Toussaint

Understanding is one thing, I'm just not sure it is actually possible to play Ralph's way for anything other than fleeting moments, It isn't sustainable, and when it breaks down it generally does so catastrophically. When we were 2 - 1 down Saturday, we were throwing so many players forward, Djenepo was committed in the right wing position, I said to my daughter we were going to turn it over and concede a goal, then pass pass goal to spurs. The massive spaces we leave would make VVD look a clown at CB

I'd be happy to see him return to the team as a starter, as many have pointed out we lack leadership, we lack a vocal input and we lack players with resilience. He has all of those. He never gets a run, he is really not that bad when he plays regularly. If there is a clamour ro play Ketchup and Salissu, why not play him in the middle if we are going for a 3?

Gao didn't do us a lot of good, but he didn't do us any harm either. I have the same feeling now as I had when Lowe was the main man, someone / people in control that "know better". Ralph should have gone last season, but I'm not even sure that is going to solve that much right now. We have bought poorly so far, it seems from the outside that Ralph is now working within a rigid framework and he has less control. Of the managers that get talked about here aren't going to work or flourish under those conditions, or even accept a job.

That’s very plausible, I think 6 games could be too long if the current trend of accumulating 0.38 points per game will have amassed a mighty 2.3 points by then.

I don't think it is misleading, the trajectory is alarmingly a downward one, a nosedive. I wouldn't want to be on a plane piloted by Ralph Right now.

Look at the stats above, he was under used by our incumbent loon last year, his goals per minuets equates to approximately 1 goal every 3 games, nearly 13 goals a season. Who knows, had he been started every week he may even have improved on that? You add that to the pathetic supply any of our strikers receives from the midfield and it's pretty impressive.

Agreed, it's a massive risk

I don't think someone like Dyche would be bought in, unless it was a last effort ditch to save us from relegation. I get the impression that we are now working to a different model, where the manager is simply a coach, another part of the management team, who can be "swapped out" for a coach 2.0 should the need arise. In answer to the question, yes I would have him.

I wouldn't such have a problem with it if we had a solid base, we don't, our base is extremely weak. Therefore I believe "moneyball" really high risk strategy for us. The strategy I would suggest, assuming we want to stay in the prem, is investment in the first team. We have all generally agreed that over the last two seasons we were two or 3 players short of being a competitive side, since then we have lost Ings / Broja and temporarily lost Tino, that in my view makes us about 5 short.

My jury has always been out, the cynical side of me suspects they are in the money ball racquet. I think they have seduced a lot of fans with words they want to hear and splashing out £50 or £60 million, but if their plan was to sell of some of the big guns to offset the spend, and then the next phase of the plan is to unearth some gems and flog them off when they become profitable, then they will definitely not have been what we needed. My jury is still out though, the window is open and they may have a cunning plan? ???

Pepe

It’s feeling like it’s SR. I don’t have a problem with Semmens, but he is not a “football man” and, I’m speculating, may have been happy to hand footballing control to others.

That game was a freak, I’ve been shot down more than once for stating that, but I think that is what saved Ralph. Had we lost that, the end of the season may have been very different.

I get that, but what about the protection (chronic lack of), in front of the last line of defence?

Surprised to see Ketchup in so many “best lineups” no one has a clue what he’ll be like I the prem, playing for a poor ream with a loony at the helm. Salisu makes as many balls ups as anyone else but seems immune to criticism. But, having said all of that, you could have City’s or Liverpools centre back partnerships and they’d still look stupid if the had to play Ralph ball, anyone would look bad defending in a team where the midfield is all over the show, leaving twos and threes ion ones, and where fullbacks/ wingbacks commonly get stranded at the wrong end of the pitch when our attacks inevitably break down.

I say we will 100% be relegated if we keep Ralph, therefore I say get a proven manager in now and it reduces the probability of relegation to something less than 100%, so, we’ll worth the risk. …another debacle against Leeds and I think it will be a moot point anyway

I always suspected that was the plan

Got his revenge today then?

He was, but he’s not a defender and he was committed to attack, that is the risk using full backs as wingers.

Cunning plan, pack your penalty area for damage limitation

He doesn’t dress like a paedo choirmaster for a start

My point being we have way more serious issues than his performance

For those banging on about AA, he isn’t responsible for the chaotic and wide open defending

Strong bench, maybe he’s taking the temperature into account? Hopefully it won’t be too far gone if and when they are deployed

I just wouldn’t want to see ABK ruined, I don’t have the problems with Stephens and Bednarek that others do. I could live with a back three of Lyanco , Salisu, and one of those two, I think ABK needs time to acclimatise, in the same manner a Salisu was given time.