Holmes_and_Watson

Broadly speaking that was a RalphBall v2 success. Get an early lead, followed by progressive containment, constricting space, with Adams as an out. As the game progresses, look to capitalise on teams coming further forward, leaving wider gaps, while bringing on fresh legs for tired ones. So, that worked to Ralph's plan. Personally, I'm not a fan of dropping back as much. Even Bournemouth get more chances against us than anyone else. We're (and probably lots of teams who would try the same thing) will have some errors of judgement in there. Bazunu dropped one late on, Larios posted missing etc. We've all seen us struggle to then turn the game back into attack. It's also requiring players to show some different parts of their game. Some that they are not as strong in. JWP isn't a holding midfielder. He's not as effective that far back when trying to find outballs for the others. It's only late game, when there could be a lot of space (on the rare occassions we still have a lead) that he's more effective. I was hoping AMN would have a bit of everything in a versatile locker. But he's in the same boat, as not really being stand out in anything. Diallo looked better, but that was because he came in when Saints were looking for a break, and he could push forward to his strengths, against tiring opponents. Lavia looked good in the role, and we got rid of the best player we had before that, in Romeu. Both smart enough to cover that area, with some grit and skill. I can't fault the line up too much. It's probably what I expect. Not so much our best XI, that the first pahse of a game plan. It's Stu or Aribo, and Aribo, despite looking a bit of a lump is able to keep the ball. I get that Mo's there to win it back a bit more, and I like to think to give a fullback license to push up. We don't see much of that though, once we're in the lead. But it's those sorts of tireless perfomances that Ralph is looking for. Adams and Perraud worked incredibly hard in particular. As the game stretched, you could see AA getting more of a sniff. But that worked best when Ralph was forced to bring on Stu for KWP. Che, Aribo, Mo and AA for the first part of the game with Stu and either Edozie/ Djenepo coming on later on seems to be the standard plan. It would be nice if we had some better quality in there. Larios looked out of his depth when he came on. Out of position and done a few times too. But he's very young, and if we waited until we were safe in a match, he wouldn't see a minute. Lyanco made a difference when he was on, so Not the sort of set up I particualrly enjoy. I can't see a game where we don't make a human error or two. I can't see a game where we don;t get punished by more clinical opponents either. But I think tonight is broadly, exactly what Ralph is looking for.

Commentator said (I think) that this is the most efforts on goal B'Mouth have had this season. Just that only 1 has been on target. We're really inviting them to have a go on goal.

I'm impressed that Ralph has instilled the essence of desperate hoofing into the team. Tactical genius.

Oh for... another injury.

Hmmm. Aribo off. The guy who the ball was sticking to a bit. For a defensive sub. Hmmm.

RalphBall in action as we drop deep to bravely defend a slender lead against...B'Mouth. Ugh!

Handy that their control is worse than ours.

CC should never have allowed that to get close.

You get some water and some soap, work up a good lather...crumbs the Arsenal game could be x-rated, not just for having away fans in with the home ones. 🙂

Examination

The quote from Mr Heappey was... "My boss, Ben Wallace, is in Washington this morning having the sort of conversations that… beyond belief really the fact we are a time when these sort of conversations are necessary." At a point of such tension the article goes onto say "NATO allies are this week conducing an annual exercise to test their ability to launch nuclear strikes." and "Russia is also set to carry out annual nuclear drills. The US has said the Russians have not informed them of their nuclear drills, information they would normally expect to receive." What could possibly go wrong there?

I I can see families telling their loved one that they will still be there for them when it's over, as they watch them trudge off, slump shouldered, to watch a Saints stream. 🙂

They may have better players, but it's Ralph's tactics that got found out. They would fare no better, with RalphBall v1. They might score more with this season's RalphBall. But I'd not fancy their defence to keep any clean sheets. They could well ship in more than us, from what I've seen of them. Edit: Along the way, Ralph would be teaching them his automatisms, and it's the door for anyone who doesn't buy into it, or questions it. A fair few of that squad would be off like a shot.

In other news, Southampton FC are delighted to announce further Block bookings from the Masochists Society of Britain. 🙂

We'd surely take either of them... on a stadium tour. Their money's as good as anyone's. Beyond that, not so much. 🙂

If is doing so much work there, it should be signed as a free agent and put into midfield. 🙂

Report

Jack

Replay

That awkward moment when you realise that the other club isn't the feeder club, it's yours. 🙂

Meanwhile, Damien Hirst sobs over his "Tripped While Carrying Soup" collection of canvases, that he was planning to sell for non fungible millions. "Beaten to it! And not by artists, like I obviously am! " he cries, without the warming comfort of a nice bowl of soup, as he's thrown it all at things. 🙂

Late

Classic Ankersen. Only too happy to share the forward planning on where the club will be in 5 years, with the current set up. 🙂

Course

From Beeb The gallery said the painting was covered by glass and therefore not damaged. A relief. It said it looked to be tomato soup and I find that the toughest soup stain to get out.