UpweySaint

Ralph is a good guy and some of the vitriol is unnecessary but his race is run. The formation does not work. The set piece defending is a shambles. The selections are mystifying. We don't press. We have no threat. We have no plan. Even with a £30mil striker we still wouldn't have looked likely so far today.

The Good We scored. A decent finish from JWP which suggests he may continue with the goals from open play the crept into his game last season. Aribo showed some promise. I think there is a player in there in a more sensible shape. Lavia looked composed and a more dynamic presence than Romeu. I would like to see him in a midfield two with JWP. KWP remains top quality - he got through a lot of work and luckily came away without an injury. It's only three points and let's be honest nobody expected much today so hopefully we can dust it off and go again. The window is still open and hopefully the need for an actual striker has been made much more apparent - if Sports Republic are serious about us surviving and/or pushing on the cheque book needs to come up for a reliable goal scorer. The bad The lack of tactical plan. In the second half in particular I had no idea how we expected to score - where was the goal threat? The score. 4-1 is a pretty depressing way to start the season against any opponent. Romeu looked lost being asked to play further forward. I just don't see it. Bazunu understandably nervy and his distribution was patchy - though who he was meant to be hitting wasn't clear. Spurs fans giving it the big'un. Armstrong. Barely had a kick and couldn't hold up the ball at any point - though this is evidently not his game. Presume the plan had been for him to play off the shoulder and hit Spurs on the break but it didn't work at all. Broja is a big miss on today's display ... still bizarre Adams didn't get the nod at any point. The officiating. It wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference to the outcome but f*ck me there was some poor decisions - how Romero didn't get at least a yellow is beyond me - he didn't get the ball (despite what the commentary team on my feed were keen to tell us) and it was a reckless tackle with unnecessary force. The Spurs players then had the audacity to mob the referee to complain it was even given as a foul . The Ugly Same old same old. A calamity goal conceded and then we fell apart. We need to start keeping our heads and stay in games - at 3-1 we are still just about in the game (in theory) but at 4 we are all fearing a tanking and it's a case of damage limitation. The lack of ambition. I can take losing games. I can take the odd spanking (just ask Mrs Upwey ...) but when we set up like we did today and still get taken apart I just don't see the point. I miss seeing us trying. Ralph. I've been an advocate of giving him time and patience - in the cold light of day I still might sit in that camp. What worries me the most is he appears to have lost his bottle. Where has the high intensity, front foot football gone? He got plenty wrong today. Tactics, line up, subs, game management ... The defence. All over the f*cking shop. I'm a fan of settling on a first choice CB pairing and giving them a run to build a partnership and understanding. Nobody seemed to have a clue today. Salisu's howler. I rate him. At points last year he was a ball magnet and his positioning was quality. But he had a shocker today and won't want to look lack on the own goal any time soon.

I expected to lose today but to see us capitulate again is surely a concern? This could be a cricket score and it's not because we are 'going for it' in any way. If we went for it at 2-1 down and Spurs smashed a few in fine but I can't even discern what the plan was/is today.

F*ck me! Fallen apart. Spurs have so much more quality than us but quite how Romero didn't get a booking is beyond me. I'm a Ralph fan but he's got this very wrong. I didn't expect to win but we need to find a way to be more competitive. How we are playing with no striker is beyond me - clearly isn't working.

I think it depends. If things go south it has the ingredients for an unhappy dynamic - if they do well and he performs you anticipate any issues will quickly be overcome.

He may not want to go. Just because a release clause is triggered we can't block a move but KWP doesn't have to accept a contract with them. May also be vague journalistic bullsh*t which seems equally as likely. I would be gutted to see KWP leave but at least £30mil is a reasonable amount of money to put towards a hypothetical replacement. That being said in an open market I would want to see us hold out for a bigger fee for what is one of our top talents. Probably not the profile we would go with but Aarons at Norwich has a good reputation and Norwich seem open to sales for the right price.

I heard he was big in Japan ...

This. Still work to go to improve key areas of the squad but on the surface a lot of the moves around player trading and staffing seem sensible. Sport Republic so actively pursuing other clubs also fits with this and gives a clear sense of direction where previously there had been an element of drift and stagnation - appreciate some may not support the multi club model.

Aren't stripes meant to be slimming? 😉

Fair point. 'Loyalty' in football is a funny concept and gets banded about a lot without much real consideration. Either way I hope our aftercare has improved from those days - football is ultimately a business but I think most of our want our club to try to demonstrate good values where possible.

