Smirking_Saint

Talking of complete tosh… Systems definately define a sides fortunes, or lack of, especially at the top level.. to say otherwise is shortsighted tbh For a start you cannot just throw 3 CBs at a side and hope it works, as a formation its far more nuanced than that, especially if you have largely inexperienced CBs and/or a lack of anyone martial ing the back line particularly well. Every goal conceded as a back 3 has been completely indicative of how it fails and even on Wednesday we saw the Johnson chance which again showed the lack of communication and responsibility taking. A back four with a fit Lavia is a fine formation, it worked well previously.. our issue was we started to overstretch chasing goals and we get killed on the counter.. this hasn’t eased under a 3 back at all The issue we have right now is that we 100% have a distinct lack of quality.. but IMO Nathan Jones is actually compounding that issue instead of easing it by using a system that is more suited to what we have

Im not sure Ivd re written Ralph anywhere tbh But the point is still valid… the argument from most reasoned viewers was the side was arguably a striker/No.10 from competing… we are miles from that now Ralph, especially towards the end was awful.. infact he went downhill when we moved away from his intense gagenpressing style (enforced really due to squad depth) but I struggle to believe anybody genuinely believes we’d be any worse currently under Ralph then Jones And before you tackle the man and not the ball.. no.. I am not suggesting keeping Ralph on was the answer

Who’s your money on ?

Ive been thinking about it, and about the Ralph situation.. and yes, sacking Ralph when we did WAS the right call, he had done what he could and we looked beaten under him.. I still think backed properly he would of still been here, but also fully understand why a hard reset in the summer was also an option, however; To briefly sum up the tenures of the two I’d frame it like this.. - Under Ralph we looked like a team that was arguably doing the right thing, yes if needed Lavia on the pitch but ultimately it was a team that needed a striker/creative midfielder to be largely capable in this league - Under Jones we genuinely look like a squad thats come up from the Championship, devoid of ideas and mentally down already And this is the issue for me.. we’ve completely gone backwards… we need to end this experiment now whilst we have the slimest of chance to battle out if this

He’s played there, but primarily plays in the left I wonder if Edozie can play on the right

Pretty much LW Which makes NJs move towards 532 even more baffling but here we are

I actually briefly wondered last night, listening to his press conference afterwards… if we are genuinely already in the Mourinho territory of getting himself sacked Surely not ? Surely ?….

Apart from the fact it’s obvious of course I know a fair amount about the takeover and how they’ve acted since buying Saints 😂

I think a lot of you are unaware of how our new ownership relationship works Im sure Dragan is utterly unimpressed with the direction his investment is going but make no mistake he is more of an investor in the SR project then he is Saints He will likely drop us before he drops SR

Add absolute zero ability to read the room as evidenced by his zero accountability taking, they not us spouting PR distaster bollocks

I think we probably would be better off but that doesn't mean keeping hold of him was the right move, unfortunately we needed to make the right appointment, and genuinely believe we couldn't of got this any more wrong I have seen nothing AT ALL that would of inspired them to make this call... nothing

People said this prick could play in midfield BTW

What even is his half time talk going to be ? 'I can't change the club in a matter of weeks... Im not a miracle man' prick

So just to sum things up here.... - He seemingly had 6/7 weeks to get to understand our strengths and weaknesses however doesn't seem to be aware of what his strongest starting 11 is, or even what his preferred tactics are. - He has utterly failed to impose any change of tactics or inspire the side, in fact, we've gone backwards - Is insistent on playing 3 at the back, a formation that failed early season and at odds with the tactics the club has played with for years... organised by our most erratic of CBs - Plays a long ball style of football with no target man but also seemingly asks for diagonal long balls to our smallest players on the pitch - Distances himself of any responsibility and fails miserably to inspire any fight in his press conferences, maybe he is trying to manage expectations but you need to be blind to believe any of us believe we are going to stay up Quite frankly an utterly appalling appointment

How ? He can't see over the bar ?

Im not really surprised considering his latest press conference was effectively... we are getting relegated and theres nothing we can do

Also... the original Johnson chance was absolutely indicative of using a 3 at the back with centre backs that are largely inexperienced in playing there... we had players back, yet none of them looked towards or even communicated that he was free Surely any decent coach is aware you don't just throw 3 defenders in there and hope it works

So here we are.... 3 at the back didn't work under a superior coach It is almost certainly not going to work now... especially if you have Lyanco leading the defence FFS

Hi Nathan Welcome to the forum... please offer your resignation ASAP Ta

Fuck waiting.... sack this prick at halftime please

Positives - Lavia is back Negatives - The rest of the line up Still… Im hoping for a performance tonight.. can feel a Mara hattrick… hopefully at the right end

I don’t necessarily disagree with the overall sentiment and I understand how transfers work but we’re discussing this particular one and Id say.. if the reports are true, terms are agreed with the player but we’re arguing over 1-2m euros for a player that has the ability to make a difference is bonkers Especially if it ends up in him choosing a rival team instead

I usually agree with you but feel like you’re arguing over principle now Orsic ticked a lot of boxes, we apparantly had personal terms agreed… Id of paid the asking price We can’t afford to haggle

The problem is if its Saints recruitment trying to get this deal done we’ll be going home with the fella in the white

It wasn’t a rushed appointment, it was calculated… whuch IMO makes it arguably worse Ralph was given until October originally but due to a couple of good results then it was extended, the drop of form prompted us to go to our preferred targets NJ has been ‘watched’ and analysed since before the summer