UpweySaint

4-4-2 or the fabled 4-2-2-2?

I rate Howe and yes he's turned the game but give Ralph his dues. It's not really 'his' team. Howe had built his and their style of play over years. They've had a few quid too and recruited relatively well. Our turnaround since Ralph arrived has been cracking. Let's see how he presents tactically after a preseason with the players and a few of his own faces.

Fair point. Games, a goal or two for the confidence ... he could really crack on and be the sort of player we hoped he could.

Christ! Game has roared into life. Bit more composure from Sims in either occasion and that could have been that! Do feel we'll need another goal at least to win this one. Good link up play at least, just give Sims some of whatever Redmond has found this season in front of goal.

Tactically a very good display from us, shame an offside goal (albeit small margins) has meant we're not going in at half time with a lead I don't think many could have begrudged us. I hope we can get something out of the second 45 but bugger me I had almost forgot what it felt like going into games against 'bigger' clubs thinking the manager had a real plan on how to get a result that could actually work! Strange feeling this hope, hello old friend ...

Look okay going forward, not loving the shape when they turn over possession though.

Wolves have dropped Doherty and Jimenez to the bench away to Burnley, think Burnley will see that one as a must one based on their run in.

I'm a fan of JWP but can understand that Barkley is a more proven entity in an England shirt and offers more physicality. JWP has added more to his game under Ralph and is progressing well. Hopefully he get's a chance on Monday and does himself justice. Always find it weird when some on here seem so determined to run down our own players. Most reasonable observers surely agree he has good technical ability and is tactically adept even if they don't rate him as highly as others.

Quite possibly unless, as others have alluded to, some of those who went were't right for the squad. Ideally though we certainly would have got another forward and a little more over at rb.

Reasonable to presume that RH had hoped Cedric out meant Maehle or another in. It certainly looked like we were trying to move Austin on and get Adams in at the end of the window. Assuming we keep our heads above water it will be interesting to see what business RH does in the summer. If we can shift big earners out I would trust his judgement on incomings.

Palace 1-0 down too, results are going our way elsewhere in the midweek games. On us to do our bit and see this one out!

Tribalism, sentimentality and that sort of thing probably play a significant part it is undeniable. Hardly a bad thing though. It's that sort of irrationality that perpetuates fan culture in a heavily commercialised and uneven sport. In some measure I view it as essential to how our club can ever hope to be 'successful'. We all know we can't compete toe for toe in financial terms with other clubs though an academy consistently producing quality can help a club punch above their weight both through financial dividends and on the pitch quality. There is also the hope, perhaps a little naive, that players with an attachment to the club put that extra 10% in that drives results. I'm probably a bit of a sap but I love the 'hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard' mantra that I believe we have/had on the wall at either St Mary's or Staplewood.

Fair play if you don't rate Stephens. I do but can understand why others don't, though in mitigation he's hardly had a smooth ride with the mess around him for the last few seasons. Though I would suggest the reason Hoedt got more grief is that he comes across like a Billy big boll*cks who very much believed his own hype and cost a significant fee whereas Jack came in for peanuts from Plymouth and is sort of one of our own.

This. Under Hughes we would have been buried. We didn't play well but found a point. Not exactly panic stations. Sidenote, loving Prowsey showing more drive, more aggression and more general being a d*ckhead - we've been far too nice for too long!

Agreed. Not really expecting this to come to fruition but it's not entirely impossible and would be an amazing coup.

Okay, officially in wild starry eyed punt territory however humour me a little ... As per the below Mislintat is linked with leaving as a role as technical director/DOF looks to no longer be in the cards for him. Which formerly progressive club known for spotting and developing young talent has a gaping hole to fill in the DOF position? I admit we may be well below his level but we have some plus points. Decent youth set up, previous record of developing young talent, a well thought of head coach intent on developing players and would give him plenty of scope to guide the club direction. I'm sure there may be bigger and better opportunities out there for a man of his reputation but it could be a good fit all around. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/15/arsenal-head-recruitment-sven-mislintat-future

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jan/09/manolo-gabbiadini-to-move-from-southampton-to-sampdoria-?CMP=share_btn_tw Story picked up by the Guardian too. As others has said he had some special moments at the start and it's just a shame he couldn't kick on to more with us. I hope his move back to Italy allows him to rediscover his shooting boots. With him and Davo out Ralph certainly seems intent on a clear out. Let's hope somebody wants to take big Wes off our hands for a reasonable fee.

Should we stay up and Ralph get a full preseason I could see us kicking on and being able to be on the front foot more in games. All in all a solid display. A little more precision in our forward movements and we could have taken three points.

Clyne apparently available for loan though other papers have linked him with a permanent move https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/nathaniel-clyne-close-liverpool-loan-13789367 If Cedric goes we could do worse than try and get Clyne back. Unsure if there isn't a rule that would stop us having two players on loan from the same club.

No hard feelings, never quite worked out for him after initial promise. I would hope to see a fee for him that gives us a little room to move in the transfer market. I think some on here are harsh on Cedric though I wouldn't be gutted to see him leave either.

Fair point. When you're in the mire you need the players on side. That's the thing, you could see the logic in both Grabban's and Rodwell's stances but it's the sort of thing that infuriates a lot of fans who want to see a team put first. The Williams segments made interesting watching. Hard as a fan not to get frustrated when things are bleak but you can see just how important confidence can be to some players. Made me think of one or two of our own!

I felt bad for Coleman. Took on a poor squad and had a considerable injury list. Bizarre some of their fans raving about their squad in the early eps... it's like when Les trotted out that line about best midfielf options in the league. Grabban came out of it looking like a c*ck too.

Wow. So nice to so a clear plan executed well. Even the subs made sense - if honest I expected Long for Ings but happy to be wrong. Areas to work on certainly but what a feeling after last week as well! Obefami looks a little naive in his decision making but looks like he has plenty about him and, with young players getting real chances under Ralph, significant motivation for others on the fringes.

You would hope that most could see that it is reasonable to come to either conclusion at this juncture. We have been woeful, there are questions marks about players throughout the squad, some of those around us have picked up points recently. However new manager, arguably there is more to come from a number of players, january is an unknown and plenty of poor sides this season (Hudds, Cardiff, Burnley, Fulham etc.)

With very little evidence, I am stumping for no. As per last season less that I have faith in us more that I hope enough teams do worse.