Seconded. He wasn't particularly a billy big boll*cks about moving on and never claimed to be a die-hard saints fan. So long as he hasn't burnt bridges behind closed doors I don't see any issue with him returning - he is well suited to us and it doesn't look like Villa fancy him so there should be a deal to be had. For the right price I would take him back. Ideal scenario we shift Armstrong and Long then bring Ings +1 with potential in. Ings and Adams are a decent pairing but we would need some cover without going OTT - in a crisis Redmond or possibly one of the academy boys could go up top.

Satisfied at the outset for sure but it's been a frustrating season at times. Not much between the sides today but you fancy Leicester have more quality and potential game changers.

Big summer ahead. I waver on if Ralph is the right man for us but the squad needs a fairly significant overhaul. I felt bad for McCarthy getting stick but his distribution was abysmal, he has patches of good form here and there but if we go into next year with him as our no1 without serious competition I have real concerns.

While I agree what is to say this lad isn't good enough? He's looked good when I've seen him for Ireland.

It's been coming for sure. We've been too sloppy in possession - goal aside not one of Romeu's best games so far.

Possibly a little harsh on my part and maybe a little snap in the cold light of day. I do agree we have largely punched above our weight under Ralph but some of his decisions recently have left me scratching my head - Valery getting games (whatever the question is he's not the answer), Adams being dropped, Redmond being bombed ... Always willing to be proved to know f*ck all about football though, the West Ham cup game was a classic for that, hoping we can avoid a total collapse for the rest of the season and we go into the summer with some of the positivity we've had earlier in the season.

I agree with the sentiment but that was a dire watch and we seem to be drifting since our good run earlier in the year. I just don't get what the plan was today and that worries me more than us playing a high press and suffering the occasional spanking to top class opposition. Investment in the playing squad is needed in the summer but we've been at our best when we have a clear way of playing and it seems to have gone missing. I worry if Ralph/his ability to progress the players has gone stale which I say with a heavy heart because he's up there with my favourite saints managers and is a classy bloke. When Valery is starting over Salisu I just don't get what Ralph is thinking ...

I was about to post the only saving grace was that we were only 1-0 at half time ... The tactics are wrong. We look really uncomfortable in this shape and Burnley are strolling through us with no pressure on the ball. I have no clue what our plan is today and it looks like the players don't either. Where the f*ck has the press gone?!? Yes Burnley want it more but I'm gutted for any who have travelled to watch us go through the motions. The team selection is wrong. Our back three is dreadful. I don't like when players are written off but, Norwich aside, this has to be one of the least convincing CB set ups I've seen in the league all season. What have Adams and Salisu done to not be starting? In a game crying out for physicality neither are playing. Is Broja arsed? We're not creating much but he looks a shadow on the player from a few months ago. Romeu should have scored one or both of his chances - both very good. Question marks about the second goal but frankly we're lucky they've not hit three or four so it'd be sour grapes to whinge about it too much. We need to look at ourselves and do something much different in the second half. I have so much time for Ralph and stepping away I'll probably want him to be given a well backed transfer window to see what he can do but I'm starting to think his time may be coming to an end. Yes he needs to be adaptable but we are at our best playing front foot, high press football. I can't see how this set up fits with what we're trying to do and it doesn't seem geared up to any particular threat Burnley offer.

I'm a big Ralph fan usually but what is going on with our tactics today? We're making Burnley look like Brazil, being carved apart far too easily and players seem to be nowhere near Burney counterparts.

That is beyond soft! Dean currently pitching wood at the opportunity to give City a pen.

Stephens miss kick and the deflection gives Fraser no chance. Bugger! We've started the game well and we may not be dead and buried just yet. If we chase the game and get smashed it's a one off cup tie at least ...

Frustrating game. Not bad as some on here would have you believe but some poor defending and just not enough cutting edge up to, de ja vu ... it does stick in the throat that Newcastle blagged to get the game called off and it's their blood money signings with the goals but we can only look at ourselves and what we need to do. Let's hope we can get back on track against Watford and end the season in the top half. Still lots of positives to take from the season and we are heading back in the right direction for sure. Agree with others that Perraud should be in the side on current form. Tino still has the world at his feet and his time will come but he's not hit the same heights since his injury.

Shocking left wing woke snowflake stuff that being opposed to people being killed or imprisoned for their sexuality ... one big commie conspiracy right?!? Not sure why you feel so threatened by 'these people' as you label them but suggest it doesn't really impact on your match going experience so surely you can just ignore it even if you don't agree with it?

Agreed with those wanting to hear a bit more from/about Crocker and the 'big picture' planning around the club. A broader piece on what some of the backroom team do might be interesting too, something like a 'typical day' at the club and who does what.

This one is up and running now - http://weakstreams.com/soccer-streams/premier-league/southampton-vs-everton/52796/?sport=soccer Bit behind I think but quality wise it's okay...