Toussaint

Danny the umpa lumps kiddie fiddler singer from Benidorm is better than Ings

I’d go for that too, but I don’t think there is a chance in hell Ralph will. He’ll have to squeeze in one of his pets at least, plus I think his philosophy will be not to lose by too many. Never know, he may surprise us?

Actually he could be a great signing, if there is one thing I've learned recently on this forum, its players I've never hear of that generally have the best xyg squared and the zws x 2 are the ones to go for.

Big risk, I can't think of one decent Brazilian player, didn't even know they played it out there?

Stop being a fanny!

Or Gurt Swollenbollochs

Only really performs when the sun is on his back. Heard he's a bit wet though, crys a lot.

Hasn't Cahill just gone to Bournemouth?

Still stalking him? Give it a rest

Your just a gingerist, shame on you!

I did! Don't worry, I won't tell a soul.

Pompey....

Unfortunately in those instances it was motivated by the fear of further humiliations, we set up not to get beated too heavily. We could for example try it against the middling (Evertons) teams, especially away, and maybe we would come away with something more often. Ralph could then revert to crazy Ralphball when the opposition are running out of puff, instead of burning us out in the first 45.

nailed it

Have to agree to differ really, you require both, but passion and effort are a great leveller, of course you need to have the tactics right, and be prepared to adapt. ( I really admired Glenn Hoddle in his brief tenure, he'd hook someone after 20 mins if it was required) But Ralph will not change, Isee nothing wrong with grinding out results against superior opposition (most of the league), go 4 5 1 away from home for example, then you wouldn't have to witness our headless chicken defending so often, as well as "sticking it up 'em" in the words of corporal Jones. We are trying to play, vastly more talented teams, at their own game, it doesn't seem to pay off.

Re your last point about passion and leadership, I think it is more important than you give credit for. I can't remember if it was Alan Ball or Gordon Strachan who said it, (they are not the only ones to say it) you need to earn the right to play football, ie do the ugly stuff, this is where passion and leadership com into play, also not rolling over as we do. I don't pretend to understand Ralph's tactics and respect your in depth knowledge, however in my view it looks a shambles and we can see the results that speak for themselves. It may work with much better players than we have available, who knows, but it no longer works for us.

He was never much cop, I read the threads, that's how I know this.

I’ve been thinking the same thing, he likes kids because they in the main are easier to control, that is why I can’t see us signing the experienced old dog we need, he strikes me as a “my way or the highway” extremist. When it comes to managing high performing teams, in any walk of life, you need talent, that talent often comes with challenging personalities, Ralph will not have that, he just wants compliant automatons.

Last I heard you don't get to decide who gets to support saints and who should think what.

Not sure what you are driving at? I think you are steering the conversation in a different way.

It's always the defenders that get the blame, but as you identify, its the system and the midfielders in front of them that make them look poor, I wouldn't want to play behind Walcott or Djneppo.

And his little cuddle for Redmond, which compels Ralphie to pick him regardless of form.

You could be onto something, Ralph could be the offense coach for the first two quarters , someone else could defense coach for the final two quarters, Theo could be cheerleader 🎶 Ralph Ralph, he’s our man, if he can’t do it nobody can 🎵 Fraser and Alex could be the half time entertainment, Redmond could throw peanuts to the crowd and catch the money in return, not sure who’d end up with the peanuts though. Needs some more work, but it’s definitely the start of something!

It , did but it now seems to have been an aberration. I keep thinking of the craziness it the start of the 19/20 season, Center backs at right back, left backs at right back and all manner of such things. There is no doubt we hit the ground running after the covid break and continued it for a time the following season, but then we got found out, our thin squad became exposed, but Ralph carried on flogging the same dead horse. The yesterday, he doesn’t, in the opinions of most, pick his strongest side, then when it starts to unravel he doesn’t react, he never does. Yes we can expect to lose to Everton away, but the manner of defeat is the definition of madness.

Seems to have even written out of history?