Saint Pete

Yes, I think this is evident in his readiness to give the academy players a chance. He's putting it in all their minds that if they show him good things in training and in U23 or even U18 games, he is prepared to promote them if there is a spot available in the squad. It's also saying to the senior players that if they don't pull their weight, whoever they are, there are viable options that he is prepared to use instead. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Ralph doesn't seem like anybody's fool so I'm sure he will let the board know soon enough if he is really unhappy about any of his coaching staff. I would be more concerned if the club hadn't allowed him to bring in Danny Rohl as assistant manager. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Will be interesting to see if Ralph sticks with 3 at the back for this one. I generally think it's best to stick with same after a good win but do you really need 3 CBs against Huddersfield attack? The only thing is you feel Vestergaard probably needs 2 others around him to compensate for lack of running ability! So on balance I would stick with the 3 to start. Out of the potential injuries I would say Redmond would be the biggest miss with his ability to run with the ball quickly between the lines like he did yesterday. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Look I'm no fan of Hughes and I think Ralph is going to be a much better manager both tactically and motivationally. But I seem to remember the players saying quite similar things about the impact that Hughes and his coaches were having when he first came in and how much better it was than the previous manager. So forgive me if I'm not 100% trusting yet that the players including Ryan will remain totally on board with what Ralph wants to do with them in the medium and longer term. Would it really surprise anyone that much of the players start turning against him if a few results go against us, just as they have done with previous managers? The players should take their share of responsibility for what has gone on over the last couple of seasons irrespective of the merits or otherwise of the managers. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Massive result for us in terms of confidence moving forward. We have been in front in games so many times but have not delivered the points. Today we saw it through and that should give us more confidence in games where we lead from now on. Hope Redmond not a serious problem as thought he was excellent today.

Too long to go though!

YEESSSsss

Come on you saints!

FFS when will we get a break our way?

Yeah, could be a danger from crosses though against this Arsenal defence

Keystone cops at the back again. Going to be tricky for Ralph to resolve that.

I feel even if we scored 5 we would still find a way to lose.

FFS Romeu

Got to assume Lemina has an injury. Otherwise would be pretty bizarre to leave him out.

It’s amazing how whichever of our esteemed centre backs hasn’t played for a couple of games becomes the new hope again, isn’t it? Let’s face facts, they are all awful and a whole army of defensive geniuses couldn’t stop them making the kind of basic individual errors we are seeing week in week out.

I think that could be a bit suicidal to start with. He spoke about priority being to improve the defence so wouldn’t be surprised to see some form of 3-4-3 to start. Something like McCarthy Stephens Vestergaard Bednarek Cedric Hojbjerg Lemina Targett Armstrong Gabbiadini Redmond

In fairness I think we wanted to ship some players out in the summer but in practice it’s hard to do if no one wants them, or at least doesn’t want to pay the wages we have committed to pay them. I like the logic of what Ralph is saying and it’s a good message to the players but making it happen may not be so easy.

Has anything been said about whether he is bringing an assistant yet? Apologies if missed. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

I definitely like that as a principle to set to the players on day 1. In reality, it will be very interesting to see how that plays out. It is often easier to say you want players out than to make it happen in the modern world, eg Forster. He's going to need strong backing from the board to make things happen the way he wants to in January. But really excited by what he is saying. People just might need to be realistic about how quickly he can solve some of our issues! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

That first goal summed up our defending this season perfectly. Early corner when we should be fully switched on. But we allow an easy short corner with absolutely no pressure on Eriksson giving him total freedom to pick someone out. Marking of Kane their biggest threat non existent and no one from our side attacking the ball a couple of yards from our goal. To call it schoolboy defending is insulting to schoolboys. A decent defensive coach should be able to improve things to some extent, at least coming up with a more solid plan for defending set pieces. But my suspicion is a few of our defenders will still continue making basic errors because they just aren't very good and switch off time and again! The other concerning thing is that we continued to allow easy short corners throughout the rest of the first half! To me that shows a lack of leadership on the pitch, no senior players demanding better organisation. If we can sign a real defensive leader in January, someone in the Cahill mould, then we may be OK, but with the current set, I think Ralph has got quite a job to do! Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

This is going to be really tough given all the injuries and suspensions. Could get ugly. Real shame about Obafemi’s injury, thought he did well yesterday and his pace and willingness would have been a good outlet for us in this one. Any chance of Ings making it in time?

It says a lot about our failure in recruitment of centre backs if our best options now are genuinely Stephens, Bednarek and Yoshida! But I fear you are correct on this occasion. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Exactly. Fair play to Hughes, this is a brave line up choice. I hope it comes off as will be good to see the youngsters. Not much he can do about Cedric on the left with both left backs out.

Worth pointing out that things went downhill somewhat after that article was written for Sousa at Fiorentina. They finished up 5th in his first season and 8th in his second. Compared with 4 4th placed finishes in a row under previous manager Montella. Reckon he would be something of a gamble particularly given previous failures in this country albeit a fair while ago. Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Sounds like genuinely unlucky today. The clean sheet is encouraging at least. Will Hughes stick with that formation and the same centre backs for Man U? I think he should. For those who watched the stream, how did Valery look? And Vestergaard? Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk