The Kraken

Depends if you consider Joe Aribo to be ‘old’ at 26 I suppose (25 when we bought him, he’s just turned 26).

Miles out, and he’s windmilling with it

We were 4-1 down after 63 minutes, so I’m not sure your refusal to look at other options as perhaps being slightly better holds any weight at all.

We can have our own opinions of course, but Djenepo today IMO was very much below par. Yes, he made the goal for us, all credit to him for that. But that’s him in an attacking position. Playing as a wing back I feel he is a huge liability. His performance in the fourth goal conceded was abject. The second goal came from a big gap on our left flank, maybe not directly his fault but he was in part complicit. As for Perraud, he has played in pre season. It’s not like he has just came back. He started against Monaco, which was two weeks ago, so your ‘not fit to start’ comment doesn’t really work as far as I’m concerned. I understand why Ralph feels he might have to go with Djenepo as Perraud is definitely on a route of recovery, but I’d have a half fit Perraud any day and let Djenepo come on as needs be. Aside from the goal I though Djenepo was what you’d expect, massively below average in defence and a bit of a maverick figure anywhere else. If he’s starting in this team in 3-4 weeks time, we’ve massively messed things up.

I’ve been thinking about the Adams situation and it’s just a bit baffling. I saw the Villareal game as a bit of a dress rehearsal, plus Mara getting a runout. When Armstrong came on at half time and not Adams, it obviously raised a few issues. I thought then that it was likely AA would start this week. Which was worrying. I know all players look pissed off when not playing, but Che Adams looked massively fucked off today. Slumped in his seat with a face of thunder and resignation, when I saw him I thought there’s no way he’s in todays plans and so it was. I reckon he’s had a fall out with Ralph, maybe he has asked to leave and been told no / not yet. To not get on the pitch at all today is a joke. Definitely more to it than Ralph has said.

I don’t think you can hold up our defensive performance today as a positive benchmark of anything. What made it more surprising was that Ketchup played so many minutes in pre season. He’s clearly got a long way to go but he’s also clearly not as horrendous as Valery. He would have had to have had a disaster to not be an improvement in Valery or Stephens. As for Perraud, if he’s not fit he wouldn’t be in the bench and wouldn’t have come on.

To be honest I reckon he’d be an unrealistic contender. I think he could be good for us but I don’t see him as a ‘fit’ with what SR are trying to do. If Ralph goes I reckon our new manager will be a relative unknown and/or someone who doesn’t have too much of a managerial CV if at all.

Positives Bazunu was nervous but I think definitely looks a player. Lavia was very composed. KWP was KWP. Aribo looks very good when we can get him on the ball. Perraud got on and hopefully will be available to start next week. Negatives 3 at the back is awful and leaves us too exposed. KWP does his best on the right but is let down by the system, Djenepo is most of the time not good enough at this level and certainly not when he is playing out of position. Our CBs are an accident waiting to happen and are all as bad as each other in one way or another. If Ketchup can’t get in that line up ahead of Valery and Stephens then god help us. Adam Armstrong is not a lone striker, felt sorry for him but he was just awful. Che Adams must’ve had a row with Ralph or is off, neither is good. Overall, a very meh out of ten.

Positives Bazunu was nervous but I think definitely looks a player. Lavia was very composed. KWP was KWP. Aribo looks very good when we can get him on the ball. Perraud got on and hopefully will be available to start next week. Negatives 3 at the back is awful and leaves us too exposed. KWP does his best on the right but is let down by the system, Djenepo is most of the time not good enough at this level and certainly not when he is playing out of position. Our CBs are an accident waiting to happen and are all as bad as each other in one way or another. If Ketchup can’t get in that line up ahead of Valery and Stephens then god help us. Adam Armstrong is not a lone striker, felt sorry for him but he was just awful. Che Adams must’ve had a row with Ralph or is off, neither is good. Overall, a very meh out of ten.

We’ve had two shots on target all game, Aribo’s just now was decent. Aside from that we have massively lacked any creativity up front.

Utterly, utterly terrible. Yet again exposed down the flanks. Fuck off Ralph. Shamefully shit.

That’s is fucking pathetic Salisu.

This formation simply doesn’t work.

Looks like big Joe up top then.

Fuck me, that was lucky!

I hope you’re cooling down with a pint of Neck Oil 👍

I first noticed it pre season and it hasn’t improved, we are so vulnerable down the flanks. I think 3 at the back just gives away the flanks and makes us weak. Would much prefer a solid 4 when Perraud is back, and in games where it is tight play the midfield 3 of JWP, Lavia and Romeu.

Not been in it a huge amount but when he has, he looks very good imo. If we don’t get Adams on I think we could much worse than get Aribo up top and someone like S.Armstrong in behind him.

He looks much more nervous than he did in any of the pre season games where he looked completely assured.

Well he just lost control while we were attacking that led to a Tottenham break. So, yes, he’s there. We have no out ball. Adams would definitely be a better option than Armstrong.

Fucks sake. Another cross, another goal.

Poor defending from Valery.

Good save Baz.

Said it before but I don’t like this 3 at the back formation. Just looks too vulnerable down the sides. Maybe it’ll look a bit more solid with Perraud instead of Djenepo, who just looks lost at times defensively.

Poor defending from KWP.