SNSUN

Didn't he play wider for Blackburn? Maybe that's his best position. He has pace so maybe we should class him more as an AM than a striker.

That's 12 first team signings for Forest. Definitely Fulham 2018 levels of signings (although I think Fulham hit 16 transfers in that summer) when they went down.

It'd stop him scoring against us! (Iheanacho not Woods). Left footed, hardly been first choice at Leicester (and City), wouldn't be a bad shout.

I’ve said it over the summer that the new transfer policy (talented youngsters to improve and sell for a profit) is risky and didn’t make me feel entirely comfortable (bar Aribo who is proven) but if they keep going as they’ve started then I’m all aboard the Sports Republic transfer policy bus.

That's not far off half a season of games with one win and hardly any draws. If that form happened over one season we'd be looking at Derby County levels of points. I hope for Ralph's sake he can turn it around and hopefully with the new boys seemingly settling in well it's not impossible but Ralph has to stop being stubborn and select his best side from the start, even if it means changing his formation.

Agree, but Pellegrino was awful with no redeeming features of his tenure, and while I do want Ralph replaced now he has had decent spells here and is fairly likeable. We also spunked a record transfer fee on Carillo under Pellegrino before the club realised almost too late he should be sacked. His reign was a farce from beginning to end and it was only because of players we already had that we survived that season. If Ralph were to break that record of one win in 17 though, that would be unforgiveable. Luckily we have to play United... 😄

We've played Salisu there before too so that's also an option but either way means having 3 CBs on the pitch anyway so we may as well keep playing the 3 CB formation (for our sins). Hopefully Perraud isn't far away from full fitness or we bring in another RB meaning KWP can play the other side. Ralph has also played 4-1-4-1 before and with Lavia settling in so well then that would be a good formation for us IMO, Lavia in front of the two CBs, JWP and Romeu pushing up a bit and two wider attacking players supporting a lone striker. Anyway I will be watching MOTD tonight. 👍

The system most of can see favours our players better than the 3 CBs. Hopefully Ralph can also now see it and play it. 3 CBs may not be a bad idea against the likes of Liverpool or City away but against the likes of Leeds at home it should have been a no-brainer. Problem is if Perraud is not ready we only have one fit (good) full back, so perhaps we will have to keep playing wing backs to fit Djenepo in. And thus the 3 CBs will remain. Big transfer week ahead of us I think.

With Leicester starting the season slowly, no signings and possibly having players sold and United getting spanked by everyone, our next two fixtures aren't looking as tough as they did two weeks ago! Still...

Didn't Ralph say something in the Fans Forum along the lines of the 3 CB formation being here to stay but he might occasionally play 4-2-2-2? It was mentioned on here - in which case 3 CBs isn't going anywhere fast. Ralph is stubborn and even with today's late formation change I wouldn't put it past him to keep playing 3 CBs. And when one of those is Jan, Jack, Valery or Lyanco we need an upgrade in quality there. If he does change his ways and resort to 4 at the back then we don't need another CB, but I'll believe it when I see it!

I hope Saints as a whole don't think we're suddenly good enough from that comeback that we don't need the extra players. Impressive bench cameo from Aribo and Mara aside, we still need two attackers (AM and Str), a FB and, if we are to persist with Ralph and his 3 CB formation, another CB. It is good to hear the new signings are coming good though. It shows that if we are to get a post-Ralph era, and the new manager doesn't come in and play Ralphball, then we stand a chance of survival if not more.

Y'all can thank me for that second half performance as I fell asleep at half time so bored was I and just napped through it all. Wow, who'd have thought Ralph would eventually do what we've all been crying out for and play a formation to our strengths. Honestly. I guess reading about it it seems like one point gained but maybe with a different formation we wouldn't have been 2 nil down in the first place. (Apologies for 'y'all'.) It'll be interesting to see where we go from this comeback. Whether SR pull the trigger anyway and give a new manager some transfer window time or Ralph lasts way longer than he should.

I might've been too generous when I said 1-1. Hopefully Ralph can make some successful subs...

Bompey won't be the first team steamrollered by City this season.

Just home from work. Have I missed much?

Delap I wonder...

We haven't coached the good out of him yet. 😁 I'm glad to see ABK over Valery, that's an improvement, but no Aribo or Romeu and we're still 3 CBs? At home? I really hope this works...

They've done OK with their defence but their midfield is weaker than ours and their attack is non-existent. They are definitely relegation fodder unless they invest before the window is out.

One more Villa goal and we're off the bottom!

It was during the Koeman era that we got the right idea (mostly) by signing the best players from "lesser" leagues like Tadic, Mane, Forster and Pelle, and a couple of players that had previously been good but were overlooked by their clubs like Alderweireld and Bertrand. The following summer, bar Van Dijk and Romeu who ended up good, we brought in Austin, Clasie, Martina, Cedric (ish), Caulker and Juanmi and our transfer woes really stem from there. onwards. Thankfully the youth product of JWP came good when he did or we might not have been in the Prem this season.

Aston Villa playing a weird 4-1-2-1-2 formation, Everton have Iwobi in central midfield and no strikers. Interesting tactics from two of the best former midfielders the Premier League has ever seen.

I believe there is supposed to be one when we finally sign Rudi Skacel.

Yay, gameday. That's not a good feeling to have - it should be Yay, gameday! Surely we have to be better than last week. Judging from the Leeds game they were full of energy and a few of their new signings clicked straight away (namely Aaronson, Adams and Kristensen) but it's still early in the season and judging from their forum they think it will take a few weeks for their signings to properly gel. IF Ralph puts the right team out (the one most of us can see is our best team) we could win this, but I'm not holding my breath. Please no Valery or Armstrong - we have to try ABK and Adams and hope for the best. A draw would be a poor result in what is probably already a 6 pointer but right now I'd take it just to get a point on the board. I think Ralph will go for (although we know what he's like): Baz, ABK, Bednarek, Salisu, KWP, JWP, Lavia, Romeu, Djenepo, Aribo, Adams. It still doesn't look particularly strong creatively or in attack (perhaps lose Romeu for Armstrong?) but grinding out 1-0 results may be key to our survival this season so if we can keep the defence tight, we could nick it. Still I'm not going to change my earlier prediction - 1-1.

Lis our number 2 then?

A draw no. These are our relegation rivals, a draw would be a poor result at home. A win would breathe a bit of positivity into the club with (apparently) some transfers yet to come but it doesn't change the last 6 months of poor decisions etc. If he won the next 3 or 4 I might change my tune but I can't see it. I can't even see us winning tomorrow tbf.