UpweySaint

Indifferent on Wan Bissaka but that would be a really sensible window and you would think would very much improve our chances of survivial.

Even if if rescue this one at the death I feel we have stopped progressing under Ralph and it's the end of a cycle. The squad isn't perfect, we all know it, but we've looked dross against Everton, Villa and Wolves - none of whom are up to much this season. I honestly can't see what the plan is anymore - it's pure speculation but I think the body language of some players suggests they don't either. Ralph doesn't deserve some of the derision and abuse he gets but I would be surprised if Sports Republic aren't actively exploring other options. I'm never a fan of change for change sake (see Watford) but things have gone stale for far too long and it seems that despite new coaches and players nothing much has changed since our dreadful run in last year. We are a hard watch most weeks and I'm not convinced we couldn't be doing better with a different coach at the helm.

You're not wrong but I don't think it's a particularly controversial statement. The club clearly wanted another forward and we seemed to be willing to commit good funds to the right player. It didn't come off but we're clearly a better side than last year and should have enough about us to do okay this year. I think 99% of the forum agree - another forward would have been ideal. The only split I see if those trying to take a more circumspect view of us as a 'work in progress' and those who feel that the club have dropped a major boll*ck and should be hung up (with a few shades in between). On another day we'd have taken something from this one and we didn't do loads wrong. Che should have had at least one though he has had a fairly bright start to the season. We have a few options albeit the likes of Mara and Edozie are very raw.

I'm going to sound very bitter because they keep beating us but f*ck me Wolves are boring to watch!

Game of opinions. I think after the first one he should make some effort to get his arms out of the way, for me he keeps them up and affects the play directly. The handball rule is clear as mud these days but I think you if that happened across the weekend in several games it would be given in most.

Seconded! Bizarre decision. He basically juggles the ball with his arms. Even if you don't give the first touch as 'accidental' there are three.

I didn't watch much of preseason so thanks for sharing that, good to know it's a consistent theme and not a one off. Whatever has prompted the change it feels like a real positive that there are potentially multiple voices to share legitimate expertise.

Take the point but something I noticed was the coaching staff collectively were discussing what to do. Selles looked like he was giving advice. We can't know what goes on in these discussions but I think 99% of us have been crying out for a coaching team to actively support Ralph during games it it looks like that may have been the case today.

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 ...