saintant

Agree, Ralph has become far too obsessed with stopping the opposition scoring at the detriment to any attacking ideas we might have. We are not and probably never will be a side that can defend well - we have improved with the acquisition of AKB so let's be glad for that and start to be more offensive from kick-off.

Agree, the Villa game was an indicator of how poor Ralph has become. From start to finish we were abject and yet he was unable to do a thing to change the progression of the match. That spoke volumes for me as he should have been able to spot where he could make changes in tactics and personnel to turn the game around - maybe not to win it but at least to give us a chance of getting something from the game. As it was Villa were easily able to retain their lead without breaking sweat or enduring any pressure from us even though they played pretty poorly themselves. That is a telling indictment.

JWP is mobile in midfield - hadn't noticed.

Unfortunately I would think in Ralph's eyes he is a bit of a maverick because he'll try to carry the ball, take players on and sometimes roam around and vacate his position. Ralph is happier with players like Elyounoussi who will obey his every instruction down to the last detail. It's why we are so short of creativity as he does not tolerate straying from his ridiculous playbook.

Our identity is to avoid big defeats at all costs hence the negative sideways and backwards passing and continual lumping the ball forward to nobody in particular. It's horrible to watch and does not produce results. The manager shows a complete lack of bravery, his fear is holding us back.

Anyone but Scott bloody Parker.

Problem with keeping it tight for the first half is that we are not good enough defensively to do that and usually concede. Stats show that if we are behind at half time we never win, someone else posted that it's something over a hundred games since we've come back to win after trailing at half time. I don't know if that is accurate but it does feel like an age since we reversed a half time deficit. To me we are always better if we set out to make a fast start and take the game to our opponents from the first whistle. We have never been much of a side that is able to start slowly and build up a head of steam. I'm never optimistic when we kick off with a load of sideways, backwards passing which is more about keeping possession than actually taking a few risks and trying to hurt the opposition - it rarely ends well for us. Better to have a right go from the start and get on the front foot.

I don't get all this sudden idea that now 5 subs can be used it is preferable not to start your best eleven, that it is somehow more advantageous to have a few of your better players sitting watching from the bench so you can bring them on later - what, when you are chasing the game? Talk about putting the cart before the horse! Pick your best team from the start, take the game to the opposition and for me that gives you far more chance of winning. Stick the best of the rest on the bench and use them as and when for injuries, tiredness or as a tactical switch.

Was very hard to tell we were chasing the game as we continued to pass sideways and backwards as though we were trying to hang on to a lead.

I think he's been bullet proof because Semmens ran things for Gao and would never have sacked his pal Ralph. The new owners are likely to take a far less tolerant view of poor results because relegation will seriously damage their ambitions for the project they've undertaken. Semmens will not be able to save Ralph's skin now.

It gets easier for them....they play us soon.

Ralph is happy to keep the goals against column down at the expense of any risk-taking attacking football hence 2 shots on target in 180 minutes. It will continue in this vein until he instructs the players to cut out the sideways, backwards negative passing accompanied by long hopeful hoofs up the pitch. It is not football and will not achieve results other than defeats.

Even Bmuff are above us now!

If that's the criteria he might as well go now then.

Spot on.

Not really, he's reduced it from a few passes to one - ie a big lump forward 🙂

I think you largely agree with me because I did point out that it's hard to believe we are so reliant on one so young and also questioned the wisdom of letting Romeu leave.

I've said it before, Ralph is scarred from the two 9 nils and other heavy defeats. He therefore sets up to contain the opposition at the expense of our attacking ambitions. Clear as day this tactic is going to lead to many defeats by one nil and we have already suffered 3 in 7 games.

Watching last night's tepid, inept performance one thing was blatantly obvious - boy do we miss Lavia. There was a gaping void in front of the back four where he patrols and amazingly nobody was designated to fill it. He is so good at sniffing out danger and snuffing it out. Also he is the glue that holds everything together, the link between the back four and midfield that was so clearly absent last night. Lavia is always available when we play out from the back, he'll comfortably receive the ball from Salisu or ABK in tight areas and move it on to begin attacking play. I lost count of the number of times our two central defenders looked forward for someone to pass to, saw nobody available and had to either launch it upfield or turn and go back to Bazunu who then had little option but to punt a long ball. Making matters worse we have absolutely not a single forward capable of winning the ball in the air. It is no surprise that since Lavia limped off against Chelsea we have barely put together a forward move worth the name nor created hardly a chance of note. He is that crucial to us and it is clear we were foolish to let Romeu leave as he is the nearest we have to Lavia. Maybe AMN is being groomed for the role and that is why Ralph stated he is not ready to start yet. Hopefully the international break gives Lavia time to recover but it was a mistake by those at the club to not have someone available who could do his job because injuries are part and parcel of the game and we are a nothing side without a player capable of covering the role in front of the back four. We were like a car stuck in neutral with no forward gears. It seems hard to believe we are so reliant on such a young player but last night showed that to be the case. Ralph and the coaching team need to do some serious work during this break because we look nailed on for relegation judging by that woeful performance.

What you mean the team in 1966 that had up front Ron Davies, Mick Channon, Terry Paine and John Sydenham? Different era but they would all walk into the current team.

Yes and currently he is part of the problem. A full England international needs to be offering far more than he has so far this season. I can only think he is playing with a slight knock which is hampering his mobility because sadly he is nowhere near up to speed.

The current midfield pairing of Diallo and JWP is not going to cut the mustard at this level - no pace or power in your engine room is a sure fire way to get over run by most teams at this level which means you'll win few matches. At the moment neither of them are playing anywhere near well enough to warrant holding down a place in midfield. We look very short of options without Lavia especially if Ralph feels AMN isn't ready to start which is basically what he's said.

Problem is, the way we are set up to be hard to beat negates a lot of our offensive options. I said before we will end up losing a lot of games 1-0 and that's already happened in 3 matches out of seven.

That should have been a picture taken after tonight's game.

When JWP plays like he has done for most of this season I'm afraid he is a liability. He is contributing very little and even his free kicks and corners have been pretty average. He's a passenger we can ill afford at the moment - not closing down, getting caught in possession and making poor passes unless they are five yards square or backwards. Not sure if he's carrying a knock but he's a yard off the pace and a player like him can't afford not to be right on his game. Unfortunately there's not much to put in his place but he must be running the risk of being rested although I'm sure Ralph wouldn't consider it. Tonight we passed the ball around the back until there was no other choice but to lump it upfield to a forward line that do not win headers. It was food and drink to the Vlla defence. Where was our pass and move or players taking up intelligent positions between the lines? It was a bunch of statues with zero movement. I look forward to hearing what spin Ralph puts on this. We may live to regret failing to get in a big, strong striker during the transfer window as we have no out ball. A better side than Villa would have filled their boots tonight.