Mr Nimbus

If (and seemingly now when) RH does leave, I will look back on his time with mostly positive thoughts. Yes the results have been mediocre for the last few years, yes he makes baffling decisions (especially in game) However he has kept the team in the league, which to me is success for any club bar the top 6, he's had to make do with losing his best striker for 2 seasons now and had championship/teenage replacements. He just strikes me as someone who is just really sad. That Everton game was remarkable. He looked like someone who has been so scarred by defeat, he just cannot be himself. Once you start trying to be something you're not, you soon get found out. Indecision leads to contempt. I hope he rests up gets another job somewhere else and does a great job. For us, please can we have someone that can put some structure inplace on the pitch as we are sorely lacking it.

If (and I would hope when) a new manager comes in, I just want some structure in our play. I’m sure some decent structure can prevent the constant leaking of goals at pivotal moments in games and also conceding multiple goals one after the other.

I am fairly set in my mind now that it's time for a change. Performances (baring Villa) seemed to have improved but results have not. For me they are not likely too based upon a sustained sample size (nearly a year) After the Wolves game I thought the next evolution is to get out of those middle of the road games without losing. We then go and lose back to back games 1-0. I really appreciate the job Ralph has done, in trying circumstances with a team that lacks quality in a lot of areas. The biggest question I have is who could take over. Whats everyones thoughts? Before anyone chips in Poch is not coming back here.

@SambaMaverick is correct and I am mistaken. - https://www.premierleague.com/transfers/summer#:~:text=See the latest signings and,Ham bring in Lucas Paqueta&text=The summer 2022 transfer window,are undisclosed unless otherwise stated.

11PM Tomorrow (minus the last minute "deal sheets")

I wont pretend to be a European football fanatic.I have been wondering is it the player thats actually exciting fans or the the price range being quoted? Is it a case of "we have never stood a chance" which tbf we still may not, and the fact that a player rated at that much money is being lined to Saints has got everyones interest peaked? Or is Gakpo a really, really good player and the two go hand in hand?

Forgive my ignorance on this one, is he a CF/striker?

TBF I don't think anyone is too fooled, or believe he is the second coming of R9. I think most fans are mindful of A - having no viable alternative in the squad (currently) B - Selling to a team that will likely be a rival to avoid relegation.

JWP dropping into the space to deliver from 30 yards out is one of the most pleasing pieces of our play for me. I vaguely remember MNF doing some analysis of De Bruyne doing similar for Manchester City a few years back. It will lead to chances being created, with Adams central due to his physicality and JWP having one of the best deliveries in modern PL history. Hope we can see more of that,

It's mad that Chelsea can pay 100 million for a striker. Bin him off when it doesn't work, then bring in PEA who is likely to be on what, 200k a week minimum? And the whole thing is just a shrug of the shoulders "meh" kind of vibe about it. They have Broja (raw, untried at that level but worth an attempt) Thats why when I saw people going Forest are mad for signing MGW for 30 million, I thought it simply doesn't matter. No one cares. It's all just a bit sad.

I delayed listening to this as I had a preconception of what it would be. I listened in the end & I wasn't surprised. The same usual garbage from the media about the clubs philosophy etc. The same media who batter (rightly) United for having no structure, plan or common sense. I have twigged that the structure that wins plaudits is to spend loads of money and hopefully win (surprise, surprise) Anything that deviates from that is viewed with cynicism. Meanwhile they throw their toys out the pram when the "top clubs" threaten to leave the league. All really really odious .

With the focus on the 3-5-2 formation at the start of the season, I have been thinking about our defending quite a lot over the last few days. It has been a real issue for us under Ralph and I was interested as to why people thought that was? In the three full seasons under Ralph we have conceded 68,67 & 60 goals. That shows no sign of stopping as we are at 6 already this season. Something he said at the forum was "it is becoming increasingly harder to keep clean sheets in the PL" Whilst I agree with that, we seem to look like conceding in every game. I would never have us down to keep a clean sheet. So what is it? Is it the quality of the defenders? The shape by having the full backs pushing on? Can Ralph just not organise a defence? A combination of it all? For context when Sheffield United were relegated recently, we actually conceded more than them. On the flip side Wolves finished tenth last season and we outscored them.

He is clearly a good manager at a certain level. He actually would have been a better fit when we had Adams & Ings up top. He doesn't fit what we are clearly looking to do, i'd be amazed if he became the manager if Ralph were to go.

I have been very much Ralph in. I have always been of the thinking that keeping that squad in the PL, with the lack of funding previously seen, has been an incredible achievement (which to my mind it is) I am beginning to find it almost impossible now to keep being so certain. Saturday, for all the "meltdown" etc that gets thrown around was really concerning to me. I think behaviours trickle down. He makes questionable in game decisions an awful lot, which in turn can lead to the team (especially the defence) making utterly dreadful mistakes. You have a team who cant score many goals who also leak a LOT of goals. In the end thats just not sustainable and I think, will cost him his job. It's becoming increasingly difficult for me to not feel like its warranted too.

I find this absolutely mental. Adams is our best CF, which in itself is concerning. To be "willing to move on" Adams is baffling to me.

Yeah I don't doubt it. My thoughts were if those are the figures mentioned is his contract running down?

10 - 15 million seems incredibly low for KWP. How long has he got left on his contract?

From that short video clip, he seems very comfortable to take the ball on the half turn and pass forward. Something that is really missing from our midfield when Romeu is not on form. Looks a smart signing.

I agree in theory with the model. I also quite like that we "do it different" I guess Dortmund & RB can pick up a better quality of replacement due to money and CL football.

I think it's only going to get harder to stay in the league. With the increased spending power of the "middle tier clubs" and us likely to continue our model, all be it with possibly more finances available, I think things may finally catch up on us. I'm not sure we can continually get away with the runs we go on where we just lose game after game, especially away from home.

It's not "being gifted" though is it? It would be a punishment for Newcastle being unable to complete the fixture. If there was some transparency around the split of injured players/COVID that would help.

The over riding concern for me (especially during that dire run last season) was the defence. We constantly just shipped goals and that was putting us out of games very quickly. That (for now) seems to have been worked on incredibly well. Just reading through some stats sites and our defensive numbers are really strong. That is the sign of a good coach and with the amount of younger players we have, I personally think that is incredibly important for their development. TLDR - Ralph in for me (which is a shift from my stance in the summer)

I'd like to see Tella for Moussa and if fit, Stu Armstrong for Redmond. We will need energy, discipline and a large chunk of luck. I fear for this back 4 against them though. 4-1 City.

The two things that frustrate me the most with him are, constantly cutting inside and how often he gives the ball away. Opposition full backs must know what he is going to do as he seemingly does it so often. I don't think we will see a coming of age, he is what he is. A lower PL/Championship squad player IMO.