Saint Pete

Ralph also said he wanted a couple of players to improve the team, so I suspect whatever he says publicly he must be disappointed that never happened. As it didn’t happen you agree that the club itself didn’t back the manager, right?

The club have clearly put all their eggs in the Ralph basket and said "he's so good with young players we don't need to strengthen our substandard squad right now in order to stay up". Massively complacent but it's what we have come to expect from those in charge. A couple of wins in January shouldn't have got everyone fooled that we would soar away from trouble from that point on with no improvements to squad to help the manager. Still think we can stay up, but the lack of assistance to the manager has meant that it's going to be very very close again and could go either way. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Long was never going to do much against a deep defensive team like Cardiff. Really surprised Austin didn't start this one. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It's a fair point to suggest that the January window was yet another complacent **** up by the club though isn't it? Still confident it's fine to let senior players leave with no replacements and wait til the summer? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

We're not down yet, but today's result means it's more than likely going to be a battle to the very end of the season like last season. Has to be said it's deeply disappointing that the complacency of the club in the January window has made it even harder for us to get out of this mess. I still think we can do it, but has everyone got the stomach for the fight this time around? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Yep, and we need to be patient if the goal doesn't come early on, or heaven forbid, Cardiff take the lead. I don't expect it to be pretty but any win will do in this one! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Just watched the highlights. The first one has to be a penalty I’m afraid. McCarthy dives right across Barnes path and doesn’t get the ball. Yes, Barnes makes sure he goes over him, but any striker would do the same in the modern game. Penalty all day long. The second one is much more debatable as handball definitely not intentional. But given that ref was probably looking to give something due to earlier error, silly of Stephens to have his arm straight up like that. Would have been better to just let Crouch head it and defend it from there. Oh well, annoying to concede so late, but probably a fair result overall. The next game is huge, everyone needs to get fully behind the team for that one, whoever is on the pitch for us. Desperately need the 3 points in that one if it’s not to be another dogfight all the way to the end of the season.

Although the late goal today was a ****er, the last 2 draws have not been terrible results. But this one, we desperately need the 3 points, particularly if Cardiff win tonight (currently leading). We could really do with getting some of the injured players back, Obafemi would be useful and WTF is going on with Bertrand?

Absolutely. Nothing in his record to suggest that could happen. Nothing at all.

Cardiff 1 up already. FFS.

We are still **** poor at seeing out games. Still something that Ralph needs to address. In terms of result, not the end of the world as other results have gone for us so far. But if Cardiff win against Bournemouth tonight, next weeks game will be massive.

What was the injury for Ings?

Shame about Hojbjerg, must be injured. First PL start for Calum Slattery. Good luck to him! Pretty sure we will start with 3 at the back as normal, with JWP at wing back.

Yes, agree! But what have we done to address it? Made it even weaker as it stands! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Come off it. Ramsay has played all of 1 game hasn't he? How can anyone be confident he is better backup than Cedric, a seasoned international? Crazy to leave ourselves so exposed, as even Valery can't be described as being a solid regular yet. You can be sure it won't have escaped the notice of our opponents between now and the end of the season that it's a weak area for us. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

What's that supposed to mean? The club aren't going to try the whole "he's a toxic disruptive influence" rumour thing again to justify yet another sale of a top player with no adequate replacement are they? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

It's clearly personnel, in terms of the centre backs and full backs. Vestergaard is too slow to play in a 4 without being exposed, Stephens also not strong and focused enough. Valery and Targett can also be shaky without the extra insurance of the extra CB behind them. Even with another better attacker, I think Ralph would probably still stick with the 3 at the back until he is able to get a stronger CB and RB in. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Poor performance, decent result given how poor we were. Maybe a reminder to some of how weak our options are in some areas of the team and squad? When Redmond has an off day or is marked well, we have precious little else to worry the opposition. Desperately need another quality quick option. And also a right back of course. There's a limit to what Ralph can achieve with this squad, good though he is. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

This. As you say, would there be so many saying they are happy if we don't sign improved options if we hadn't had the recent boost of a couple of wins? I doubt it. They need to remember, a couple of narrow defeats and we could be right back where we were in the bottom 3. I'm fine with shipping out players that Ralph doesn't want but we shouldn't leave ourselves exposed as looks possible at right back, thinking falsely that the job is done. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Agree. Think most would be more than happy with that if it comes off. If I was being greedy, I'd have liked to see an improvement at centre back, but appreciate that it's tough to get the right man in January and not getting shot of Hoedt on a permanent deal makes it more difficult still. Guess we will have to stick with 3 at the back for now until we can get a more solid CB in the summer. Moving Forster on would also have been good - maybe a loan out somewhere could still happen? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Well, if we're talking just Premier League goals Danny Ings only has 21 so far. Just saying. There aren't that many players who play for teams like Saints who score shed loads of Premier League goals throughout their careers. How many premier League goals has Billy Sharp got? Look, I'm not saying Charlie Austin is a great player, far from it. But he's not as terrible as some on here like to make out and he does know how to put the ball in the net. Which puts him above a number of others who have graced the Saints forward line in the last few seasons. I agree it's time for him to move on now though. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Indeed. Definitely a goalscorer but becoming more limited as time goes by due to his lack of mobility. If he finds a team where his job is just to get in the box and they can create the chances for him, he could still do a job for now though. Hope he finds that club and we can bring in a forward more suited to Ralph's game plan. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Sounds like a load of bull to me but let's wait and see. £8m permanent deal for Austin?!!! Not a chance that bit is true for a start. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

And according to the above, they are not even allowed to replace him this window! So yes, seems unlikely. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Seems pretty unlikely we will pull this one off then, unless we offer really silly money.