The Kraken

Genuinely, the whole thing completely baffles me. We’ve played variations of 3 CBs before this season, but Ralph has always been very much a 4 at the back man. This pre-season saw a complete change, in 5 games we played all but 45 minutes with 3 CBs. And we only won 1 of those 5 games, so it was not exactly a glowing endorsement of the new system. I’ve just watched Ralph’s post match interview. He referred to the turning point being the switch to 4, and that the players “gave themselves the answer of how it can work”. Last week, after the Spurs game, Ralph came out with some comments where he said some thing along the lines of “we thought 5 at the back is more solid but it’s clear it’s not the case.” I remember it specifically at the time as it almost seemed like 3/5 at the back was being forced on Ralph, though I concede that’s perhaps unlikely. Nonetheless I’m still baffled at the whole change in setup, only for the manager himself to call it into question after only one game, and I do still wonder exactly where the change has come from. Tales from the match thread suggest Selles might have been instrumental in making the switch at the drinks break. So, it will be interesting to see where we go from here. It was clear, I think to everyone, that 3 at the back just wasn’t working and 4 at the back looked so much more natural. Though I do feel that our subs made a big impact too, Leeds also ran out of steam and that was contributory too. But there are so many reasons why I think 4 at the back is a must for us: in general the team can play higher up the pitch, this helps KWP have more options around him going forward, Billy Ketchup looked much more assured in a 4 (his role is much better defined), we don’t have to play Bednarek, the transition from defence to attack is more fluid, and in general everyone seemed to understand their position that bit better. The major downside of 4 at the back is that we don’t have a left back without Perraud. Djenepo did ok second half today but he’s still far from a natural fit there, so that’s the downside. But there’s too many upsides to not go back to it IMO. So, whether the 3 CB formation was a Ralph decision or something else, I just hope that’s the end of it. If we line up with it against Leicester I’m going to be totally confused about why we’re doing it.

Managing Man United is an easy job and anyone could do it 😉

He’s definitely got ability. What a through ball that was. The shot was impressive too, barely any backlift and he thumped it. I think we’ll need to be patient with him, he seems like the type of player who will drift in and out of games. No doubting his talent though, looks like a very useful prospect.

We’re 15th!! We are staying up.

Mara looks a bit of an enigma.

If this doesn’t get rid of the shocking 3 at the back experiment then nothing will. Billy Ketchup doesn’t seem to suit a 3, just looks a bit more assured as a 2 so he knows exactly who he’s supposed to be marking.

Brilliant from Mara.

Come on!!

This formation is so much better, we’re finally able to play a bit further up the pitch. Foul throw ffs

🤣 exactly this.

Joe Aribo finally gives us a shot on target. After one hour of play. Saints are an utter shambles. The formation makes us sit too deep, so we look vulnerable in defence and too slow to get into attack. How can a Hassenhuttl side look so dawdling, we have no identity any more.

Fucking hell

Thank god, Big Joe coming on.

Got to be Elmo coming off surely.

Weak down the flanks to allow all the time in the world for the cross. Utterly atrocious defending then from Bednarek.

Just fuck off. Utterly rubbish.

I’m still tying to work out where it makes us stronger.

They’re both crap and not good enough. Djenepo is having a 4/10 game. Elyounoussi has had a 2/10, he’s done almost nothing at all.

Well that was not a good advert for the premier league. Saints got better as it went on but we don’t look like doing anything up front. Elyounoussi is a passenger, got to get Big Joe on for him second half. Not sure Che Adams looks all that bothered. Djenepo is having a Djenepo but we’re a bit stuffed there. This formation is bloody awful, I can’t stand it. It blunts our attack and leaves us massively vulnerable in defence down the flanks.

Saints have had 7 shots, none on target. Kind of sums us up.

Dan James definitely had one on when he put his shirt on to come on, so it reckon they’re all at it.

It’s mental. Just so often we’re exposed down either flank, it’s staring us in the face. Up the other end we’re totally reliant on KWP and Djenepo to provide the width and it just isn’t happening.

Should be 1 down there. 2 men completely free at the back post.

Crap defending from Bednarek, could have just stepped up and played him offside there. Instead he dropped back to be last man and just got ripped.

This really is a poor game. I know it’s hot, but blimey. Saints are no longer a team that neutrals will say ‘they’re good to watch’.