Toussaint

Maybe they are talking about an arranged marriage?

Why? You see a threat to your short career in that you may not get back to the top league when relegated, you are a striker that feeds of scraps, a midfielder who has to run until blood comes out your lungs or you are defender made to look foolish when the high press inevitably breaks down and you are overwhelmed by attackers. Players played out of position, players frozen out ….. It can’t be fun

Take your point but I think it would be really harsh to execute him, I mean, this is Southampton not South America, we need to maintain a modicum of fair play.

No, its called freedom of expression, its enshrined in law. What do you think should be on the ticket, shut up and suck it up? Go to work and contemplate how fortunate you are to watch someone who earns in a week what you earn in a year or two years underperform in job you would do for nothing? There are laws in place when abuse crosses the legal boundaries, but frustration expressed in the street , ground, pub, fans forum etc is quite legitimate in my view. .

Same hymn sheet as Semmens then…

*Hollywood **Oblate spheroid

I know what you are saying, but yes, as a professional "anything", you would, maybe even harder as you wouldn't want your reputation diminished in the wider industry, whatever that may be.

I think that depends on the manner in which we are losing, we know this season is going to be a struggle, but weird team selections, chaotic play and a lack of effort could definitely get a negative reaction (see Spurs last week fr reference).

Transcript from last night, all Semmens confirms is he will not go on loan. “I understand the question but 90 per cent of what you see in the media is not true,” Semmens responded. “The fact that Everton are trying to take our striker on loan or something is not real, it won’t happen, don’t worry about that. “From our perspective we are massively comfortable with everyone we bring in, with everyone who is here and we look forward to working with them. “We will always do what is right and if somebody leaves it will be for the right reasons,” he added. “I wouldn’t get too worried about an agent, Sky Sports or Twitter, that’s why most of our signings you haven’t heard of – so that one isn’t true, don’t worry.”

You could be right, but I've a horrible and growing feeling that he is now only part of the problem.

Cant be us, it didn't go in!

He is, we need someone better than him.

Is it him though? I doubt it, all I can imagine is he wants someone badly and has been told to raise the funds from within? Also, if he is on the thin ice it would seem he is would he be empowered to make long term decisions?

I don’t see how that would help fund a new striker anyway?

There is, but he has to finish his GCSE’s first and get a letter from his mum.

I’m not sure he nosedives, what I notice with Jack is he’ll have a few solid games and then makes a howler or two, the the process repeats, or he gets dropped and we don’t see him for weeks.

I knew the saints ultras would ruin it for everyone

Sounds a good option right now

We could be much harder to beat though, that is one thing a new manager could do while the striker and other issues are being addressed. We have enough good players to grind out a few results.

It is, i did think that, and immediately thought of City and Liverpool, but as you say, we don't have that calibre of player, which makes Ralph foolish / pig headed, trying to get players doing things they are not capable of doing.

It's not just the set up, it's the AWOL midfield under Ralph Ball (unless that's what you meant by set up). As one example, away at Villa last season, (I was there and had a good view). For whatever reason we had no right midfield cover for Peraud when defending, Peraud was continually 2 two or 3 men, one of the CB's would come across to cover, leaving a massive gap at CB, then boom, goal conceded, whilst the midfielders were racing back downfield behind play. Peraud was dropped after that, but none of it was his fault IMO. There are plenty of other examples, Chelsea at home, the midfield 2 + 2 were lined up in front of each other, leaving acres on the wings.

The not that bad bit, or the playing regularly bit?

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.