StrangelyBrown

Shane long - we're throwing in the towel. Simply not enough shit players on the pitch

We really do have some bang average players: bednarek, McCarthy, Redmond, Armstrong, Adams have been no where near premier League quality today

Both games they got controversial key decisions in their favour. I seem to remember a foul in the build up to one of their goals the season before that let them back into the game.

Perhaps Moss wanted to make sure some Abu Dhabi dollars we're in his account before over ruling?

I'm hoping Ralph knows something I don't (to be fair I'm sure he does), but that is a set of strange changes to the line up. Salisu dropped??? Redmond??? Elynoussi????

Great stuff Minsk. Good to see a bit of objectivity. I looked at all our fixtures and tried to guess win lose or draw for each and came up with us finishing on 36 points - fortunately we're already 2 points better off than I thought we would be!

You've forgotten that ings was dreadful for a number of games last season - he looked like he couldn't be arsed and consequently it was like we were playing with 10 men. Yes he could win games for us when he was on form, but he also contributed nothing when his head wasn't in the right place (his shit spell started in January if I remember right). Ralph's way of playing suits players who are committed and a little less "special" more than someone who just doesn't turn up when they aren't in the mood.

The kid from forest goes to ground far too easily and will be a liability in the prem. He also didn't look that special on the ball. Personally speaking I think we've dodged a bullet.

I'd love to see if anyone can defend McCarthy for that. Absolute dogshit

The only good thing is that solsjkaer is an equally inept tactician to Ralph - unfortunately he's got so much talent on the bench he only has to change a couple of players and it will change the dynamic of the game. If Walcott comes out after half time Ralph needs to go - it's like playing with 10 men

Glad to see that cheating cunt giving us the ball for the goal

Given that Ralph won't change formation the best I'm hoping for is that he plays number 10s who will do the defensive work and help overload central midfield. Personally I'd gamble and play livramento ahead of kwp: Forster Kwp Stephens bednarek perraud jwp romeu Livramento S Armstrong Adams A Armstrong

I think you are right in part, but I'm certain it's a combination of Ralph having no ability to manage the game as it happens (subs are a part of this) and him having a blind spot for certain players who are simply not good enough. Every time an opposition manager makes a small change to address a problem Ralph fails to react - not even as much as a tactical change. He continually persists in selecting players who undermine what he is trying to achieve - McCarthy is a good example as our tactics require quick decision making and good distribution from our keeper - McCarthy just doesn't have these in his locker.

Only 37 games left to get 38 points... Doomed

We almost always lose the first game and again almost always lose away to the dugout pioneers. Not worried about the result... More worried about the same old problems. Poor in game management, jeckyll and Hyde halves and poor team selection in certain positions. Hopefully this is enough to convince Ralph to buy a new starting experienced centre back and not to play McCarthy again.

Shit half time talk. Perhaps we need someone to support Ralph by firing everyone up. We always seem to come out too relaxed where we're leading at half time

I won't be sad to see him go. The main thing we will lose are the Hollywood passes which on a good day were highly effective, but on a bad day resulted in a fast turnover of possession. far too often last season we were reliant on this being our only tactic. Otherwise as mentioned many times above he's far too slow both to move and to react and no where near as good as he someone of his stature should be in the air. I'm looking forward to seeing who we replace him with - hopefully someone a bit more dynamic.

That's not a trend.... Can you try and be a little bit objective?

Who else have we "lost" to a rival? Not exactly a trend is it?

I'm not sure we can we afford that. The saving on Ings wages would unlikely cover improved wages for Armstrong and Edouard - at the moment our strategy seems to be trying to get control of our spiralling costs - replacing one person with 2 isn't going to fit.

Ok clever clogs, what is in it for someone to invest in Southampton? Both wolves and Leicester we're invested in when there was growth potential I'm the football market and both were in good positions for investment - I wasn't talking about what happened a few years ago I'm talking about now. why don't you stop being a pedantic bore and actually contribute something worthwhile to this forum for once??

What do you seriously expect from an owner? There are no good returns on football "investment", we have a relatively small fanbase and we're not exactly a world renowned brand (like man u, Liverpool, etc) - so the only way we would have someone who was prepared to throw their hard earned money at us is if they have a connection to the club. Now remind me how many Southampton supporting billionaires are there???

I hope you are right, but he continued to play mason mount in every game.... Despite him being shite

Southgate is a good leader but a poor tactician. He should have put grealish on much earlier and mount has consistently proven to be nothing but a hard worker - not exactly worthy of a starting place in a euro final. Southgate was too cautious and then failed to react to the problems that happened in the first half until way later in the game. Fundamentally he needs help from a better team - hopefully he will reflect, but I suspect he'll keep ploughing the same furrow.

Southgate working out who is shittest by substituting the best performers (excluding sterling). Harry Kane has been absolutely shite again. That should see us knocked out next round...