weeks ago no body would question Ralph, and yet suddenly he needs to be sacked. If you had a couple of poor months at work off the back of high performance I imagine you would hope that your bosses didn’t think you had suddenly become worthy of ditching. I accept that things can’t go on forever, but as an absolute minimum he should be given the next six games, including four fixtures against our relegation rivals and a cup quarter final. If we lost all of that we would indeed be in a precarious position, probably needing eight points from seven games. But I don’t think we will.

For what it is worth I think Ryan has been one of our very best all time Premier League players. Has been consistently one of the country’s top full backs for seven seasons, played under five managers and has been undisputed first choice under all of them. Enjoy him while you can

My flippant response would be “it hasn’t, wait until end of season”! More seriously if we get to cup final and finish say twelfth upwards then yes. If we win the cup I would say it would be one of our greatest ever. My post earlier was all about looking at the WHOLE season, not a sub section of it, as well as the circumstances.

Putting aside some of the more caustic comments this has actually been a good thread. For what it is worth Whitey had strong views back in the day in Puel which I always felt was unfair, but he has been consistent. For my part 8th and a cup final (achieved by beating Premier League opposition all the way, away from home, and not conceding a goal including Liverpool) was at the very least a good season. To do so without Mane, Pelle, and for half the season Fonte and VVD was even more impressive, as was having to handle the highest number of fixtures (because of Europe and cup run) in our Premier League history. What did for Puel is that, apart from COViD seasons, we had a record three home games in May at the end of a record long season and failed to score a goal. It turned many fans who I think over reacted to what was, I fully agree, a turgid end of season (albeit one of those was a draw against Manure). What we can all agree I am sure is that he was replaced by the most inept manager in our history, and yes I recall the Branfoot days! So what does all this have to do with today? It’s good to be reminded that you have to look at a whole season and weigh up the pros as well as the cons. I think the COVID factors behind pre season and match schedule, combined with injuries as bad as we have known for years, have to be factored in. Ralph thoroughly deserves patience and backing. And also, be careful what you wish for!

Forster Stephens, Bednarek, Vest, Bertrand Jank (assuming no Romeu), JWP Redmond, Armstrong Ings, Minamimo Mina knows where back of net is but looks too lightweight to play in one of the minefield positions so would like to see him up too with Ings for this game

No, would take a Sheffield United 2020 run of form to get sucked in. However as others have said we need to finish the season with a bit of style or it can easily bleed into next season

This

I recall Stephens played full back earlier in the season and we kept a clean sheet. Think it was to cover Bertrand. I don’t think he was particularly culpable up at Newcastle where the main offender was Bednarek, aided and abetted by McCarthy.

Firstly I hate whinging about decisions and try to avoid it as over the season you win some and lose some. But today two decisions made a major impact on the result. No question, and it is dishonest to ignore the significance of that today. Turning to us, and it is also one eyed to ignore just how well we played first half. We played some terrific stuff, and yes that included playing out from the back, and really needed to find that second goal which would have been a deserved return on that first half. It was inevitable that Wolves would not be so subservient second half and we aren’t killing teams off when we have them under the pump. But the second half was night and day, even ignoring the VAR horror show. I don’t think overall we defended poorly today, but I do agree it is time to give Forster a run in the team. It is important that as a manager you don’t have your favourites and the stats say FF should start. Finally I don’t think things are as parlous as some on here make out. The cup wins against Arsenal and Wolves should not be air brushed out of a fair assessment of 2021, we are in quarter finals against only Championship team left in competition, and are comfortably safe. No need to reach for the pistol and whiskey.

I would go for this, other than Bednarek for Salisu. But I think Ralph will revert to Alex

Excellent performance, look at the match stats which back that statement up. Thought everyone worked their socks off including Redmond, Moussa and Teller who don’t get much praise on here. Armstrong outstanding, thought Salisu looked quick and good recovery defender but was lucky not to be punished for couple of errors. He will improve though, as Vest has. Final word for Bednarek after a horrible couple of weeks, back to his solid best tonight.

Ok here are the positives: Vest is back and Romeu is back. Two beautiful goals. Now the negatives. Alex. A shadow of the 2020 version so far this year. Assuming Forster plays well in cup he needs to keep his place. Bednarek needs withdrawing from front line and psychologically rewiring. Salisu to play Thursday alongside Vest. And one thing not being spoken about, we have gone seven league and cup games without EITHER striker scoring. Worryingly they are beginning to look like players who know they have no competition for places. Is Ings contract issue weighing on his mind? Finally why did Ralph not bring Moussa on for Bednarek when Newcastle went down to ten men? We didn’t need four defenders for so long

Tonight is one for calm heads at the club. The decision to loan out two defenders that have both featured in the first team over the last week looks even more bizarre. We play a struggling Newcastle side in four days time, who have just lost at home tonight, and need to not let this dominate thinking. Draw strength from what happened after Leicester last season. However the difference is we are now horrendously stretched for saturday’s match. The French lad looked like a bunny caught in the headlights when he came on and yet may have to play centre back. Only option is Ramsay centre back and JWP right back, but then you have zero holding midfielders. What a mess

Totally different types of player, which itself is very handy and gives Ralph tactical flexibility when both are fit along with JWP