Ralph Fastenbüttl

It's not the first time I've seen his name dropped in here, but I don't understand it myself. Any amount would be too much imo.

Of all the accusations you could chuck at Turkish, I'm not sure masquerading opinion as fact is one of them - virtually every post on here is an opinion, no? Are we all not here to exchange opinion?

Personally I think Redmond would be Ok as a squad player. Lots of experience, is able to make an impact off the bench and has a goal in him, all while not having to rely on him consistently - which is exactly his problem.

It's nice to be in a state where season kick-off will at the very least be cause for excited curiosity, as opposed to the more regular oppressing dread. With all the business done so far you have to believe that the owners are also seeking to answer the striker problem. If we can get that over the line and, if it's not too greedy, add another attacking midfielder, then we really will have good reason to be cheerful... at least until we're dragged into a possible relegation battle in the spring!

I love that away kit tbh. Wish I could say the same about the home strip...

Presumably this means we'll be getting some sort of replacement.

Not that I need to explain myself to you, but I was mainly referring to headline links on social media. Oddly enough I am indeed familiar with the internet and am capable of choosing categories, but even then it's not ideal because my interests aren't limited to a single league or indeed a single country. But for all my ideological support of the women's game, I'm yet to encounter a site that allows you to broadly isolate men's and women's football news from one another. There's no need to bite my head off, son - we're on the same side. All I'm saying is that from a consumer news perspective, I understand the gripes.

I'm a leftie and I'm feminist - and I mean in that the truest sense in that I believe males and females should be treated equally. I'm all for women's football, and think the quality of the women's game has increased exponentially in recent years. I'm pleased about the growth of the women's game, and am all for female commentators and officials when said individuals are suitably qualified/talented to do the job (I could listen/watch Alex Scott all day long). But at the same time, I do not follow the women's game so it's a right pain the arse that the women's football news is intermingled with men's. It's not uncommon for me to click a link only to find that the news I'm reading is of no interest to me. Surely the clear differentiation and segregation of men's/women's football news is in the interest of absolutely everybody because everyone wants to be able to quickly identify what they are and are not interested in?

Ralph's Runts

This is infuriating. Oh behave.

Lucas Moura is possibly available from Spurs. There's another dream signing that has 0% chance of happening. He'd be great for us.

Anyone saying Eriksen would be a bad buy is just too far gone to be dealing with. He's a class player and certainly good enough for every team in the league (which is why we have no chance).

This would be quite hilarious.

I think Minamino would potentially not be the worst signing, but we'd have to play him differently - he's very much best as part of a front three and not in midfield. Still, reckon the money could be wiser spent.

I'd love to say no, but... well, Saints.

Thanks for that insight. Sounds like precisely the kind of middling, unremarkable performer Ralph likes.

I mean, I'd love to see Henderson at the club if we're not making a move for (or cannot afford) Pope. I reckon Duffy and/or Diop would be a defensive upgrade for us, and I still think Lewis has a little something about him. I know Winks is much maligned but, again, I fail to see him not improving our team. And Barkley, too, would surely be a step up on what we have now.

Time to put this to the test!

fwiw, last season Redmond ranked in the top 10% across Europe's five largest leagues (per game) for passes into the penalty area, crosses into the penalty area and clearances. He was in the top 20% for blocks, touches in the defensive penalty area + was in the top 30% for assists, through balls, crosses, defensive and attacking third presses, successful dribbles, carries into the attacking third and recoveries. In the interest of balance, however, he also ranked very highly for the number of blocked passes and passes to offside players, offsides + was in the top 4% for miscontrols and possessions lost. Not that I'm a Nathan fanboy by any stretch. But on paper parts of his season actually looked very good. He ranks significantly better in every offensive stat, although Ely trounced him in the defensive stats where he was actually one of the best performers in Europe, shockingly (top 2% successful pressures, and top 5% midfield tackles!). All of this is on FBref.

Being a colossal cunt, if past form is anything to go by.

OK, that's one tick!

Hmm, on reflection... perhaps yeah 😀 (I meant three figures in reference to the amount of millions... so a nine figure sum!)

On balance I think I remain in the 'Pro Ralph' camp, but that's conditional on the new owners doing three things: 1. Replacing the coaching staff. All of them. They're fucking shite. 2. Forcing Ralph to get an Assistant Manager. Ralph is capable of getting us playing good football, but he needs a knowledgeable and experienced partner to help him in the situations in which he struggles, and to provide other plan B options when shit on the pitch ain't working. 3. Investing a good nine figure sum into the squad. We need first team ready signings, not just promising youngsters, and of course a reliable, quality striker. Also, let's get some proper Prem experience in the heart of defence and midfield - a couple of 30 somethings who've maybe even won stuff or at the very least challenged for honours, and are perhaps looking for their last decent contract. Then we build around them with youth. If the above isn't going to happen then there's clearly no point sticking with Ralph, as three years in he's still struggling to achieve any progress with what we've currently got.