Saint Fan CaM

If we steal a draw we’ll be lucky (fingers crossed), but I can’t see anything other than a 2-0 win for Wolves. We’re not near their level in most areas of the field, with the possible exception of Romeu. Time to take up our spot in the relegation zone.

Can’t see this appointment being anything but underwhelming. Damn it, I’ve not used that word to describe Saints for a long time! Agree with an earlier post...it does feel like a bit like rats leaving a sinking ship at the moment. There’s a massive re-build required, so let’s hope we can survive the season.

How about Danny Rohl? Seems he was making a positive contribution to the management of the 1st team and Ralph needs a hand.

It’s not Ralph...or at least with the squad at his disposal it’s not obvious he’s the problem. The squad is like an emulsion or whey that’s nearing the end of its settling period. The cream has been rising to the top and has been regularly scraped off and sold to the highest bidder. The vat has been topped up with skimmed milk and now, eventually all that’s left in the vat is a diluted, watery mess that is a pale imitation of the rich product of 3-4 years ago. Les Reed and Woss have milked their cash cow and now all that’s left for Ralph are a set of dried up, sore and barren teats.

Didn’t impress me in the last fan forum or whatever it was dressed up as...bit of an interloper. Get Mitchell back...pay him an handsome sum...could do much much worse.

There are two specific issues in my mind... 1. Do I want us to go down? ....NO - be very careful of what you wish for. 2. Do I want to retain the season ticket I waited 3/4 of my life for or save £750/year and join the growing number of armchair fans? ...JURY’S OUT! Thing is, like many I have most enjoyed the Lambert/Pelle years because it didn’t matter who we played, there was always a feeling we could win - even against the league darlings. Always hope. And because of this, there was passion...all around SMS. Now, over a succession of very poor strategic and managerial decisions starting arguably with the sacking of Cortese, that passion has been diluted to a point where many just don’t care. Yes, the corporate nimbies buying their half and half scarves have taken over. You can argue over the root cause all day and never agree an answer, but one fact exists now - the club has become a sterile version of the one that got promoted to the Championship. I would say there is only one possible saviour right now...Ralph. Both in motivating the players but more importantly, in playing the best players in their best suited positions. Choose a consistent starting 11 and only change for injury. The next home game is massive - he needs to win it for the supporters and to bring back just a little of that passion.

They’ll be too much for us. We’ll pass it around nicely for a bit, then they’ll take one of their first chances to score first and that will be it. SMS will go quiet except the boo boys who will start up. 0-2.

Looking at the game highlights this morning and Vestegard is massively out of position for their 2nd...was actually 2 yards into their half with no chance whatsoever of getting back to defend. Either the coaching for this squad is poor or the players are not listening and responding to the coaching. Either way it’s a huge problem that could root us in the relegation zone.

Totally brilliant result. Did Adams play? lol

IF he gets to play, I’ve got a feeling he’ll still not score...Pimpley will pack 11 players behind the ball and make it very difficult. We’ll carry on playing our usual pedestrian build up in attack allowing them to frustrate a decent game of football. It’ll go to pens which we could quite easily lose given the hostile atmosphere and our sapped confidence. Prove me wrong Che.

Interesting that you should mention Rohl - when he left I did wonder whether Ralph’s previous successes were largely attributable to the pairing rather than just RH and that we might start to see some cracks. What was a surprise was Ralph’s reluctance to take Friday on the chin when normally he plays a straight bat - either he doesn't like being criticised or he’s protecting someone who made the decision for him. As for Danso, I personally think he’s more of CDM type of player rather than CB (or indeed full back).

I would have to agree that Yoshida and Bednarek are our two best CB’s. Vestergard should be trying to oust one of those two by impressing in training, but then perhaps he already does that albeit in a safe training environment, hence why he gets picked. Danso does not strike me as being suited to being in a last line of defence, rather more in the mould of a Wanyama type of CDM. What he definitely is not is a RB.

2-2...lose on pens...lots of booing and gnashing of teeth, calling for Ralphs head. Then we beat Spurs 1-2 next week and he's the saviour managing the best team in the World.

Doesn’t look remotely like a Prem quality striker. In fact so far I have no idea how he managed to gain a decent reputation in the Championship...he just does not seem to put himself in a position to score a goal or have the ability to create a decent shooting chance for himself. Would love to see h8m come good, but how long does Ralph persist? Trouble is we’ve no other viable options.

Poor team selection from RH with better players left on the bench. Championship level defence and striking options. Players played out position. Bournemouth have built gradually and sensibly, retaining a good fit Manager to the point where they now have a better squad more suited to the Prem. Yes, make no mistake, they won because they are better in attack and defence - they deserved to win that game hands down. Beat Pompey Tuesday and we can hopefully move on. Lose and a lot of love for Ralph will evaporate from the fan base. Worse still it will make a big dent in the fragile confidence of this squad.

Exactly this. It will be a tricky one for RH...they’re a team that demands a high press and an early goal, but they have fast forwards who can hurt us on the break. Hence defensively we could be exposed.

I fear for our defence - their attacking options are very good. I reckon the first to score will win, so early pressure on their goal will be vital. We must also match their high press relentlessly. Tough to call, but would be happy with a 2-2.

If Saints can perform at the top of their game, to man, then we’ve got a great chance of three points. Otherwise can see a 1-3 result. Our defence will be key to getting something from the game...no errors essential.

Great to get 3 points, but what a slow ponderous side we look. Central midfield went missing for large parts and typically in defence we look a shambles. In attack, Ings and Adams were utterly useless. Djenepo was superb and Boufal is like a secret weapon. Much, much work to be done with this squad although thankfully early days.

Thought we played ok, but there are just too many Championship level players in the squad...mainly at the back and attack. You can get away with one or two, but we’re too weak. I thought Armstrong improved the team when he came on and should started the game instead of JWP who is less able to move the ball forward.

Shame we’re playing the bin dippers so early in the season but ultimately they have a far better team. Drubbing in store...probably 0-3. If we’re lucky.

Burnley were the better team in all areas of the pitch - the strikers finishing being a clear example. Couple that with a managerial inept team selection by using Stephens over Yoshida (we needed guile and experience at CB to cope with the type of game Burnley play) and the game was set to be a bad day. Seriously, that threesome is not working - don’t do it again Ralph unless we’re playing a L1 team in the cup. Could be a long season again, but then I honestly didn’t think we had changed enough to be anything more than a lower half team anyway.

The club have once again failed to address the sub-Prem standard of central defender position...i.e. without pointing the finger at any one of the present incumbents, we are exposed. It’s been this way for what, three seasons? Sorry, but there is no way this window can be classed as a success, although it must be recognised that past mistakes (e.g.Hoedt, Forster, Carrillo etc.) will take another 2-3 seasons to correct. Whether we are able to sustain Prem status in the interim is of course the key issue - hopefully Ralph can work his magic again.

Where do you start? Naive in the transfer market and then a terrible team sheet from the supposedly great Ralph. It's only one game in, but as I said last season, it's the manner of the performance that is so shocking and indicative of a real struggle again this season.

Can anyone explain why I find posts about new songs cringeworthy?