hypochondriac

It really does feel like things are coming to a head. I'm not sure how much longer the club can continue in this manner. There surely has to be some signs of progress on Saturday.

Myself and others posted about Ralph and his man management skills months ago and I was told it was all the fault of the players and that I was probably mistaken or lying.

Ho hum. No exciting links. What a shame.

After the leaks today I reckon if he loses this then he's gone.

I read it more like there's a scared mentality. We are overly cautious and then we get thrashed anyway!

All of that is 100% true. There is a defensive focus, we do go into games trying not to lose and players are used out of position.

Oh yeah those conspiracy theorists talking about Ralph and his relationships with players were lunatics peddling nonsense.

Yep. Bella Kotchap must start on Saturday there's no way he can be worse than the alternatives.

That's fine I'm sure he's a nice bloke. It's a shame some of the questions weren't more hard hitting.

TBF he did come across like a bit of a knob-the whole B team stuff - but then public speaking isn't the strength of everyone.

That was my main issue with the forum. I thought Ralph came accross pretty well to be honest. The main bit I didn't like was the narrative that it's so hard to be In the prem. Why not have a bit f a winning mentality and aim as high as possible rather than just be grateful to cling onto premier league status? I bet you don't see Brighton or Palace or Leeds making similar points because they are aiming as high as possible and making exciting moves. He was an utter bellend but Cortese was at least good at thinking big and not accepting his place.

I don't think that was a bad comment. His poibt was that he can relate to what it's like to go around the country to watch the team. Yes he gets paid but that wasn't an unreasonable comment.

But we got absolutely hammered playing another way. Why not just play the way we have done when we've been successful?

I think he was OK at points but I'd like to have seen him have slightly higher standards.

And yet if reports are correct we could end up selling or loaning Adams anyway.

Absolutely. Lavia seems to be an excellent signing but he was less of a priority than a top striker.

That's the point. We have so many other positions that need strengthening or players that need bedding in across the team. Why would you risk weakening another one?

In my time supporting saints we've always performed best when we've had a bit of a talismatic figure leading the line or who we rely on for goals. MLT, Beattie, Lambert, Pelle, Ings even the championship equivalent with Rasiak for a little while! With Broja gone then Adams is really our only player with the potential to do that. With him gone we need to find that person.

If true than absolutely mental we gave him a new contract. So much facepalming. I am quite concerned that we don't have the level of cash that we were led to believe we had after this takeover.

That's a real joke if true. He's our best striker and 15 million nowadays is a laughably small amount. I'm officially worried about this season now.

I'd have genuinely played Lyanco over those players. If Lyanco can't get in the team over any of them then really it's a travesty that we bought him when we were so desperate for a defensive signing last year. Had we not had Lyanco now, it would be much easier to justify another central defensive purchase. If we do go down this year then that failure to sign a starting CB instead of Lyanco last year is going to be one of the many reasons why.

It reminds me of all those poor England tournament performances from years past. We had a squad of half decent players but we were wedded to one way of playing and the worst thing was how it wasted so many good players. If saints were going down fighting and still losing then it would be more acceptable. These meek losses and thrashings whilst trying not to lose is the worst part. It is as if we have accepted our place as a lesser team and have acted accordingly. I don't see the likes or Brighton or Palace having the same sort of mentality.

Indeed. Bazunu KWP BK Salisu Perraud Armstrong Lavia JWP Who knows Aribo Adams There is no chance that a team like that would have performed worse than the actual team we played did. That has the players largely in their correct positions and you can bring Romeu on if required. Playing those players we did play was just unnecessary.

Given that we shipped 4 goals and Spurs could have scored more if required, is there much point in this odd formation? If we're going to get thrashed either way, I'd rather just make it simpler and maybe get the players more familiar with how to play.

Who would have predicted that we would have potentially let go three of our strikers, kept Adam Armstrong and replaced one of them with a young kid who isn't yet ready for the Prem? No doubt we will sign more but it's very poor to start the season with such a glaring hole and then possibly look to make that hole bigger!